NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale
Date: 6th August 2018
Location: Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells
Good Sale for Top Tups at NSA Wales and Border Early Sale
High prices were achieved for top tups at the NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale, held at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday 6th August. Averages were also up in Texel, Charollais and Suffolk rings, but fodder worries meant a disappointing number of rams sold.
The headline price of 2,800 guineas for a Corriecravie Texel shearling was a fitting 65th birthday present for Paul Johnson. He and his wife Anna have been attending the Early Sale for very many years and were delighted.
The price was well up on last year’s 1750 guinea top price, with an average of £637.29 for Texel shearling rams also up on last year. The top Charollais price was also up at 1900 guineas for a ram lamb, with the average for Charollais ram lambs reaching an increased £552.75, and a Suffolk ram lamb made 1050 guineas, with breed averages again generally higher than last year.
NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales Chairman Richard Gwilliam said: “I think the sale has reflected the season, there have been people whose stock have been eating this year’s winter fodder through the summer and they are waiting as long as possible to buy anything in.”
Executive Director Jane Smith added: “Once again we have seen that top quality rams are achieving good prices, but others were harder to cash. Lack of grass seems to have been the biggest deterrent.”
The Corriecravie shearling sold to a consortium comprising Danny Creer, Ballygloney, Robert Laird, Skirling Biggar, and Ed Samuel, Hendre. A Charollais breed champion ram lamb bred by Tim Prichard, Castellau, sold to Gethin and Eleri Gibbin for a breed high of 1900 guineas.
A Suffolk ram lamb bred by retiring NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale committee member, John Sinnett, sold for the breed highest price of 1050 guineas to ten year old Oliver Sparks of Miskin. A three year old ram topped the Beltex breed at 800 guineas and was sold by John Corbett back to his original breeder, Gary Williams of Gwynfe and his 12 year old daughter, Seren.
A Beltex X sold for 820 guineas, while the top Blue Texel price was 300 guineas. A Charollais X ram sold for 640 guineas, a Texel X for 800 guineas amd a Charmoise Hill for 300 guineas.
The sale grossed £161,847.50, with 293 sheep sold.
