Reflecting the trade in the breeding ewe sales held so far, trade at today’s NSA Early Ram Sale at Builth saw avergaes in many breeds fall back on last year’s levels.
Topping the sale was a three shear Charollais ram sold by the Quick family of Loosebeare Manor, Crediton, Devon. He had been breed champion at the Royal Cornwall Show and also reserve interbreed champion.
He went to Gwyn and Dale Jones of the Springfield Charollais Flock, Chepstow. Gwyn Jones described him as being very correct with plenty of substance and fleshing. He had come to this year’s sale, after bidding for him as a yearling two years previously.
Topping the Suffolk was Myfyr Evans with a tup lab from the Rhaeadr flock. The breed champion was bought by by Aled Williams of Amlwch, Anglesey.
Aled runs 30 pedigree Suffolk ewes and 1200 commercial ewes. He said he would be putting the ram on the pedigree flock to start with and said he was confident of getting a return on his money.
He added:”It’s important to invest in the best, you’ll get your money back in the stock produced. I like his correctness and all round quality. I think he’ll develop again and is a lamb with potential.”
The top priced Texel, Corriecrave Sea the Stars, sired by Brookhill Rambo, was sold for 1000gns. Paul and Anna Johnson who topped the sale last year with a 1500 guinea ram said trade was fairly steady, reflecting lamb prices.
Buyer Ryan Davies of Cefn Coch, Heyhope, Knighton, runs a commercial flock of 400 ewes. He believes in investing in a good tup to introduce quality to the flock, and that would be reflected in returns at slaughter. He praised the size, tight skin, and well fleshed tup. He said it had been the best at the sale.
John Pryce of Meifod, achieved 800gns with a shearling ram, with this one old to Aled Williams of Cwmcamlais, Brecon. It’s been very hard going today, said Mr Pryce. “The whole season is out of synch and no-one has got their head around tupping yet.”
NSA Wales and Border Ram Sales Chairman Gwynne Davies said that although averages were down, top quality tups had sold at a good price. It reflected buyers’ confidence in the quality rams offered at the early sale.
He added: “Maybe the average are down because of the wet summer. People haven’t weaned their lambs yet and aren’t putting ewes to the tup so early.”
The sale grossed £203,802, with 419 rams sold. Hampshire Downs, Dorsets, and Charmoise were among the breeds whose average prices were up on last year.
The Charollais breed saw shearling and ram lamb averages down £59.73 at £573.24 and £94.46 at £374.63 respectively on the year.
Texel ram aged ram averages were £144.38 down on last year at £441, shearling ram averages were £102.14 down at £478.80 and shearling ewes were down £169.17 at £303.33. The breed top price was 1000 guineas, compared to 1500 guineas last year.
Suffolk MV WS & S ram averages were £61.25 up on the year at £707, with Suffolk MV WS & S ram lambs averaging £8.69 more than last year at £584 and Suffolk MV rams £70.24 down on the year at an average £540. Non MV Suffolks were £266.88 down on last year at an average £525, with a top price of 820gns
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