A late change in venue due to some county lockdown restrictions meant this year’s Sheep Ireland €uroStar multi-breed ram sale took place in Kilkenny instead of Tullamore.
Hosted over the weekend with strict COVID-19 restrictions in place, the sale attracted nearly 300 sheep across nine breeds and saw an 88% clearance rate.
Topping trade at €1,120 was the Texel breed, with Flor Ryan taking the top price at the sale for the second year in a row. His shearling ram, Lawn Camino, is ranked in the top 2% on days to slaughter and carries five stars overall on the terminal index. Born March 2019, he is a son of the successful Derrylahan Big Balls and out of a Trojan-bred ewe.
Two other Texels secured four-figure sums. Wexford-based Anne Murphy secured €1,020 for Foundry Dylan. Homebred on both sides, this double five-star ram lamb was born in February of this year. The Ryan family were back in the money when Johnny sold Graigues Charlie for the same price. This Foundry Achilles-sired shearling ram is ranked in the top 5% on the terminal and replacement indices.
Overall, the Texel breed had the most rams present, with 87 of the 100 forward selling. These sold to average €600, up slightly on the 2019 sale.
Suffolk
Achieving the highest average of all breeds was the Suffolk at €644. This was up nearly €50 on the year, and was complemented by a 92% clearance rate for the breed.
A price of €1,060 was hit twice in the Suffolk ring. First at the money was the first ram into the ring from the Bawnard flock of Jim and Frampton Jeffery, Middleton, Co Cork. This double five-star ram is in the top 2% for both the terminal and replacement indices. Born January 2020, the Logie Durno New Direction-sired ram is a full-brother to the Jefferys’ ram that topped the breed at last year’s sale.
The joint top-priced Suffolk from Jim and and Frampton Jeffery sold for €1,060.
Matching the price were fellow Cork breeders Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe of the Annakisha flock based outside Mallow. Their January-born double five-star ET ram is a son of the 20,000gns imported stock ram Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. The O’Keeffes also got a second Suffolk ram away at €1,000. This ram is a full ET brother to the previously mentioned lot.
Charollais
The Charollais breed were the last of seven to go through ring one, and with this came an increase in online bidding. It seemed that many came in the morning to inspect the rams and then instead of waiting around chose to bid through the MartBids online platform. Overall it proved a very lively trade for Charollais rams, with 92% selling to an average of €603. This clearance is up 6% on the year, with the average up €77 also.
The top-priced Charollais from James Murphy sold for €940.
A top price of €940 was achieved here and was hit twice by local breeder James Murphy and his Saddle Hill flock. Both high sellers were January-born ram lambs and sired by last month’s Irish Charollais sheep society premier sale champion which James also bred. Impressively, both ranked within the 5% for days to slaughter at -19 days and -17 days. This topped an exceptional day for the Kilkenny breeder, who sold a further two rams at €760 and €700, resulting in a pen average of €835.
Belclare
Following a successful premier at the same venue two weeks earlier, the Belclare breed had a further 30 rams on offer over the weekend. Despite such close dates, they proved in high demand, with 28 selling to an average of €487. This average in on par with the 2019 sale with nearly three times as many rams sold. Top in this section was Shane Carroll who sold Coltstown Fagan at €800. This young ram lamb is a son of Rathkenty Excaliber and ranks in the top 5% for both the terminal and replacement indices.
Rouge de l’Quest
The Rouge de l’Quest breed had four rams on offer, with all four finding new homes to average €463. The top price of €500 was hit twice, once each by the two breeders who exhibited stock. Townhill Leo from Shay Kennedy was the first at the money. This double five-star ram was a son of Tullyvallen Ultimate. Matching him were Cavan breeders Oliver and Claire Keaskin with Seeorum Loneranger, another double five-star ram. Trade for the breed was much improved, given only one sold at last year’s sale for €350.
Lleyn
Six of the seven Lleyn rams forward found new homes to average €460. Top of these was a call of €540 for Simon Brown’s Quarrymount Hawkeye. This two-year-old ram was original bred by Brian Matthews and ranked in the top 7% for both the terminal and replacement indices.
Border Leicester and Ile de France
New to the 2020 sale was the Border Leicester breed, with Coote Geelan the sole exhibitor. He sold his two ram lambs, which were sired by Rockvilla Dave and averaged €440. William Hutchinson was also a sole exhibitor in the Ile de France breed. His two shearlings sold to average €445.
Vendéen
The Vendéens proved the toughest trade on the day, with only seven of the 14 present selling to average €466. Top of these was a call of €520 for Cheyl O’Brien’s Quitrent Virgilio. This five-star ram is homebred on both sides.
The top-priced Vendéen from Cheryl O'Brien sold for €520.
Read more
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Texel premier hits €6,500 for champion ram
Herd profile: Millburn Limousin – the final chapter
A late change in venue due to some county lockdown restrictions meant this year’s Sheep Ireland €uroStar multi-breed ram sale took place in Kilkenny instead of Tullamore.
Hosted over the weekend with strict COVID-19 restrictions in place, the sale attracted nearly 300 sheep across nine breeds and saw an 88% clearance rate.
Topping trade at €1,120 was the Texel breed, with Flor Ryan taking the top price at the sale for the second year in a row. His shearling ram, Lawn Camino, is ranked in the top 2% on days to slaughter and carries five stars overall on the terminal index. Born March 2019, he is a son of the successful Derrylahan Big Balls and out of a Trojan-bred ewe.
Two other Texels secured four-figure sums. Wexford-based Anne Murphy secured €1,020 for Foundry Dylan. Homebred on both sides, this double five-star ram lamb was born in February of this year. The Ryan family were back in the money when Johnny sold Graigues Charlie for the same price. This Foundry Achilles-sired shearling ram is ranked in the top 5% on the terminal and replacement indices.
Overall, the Texel breed had the most rams present, with 87 of the 100 forward selling. These sold to average €600, up slightly on the 2019 sale.
Suffolk
Achieving the highest average of all breeds was the Suffolk at €644. This was up nearly €50 on the year, and was complemented by a 92% clearance rate for the breed.
A price of €1,060 was hit twice in the Suffolk ring. First at the money was the first ram into the ring from the Bawnard flock of Jim and Frampton Jeffery, Middleton, Co Cork. This double five-star ram is in the top 2% for both the terminal and replacement indices. Born January 2020, the Logie Durno New Direction-sired ram is a full-brother to the Jefferys’ ram that topped the breed at last year’s sale.
The joint top-priced Suffolk from Jim and and Frampton Jeffery sold for €1,060.
Matching the price were fellow Cork breeders Arthur and Patrick O’Keeffe of the Annakisha flock based outside Mallow. Their January-born double five-star ET ram is a son of the 20,000gns imported stock ram Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. The O’Keeffes also got a second Suffolk ram away at €1,000. This ram is a full ET brother to the previously mentioned lot.
Charollais
The Charollais breed were the last of seven to go through ring one, and with this came an increase in online bidding. It seemed that many came in the morning to inspect the rams and then instead of waiting around chose to bid through the MartBids online platform. Overall it proved a very lively trade for Charollais rams, with 92% selling to an average of €603. This clearance is up 6% on the year, with the average up €77 also.
The top-priced Charollais from James Murphy sold for €940.
A top price of €940 was achieved here and was hit twice by local breeder James Murphy and his Saddle Hill flock. Both high sellers were January-born ram lambs and sired by last month’s Irish Charollais sheep society premier sale champion which James also bred. Impressively, both ranked within the 5% for days to slaughter at -19 days and -17 days. This topped an exceptional day for the Kilkenny breeder, who sold a further two rams at €760 and €700, resulting in a pen average of €835.
Belclare
Following a successful premier at the same venue two weeks earlier, the Belclare breed had a further 30 rams on offer over the weekend. Despite such close dates, they proved in high demand, with 28 selling to an average of €487. This average in on par with the 2019 sale with nearly three times as many rams sold. Top in this section was Shane Carroll who sold Coltstown Fagan at €800. This young ram lamb is a son of Rathkenty Excaliber and ranks in the top 5% for both the terminal and replacement indices.
Rouge de l’Quest
The Rouge de l’Quest breed had four rams on offer, with all four finding new homes to average €463. The top price of €500 was hit twice, once each by the two breeders who exhibited stock. Townhill Leo from Shay Kennedy was the first at the money. This double five-star ram was a son of Tullyvallen Ultimate. Matching him were Cavan breeders Oliver and Claire Keaskin with Seeorum Loneranger, another double five-star ram. Trade for the breed was much improved, given only one sold at last year’s sale for €350.
Lleyn
Six of the seven Lleyn rams forward found new homes to average €460. Top of these was a call of €540 for Simon Brown’s Quarrymount Hawkeye. This two-year-old ram was original bred by Brian Matthews and ranked in the top 7% for both the terminal and replacement indices.
Border Leicester and Ile de France
New to the 2020 sale was the Border Leicester breed, with Coote Geelan the sole exhibitor. He sold his two ram lambs, which were sired by Rockvilla Dave and averaged €440. William Hutchinson was also a sole exhibitor in the Ile de France breed. His two shearlings sold to average €445.
Vendéen
The Vendéens proved the toughest trade on the day, with only seven of the 14 present selling to average €466. Top of these was a call of €520 for Cheyl O’Brien’s Quitrent Virgilio. This five-star ram is homebred on both sides.
The top-priced Vendéen from Cheryl O'Brien sold for €520.
Read more
Ewe lambs hit €208 at Carrick Prolific Ewe Lamb sale
Texel premier hits €6,500 for champion ram
Herd profile: Millburn Limousin – the final chapter
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