NSA Wales and Border Main Ram Sale

Date: 23rd September 2013

At the NSA Wales & Border Main Ram Sale at Builth Wells, a very strong commercial demand underpinned a buoyant event, with 4,524 rams sold to an average of £459.97. Clearance was 87%, up from 84% in 2012, and the sale grossed £2.08m.

Stephen Williams of Bomere Heath, Shropshire, paid the top price of 8,000gn for the Texel ram from Isle of Man-based Ballaglonney Ltd. Mr Williams sold a Texel to Ballaglonney back in 1992 and bought a son back from him (also at Builth), who went on to win all three Royal Shows in 2000. His repeat purchase from Ballaglonney this year set the trend for the Texel ring, which saw 750 yearling rams sold at an average of £624.02 (up £38.21 on 2012), achieving a clearance rate of 95%. The only other breed that saw such high clearance was the Cheviots, which achieved almost 100%.

The second high price was 4,000gns for Haverfordwest-based Jones and Sons’ three-year-old Bluefaced Leicester, which was originally bred by Tudor Harris of the Vale of Glamorgan and sold as a ram lamb at Builth for £900. It was bought by a consortium represented by David Henderson of Hawick.

The Bluefaced Leicester ring also saw a ram lamb sold to Dewi Williams of Bryn Dansi, Dolwen, Abergele, Clwyd, for 2,400 guineas. He in turn sold the first prize Bluefaced Leicester shearling ram for 2,200gns and his 52 sheep for an average £1,050. The overall Bluefaced Leicester average was up almost £10 on 2012 at £564.92

Other top prices included:-

  • 3,500gns for a Talybont Welsh Mountain shearling ram, sold by Alan and Mari Jones to Robert Davies, Llangynidr.
  • 2,720gns for a Charollais ram lamb bred by David Curran, Brecon.
  • 2,000gns for a Berrichon du Cher ram lamb, sold by R. and J. Graham, Stirling to R. Powell, Kelso.
  • 1,550gns for a Lleyn shearling ram, sold by Emrys and Dylan Jones, Machynlleth, to N. Legge, Herefordshire.
  • 1,200gns for a Suffolk ram lamb, sold by Mike Davies and Sons, Brecon, to Michael Clarke, Co. Wexford, Ireland.
  • 1,000gns for a Blue Texel ewe lamb, sold by David Alexander, Ayrshire, to G.B. Renfree, Quethioch.
  • 980gns for a Badger Face shearling ram, sold by Christie, Ryan and Alex Joseph to Langford of Whitehead.
  • 800gns for a Rouge ram, sold by John Watkins, Herford, to H.A. Bunning and Son, Morville.
The top price Texel
The top price Texel