Best commercial sheep hit 570gns at Worcester

Ram buyers weren’t reluctant to spend on tups at the second of the NSA’s early ram sales at Worcester last weekend but there was a wide differential in values between the “best and the rest” with prices reaching 570gns for a Charollais shearling.

Bluetongue zoning forced this second event to be organised – following the traditional Builth Wells fixture two weeks ago – and it was leading Whenby, York, breeder Charles Marwood who led the trade with an impressive performance recorded ram from his Foulrice flock. The ram won the Signet recorded class and heads for Leominster, Herefordshire with R E Thomas.

The best Charollais sires are among the most sought after tups this season and all the 12 shearlings from the Foulrice pen were easily sold. It included the day’s reserve champion which made 460gns to B and M Cornish, Tiverton, Devon.

Texel shearling rams sold to 500gns for one from the Meon Valley flock run by the Drayton Farm Partnership. Buyers were C E Clarke and Son, Radford, Worcester. All eight of the Meon Valley flock’s shearlings sold easily.

The strongest Suffolk tups showing good gigot and fleshing qualities found plenty of buyers with G A Lewis and Co, Redditch, Worcester giving most taking a shearling from T S Cox, Stafford at 420gns.

Averages: 28 Texel shearlings £345; 30 Charollais shearlings £355 and 14 Charollais ram lambs £222; 16 Suffolk shearlings £316. (McCartneys).