Charollais best at Builth Wells at 1280gns

Top call at the NSA Wales and Border early ram sale at Builth Wells was 1280gns paid for a three-year-old Charollais.

Consigned by the Quick family of Loosebeare Manor, Crediton, Devon, he was breed champion at the Royal Cornwall Show where he also took the interbreed title.

“He sold well for a three year old,” said Paul Quick, who reckoned it had been an ‘OK trade’, affected by the weather, rising costs and lamb prices lower than last year.

Making the day’s highest bid were Gwyn and Dale Jones who run the Springfield Charollais flock at Chepstow. Gwyn described the ram as being “very correct with plenty of substance and fleshing”. He had come to this year’s sale, after bidding for the ram as a yearling two years previously.

Leading the Suffolks at 1200gns was a ram lamb Myfyr Evans, Denbigh. The lamb stood breed champion and was and purchased by Aled Williams of Amlwch, Anglesey who runs a pedigree flock of 30 ewes alongside 1200 commercials.

The top priced Texel, Corriecrave Sea the Stars, realised 1000gns. He was by Brookhill Rambo and consigned by Paul and Anna Johnson who topped the sale last year with a ram at 1500gns.The buyer was Ryan Davies, Cefn Coch, Heyhope, Knighton who runs a commercial flock of 400 ewes.

John Pryce of Meifod achieved 800 guineas for a yearling Texel ram. The tup sold to Aled Williams of Cwmcamlais, Brecon.

John Pryce commented: “It has been very hard going today. The whole season is out of sync and no-one has got their head around tupping yet.”

NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales Chairman Gwynne Davies said that although averages were down, top quality tups had sold at a good price. It reflected buyers’ confidence in the quality rams offered at the early sale.

He added: “Some haven’t weaned their lambs yet and aren’t putting ewes to the tup so early.”

The sale grossed £203,802 for 419 rams sold.  Hampshire Downs, Dorsets, and Charmoise were among the breeds whose average prices were up on last year.

Texel shearlings averaged £478 (-£102); Charollais shearlings averaged £573 (-£59); MV Suffolk ram lambs £584 (+£8) and MV Suffolk rams £540 (-£70)