Good prospects for impending NSA ram sales
© Tim Scrivener Prospects for the upcoming NSA Wales & Border Early Sales are said to be good, with plenty of choice for buyers.
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is holding additional ram sales in response to bluetongue regulations in Wales, which restricted animal movements from 1 July.
The decision has been made in the light of Welsh government bluetongue regulations, which require livestock keepers to provide a negative bluetongue certificate for a ruminant animal to be allowed into Wales.
The pre-movement testing for bluetongue in livestock moving from England into Wales costs an estimated £60 to £70 per animal.
See also: Financial support for bluetongue testing ruled out
Vendors are said to have responded positively to the sales, with a range of top-quality rams entered at the Brecon sale on Monday 4 August and at Hereford on Tuesday 5 August.
Organisers say the sales will save expense and time by accommodating sheep farmers on both sides of the border.
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said these valued sales will help farmers deal with what is a challenging situation.
“The sales attract the best quality rams with the highest genetic potential, and we’re holding these important sales to keep in line with the regulations on both sides of the border,” he added.
Good prospects
The sale in Brecon has attracted 190 entries, while the Hereford sale has so far attracted 64.
The Brecon sale will comprise 94 Charollais, 34 Texels, 28 Suffolks and the crossbreds and start with the Charollais Society sale at 10.30am.
The Hereford sale will start at 1pm and comprises Texels, Suffolks, Poll Dorset and crossbreds, commencing at 1pm.
The sale will be conducted by auctioneers McCartneys and Clee Tompkinson in Brecon and by Hereford Market Auctioneer in Hereford.
Last year was the first sale at Brecon, which saw a solid stream of high prices and individual consigner averages.
Averages, organisers say, were up by almost £200, with two rams each fetching a top price of 2,000 guineas and an 83% clearance was the highest ever.
