Melton Midlands Sheep Fair incorporating the NSA Eastern Ram Sale
Date: 16th September 2022
Location: Melton Mowbray Market
Top quality rams attracted some keen buyers at NSA Eastern Region’s ram sale last Friday 16th September at Melton Mowbray Market.
The sale saw a record breaking number of entries and the quality of stock was evident for all to see with bidders having a good number of rams to select from with some well-known breeders putting forward some excellent pens from which to choose.
The pre-sale show was judged by Mr Andrew Needham of TW Needham & Sons, who found his champion pen of rams from the Charollais breed and from regular supporters of the NSA and Melton, CD Timm. The reserve champion pen of sheep came from the ram lambs, again Charollais, which were from a Yorkshire supporter of Melton, Deborah Whitcher with her Galtres Flock.
Selling followed the show, with encouraging prices bid for all breeds. Charollais shearling rams sold to the leading price of 1200gns followed at 1150gns, 1100gns and 1000gns all from Messers Timm who were well rewarded for the journey south.
Suffolk shearlings topped at 1100gns for Garner & Son, while the show of Texel rams were away to a high of 1000gns.
Cross bred rams, although last in the catalogue, still saw plenty of demand and topped for team Smith, with Texel X Beltex rams to 900gns, whilst Deborah Whitcher saw her Texel x Charollais rams to 880gns, alongside Charollais x Beltex from CD Timms to hit highs of 800gns.
Continental rams on the day sold above the 750gns mark, with Suffolk rams from several different vendors selling between 500-600gns. The other pure breeds saw a top call for Blue Texels from R & B Smith and H McCurdie to top at 580gns, with PA & HM Coles to top at 550gns. Border Leicester Shearling rams see a high of 300gns for JW & SM Hallam & Eggleston.
Another successful sale of breeding rams, which saw a record number entered and strong demand from start to finish.
Averages:
Charollais - £775.91
Texels - £664.89
Suffolks - £624.50
Blue Texel - £544.50
Class results:
Pen of 4 Suffolk Ram Lambs
1st - John Key, Midhope Suffolks, Sheffield
2nd - D&J Inman, Melton Mowbray
3rd - Hallam & Eggleston, Loughborough
Pen of 4 Suffolk Shearling Rams
1st - Chris Timm, Pickering, N Yorkshire
2nd - Garner & Son, Horncastle, Lincolnshire
3rd - Hallam & Eggleston, Loughborough.
Pen of 4 Charollais Ram Lambs
1st - Galtres Farming, York
2nd - C.W. & J.M. Thomas, Coventry
Pen of 4 Charollais Shearling Rams
1st - Chris Timm, Pickering, N Yorkshire
2nd - Garfield Stephens, Melton Mowbray
3rd - Mark wilkin, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Pen of 4 Texel Ram Lambs
1st - R & B Smith (Slapton), Towcester
2nd - Neil Ruby, Boston, Lincolnshire
Pen of 4 Texel Shearling Rams
1st - Philip Weaver, Newark, Nottinghamshire
2nd - Garfield Stephens, Melton Mowbray
3rd - P.A. & K . Barnes, Tamworth, Staffordshire
Champion pen of rams – Chris Timm, Pickering, N Yorkshire
Best pen of ram lambs – Galtres Farming, York
Best pen of shearling rams – Chris Timm, Pickering, N Yorkshire
