Packed sale ring at Welshpool

A packed sale ring strengthened demand at the Suffolk Sheep Society's Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Club ram sale, including buyers returning to the leading native terminal sire.

Held at Welshpool, the sale yielded a top price of 540gns for the Horton flock whose shearling, sold by Mr and Mrs J. Pryce, of Meifod, on the Powys border, was purchased by G. P. Vaughan and Son, Machynlleth. The Horton flock also sold to 450gns, with six shearlings averaging 335gns.

Highest average of the day was achieved by J. F. Richardson, of the Jameson flock at Selattyn, Oswestry, who sold four shearling rams averaging 350gns.

Mr M. Mostyn, of the Gortheur flock at Newtown, took the champion with a shearling ram which sold for 230gns and Mr and Mrs J. Pryce (Horton) reserve champion with a ram lamb, judged by Eifion Edwards, North Wales.

Tom Cox of the Tomcroft flock at Church Eaton on the Staffordshire border attracted the highest price for a lamb at 360gns and averaged 225gns on nine sold.

Club secretary, Helen Davies, said: "There was a packed crowd around the ring all day and a real buzz, particularly considering the recent problems, including rescheduling the sale date. What was particularly heartening was to see a number of lamb producers returning to the Suffolk having used other breeds of ram in recent years."

Farm manager at Chillington Farm, Staffordshire, Andrew Blenkiron, is to talk to the Shropshire & Montgomery Club tomorrow at Shrewsbury Livestock Market. He will present his ideas on his "Ideal Suffolk Ram", commencing 8pm.

Contact andrew.blenkiron@smithsgore.co.uk, 01902 850269 or 07770 976181.