The Donegal Mule Group held its third annual sale of ewe lambs and ewe hoggets in Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart on Friday. The trade was described as lively, with solid demand throughout and prices running anywhere from €15 to €25 ahead of 2019 levels.
Ewe hoggets were first into the ring and met solid demand. The general run of prices for good-quality hoggets ranged from €185 to €200, with a selection of top-quality lots rising to €220 to €230 and a small number of lighter lots selling back to €175.
The quality of ewe lambs on offer was described as better than the 2019 batch. A high percentage of lambs were later-born, with a birth date of April and early May. Lambs on offer were not weighed but are described as ranging from the low 30kgs to upwards of 40kg.
Stronger lambs on offer sold within a tight price range of €130 to €144. The first prize winning pen sold for €152/head, while a top price of €172/head was paid for three well-grown and strong ewe lambs.
Lighter lambs that sold for under €100 in 2019 sold on average from €118 to €128, with the trade for many lots described as being excellent given their lighter weight relative to prices paid for heavier lambs.