Sheep Ireland has published the sale dates for hill sheep breeding groups. The sales will offer an excellent opportunity for hill flock participants in the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) to purchase scheme eligible rams. The full calendar of dates can be found in the table at the end of this article.
Hill flocks have two options for purchasing a ram. If selecting a hill breed ram then the ram must be DNA sire verified (genotyped) by Sheep Ireland and be classified as Type 1, 2 or 3 for Scrapie at the time of purchase.
The second option available to hill farmers is the same as the requirement for lowland producers. This is to purchase a ram rated four or five star on the replacement or terminal index and have a genomic evaluation with Sheep Ireland at the time of purchase. These rams must also be classified as Type 1, 2 or 3 for Scrapie Status.
Hill sheep society sales held in the coming weeks will include details on ram eligibility. The catalogue entries will include at a minimum the sire of the ram on offer and the scrapie status. Depending on the level of information available it may also include dam details. SIS-eligible rams will also possess a green tick and the words ‘SIS: yes’.
Multibreed sale
Meanwhile entries have opened for Sheep Ireland’s multi-breed hill ram sale which takes place in Manorhamilton Mart on Friday 10 October at 7pm. Hill flocks which are members of hill ram breeding groups linked to Sheep Ireland are eligible to apply and entries will be accepted until 8pm on 6 October 2025.
Breeders can enter up to four rams of any age and rams must satisfy the following conditions;
Sheep Ireland explains that during the physical examination “rams will be assessed on their mouth, testicles, feet and any other physical defects. Online bidders are expected making this examination of significant importance, and any rams found to be physically incorrect will not be allowed into the sale. Department tag numbers (NSIS) on rams will be checked on the day to ensure they correspond with catalogue and entry forms”.
See www.sheep.ie for more.