Breeding sales held by the Tullow Sheep Breeders Association and Borris Ewe Breeders have for years attracted very close attention as a good barometer on price and demand ahead of the main autumn breeding sales.

Technological advances now mean price reporting is close to instantaneous with word spreading as sales progress. However, long before the advent of text messaging, internet browsing or even live video streaming, talk of sales of Suffolk Cheviot cross breeding ewes in Carlow still made its way throughout the country through newspaper or radio reporting. In fact, talk of the sales was often spread through word of mouth by traders returning from sales to farms or marts/fairs in each of the 32 counties.

The Borris Ewe Breeders is the eldest of the two groups, holding its 51st show and sales in recent weeks. Reports from Leinster Marts show sales held in Borris Mart during the 1980s handling in excess of 15,000 breeding sheep over three to four specialised autumn breeding sales. It was during the sheep boom, when numbers increased on the back of coupled payments, that the Tullow Sheep Breeders Association was also formed with the society this year holding its 27th annual show and sale.

The market was built on the hardiness and mothering ability of the Wicklow Cheviot ewe. While ewe choice and the most favoured sire cross has varied through generations between breeders, it is this focus of selecting a good Cheviot breeding ewe and a good Suffolk ram to cross that has helped the groups retain their strong appeal for breeding sheep.

While good breeding is critical for the group’s survival, there are other factors at play in the two success stories. A major factor was the coming together of like-minded individuals that set the parameters of what best qualities the breed should possess. Most members of the groups will say the lifelong friendships and social interaction created by the group are key ingredients in keeping the group going as is welcoming younger members who are willing to drive on the principles the groups were formed upon.