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Record High Demand for Commercial Ewes and Rams at Virginia Sale
Livestock Update, April 1997
Steve Umberger, Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech
Record average prices were paid for the 201 commercial bred ewes sold at the sixth annual Virginia Commercial Bred Ewe and Ram Sale held at the New River Valley Fairgrounds in Dublin, Virginia on Saturday, March 1. Buyers from five states reflected in their bids the heightened level of enthusiasm and optimism for sheep production that currently exists throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. Forty sale lots of bred ewes ranging from two to nine head per lot brought prices of $185 to $310 per head, with an overall weighted average of $220.80. This year's sale average eclipsed last year's record sale average by $55 per head. Four ewes with lambs at side sold for $400 per head. Eight rams ranged in price from $175 to $530 per head, with an overall average of $334.48.
Consignors to the ewe sale were A.C. Spotts III, Dublin, Va.; Douglas Flory, Grottoes, Va.; Rocking R Farms, Staunton, Va.; Hickory Hill Farms, Blacksburg, Va.; Chuck Shorter, Blacksburg, Va.; and Virginia Tech Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Blacksburg, Va. Of the 205 ewes sold, 139 head were purchased by out-of-state buyers from North Carolina, West Virginia, and Vermont. The top selling price of $310 per head was paid on a group of four Hampshire ewes consigned by Rocking R Farms. The ewes were purchased by Sandy Roberson of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Consignors to the ram sale were Bobby Shockley, Hillsville, Va; LaVerne Coseo, Fries, Va.; Adam and Jason Shiflett, Grottoes, Va.; A.C. Spotts III, Dublin, Va.; Wade Brothers, Greenville, Va.; Rocking R Farms, Staunton, Va.; and Lili Weik, Warrenton, Va. The top selling price of $530 was paid on a Suffolk ram consigned by Bobby Shockley. The ram was purchased by Emory Lane of North Tazewell, Va.
Ewe and ram consignments are accepted from Virginia and surrounding states. Information concerning the 1998 sale will be available late this spring, with consignments taken during September and October. For information on the 1998 sale, write or call Richard White, Extension Agent, Pulaski County, 143 Third Street, N.W. - Suite 3, Pulaski, VA 24301-4999, (540)980-7761.