Builth Ram Sale Returns Up on Last Year
2011-09-20

A buoyant trade with buyers ready to pay good prices for good sheep saw a top price of 6,800 guineas paid for a Bluefaced Leicester at the main NSA Wales and Border Ram sale at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday 19 September.

Top price at the ram sale was 6,800gns for a Bluefaced Leicester ram lamb - a personal best for Aled Jones of Meddiant Isa.

The turnover was more than £92,000 up on last year at £2,289,339.30 with 4,663 sheep (86%) sold, 152 more than last year. Headline prices at the event, Europe’s biggest, hovered around the 5,000 guinea mark, with 5,500 guineas paid for a Lleyn yearling ram, and an overall average price of £490.96, £3.95 more than last year.

Chairman Gwynne Davies said that it had been a good sale, with the best tups selling exceptionally well. The vendors and purchasers had gone home happy.

He added: "People are willing to pay good money for quality sheep which in the long term will produce the best lambs. There has been a good feeling at the sale, with one of the biggest crowds ever and a great buzz."

The 6,800 guineas achieved by Aled Jones of Meddiant Isa, Talycafn, Conwy Valley, was a personal best during an ‘amazing day’. The ram was sold to Myrfyn Roberts of Myfyrian Isaf, Gaerwen, Anglesey, who produced the breed champion, and Aled will retain a 50% share.

He said: "It’s just been an amazing day and it doesn’t happen very often. I had the top price yearling, which sold for 1,700 guineas and the top priced female which sold for 580guineas.

"The ram lamb was the lamb of a lifetime from the start and was first in the Welsh progeny show in Welshpool in August. I’ve got a photograph of him at a week old in the field and knew he was special then."

Second top price was 5,500gns for a Lleyn yearling ram from Emrys and Dylan Jones, Machynlleth..

A yearling Lleyn ram bred by Emrys and Dylan Jones, Lluest Wen, Commins Coch, Machynlleth, sold for 5,500 guineas to Christine Lewis of Caersws in partnership with Alun Bennett, DN Bennett and Son, Meifod. They liked ‘his correctness and his figures’ and were delighted with him.

Dylan Jones said he had been a very good lamb. His sire was Bronallt Big Daddy and the dam was by Balliney Action Man.

A Texel bred by Angela Nairey of Heys Lane, Blackburn, was bought for 5,000 guineas by Russell and Gill Watkins of the Millend Flock, Craswell, Herefordshire. Russell Watkins summed up the day, saying people were prepared to spend, but the sheep had to be right.

A Talybont Welsh Mountain bred by Rob and Llinos Jones of Lower Argoed, Llandeilo Grabham, Erwood, sold for 5,000 guineas to Rob Davies, Ty Canol, Talybont on Usk. The Suffolk breed champion, a ram lamb, bred by M Davies and Sons, Llangorse, Brecon, sold for 980 guineas. The highest breed price was 1,000 guineas.

A Charollais ram lamb bred by Dewi Evans of Tyddyn y Ffrwd, Llangallo, Moelfre, Anglesey was sold for 3,200 guineas to William Ingram who bred the breed champion. The Texel champion bred by Paul Quick of Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, sold for 1400 guineas.

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