The Annual Main Ram Sale staged by the NSA was held on Monday 21st September at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. It represents one of the last opportunities for vendors to cash in on their hard-earned year’s work. A good turnout of quality MV Suffolk ram lambs was sold by Straker Chadwick, with our adopted auctioneer in the area, Lyndon Trumper, on the rostrum.
Strong Trade and 100% Clearance at Builth Wells
The lambs forward were all of excellent quality and met with a terrific trade. A 100% clearance was achieved at the sale, with all lambs finding new postcodes. The top call of 2,050gns went to local breeder Dafydd Jones of the Frongoy flock, a regular consigner at Builth.
The sale averaged 780gns, rubber-stamping the changing nature of the traditional white-faced sheep area as more commercial flocks look to reap the rewards of using Suffolk genetics.
Jim Hartwright Judges the Pre-Sale Show
The pre-sale show was expertly judged this year by Mr Jim Hartwright of Worcester. He went about the task diligently, with the top prices more or less reflecting his decisions, always a challenge at a show and sale.
Frongoy Flock Takes Top Price of 2,050gns
As well as securing the top price for Frongoy, Dafydd Jones’s pen went on to achieve further high prices. The third prize lamb in the show sold to 1,700gns. Three further lots attained the four-figure mark, with one selling at 1,050gns and two further lots reaching 1,000gns.
The investment made by the Frongoy flock was further justified by the judge awarding them the Best Pen award at the show prior to the sale.
Glanmartin Flock Reaches 1,500gns
Claire Whitticase of the Glanmartin flock, Oswestry, took the honours in the show section, with her first-placed ram returning 1,500gns. Another ram from the pen also reached the 1,000gns mark, providing another strong result for the flock.
Claddagh Flock Continues Strong 2026 Run
Keira and Lucy Greaney of the Claddagh flock, Llansoy, sold their second-prize entry at 1,000gns. Others from the same pen sold for 1,100gns and 1,050gns. This rounded off a good year for the flock, which has enjoyed several accolades throughout 2026.
Fourlans, Wigfa and RB & RG Morgan Among Leading Consignors
Gavin Rees of the Fourlans flock, Llanwrda, sold his fourth-prize lamb at 1,000gns, with all the rosette winners attaining four-figure sums.
Glyn Lewis of Wigfa, a regular consignor at Builth, achieved a top price of 1,000gns in his pen. Our past president Glenys Morgan and daughter Kaye of RB & RG Morgan, Usk, also sold lambs to 1,000gns.
Salopian Reserve Champion Reaches 1,250gns
The first-prize small pen and reserve champion from Messrs Poole of Salopian, Shrewsbury, produced a top price of 1,250gns, adding another strong result to an impressive day of trading.
117 MV Suffolk Ram Lambs Sold to a 780gns Average
In total, 117 ram lambs changed hands at an increased average price this year of 780gns. An increase of £87.55 per head over last year and provides further evidence of the strong demand for Suffolk genetics.
Strong Trade for Non-MV Shearlings
A tremendous trade was also experienced in the Non-MV shearlings ring in Ring 9 under the McCartneys Auctioneering team. There was a 95% clearance, with 274 rams sold to a top price of 3,800gns. The ring average of £1,402.02, showed an increase of £187.00 on the year.
Suffolk Genetics Continue to Gain Recognition
All in all, the ram sale once again reflected the growing recognition of what Suffolk genetics can do for a flock. With strong demand, a 100% clearance of the MV Suffolk ram lambs and significant increases on the previous year, the results at Builth Wells demonstrated the continued confidence of commercial producers in the breed and the value being placed on quality Suffolk breeding.
