Builth main ram sale peaks at 7,000gns

Prices topped at 7,000gns at the NSA Wales and Border Ram Sale at the Royal Welsh Showground this week (21 September).

Although averages were back £20.40 on the year, with 4,383 rams averaging £490.05, turnover was up at nearly £2.2million and there was a good clearance of 84%.

Organisers said their determination to provide quality, health assured rams had paid off in what had been a difficult and challenging year for sheep farmers. The headline prices signalled a satisfactory trade in quality rams, with vendors generally pleased that averages held up well.

The 7,000gns Border Leicester that topped the sale provided a fitting finish to a long career for Jim Brown, who regularly travels from Scotland to attend the sale. Nine of the ten sheep averaged 700gns.

The ram was purchased by Jim’s brother, Pete, who farms at the other side of Scotland on the Ile of Arran. Pete had spotted him at the Royal Highland Show and was determined to buy him.

Next best at 6,800gns was a Texel shearling from WT Davies and Co Cyf, Canllefaes Vantastic. He sold in a two-way split to the Quick family, Crediton, Devon, and Jim and Nick Hartwright, Hereford.

The Texel breed champion, a ram lamb from Geoff and Eifion Morgan, of Blaencar Farm, Sennybridge, sold for 6,000gns to Boden and Davies, Mellor, Stockport.

Emyr Hughes of Wolfscastle, Haverfordwest, won the Charollais breed championship and sold another ram lamb from the same pen for the breed top price of 2,350gns to RS and JS Gregory, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury.

Texel breeder Andrew Reed, of Upper Scolton Farm, Spittal, Haverfordwest, who topped the sale last year with a 6,800gns shearling, sold a Texel for 5,000gns.

West Yorkshire Lleyn breeders G and A Fort were delighted with their first visit to the sale. Their Lleyn shearling, Brightonhouse Double Gold, sold for 4,800gns to A and R Bennett, Powys and HE Sevenoaks.

Trade in the Blue Face Leicester lines was brisk, with a top price of 3,900gns achieved by RP Williams and Sons, Lydbury North, Shropshire. The ram sold to DW Henderson, Allandale, Hexham.

Dewi Williams of Bryn Dansi, Abergele, sold fifty Blue Face Leicester shearlings and was delighted with his day’s trading. All fifty averaged £1120 and sold to a top price of 2,300gns.

Other top prices included 3,800 guineas for a Welsh Mountain ram sold by A and M Jones, of Llanafan, Builth Wells.  A non-accredited Suffolk from G Davies, Garth, Builth Wells, made 1480gns and sold to William Halford of Kempsey, Worcestershire.

A Beltex from EL Evans, Rhayader, sold for 2,900gns to T Davies, Llwyncadwgan, Beulah. A Berrichon shearling ram from MC and KD Yeo, Barnstaple, sold for 800gns to Derek Steen, Lockerbie.

A Blue Texel ewe lamb from Nina Smith, Shrewsbury, sold for 1,700gns to Katie Long, Upper Park Farm, Canterbury.