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On 6 and 7 October 2017, the Co Donegal Blackface Sheep Breeders Association will celebrate its 60th anniversary with its annual ram sale in Ballybofey and Stranolar Livestock Mart.
The association was set up in 1957 to help improve the quality of Donegal Scottish Blackface sheep, mainly through better breeding, and went on to contribute much to the sheep industry in Donegal.
The Blackface breed is still the most popular breed in Donegal, with approximately over 100,000 hill breeding ewes.
The Donegal Blackface Sheep Breeders Association promotes the great adaptability and hardiness of the Perth-type Blackface.
Resilient breed
The Perth-type Blackface is a very hardy and resilient breed.
They have long wool to protect themselves against all kinds of weather.
Its toughness and hardiness makes it one of the best breeds to survive on the hills of Donegal.
A new method of selling was introduced last year with the help of auctioneer Jonathan Lucas, which involved all rams going on the market once they enter the ring. This new method dramatically decreased the time taken to complete the sale.
The tops last year was €3,200 for John Friel for a shearling ram and €2,000 for John Griffith for a ram lamb, with only 11 sheep not sold.
A special booklet
A special booklet looking back over the past 60 years has been produced to commemorate the anniversary. It contains information about how the society started and past members. It also has photos from the shows and sales from over the years.
Some of the more recent highlights include the champion ram lamb in 2015 from James Orr which made €5,800, the shearling ram champion in 2013 from John Friel which made €5,000 and, in the same year, the reserve champion ram lamb from Edward Gallagher, which made €4,800.
In this special year for the association, the task of judging the show on Friday 6 October at 2pm will be taken on by two very well-known and respected breeders from Co Waterford.
Pat Keating and Noel P Walsh will judge the shearling rams and ram lambs respectively. The sale will take place on Saturday 7 October at 11.30am.
Charity sale
The association will also host a female sale on Friday 29 September in Ballybofey and Stranolar Livestock Mart at 6pm. Three lambs will be sold for charity at this sale, with the proceeds going to the Donegal Hospice.
Speaking on behalf of the Donegal Blackface Sheep Breeders Association, Charles Tinney said: “We wish to thank the farmers of Donegal and the rest of Ireland, north and south, and also from Scotland, for their continued support over the past 60 years.
“Also, we would like to thank our sponsors for their support, as well as anyone who helped to make our sale into one of the main sales for Blackface sheep in Donegal.
“We hope this support will continue in the future to help to improve the Blackface sheep breed even further,” he said.
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