WITH farmers being encouraged to do more to market their produce, Pontrilas breeder Richard James has decided to hold an on-farm auction to sell his pedigree ram lambs.

It is a new venture for Mr James who is hoping to make it an annual fixture.

"We have been taking Texels to the ram sales at Builth but partly to save time I thought we might hold a sale at home in conjunction with the auctioneers," said Richard of Court Farm."I also normally sell through Hereford. People will know my name but with the auction on the farm they can come and see where the rams are bred."

Richard will be offering 45 Suffolks with the Bowers prefix and Texels with the Monnow name on Thursday, September 18 at 6pm. They are scrapie geneotyped and MV accredited. "They are strong, well grown, and ideal for crossing with commercials," he said.

The auctioneers are J Straker, Chadwick and Sons of Abergavenny.