Welsh show ram intent
Welsh show ram intent
Pedigree sheep breeders will hope sales return to normal
later this year. But organisers of the largest ram sale in
Europe at Builth Wells have had to make some
contingency plans just in case. Robert Davies reports
ORGANISERS of the National Sheep Associations two annual Welsh ram sales are determined to be back in business this year.
Breeders looking for terminal sires for early lambing flocks could be bidding on around 800 head at the Royal Welsh Showground on Aug 5 and, if selling sheep on grassed sites is allowed about 9000 sheep should be penned at the main Builth Wells ram sale on Sept 23.
But if concrete standings must be used the big multi-breed sale will have to be split. Lowland rams will go under the hammer on Sept 16, and hill tups a week later. And ewe sales, normally held during the main ram sale by some breed societies, could also be moved.
"There are excellent facilities at the Royal Welsh showground, but it would be impossible to house all the 9600 entries we had in 2000," says Jane Smith, secretary of the NSAs Wales and Border region.
"There should be enough room for up to 4700 lowland breed tups, but not females. If the sale has to be split we hope to persuade ewe sellers to switch to our August ram sale.
"While we wait for a ruling from DEFRA we are working in the dark, so a number of alternative plans have to be in place. We also need much more information about likely entry numbers."
Despite having no sales income last year the organisers have decided to dip into reserves to send a simple questionnaire to the 800 regular vendors.
"It is an expense we can do without, but we need to have some idea of entries. Many flocks have been wiped out, while others could not sell their shearling tups last autumn and might want to use this sale. The mail shot will provide a much clearer idea of the numbers that could come forward."
While 33 breeds use the sale, the Suffolk, Texel and Charollais breed societies, which also run parallel ewe sales at the event, account for two-thirds of the total entry. Although reluctant to do so, the organisers might be forced to ration entries of the main terminal sires, if new sale regulations prevent the space available in sheds being bolstered by marquees.
Carroll Barber, secretary of the British Charollais Sheep Society, says members would prefer not to see a limit on numbers, but she insists they will co-operate fully with sale organisers.
"The really important thing is that the sales are held. Breeders had a terrible time last year and it is vital that trading gets back to normal. Both sales at Builth Wells are very important to Charollais breeders and to the many finishers who depend on them to supply terminal sires."
The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has taken a provisional booking for the buildings for the two September dates, but has given the NSA until Feb 22 to confirm.
"Even though we do not know what rules will be in force, we anticipate there will be big logistical problems," says George Hughes, chairman of the 20- strong organising committee.
"We will have to arrange the washing and disinfection of a huge number of trailers. The available site is off the showground and, if it takes 12 minutes a trailer to wash down, we calculate needing at least eight washing points working flat out from 10am to 8pm to do the job.
"We know that there could be huge problems, but we are determined to go ahead if regulations allow sheep sales to take place."
In 2000, the turnover of the September sale was £1.8m. The 800 rams sold at the earlier NSA auction realised about £160,000. *
Buyers queue to pay for rams at Builth Wells. Its organisers are determined to go ahead with the sale this year, says George Hughes.