The two largest ram sales in the UK, Kelso Ram Sale and the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, have once again been dominated by Texels, as buyers showed confidence in the face of uncertainty and backed the breed’s reputation with strong bidding.
The two largest ram sales in the UK, Kelso Ram Sale and the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, have once again been dominated by Texels, as buyers showed confidence in the face of uncertainty and backed the breed’s reputation with strong bidding.
At the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells, registered Texel rams accounted for 27% of the sale’s value, more than twice that achieved by any other breed and an increase from 25% in 2018 and 23.6% in 2017, demonstrating a clear trend in demand for Texels at the sale and a willingness of commercial buyers to invest in the breed for the long-term.
Kelso, meanwhile, saw registered Texels claim a 25.5% market share by value, with this figure also increasing on the previous two years.
At Builth it was clear from the ringside that commercial buyers were bidding strongly and, in some cases, competing with pedigree buyers for the sheep they wanted.
The average of £766.53 for registered shearlings was again the best achieved in the last three years, increasing by more than £80 on the 2018 sale.
The same was true at Kelso, with the registered shearlings sold there averaging out at £975.20, up more than £90 on 12 months earlier and showing a clear improvement on the two previous sales, despite lower headline prices being achieved.
Society chief executive John Yates said both sales had been massive votes of confidence from commercial buyers about the abilities of the breed to deliver added value for their flocks.
“The breed’s premium earning potential is well recognised by buyers at both of these major sales and buyers have clearly sought out Texels to give them some assurance of quality and premium prices in these uncertain times,” he added.
It is clear at both sales that buyers respect the assurance that pedigree offers, with registered rams earning a significant premium over those sold in unregistered rings.
At Kelso registered shearlings averaged more than £400 more than their unregistered counterparts, while at Builth the difference was in excess of £200.
“In both cases the premium earned by registered flocks has grown year on year as buyers seek out the quality and assurance offered by pedigree stock. Furthermore, recorded rams were also in demand at both sales, with recorded stock among the top prices at both sales,” explained Mr Yates.
While there has been much made of the increasing appeal of crossbred and hybrid sheep in recent years, both numbers sold and clearance rates at these sales tell a different story. “These sale results clearly demonstrate that this hype is not being borne out in sales figures,” said Mr Yates.
When it comes to total Texel sales at both sales the demand for the breed clearly outstrips all others. At Kelso the breed represented 40% of the value of all rams sold when both registered and unregistered rams are included.
Meanwhile, at Builth Texels accounted for 41% of the sales value once the registered and non-registered rams are accounted, with more than £707,000 spent on Texels during the day.
