The National Sheep Association (NSA) is pleased to announce it will be holding an additional ram sale this summer in response to bluetongue regulations that have restricted animal movements from the start of this month.

Organised by the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale committee, the two Early Sales will take place at the beginning of August, one in Wales and one in England to accommodate buyers and vendors on both sides of the border.
The decision has been made in the light of Welsh Government bluetongue regulations. Organisers say it will save sheep farmers expense and time.

The first sale will be held on Monday 4th August at Brecon livestock market and the second at Hereford livestock market on Tuesday 5th August. With the current regulations, rams attending the Brecon Sale from England will be required to be pre movement tested.

NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales Executive Director, Jane Smith says: “As an organisation operating in Wales and the Borders it is imperative that we offer the best opportunities for both buyers and sellers to facilitate buying and selling rams while we have these challenges. We hope by offering the two venues we will give everyone the best chance.

“The deadline for entering sheep for sale at either venue has now been extended to Friday 18th July. We do already have sheep entered from England for the Brecon sale, but those vendors will be offered the opportunity to swap to the Hereford Sale.”

The sale will be conducted by auctioneers McCartneys and Clee Tompkinson in Brecon and by Hereford Market Auctioneer in Hereford. The pre-movement testing for bluetongue in livestock moving from England into Wales costs an estimated £60 to £70 per animal.

The NSA Wales & Border Early Ram Sale is especially important for early lambing flocks and is traditionally a trailblazer for the tup selling season.
Last year was the first NSA sale held at Brecon following its move from the Builth Wells and saw a solid stream of high prices and individual consigner averages. Averages were up by almost £200, with two rams each fetching a top price of 2,000 guineas and an 83% clearance rate, the highest ever for the sale.

Find more information and sale entry details on the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale website here.