Badger face Welsh mountain breeders witnessed a new breed record of 1,700gns for a Torddu tup at their latest sale at Brecon Livestock Market, having decided not to return to the NSA Builth sale.

Sale leader was a yearling tup from Lucy Levinge’s Llwyn-on flock based at Vowchurch, Herefordshire. He is by the sale leader from last year’s section, TDRE177 which sold for 1050gns. After some spirited bidding he found a new home with J A Langford, Totenhall, Cheshire.

The sale leader’s pen mate, another yearling similarly bred was then knocked down at 900gns to J Grisedale, Crooklands, Cumbria.

Torddu ram lambs topped at 520gns for Liz Davies, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. Here was homebred on both sides and caught the eye of D G and B Thomas, Llanddeusant, Carmarthenshire.

Meanwhile of the female Torddu offering, ewe lambs hit a top of 550gns for the female and reserve overall champion from G W and M M Jones, Pencader, Carmarthenshire. She is by TDRE 171, the 2019 Royal Welsh champion and highest price ram at the 2019 society sale and sold to the judge Gareth Jones, Felingwm, Carmarthenshire.

Of the Torddu ewes on offer Malcolm and Michelle Evans, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, sold their best for 400gns. The yearling took a first place in the ewe class and then caught the eye of N Tamplin, Caerphilly, Glamorgan.

Meanwhile, in the Torwen section, the sale leader was the pre-sale show champion, a ram lamb from Dafydd Lewis’ Cothi flock at Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire. He is by last year’s top price tup which is shared with the Silian flock. Taking him home at 950gns was Oliver Morgan, Caerphilly, Glamorgan.

Next up selling for 800gns was a Torwen ram lamb from Gareth Jones in the form of a son of TWRC38. This one was knocked down to ESW Jones and Co, Tywyn, Gwynedd.

Torwen yearling ram trade peaked at 720gns in the form of previous vendors Malcolm and Michelle Evans. His dam was reserve female champion at the Royal Welsh Show in 2016 and made the journey to his new home with M Roberts, Colestock, Kent.

Torwen female trade saw a top price of 650gns for the first prize ewe and reserve female champion from S K Pugh, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Securing this one for her Otterden flock was Gail Gribble, Faversham, Kent.

Ewe lamb trade then topped at 580gns for the pre-sale female champion and reserve overall from the home of the champion Torddu, G W and M M Jones. Homebred on both sides, this one went also went to Kent with M Roberts.

Averages:

Torwen: 11 ewes £356.04; 31 ewe lambs £187.54; 6 rams £509.25; 13 ram lambs £327.60.

Torddu: 48 ewes £191.66; 66 ewe lambs £169.19; 23 rams £511.76; 25 ram lambs £227.72 (McCartneys).