Leading trade at last Wednesday’s (August 19) NSA South West Ram Sale at Exeter Market was a Suffolk ram from Andrew and Wendy Reed selling for 1200gns which was bought by G Hillson, Yelverton, Devon.

This one is by Bireness Knockout, a tup purchased from Kelso two years ago and out of a home bred dam by Beaconhill Noble Lad.

Second highest price in the Suffolks was a call of 1150gns for a ram from E W Quick and Sons, Crediton, Devon. This one is by Mon Activator and was knocked down to Broadfield Farms, Cheltenham, Glos.

Meanwhile in the Texel ring, trade hit a high of 1050gns for a ram from the previously mentioned Quick family’s Loosebeare flock. Sale leader was Loosebeare Captain, a Maineview Battlecry son out of a dam by Cennen Magnum which sold to H Cobbledick, Bude, Cornwall.

South West Farmer:

The top call in the Texel ring was a call of 1050gns for a shearling ram from E W Quick and Sons

Three then made 950gns, with the first of these being from Robert and Rebecca Jordan, Chagford, Devon, in the form of Moortown Caesar, a Decoy Action Man son out of a dam by Langside United. He found a new home with J Goffin, Horley, Surrey.

Second at this price was Launceston, Cornwall based Phil Martyn-Uglow’s Hornacott Conker. He’s by Beautry Achilles and out of a Chargot Rocky daughter and was knocked down to W M Heard, Inwardleigh, Devon.

And the third and final 950gns call was made for another from the same home, Hornacott Clover. Sired by Midlock Youretheone and out of a Craig Farm Yazza daughter, he sold to N A Cooke, Torrington, Devon.

Following that came a 900gns bid for Hornacott Cracker from the same pen again. This one is by Arkle Bluebird and out of a dam by Chargot Rocky. It heads to Ashford, Kent with Jim Lukehurst.

Sale leader in the Beltex ring at 950gns was a shearling ram from James and Belinda Kimber, Chippenham, Wiltshire. Beanhill KPC E4468 is by Fingle Colonel and is out of a homebred ewe by Powerhouse Armani and was knocked down to S G Harraway, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Two other shearling rams sold for 600gns, the first being one from G Dufosee, Warminster, Wiltshire for Spectre Edgar, a son of Freckleton Wolverine. This one sold to A H Payne, Newquay, Cornwall.

Next best at that money was a shearling ram from Exeter, Devon-based Louise Elworthy. This one was Fingle Enterprise, a son of The Bare Boy, selling to P L Heard, Okehampton, Devon.

Top price in the Beltex female offering was a 600gns aged ewe, Talewater Chelsea from J and G Howieson, Minehead, Somerset. This one is by Dooley Asteroid and sold to previous buyer A H Payne.

Carrying on their strong form from the Suffolk and Texel rings, the Quick family topped Charollais trade at 720gns for a Loosebeare Star son out of a home bred ewe by Rhaeadr Omnibus daughter. Buyer here was Ireland Farm, Okehampton, Devon.

Next best at 700gns came from the same pen in the form of another Loosebeare Star son, this time out of a Logie Durno Orlando daughter. This one was knocked down to B J Griffiths, Umberleigh, Devon.

Other leading prices from the day include a 700gns call for a Chartex ram from the Quick family selling to J Lukehurst, Ashford, Kent with the same price paid for a Lleyn ram from Twose Farms Ltd, Whitland, Carmarthenshire selling to R F Ford and Son, Crediton, Devon. Blue Texel tups saw a top price of 380gns for a shearling ram from James and Belinda Kimber selling to M D and K E Lanfear, Bristol, Somerset and in the Border Leicester ring, R J and S Whitcombe topped trade at 350gns for a shearling ram selling to James Eustice Farms, Wadebridge, Cornwall.

Commenting on the sale, NSA South West chairman Robert Jordan said: “It was a successful sale considering the circumstances. A huge thank you must be passed on to all buyers and vendors for working with NSA and Kivells to deliver a successful sale.”

Averages:

Breeding ewes: 6 Charollais £434; 3 Suffolk £329; 11 Texel £451.50; 16 Beltex £447.56

Rams: 3 Blue Texel £325.50; 59 Charollais £443.67; 6 Hampshire Down £360.50; 79 Suffolk £547.59; 103 Texel £567.017; Border Leicester £322.50; 27 Beltex £490.39; 21 Berrichon £404.507; 6 Blue Face Leicester £318.50; 5 Lleyn £575.40; 2 Poll Dorset £210 (Kivells).