NSA Wales and Border Early Ram Sale 2015
Date: 3rd August 2015
Despite initial predictions, trade at the NSA Wales and Border Early Ram Sale was strong, with top prices and clearance rates exceeding those of 2014, reflecting buyers confidence in the quality of rams in the 25th annual sale at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth.
The top price of 1,300 gns was paid for a Charollais, with a Texel making 1,200 gns, generally the sale also saw some improvement to breed averages.
NSA Wales and Border Ram Sales Executive Director, Jane Smith, said: “This early sale has achieved the highest clearance in its 25 year history, with 82.03% of rams being sold. Turnover exceeded £195,000, with some breed averages well up on last year. Our early sale is the first big commercial sale of tups in the season and people were quite worried, so this really bodes well for the NSA Wales and Border Main Ram Sale. It appeared that there were a lot of people looking for tups so if they haven’t bought today they will probably be back for the Main Sale on Monday 21st September. It is evident that people are looking for good quality tups, with the lower end struggling. We don’t have many at that lower end, which is why our clearance rate is so good.”
NSA Wales and Border Ram Sales Chairman, John Owens, said: “It was nice to see good rams making good money, with the finished lamb trade as it is at the moment. Hopefully, it augurs well for the Main Sale in September.”
Brightwells auctioneer, Mike Evans, said he felt trade had held up and was on a par with last year, despite the concerns of vendors. Mike added that people had turned up and paid good money for what was, generally, a good show of sheep.
The top price,1,300 gns, went to Yorkshire Charollais breeders, C.W. Marwood and Son, who sold to D&A Fenwick of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Their March born shearling taking the top price won breed champion and interbreed champion at three major shows, including the Great Yorkshire.
Texel breeder, Barbara Smith of Slapton Manor, Towcester and her daughter Jo, were also delighted with the trade, particularly with the 1,200 gns paid for their Champion shearling, which topped the breed price. It was sold to R.E. & C.J. Davies of Yockleton, Shrewsbury. Another of their tups took Reserve and was sold for 1,100 gns to K& J Davies, Knighton. Barbara said: “Our success is a welcome morale boost in the light of the current lamb trade, our commercial lambs are down £20 a head on 2014. It’s not very often that you get a Reserve and a Champion out of the same pen, as we have today. We had the Champion here in 2013 and the highest price for our tup in 2014 plus our success today, so it’s been a very good three years.”
A cross bred Beltex ram sold for 800 gns to T.A. Jones of Dryslwyn, Carmarthenshire. The highest prices Suffolk sold for 700 gns to the Jones family of Llandeilo Graban, near Builth Wells. The second highest priced Suffolk, came from Mike Davies and sons of Trefeinon near Llangorse was sold to A.J. Price and Son from Walton, Presteigne.
The highest priced Hampshire Down rams were a pair sold by Eirlys Jones of Maesglas, Wolfscastle, for 400 gns each. Eirlys said “Trade hasn’t been too bad and top prices have been higher than last year”
