NSA Wales and Border Early Ram Sale 2014
Date: 4th August 2014
A sound commercial trade, with good rams selling well, was the hallmark of the NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale at the Royal Welsh Showground today. The 24th annual sale saw a top price of 1200 guineas paid for a Texel, 1100 guineas for a Suffolk and 1000 guineas for a Charollais.
Executive Director, Jane Smith, said the results augured well for the September sale as there had been fewer rams forward. She added that although the lamb trade could be better, the ewe trade was good, a factor that benefitted trade.
Chairman Gwynne Davies was also pleased with the day’s selling, with buyers lookingfor well sized carcass sheep for the early lamb trade. He said good sheep hadsold well, with averages in the main breeds up by as much as £100.
Suffolks saw the biggest increase in average prices, with the average for MV accredited rams up £168 on last year in one ring and £105 in another. Shearling ram averages in the Texel lines were up £92.92.
Mr Davies added:”They wanted bigger sheep today. A lot of these tups will be used for the early market. They have to have a bit of weight to command the money. You want sheep with a bigger frame and a good carcass.”
The 1200 guinea shearling Texel ram was bred by Barbara Smith and her daughter, Jo, of Slapton Manor, Towcester. Another of their shearlings sold for 1,000 guineas.
The 1100 guinea Suffolk lamb ram was bred by Dafydd Jones of The Frongoy Flock,Llannon, near Aberystwyth and was reserve male champion at this year’s Royal Welsh. It was sold to Stuart Davies, who farms in Shropshire. Another lamb by the same sire, BurnView Balls of Fire, sold for 1,000 guineas.
Two Charollais sold for 1,000 guineas each. A shearling ram was bred by Mr and Mrs Arthur and Rosemarie Wrayford, Wotton Flock. Another shearling bred by Mrs Deborah Whitcher, Skewsby, near York, sold to the Roberts family of St Clears. The ram was a birthday present for Olwen Roberts, of Penparc Farm, who celebrates her 6th birthday on Wednesday 6th August. Her 8 year old brother, Gilbert has Beltex sheep and 3 year old Maldwyn has Bluefaced Leicesters. The three have the Cymin Flock flock prefix.
Another youngster, 12 year old Gwydion Howells, son of Hybu Cig Cymru’s Gwyn Howells bought one of Barbara and Jo Smith’s Texels.
Chairman Gwynne Davies presented awards to retiring NSA Wales and Border Ram Sale committee members, Emlyn Kinsey Pugh, a founder member, and Jim Powell. He praised them for their vision and hard work.
For more information contact Jane Smith on 01291673939 or jane@nsaramsales.co.uk .
