There was a 98% clearance of the 1,420 hoggets at the Tullow Sheep Breeders Associations first major breeding sale of the season.

Hoggets were a very steady trade, with strong hoggets selling for €200/head to €220/head. The highest price on the day was €265/head for Suffolk-cheviot cross ewes and the champion pen of hoggets sold for €252/head.

Tullow Mart manager Eric Driver said it was one of the best sales they had in the 29 years of the Tullow breeding sales. Approximately 40% of the hoggets sold for over €200/head. Fit hoggets sold from €185 to €200/head and improving hoggets sold from €170 upwards. Hoggets lacking power made from €140/head.

There was a 75% clearance of the 900 ewe lambs on offer. Eric said the lambs that did not sell tended to be little lighter than other years and is putting this down to the tough spring.

However, he said there was a very consistent trade for good-quality stronger Suffolk-Cheviot cross ewe lambs. These lambs weighing from 48kg to 52kg made on average €125/head to €150/head. Top price on the day for ewe lambs was €190/head. Lighter lambs weighing 38kg to 40kg sold from €105/head to €120/head.