Proactive Ram Sale Chair
10th September 2024
The man at the helm of this month’s NSA Wales & Border Main Ram Sale has high hopes for its success. It will be held at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday 23rd September.
It is Geoff Probert’s first Main Sale as chairman, having taken on the role in April. His confidence is founded on well rooted experience. Based in Worcestershire, he and his family have sold at the sale for 38 years and were buyers before that. Last year he and his wife Bridget had the highest price Charollais at last year’s Main Sale, a shearling that sold for 4,000 guineas. And he is buoyed up by the hugely successful Early Sale last month. He says: “Vendors and buyers were very happy with the early sale. It was a really positive atmosphere. “So everyone is now looking forward to the Main Sale at Builth. Fat lamb prices are firm and cull ewe prices are buoyant. The sheep trade is really good at the moment, so we’re looking forward to a great sale and wide choice of quality sheep.”
Geoff has a wide customer base for the continental tups he produces each year. He values the shop window provided by the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales and credits it for a healthy number of direct sales. He has reserved 50 of his best rams for Builth on 23rd September, despite tremendous demand for rams sold from home. His commitment to the sale is backed by a proactive approach. Geoff is delighted that the decision to move the Early Sale on cost grounds worked so well, with record clearance and a solid stream of high prices and averages. He has farmed at Northingtown Farm near Worcester for the past 28 years. The move from the home farm, Covenhope, near Leominster, where Geoff’s brother still farms, has allowed the family to expand and develop the business.
The family’s farming model is a mix of commercial and pedigree sheep production, a year round turkey enterprise, and beef from a dairy herd, all fed on homegrown forage and cereals. The commercial sheep system is managed solely by Geoff and Bridget, with support during busy times from their sons. William is a first year Agriculture student at Harper Adams University. Alex has recently completed his GCSE’s and is a talented rugby player studying for his A levels. Geoff explains: “The focus of the business is the sheep, with our main aim to produce a good number of quality yearling Charollais, Texel and cross bred rams for sale under the Mortimer prefix from the farm or through the NSA Wales & Border Main Ram Sale.”
To achieve this, the farm runs 350 Charollais and Texel home bred ewes. They are lambed from late February at Geoff’s brother John’s farm, so maintaining the pedigree flock’s health status. The flock of 1100 commercial, mostly Texel, cross ewes is lambed in batches at Northingtown from January to March. The Texel cross ewe lambs are lambed in April. The pedigree lambs return shortly after lambing and are given every opportunity to achieve their maximum potential. Geoff says: “Everything the pedigree rams eat is the best we can offer, firstly we sow the best grass seeds, then they are on roots throughout the winter. This could be turnips, kale, or fodder beet. “They then come back on to the best Spring grass we have on the farm and through summer, ahead of sale season.” A little home blended concentrate feed is offered, but with the final goal of always producing tups that are fit for purpose and not overfat, this is kept to a minimal amount. Commercial lambs are creep fed from birth, with the target of 1000 finished lambs to be sold by the time of the Royal Welsh Show. The remainder are finished on tack, with local dairy or beef farmers.
Geoff is pleased with the reputation built up over 28 years: “The Charollais in particular remains very popular in our area so we are able to sell stock well from home with many repeat customers, as well as sending a good number to Builth.” “We wouldn’t have sold anything from home before 2004, but it has become an increasing part of the business as people can come at a convenient time for them, whilst others simply prefer to buy direct from farm.
“We enjoy the sales, they allow us to do a bit of showing to see how our stock is comparing with others, you can view how other sires are performing for others and they offer the additional important benefit of social interaction. “There is little doubt we would not have built up our customer base if it wasn’t for the Builth sale.” The emphasis for Geoff is on good averages, rather than chasing the very top prices. And they have certainly been achieved in recent years, with an average of £961 overall last year from all sales and an average price of £1139 for Mortimer tups sold at the main Builth sale.
He says: “Our aim is always to produce a good number of quality tups, rather than chasing the very top price single animals. For me, the sheep industry is a triangle. “Cull ewes are its base, the next level is the finished lambs and as you move up to the point of the triangle you find the top pedigree animals. I am happy to sit in a reliable position where I can sell more for a good average price, rather than chasing the one top animal.” Geoff partly credits his success to the stock tups bought in over the years. Four new tups will be bought this year with new bloodlines acquired generally from either Builth, Worcester Premier Charollais sale, Carlisle, or Kelso. And he remains a great advocate of the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale: “Vendors have to send their best stock to Builth now, to get the very best prices.
“It’s needed to account for the cost of getting the sheep there, preparing them, commission and society fees etc. It may not be the cheapest place to sell but it’s one of the best shop windows and it keeps your name in conversations, whether people are buying at Builth or elsewhere – everyone will still look to see what the trade is there.” With the future for the sale remaining bright, Geoff is hopeful that more younger producers can be attracted on to the ram sale committee.
He concludes: “Of course, it’s an issue facing the whole farming sector but more young people are needed in all areas to embrace the modern ideas and technology. “It could certainly help secure the future of pedigree sales and complement the colossal effort that takes place each year, to put on a sale for everyone to enjoy and benefit from.”
An entry of 3,300 top quality sheep from across the UK means the scene is set for a vibrant sale at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday 23rd September. Last year the event headlined a turnover above £2million and a top price of 24,000 guineas for a Texel shearling from the Reed family in Haverfordwest. The high prices were underpinned by strong averages across the board, nearly 9% up on the previous year, with 90% of the rams forward sold.
Farm Facts
- 220 hectare (544 acres) Northingtown farm is home to sheep, dairy beef and poultry enterprises.
- Cereal crops of wheat and barley are also grown with all being used to feed stock.
- Focus of the business is the production and sale of pedigree Charollais, texel and Cross bred rams.
- Geoff was elected NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale Chairman in April this year.
Sent by [email protected] 07872823366
