Encouraging Numbers for the 2025 Border Union Kelso Ram Sales

Despite the additional requirements around Bluetongue regulations, Harrison & Hetherington report a significant increase in entries for the upcoming Border Union Kelso Ram Sales, taking place on Friday, 12^th September 2025, with over 100 more rams forward than in 2024.

 

With 1,644 rams set to go under the hammer at the Border Union Showground in Kelso, this remains one of the UK’s most important annual sales for the sheep industry. For H&H, the UK’s foremost livestock auctioneers, it is a key fixture in their sales calendar, and this year they have 1644 rams included in the ballot, comprising:

• 762 Suffolk
• 150 Texel, including Blue Texel
• 57 Border Leicester
• 265 Cross-Bred
• 310 Beltex
• 21 North Country Cheviot

 

Other breeds include Dutch Spotted, Lleyn, Berrichon, and Hampshire Downs.

 

Adam Grieve, Senior Auctioneer & Mart Manager at H&H’s St Boswells and Wooler Marts, said, “This is a very important sale for sheep breeders, but it’s also a measure of the health of the sheep industry as a whole, and we are looking forward to another tremendous show of stock at Kelso. Last year we averaged around £1,000 per head for the 1,532 tups sold, and having seen many of those entered for this year, I believe the quality will be even higher.”

 

Despite the ongoing impact of Bluetongue movement restrictions which have reduced entries, particularly from Wales, Adam reports a resilient and enthusiastic response from vendors. “A lot of English vendors are planning on pre-movement testing their stock to bring them into Scotland, and we’re seeing a great response. We’re around 100 tups up on last year, which, given the circumstances, is a really positive result for us.”

 

Many regular consignors who might have previously brought four or five tups to Kelso are now entering seven or eight, and we are also seeing several new vendors.  Additionally, we are seeing continued improvement in quality year on year,” said Adam. “On the back of strong hogg prices earlier in the year, and with many of the lower-end rams having been culled out of the system in recent years, I am expecting to see a strong trade on the day.”

 

This sale is also a major social event in the sheep farming and wider agricultural calendar. “It’s not just a sale it’s a big day out for the industry,” said Adam. “A lot of people come just to see what’s going on, catch up with others, and be part of it. It plays a key role in the wider UK farming community.”

 

In Ring 14, where Adam oversees the sale of Suffolks, numbers have risen from 435 last year to around 470 this year, with most of the tups coming from North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, though others travel from as far north as the Highlands and, historically, as far south as Yorkshire. Some vendors, however, have opted out this year due to the testing requirements.

 

Adam continued, “For our non-Scottish vendors, there’s been some nervousness about Bluetongue testing, but once their stock is tested and at Kelso, they have the best possible platform to sell, with buyers from Scotland, England, and Wales all present specifically to purchase. My advice is simple: get your rams tested as soon as possible.”

 

 “The biggest concern I’ve heard from vendors is around possible delays with test results, so my message is to plan ahead, testing results are typically returned within seven days and negative tests will give immediate permission to move animals.” he added.

 

To help vendors prepare, the event is also offering flexibility with intake, allowing rams to be brought to Kelso from the Monday of sale week. The sale site will be fully set up, with facilities and support from the Border Union team.

 

Since 1838, the Border Union Kelso Ram Sales have stood as a vital fixture in the sheep farming calendar, drawing buyers and sellers from across the UK and Ireland to trade top-quality breeding rams.

 

For any queries, vendors and buyers are encouraged to contact Adam Grieve directly by telephone.

 

For more information or to view the entries, please visit the Border Union Kelso Ram Sales website: https://borderunion.co.uk/border-union-ram-sales/ .