Record breaking hill ewe trade for Rough Fell and Nelson South Welsh Mountain rams

A record breaking weekend (Saturday 10) was had by Rough Fell and Nelson South Wales Mountain rams, with the bar lifted to 10,000gns and 7,100gns respectively.

Several Rough Fell flocks enjoyed ‘strong’ trade at North West Auction’s J36 with shearling ram High Cark Yankie from I, J and M Mallinson, Selside, Cumbria, selling at the record breaking price of 10,000gns to T, L, B and J Knowles, High Borrow Bridge, Kendal at almost double the previous record.

10,000gns ram with vendor, buyers and auctioneer.

MP and A Capstick, Highlane, sold the day’s champion the shearling ram Brownber Yobbo, to MJ and JD Handley, Catholes, for 4,600gns. Next in the money were entries from MJ and JD Handley, peaking at 3,600gns to FB Dunning and Son, followed by 3,100gns, snapped up by A and H Watson, Middleton.

Eager bidding saw a further seven rams over the 2,000gns mark, including an offering from RH Thexton, Luneside selling to CP Bateman, Docker for 2,900gns.

Auctioneer Matthew Probert said: “Rough Fell sheep have experienced revived interest over the last few years and customers were keen to secure strong, well bodied replacement breeding stock”.

Also that day, a new breed record was set for the Nelson South Wales Mountain breed in South Wales at Penderyn sale yard’s open ram and lamb sale. Top price went to Dilwyn John, Danygraig Farm, Methyr Tydfil, making 7,100gns to John Williams, Pen Llwyn Gwent farm, Blackmill.

The ‘tremendous’ yearling beat the previous record by more than 1,000gns on a day of mixed trade with ‘no real bottom’, auctioneer Andrew Thomas, Herbert R Thomas Auctioneers, told Farmers Weekly.

Noting a recent increase in bidder presence at Penderyn from North Wales, Mr Thomas said: “It was a good trade but not really very consistent. The record ram is the highest price we’ve sold for the breed by some margin and a real feat.”