A massive crowd of buyers and interested patrons attended the premier Mayo Mule and Greyface Group sale held on Friday in Aurivo Mart Ballinrobe. There was an excellent yard of sheep with about 2,000 ewe lambs and 700 hoggets on offer, the majority of which were Mule hoggets and ewe lambs.

Firm demand

Ewe hoggets met firm demand from repeat customers from all across the country with the average price increasing €1 per head on 2015 levels. Top-quality hoggets sold from €180 to €205 per head with a small number of prize winners and superior quality lots selling all the way to €250 for the first prize winners. There was also good demand for some lighter, but well-bred hoggets, with some buyers favouring sheep that are most suitable to perform on more marginal soils. These lighter sheep sold from €170 to €185 per head with no sheep selling below this range.

A small number of Greyface ewe hoggets sold for €180 per head with one producer commanding the same price for a number of pens of similar quality sheep.

Easier ewe lamb trade

Demand for ewe lambs was brisk but prices were reduced by an average of €16 per head on the high’s recorded in 2015. Top quality ewe lambs sold from €120 to €150 per head with a few pens selling to €185 per head. Lighter ewe lambs sold back to €100 per head and while prices were slightly easier there was practically a full clearance of Mule ewe lambs. Greyface ewe lambs met a more variable trade with prize winners selling from €107 back to €90 per head for lighter quality lots.

The second Mayo Mule & Greyface Group sale offering 1,000 ewe lambs and 300 hoggets takes place on Saturday 10 September, also in Aurivo Mart Ballinrobe.