Ram Auction, Shetland Wool Week, 2013

This is the sound of rams being auctioned off after the Shetland Flock Book. The Flock Book is when crofters in Shetland bring their rams to the auction house to be judged and shown and entered into the flock book for the breed. This keeps a record of the genetic lines, and promotes the Shetland breed of sheep. After seeing all the available animals, crofters bid on new rams to put to their ewes over the winter, and sell their own best animals to other folks looking to do the same. It's an amazing opportunity to see some really fine examples of Shetland sheep, and the auction has an extraordinary and beautiful rhythm to it. It's also FAST! It's all about figuring out which rams will improve your flock and so the really good ones that have great genes go for a lot of money.