Builth Wells Ram Sale to be Three-Day Event
21/01/08

Traditionally Europe’s biggest, the NSA Wales & Borders Ram Sale is to adopt a bold new approach for 2008. The event will now be held in three parts, staged in the permanent buildings at the Royal Welsh Showground.

Royal Welsh Showground

The move away from the trademark canvas village was forced on the organisers in 2007 in response to the foot and mouth restrictions. Chairman George Hughes says it had been the right decision to go ahead with the sale and there had been many lessons learned.

"It was very much appreciated that we gave vendors the opportunity to sell their stock in difficult circumstances", he says.

"The sales last year had to be reorganised at the last minute. This year we feel we have the benefit of the lessons learned then and can plan in a relatively calm environment.

"Clearly we are living in unpredictable times as far as disease is concerned. Blue Tongue is a very real threat and last year’s foot and mouth outbreak is a sobering example of what can happen.

"We felt that in the present climate it would be foolish to continue under canvas, but that it is important to give our vendors every opportunity to sell their stock. We hope that by holding three sales, we will reduce delays in getting stock into the sale and, importantly, it should be a more hassle free experience for purchasers trying to get sheep away from the sale".

The new sequence of three sales will comprise: Sale 1, to be held on Monday August 4 and will include terminal sires; Sale 2 including lowland terminal sires to be held on Monday, September 15, and Sale 3 including selected lowland breeds together with upland breeds as well as Texel ram lambs and females, will be held on Saturday September 20.

Most society sales will include females.

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