All eyes will be on former Suffolk breeder Liz Lang of Fingask, Dairsie, by Cupar, when she kickstarts the Kelso Ram Sales with the traditional ringing of the bell on Friday, September 13, at 10am.
Daughter of the late Willie McGowan MBE, a regular buyer and seller at Kelso, she continues the rich heritage he began, having been presented with a Beef Shorthorn lifetime achievement award at the Great Yorkshire Show.
This year's Kelso Ram Sales at the Border Union Agricultural Society’s Showground Springwood Park, like all 2024 tup sales to date, have seen a fall in entries – down 509 on 2023 figures.
“It’s a trend we’ve seen at all the sales this year following the phenomenal prices paid for finished lambs in March and April which has taken out some of the market,” Dan Withall, chief executive told The Scottish Farmer.
“The reduced entry shouldn't affect the trade as we are looking to sell the best of the best rams at Kelso and we are still expecting to achieve high clearance rates,” Mr Withall said, adding that this year’s event again includes consignments from Northern Ireland even though they’re unable to be sold back to the province.
Backing up these statements, David Neill, chairman of the Border Union Ram Sales committee, commented: “Entries, while a little back on last year, are of the best quality and from renowned and reliable breeders. Kelso Ram Sales are an important day for the industry and the Scottish Borders. I look forward to a confident sale with a high average.”
Following last year's record-breaking year which saw 3444 head sell to a top of £36,000 to average £1056.35 – up £56 on 2022 figures – the 2024 event has attracted an entry of 3772 spread across 16 breeds which will be sold through 15 covered sale rings.
Interestingly, the Texel breed has suffered the biggest loss with entries down from 1400 to 1100 head, while the Bluefaced Leicester and Suffolk breeds are both down 30 each at 421 and 950, respectively.
Other breed entries will be forward from the Beltex, Berrichon, Blue Texel, Border Leicester, Charollais, Dorper, Dutch Texel, Hampshire Down, Lleyn, North Country Cheviot, Oxford Down, Vendeen a long with a large selection of cross-bred rams of all breeds and crosses.
The Kelso Ram Sales date back to 1838 and have grown into a multi-breed event that is internationally renowned and of huge economic benefit to the Scottish Borders.
A full ballot listing can be found at: Border Union Ram Sales – Border Union Agricultural Society.
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