1.5m ram trade at Builth Wells

By FWi staff

SHEEP producers spent a cool 1.5 million when almost 6500 flock sires from 36 breeds changed hands this week at the main Builth Wells ram sale, held yesterday (18 September).

Averages were up in most sections and the top price was 2200gns for a Blue-Faced Leicester ram lamb, sold to Marcus Williams from Lydbury North, Shropshire.

Accredited Blue-Faced Leicester ram lambs averaged 227 and shearlings 228 – up 19 and 45 respectively.

Blue-Faced Leicester shearlings reached 1400gns, with a bid from Penglas Blue-Faced Leicesters Ltd for an entry from Myfyr Roberts flock on Anglesey.

Sophie Harding from Nantwich, Cheshire was the purchaser of the top priced Blue-Faced Leicester lamb and then went on to sell a Suffolk ram lamb from her own flock at 2000gns.

There was an entry of 2325 Suffolks, and accredited rams levelled at 208 with ram lambs at 198.

The top Suffolk ram price was 680gns, given by Upper Welson Farm Ltd, Eardisley, Hereford.

Leading the 2300 Texels was a shearling from the 30 head consigned from the Reed familys Scolton flock based at Haverforwest.

The ram, Penstones Elite, was bought by E C Austin, Dumfries.

Herefordshire breeders R and G Watkins Millend flock produced the top priced Texel ram lamb at 600gns. Buyer was S Jones, Oswestry.

Texel shearling rams averaged 338 and ram lambs 178.

A 1200gns call for a twin-born ram lamb from south Wales led the 1094-strong Charollais section selling to B Evans, Trefeglwys, Powys.

Charollais ram lambs averaged 224.

Highest call in the hill-breed rings came for a Welsh Mountain ram from Williams and Co, Llangadog, Carmarthen bought by I Jones, Lampeter at 1030gns – this was well up on last years breed top price of 650gns.

Welsh Mountain rams averaged 275.

Other breed top prices included Beltex at 735gns (av 334), registered Beulah 660gns (av 246), Border Leicester 640gns (ram lamb av 228), and Hampshire Down 250gns (ram lamb av 180).