Charollais champion sells for 1,500gns at NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale
6th August 2013
The last minute sale of the Charollais champion for 1,500 guineas injected real excitement into the NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale yesterday (Monday 5th August) at the Royal Welsh Showground.
The price for Arwel and Mandy Owen’s ‘fantastically well shaped’ ram lamb was paid by Yorkshire-based Robert Tindall, who marked him out at the beginning of the sale.
It was quite a way above the second highest price (1,050gns paid for David Corfield’s Texel shearling) and well above last year's sale top price.
A total of 312 rams were sold in a day that saw buyers in cheerful and optimistic mood. They were willing to pay for a quality animal, and the top price for both Charollais and Texel breeds was higher than last year with the Charollais ram lamb average up £70 at £443.
Gwynne Davies, NSA Wales & Border Sales Chairman, said: “The best sheep have sold well. There were plenty of people drawn by the quality tups. It augurs well for the main sale in September.”
Breed top prices held up against last year, with 900gns paid for a non- accredited yearling Suffolk bred by Brian Jones of East Pilton Farm, Rhossilli, Gower. It went to Will Owen of Criccieth.
A Beltex cross shearling ram sold by Gwynne Davies and Linda Western made 650gns, with three more making 600gns apiece. A Poll Dorset made 300 gns, while a Berrichon and a Berrichon cross each made 260gns, a Charmoise ewe 140gns and a Hampshire Down 240gns.
Charollais shearling rams averaged £516.96, MV-accredited Texel shearling rams averaged £472.02, Texel non-MV averaged £505.21, MV Suffolk rams £588 and Suffolk non-MV rams £611.
Arwel Owen of Garthbeibio Foel, Welshpool, was delighted to top the sale and to have the champion Charollais and the champion pen. His pen of ram lambs averaged 690gns in what he described as a mixed sale with ‘choosy’ buyers.
He runs 75 pedigree ewes and flushes four of the best ewes every year. He has been selling at the early sale for five years and this was the first time he had achieved the best price.
Buyer Robert Tindall of Wetherby,Yorkshire, said of the lamb, from a home-bred ewe and by Skelton King, that he was ‘sound, a block of meat. It was the ram he had spotted from the outset and the only one he bought, hoping it will bring him good sheep for the future.
David Corfield’s top selling Texel Fordwell Tokyo was sold in the ring by his daughter Bec. The home-bred yearling was by Connachan Rob Roy and sold to Janet Davies of Heyope, Knighton, who praised his nice length and shape and nice skin. She had been looking for something ‘with a bit of stretch and nice legs for the ewe lambs’.
