Date: 23rd September 2024
On an inclement day sheep started to arrive at the Royal Welsh showground for the 2024 main NSA ram sale. A further reduction in numbers of lambs forward at what is a spectacular event was the talk of the sale with 2754 sheep forward on the day. 459 Suffolks between rings 5 the MV accredited Ram Lamb section and the Non MV accredited Shearling ram section in Ring 8 with both rings busy throughout the sale.
There were 420 sheep in total finding new homes meaning a Suffolk average clearance rate of 91.5% clearance rate across the two rings reinforcing the return of the commercial farmer to Suffolk. As was reported at Kelso, many of the sheep forward in the Non MV section are consigned by members but they have chosen to sell their shearling sheep in that section. It may well be that on further analysis of the pens of lambs forward and from who, we should open dialogue to have a MV accredited Shearling ring at Builth.
The top price Suffolk was a yearling in the non MV accredited ring 8 from J&M Hartwright, Springfields flock and a member of the Suffolk Sheep Society sold for 4,200 guineas. It went to LE Lloyd & Sons, Sarnsfield, Herefordshire. Nicki Hartwright was thrilled to have achieved what is thought to have been the highest breed price ever achieved at the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales. She said he was a special ram that doesn’t come along very often, a very modern, smart tup with the style to match.
Overall the Shearling trade was an average of £968.32 an increase on the year of £13.44 and a 91% clearance rate.
The second highest price Suffolk was for a ram lamb, sold for 1900 guineas by regular consignee at Builth Glyn Lewis, from the Wigfa flock Pontardawe whose pen went on to sell very well. We were sorry to hear that Glyn himself could not be at the sale for the first time for many years as he was unwell, but the lambs were ably shown and sold by daughter Rhian.
The average achieved in ring 5 was £634.69 which was an increase over last year of £66.21 per head and a clearance rate of 93% a huge change from 2023 where it was 80%.
Show results held in ring 5 of the Ram lambs were judged by Mr Love from the west country who did a thorough job with the commercial man in mind and giving the awards as follows.
Results of the Judging at Builth NSA
Ring 5 Ram Lambs
1st lot 1081 R Western – Tredodridge
2nd lot 1061 D Jones – Frongoy
3rd lot 1053 K&L Greaney – Claddagh
4th lot 1012 D Roberts – Llwyn
5th lot 1003 G G Lewis – Wigfa
6th lot RB & GM Morgan – Llangeview
Best Pen of Lambs
1st D Jones lots 1061 – 1072 – Frongoy
2nd BJ & LA Pritchard lots 984 – 993 Crucorney
3rd D Roberts 1009 – 1014 – Llwyn
