Buoyant Lamb Trade Augurs Well for Early Ram Sale
1st August 2016
The post Referendum increase in lamb prices augurs well for the NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale, to be held at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday 1st August, according to Chairman John Owens. He says lamb prices have been as much as £15 a head higher this year.
Mr Owens added: “The sheep trade has been buoyant thanks to the weaker pound, which is improving the export trade in the short term at least.
“I’m quietly confident of a good trade at the early sale. It’s clearly the place to come for good quality rams for the early lambing flocks and we’ve got a good entry of nearly 700 rams so there will be plenty to choose from.”
Executive Director Jane Smith added that the early sale is well established as the place to come to for early lambing flocks wanting the pick of the rams ready for tupping. It traditionally sets the price and buyers head for Builth knowing they can be sure of a top quality, healthy assured ram.
An innovation this year is the online entry form, a feature of the new NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales website. It was successfully tried out in readiness for the Early Ram Sale and will also be available for the main sale in September.
The new website is another tool to help buyers and vendors get the best out of the sale. The online entry form, online catalogue and gallery of pictures are all designed to make the buying and selling process as smooth as possible.
Last year’s Early Ram Sale achieved a top price of 1300 guineas for a Charollais ram, with a Texel making 1200 guineas. Turnover exceeded £195,000, with some breed averages well up on last year and, with 82.03% of rams sold, it was the highest ever clearance