An insatiable demand for Cheviot and Cheviot-cross sheep saw record prices being set at the Donegal Cheviot and Cheviot Cross Breeders Group sale held in Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart.

Suffolk-Cheviot hoggets topped average prices in the hogget section, with an entry of about 180 head selling for €337/head.

The price range was tight, with the majority selling from €290 to €370 within an overall price range of €272 to €412.

The trade for Cheviot sheep was also flying, with over 160 hoggets averaging €281/head and selling from €205 to a top of €405/head.

Appetite

The appetite for Scottish Blackface-cross-Cheviot hoggets was well up, with prices averaging at €241/head and ranging from €190 to €305.

Cheviot Mules were slightly higher at €254/head average (€223 to €275).

Suffolk-cross-Cheviots were also the dominant ewe lambs on offer.

Prices for an entry of 230 head averaged at €223/head. There was a range in price from €165 to €500, with a high percentage from €180 to €220.

Over 120 Cheviot ewe lambs averaged €208/head within a tighter price spread from €175 to €275/head. Scottish Blackface-cross-Cheviot ewe lambs ranged from €140 to €200/head (average of €165/head).

In pictures

These top-quality Suffolk x Cheviot-cross ewe hoggets sold for €395 each.

These Cheviot ewe hoggets sold for €268 each.

These prizewinning Cheviot ewe lambs sold for €300 each.

These good-quality Suffolk x Cheviot-cross ewe lambs sold for €200 each.

This batch of five Cheviot ewe hoggets sold for €255 each.

This batch of lighter-framed Cheviot mule ewe hoggets sold for €223 each.

This batch of five nice-quality Cheviot ewe lambs sold for €190 each.

Danny and Joey Dunnion pictured after selling their Cheviot ewe lamb for charity for €500 at the Donegal Cheviot and Cheviot Cross Breeders Group. The pair raised over €1,400 for Temple Street hospital.

Buyers of the Cheviot ewe lamb auctioned for charity and which sold for €500 were from left Caoimhe McGlynn, James Cunningham, Victor Fuller and Eddie Curran.