Confidence Drives Brisk Sale
2nd August 2016
Buyers were in confident mood at this year’s NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale, with keen bidding on quality, strong, sheep ready to go out to work. It meant that, with just two more sheep sold this year than in 2015, the gross sale figure for the 390 sheep sold was £213,615, compared to £195,000.
Headline prices at the Royal Welsh Showground were also up on last year, with the highest priced ram, a Texel shearling from Dewi Williams, G P Williams & Co, Abergele, sold to Michael James of Maes Mynis, Builth Wells for 3,350 guineas. Last year the highest price was 1300 guineas for a Charollais.
The second highest price this year was also for a Texel, the breed champion yearling sold by Barbara and Jo Smith, from their Slapton Flock, Towcester, to Graham and Mary Jones for 2,100 guineas. Last year she achieved 1200 guineas, also for the breed champion.
The highest priced Charollais, a shearling from Charles Marwood, C W Marwood & Sons, York, went to R Swift & Sons, Church Eaton, Staffordshire, for 1220 guineas. There were two 1,000 guinea Suffolks, one sold by John Sinnett, Stockton-on-Teme, Worcester, to Roger Morgan, Usk, and the other sold by T C & C A Harding to Derek Farr of Pontrilas, Herefordshire.
The highest priced Beltex was sold by Tecwyn Jones, Nebo, Llanrwst, for 750 guineas to John Owen of Llanerchymedd, Anglesey. Average prices were generally up on last year, in some breeds substantially.
NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales Executive Director, Jane Smith, said that farmers had generally been looking for stronger sheep soon able to go out to work. This favoured yearlings and quality.
Chairman John Owens was also pleased, saying: “Anything tidy has had a good trade. The lamb prices recently have helped.”
Michael James who bought Dewi Williams’s highest priced ram said: “It’s a good tup, it’s got it where it needs to be, with a lot of length, muscle and a leg on each corner.”
The ram was sired by the son of Garngwr Upper Class, a ram sold at Lanark for £32,000, while the dam is a Llegodig ewe.
NSA Wales & Border Sales Committee member, John Sinnett, whose ram jointly topped the Suffolk trade, said the day had gone surprisingly well and he had had 100% clearance. Quality continued to sell well.
