The strong start to sheep breeding sales was clearly evident in the Tullow Sheep Breeders Association’s first big breeding sale of the season held on Wednesday. The hogget trade improved strongly on 2019 levels and at the time of going to print hogget prices were running €15 to €20 higher on average.
Large-framed strong hoggets easily exceeded the €200 mark, with average prices for these types ranging from €200 to €225. Select offerings exceeded this range, with the first and fourth prizewinning lots selling for €250 while the second prize winners sold for €235.
Medium-size and lighter store hoggets requiring a period of feeding pre-breeding sold from €170 to €190, with mart manager Eric Driver reporting much more life around the ring than 12 months ago.
The 1,000 head entry was back on last year but this was expected with some breeders opting to show hoggets in recent weeks and take advantage of strong farmer demand.
The trade for 1,100 ewe lambs earlier in the day repeated the strong performance of recent years.
Top-quality lambs possessing the optimum characteristics of the Suffolk-Cheviot cross and weighing from 40kg to 50kg sold from €130 to €150, with a selection of stronger lambs and prize winners selling from €160 to a top of €197.
Lighter lots and lambs with blacker heads sold from €110 to €125, with some lighter plainer-quality types selling upwards of €100.