NSA Wales and Border Early Ram Sale 2016

Date: 1st August 2016

Location: Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, LD2 1DY

Buyers were in a confident mood at this year’s NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale, with keen bidding on quality, strong sheep at the Royal Welsh Showground on the first Monday in August.

It meant that, with just two more sheep sold this year than last, the gross sale figure for the 390-head put under the hammer was £213,615, compared to £195,000 in 2015. Average prices were generally up, and in some breeds substantially so. The top price overall was 3,350gns, up from 1,300gns last year.

This headline prices was for a Texel shearling from Dewi Williams of Abergele, Conwy, sold to Michael James of Builth Wells, Powys, for 3,350gns. The ram was sired by the son of Garngwr Upper Class, a ram sold at Lanark for £32,000, while the dam is a Llegodig ewe.

The second highest price was another Texel, the breed champion yearling sold by Barbara and Jo Smith from their Slapton Flock at Towcester, Northamptonshire. This went to Graham and Mary Jones for 2,100gns.

The highest priced Charollais, a shearling from Charles Marwood of York, North Yorkshire, went to R. Swift and Sons, Church Eaton, Staffordshire, for 1,220gns. There were two 1,000gns Suffolks, one of which was sold by John Sinnett of Stockton-on-Teme, Worcester, to Roger Morgan of Usk, Monmouthshire. The other was sold by T.C. and C.A. Harding of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to Derek Farr of Pontrilas, Herefordshire. The highest priced Beltex was sold by Tecwyn Jones, Llanrwst, Conwy, for 750gns to John Owen of Llanerchymedd, Anglesey.

Jane Smith, NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales Executive Director, said farmers had generally been looking for stronger sheep soon able to go out to work. This favoured yearlings and quality. Chairman John Owens agreed, saying: “Anything tidy had a good trade. The lamb prices recently have helped.”

2016's top price Texel ram, which sold for  3,350gns.
2016's top price Texel ram, which sold for 3,350gns.