A brisk trade at the Wales and Border twentieth annual Early Ram Sale was marked by a top price of 1950 guineas for a Texel shearling – almost doubling the top price achieved the previous year.

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The event held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells exceeded expectations and also enjoyed a successful trial run of the Tup Taxis, introduced to relieve congestion.

High top prices in the main breeds and, almost with out exception, increased averages set the season off to a good start, with 1300 guineas the top Suffolk price and 1150 guineas for the top Charollais. The organisers say a buoyant early lamb trade and good ewe prices drove the trade as buyers sought top quality rams to produce for next year.

Ram Sale Committee Chairman George Hughes said: "It’s been an excellent day for both vendors and buyers with a wide choice of top quality rams. There was a first class trade reflecting the current buoyancy of the sheep trade. It’s better than it’s been for years. And the ram prices have reflected that trade."

The top priced Texel was sold by mother and daughter team Barbara Smith and Jo, a Harper Adams student, who were both thrilled at making 1950 guineas. The pair focus on showcasing the flock while dad Rob tends to the family’s 150 pedigree Texel ewes at Slapton Manor, Towcester, Northamptonshire, and older daughter Sam enjoys a Gap Year.

Barbara Smith said: "It’s very pleasing that other people appreciate what we have seen in him for the past 18 months. He’s always been a front runner in the flock and out of a group of 75 male shearlings he was the biggest lamb born and has always been ahead.

"He’s a very long ram with a good gigot and good skin, which is our breeding policy. We’ve been trying to achieve it for a long time but it’s not the easiest thing to do!"

Buyer David Tomlinson of Manley, Frodsham, Cheshire, said the ram would produce good lambs and take forward his flock of just ten pedigree ewes. He had spotted him in the catalogue before the sale and liked his conformation and breeding.

The champion Texel was one of three Shearlings sold by Bill Quick and sons of Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monochorum, Crediton, Devon, for a thousand guineas each. Glasnant Morgan said he had decided on buying the champion before the show sale, having spotted him in the catalogue he admired his legs and the conformation which was needed to bring that extra edge as a Waitrose supplier.

The Texel aged ram average was up £219 on the year at £651, and the Shearling ram average was up £147.82 at £507.86.

The top priced Suffolk was sold by Gary Owen of Neuadd Wen, Newborough, Anglesey, Gwynedd, for 1300 guineas. It was sired by Meikleson Impression and went to Glyn Lewis of Wigfa Farm, Cilybebyll, Pontardawe, Swansea.

Conceding that he had had a good day, Gary said he ‘can’t complain’. His father Les Owen was more effusive, explaining that the semen had been bought in from Scotland after they noticed that Meikleson Impression’s progeny had been selling well there.

Les added: "He has thrown some nice ewe lambs. Meikleson has done well for us, with a dark black colour, a sheen in the legs and we are very pleased with the decision."

The average price for Suffolk rams was up £107.05 at £526.17 and the ram lamb average was up £23.92 at £393.75. The average for rams in the Suffolk Sheep Society Western Branch Area Sale, formerly held in Abergavenny, was £539.70 and for ram lambs £488.44.

The top priced Charollais was sold for 1150 guineas by Tim Pritchard of Castellau Farm, Llantrisant, to Frank Gwilliam, of Guilden Down, Clun, Craven Arms, in Shropshire. The shearling was sired by Galtres Dominator who sired the Royal Welsh Champion in 2006, 2007 and 2009, and the shearling’s full sister produced the reserve champion at the sale.

Frank Gwilliam said: "I liked his presence. He is such a great character and has good conformation. I also liked the breeding".

Charollais shearling ram averages were up £74.35 at £480.93 and Charollais ram lamb prices were up £13.74 at £372.24.

Berrichon rams achieved a top price of 470 guineas, 170 guineas up on last year, Hampshire Downs rams achieved 380 guineas, Poll Dorsets 180 guineas, 90 more than last year and Millennium Bleus 170 guineas.

The sale grossed £188,937.64, with 504 sheep sold. David Powell of Llandrindod Wells who was operating the Tup Taxi service for the first time said the team had been fully occupied. Buyers had been very happy with the innovation.

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