Breeders from all over mainland Europe, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain purchased in the recent online timed auction of Hampshire Down sheep hosted by Harrison and Hetherington through MartEye.

Organised by Northern Ireland Hampshire Down breeders, the sale saw just over 50 rams, lambs and breeding females from all over the region go under the hammer.

The keenest demand was for Ewe lambs which achieved a 100% clearance. Topping the trade was a very sharp ewe lamb sired by Kildowney Cannonball put forward by Peter and Francis Lawson of the Glenbrook Flock, selling for £1,160 (€1,338) to fellow breeder Adam Gregg, Kildowney Flock.

ADVERTISEMENT

Another attractive ewe lamb, sired by Power Pack, sold for £1,040 (€1,199) from Graham Mansons, Dunraven Flock, purchased by R Casey, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.

Overall, ewe lambs averaged £756 (€872).

A 62% clearance was achieved for ram lambs. Leading the prices here was a strong-boned ram lamb sired by Yarcombe Flashman from Peter and Harry Stevenson, Lenaderg Flock, selling to Joe and Sophie Dilibero, Seawell Flock in Northants, England for £1,080 (€1,246).

Another striking ram lamb sired by Ballycreelly Epic and from a Loughbrea homebred ewe of Sean and Gillian Doyle’s, Loughbrea Livestock sold for £1,060 (€1,223) to John Grossick, Rockhall Flock, Drumfriesshire.

He was followed by a Kildowney Cannonball-sired ram lamb from the same flock selling for £1,040 (€1,199) to Harries and B Davies, Pembrokeshire.

French buyers were keen to secure breeding stock with Nicolas Mary from Rouen, Normandy acquiring the highest index performance ram sired by Seawell Explosive from Kevin and Anna McCarthy’s Ballycreelly Flock for £1,000 (€1,153). He was one of a number of sheep sold to France from the sale.

Demand for breeding females was brisk, with a 78% clearance and an average price of £791 (€912). A lovely shearling ewe sired by Ballyvester Consensus from the Loughan Moss Flock sold for £1,000 (€1,153) to Peter Hamill of the Lisnagowan Flock, Dungannon.

Another two strong shearling ewes, one sired by Ballycreelly Warrior and the other by Ballycreelly Homerun from Kevin and Anna McCarthy’s Ballycreelly Flock sold to William Wylie of the Newbridge Flock for £940 (€1,084) each. The overall sale saw 54% of the sheep sold staying in Northern Ireland and 46% selling to the EU and Britain.