The 53rd Dorset Sheep Breeders’ premier sale took place at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Monday.
The demand for top-quality Dorsets was remarkable with a packed sales ring and online bids flying in.
This super demand saw ram lamb averages reach a 10-year high and all other averages were also up considerably on the 2024 sale.
Topping the sale selling for 2,700gns (€3,270) was a super ewe lamb from the Ballymacnamee flock of Elaine Gilmore and Peter Breen. This special lamb was sired by Ashvale Ferdie F705 and her dam was Ashvale E0503 a highly admired ewe that was purchased for the top price at the 2022 October Dorset sale. This sale-topping lamb was purchased by breeders Andrew and Grace Sloan of the Dullaghan flock.
The large entry of ewe lambs sold to average £485 (€560) up £73 on the 2024 sale.
Demand for quality males was strong with the ram lamb consignment topping at 2,300gns (€2,787). This top-priced ram lamb was Ashvale Heartbreaker from the flock of Caroline McKeown. This super Downkillybegs Evolution son was snapped up by Laura Weir with a last-minute bid.
The sales second-highest priced ram lamb, that sold for 1,700gns (€2,061) was Ballymaconnelly Hubert. This powerful Bencran Ferarri-sired lamb came from well-known breeders Samuel and Elaine Caldwell and was purchased by N Murphy.
There were a number of other ram lambs that breached the 1,000gns mark on the night, leading to a super average of £806 (€930) up an impressive £242 on the previous year.
The 53rd Dorset Sheep Breeders’ premier sale took place at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Monday.
The demand for top-quality Dorsets was remarkable with a packed sales ring and online bids flying in.
This super demand saw ram lamb averages reach a 10-year high and all other averages were also up considerably on the 2024 sale.
Topping the sale selling for 2,700gns (€3,270) was a super ewe lamb from the Ballymacnamee flock of Elaine Gilmore and Peter Breen. This special lamb was sired by Ashvale Ferdie F705 and her dam was Ashvale E0503 a highly admired ewe that was purchased for the top price at the 2022 October Dorset sale. This sale-topping lamb was purchased by breeders Andrew and Grace Sloan of the Dullaghan flock.
The large entry of ewe lambs sold to average £485 (€560) up £73 on the 2024 sale.
Demand for quality males was strong with the ram lamb consignment topping at 2,300gns (€2,787). This top-priced ram lamb was Ashvale Heartbreaker from the flock of Caroline McKeown. This super Downkillybegs Evolution son was snapped up by Laura Weir with a last-minute bid.
The sales second-highest priced ram lamb, that sold for 1,700gns (€2,061) was Ballymaconnelly Hubert. This powerful Bencran Ferarri-sired lamb came from well-known breeders Samuel and Elaine Caldwell and was purchased by N Murphy.
There were a number of other ram lambs that breached the 1,000gns mark on the night, leading to a super average of £806 (€930) up an impressive £242 on the previous year.
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