As the main UK sheep breeding season approaches farmers looking to source top quality stock will be spoilt for choice at the National Sheep Association (NSA)’s upcoming ram sales.
With two successful NSA sales having already taken place this summer attention now turns to the remaining NSA Eastern Region sale at Melton Mowbray market (As part of the Melton Midland Sheep Fair) on Friday, September 17 and the largest of all the NSA sales, NSA Wales and Border Main Ram Sale at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on Monday, September 20.
Buyers at both sales can bid with confidence with assurance offered by veterinary inspections of rams at both sales.
This service is especially welcome as it was previously thought that inspections would not be able to take place under current Covid-19 rules.
The inspection team at Melton Mowbray will be supported by a vet for the first time this year and in addition, the market will charge a 1% buyers fee offering extra assurance.
Leicestershire sheep farmer and NSA Eastern Region committee member Charles Sercombe will assist with the inspections at Melton.
He said:
Buyers can purchase at the Melton Midland Sheep Fair incorporating NSA Eastern Region’s ram sale in the knowledge that all rams will have been inspected by a vet and will have passed a rigorous check of teeth, testicles and toes.
“As one of the largest ram sales in the UK, the NSA is excited to welcome back the NSA Wales and Border ram sale this year, after Covid-19 restrictions prevented its running in 2020.
“Despite the sale’s absence last year vendors have returned in high numbers with 3,800 top quality sheep from across a range of breeds to be offered for sale.”
NSA Wales and Border Ram Sale executive director, Jane Smith, commented: “The level of entry reflects the huge amount of confidence in the sale.
There has been so much uncertainty with Covid that for people to enter such a large number of sheep eight weeks in advance of the sale shows huge confidence.
“We’re delighted that we are, restrictions allowing, able to underpin that confidence with the veterinary inspection of all rams.”
