The sharp trade on Saturday in the Cooley Sheep Breeders Association multi-breed sale was a fitting way to mark the group’s 10th annual sale.
Prices were recorded at their highest level since the group was formed, with in the region of 75 pens of hoggets averaging almost €193/head, while more than 175 pens of ewe lambs averaged €116.60/head.
The top sellers in the hogget section were Mule hoggets, with the hammer falling for the first prizewinning pen at €262/head. Their comrades were next up at a price of €244/head. Other top-quality Mule hoggets sold from €200/head to €225/head, with a selection of lighter-boned and smaller-framed lots selling back to €170/head.
There was also sharp demand for Suffolk x Cheviot cross and Suffolk hoggets, with prices ranging from €195/head to €235/head, while an entry of purebred Lleyn hoggets sold from €200/head to €222/head. Cheviot and Cheviot cross hoggets ranged in price from €170/head to €205/head, while Scottish Blackface hoggets sold from €152/head to €202/head.
The average prices recorded for ewe lambs did not reflect the wide variation in quality, with a large number of pens of light crossbred ewe lambs. The top price of €182/head was paid for the first prizewinning pen of Scottish Blackface ewe lambs which also claimed the overall champion of the sale title.
Other pens of nice-quality Scotch lambs ranged from €100/head to €160/head, while there was also an excellent trade for well-bred and strong Suffolk x Cheviot cross ewe lambs. Prices ranged from €130/head to €165/head, while a couple of pens of strong Texel cross ewe lambs sold to €170/head.
Mule ewe lambs sold upwards from €90/head for light and average-quality lots to €140/head for stronger lambs weighing in the region of 40kg. Other well-grown and nicely presented crossbred lambs sold from €100/head to €125/head, while light lambs weighing in the region of 30kg sold from €70/head to €90/head.
Cooley Sheep Breeders
The sale was a one-day event held in a field on the outskirts of Carlingford in Co Louth. Penning was set up for the day and sheep were sold through a ring constructed in a marquee. Station Road Cootehill Mart hosted the auction, while the sale itself, including sorting and penning of all sheep, was carried out by group members and their families.
There was significant interest in online bidding, with the sale available on the MartEye sales platform and powered by local input from Whiteline Networks, which set up a temporary broadband connection for the day. Committee member John Wehrly said the success of the sale was testament to the positive reputation the group has built up and the ongoing voluntarily commitment shown by group members.