It’s all about sheep this weekend on the Irish Farmers Journal MartBids app, with four large sales of sheep taking place in Mayo, Kilkenny and Donegal.

Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August

Mayo Mule and Greyface Group premier show and sale of ewe hoggets and ewe lambs (sales start at 11am)

  • Venue: Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart, Co Mayo.
  • Description: The Mayo Mule and Greyface Group is the longest-running group offering Mule and Greyface sheep in Ireland.

    It is holding a two-day sale again in 2020, with 800 Mule and Greyface hoggets on offer on the Friday and 2,000 ewe lambs entered for Saturday’s premier lamb sale.

    As a condition of sale entry, the group has mandatory clostridial disease vaccination and this will remain in place for 2020, with all sheep treated on a programme with Heptavac–P.

    All sheep will be sold through the ring and online bidding is available. The group also says transport for stock can be arranged.

    Contact Joe on 086-157 7154, Oliver on 086-892 3381, Tom on 087-260 7883 and David on 087-142 9618 for more info.

    Friday 21 August

    Donegal Texel Breeders annual show and sale of 120 pedigree Texel rams

  • Venue: Raphoe Mart.
  • Description: The Donegal Texel Breeders will hold its annual sale of Texel rams in Raphoe Mart on Friday evening.

    All of the top-performing Texel flocks in Donegal have stock entered for the sale, including consignments from other counties.

    This year’s sale boasts 120 rams and is always the highlight in the Texel calendar in Donegal.

    Viewing of rams will take place between 2pm and 6pm and the sale will start at 6pm.

    Fifty buyers will be allowed entry into the sales ring, with online bidding available for the rest. Enquiries to John Parke 087-611 9618.

    Saturday 22 August

    Sheep Ireland's elite multibreed ram sale – all breed sale of 300 rams

  • Venue: Cillin Hill, Kilkenny.
  • Description: Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Co Offaly, the annual Sheep Ireland ram sale has moved from Tullamore to Kilkenny Mart in Co Kilkenny (Eircode R95 A4VP).

    The sale commences at 11.30am. Public viewing of rams commences from 9.30am.

    Strict social distancing measures will be enforced in all areas of the mart and all persons in attendance will be required to wear a facemask without exception.

    An online bidding facility is available via the Martbids app. Potential buyers must preregister with Kilkenny Mart by calling 056-772 1407 or via the Martbids app by Friday 21 at 4pm to avoid disappointment.

    They encourage buyers to come alone where possible to minimise the number of people in the mart.

    Ram transport after the sale will be available – for farmers interested in availing of this facility, call Sheep Ireland before Friday 21 August on 023-882 0451.

    Martbids registration

    Potential buyers who wish to bid must download the MartBids app from either the iPhone App Store or the Google Play store for Android.

    They must follow the registration instructions to set themselves up. If they have difficulties in setting up, contact Clodagh Carey on 086-779 3106.

    Alternatively, they can register by desktop computer, laptop or tablet by logging in to www.martbids.ie and follow the instructions there.

    Following registration, they will have generated a username and password which the buyer should record/save for future use.

    The buyer must then go to the relevant mart in the app. The facility to seek permission to bid will be there by simply putting in their herd number.

    This will send a request to the relevant mart to be approved to buy at the sale. The mart must approve the buyer to buy at the sale.

    Prospective online bidders should make sure they are approved to bid well in advance of the sales.