The average price paid for rams at the largest ever catalogued ram sale held in Ireland and hosted by Sheep Ireland increased by €46 per head to average €664 per head. The sale held in Tullamore Mart on Saturday recorded the most successful performance of its 12-year tenure.

In addition to the entry of over 420 rams setting a new record offering and the significant increase in average prices, the clearance rate also improved by 3% to reach 87%.

The Texel breed grabbed the highlights on the day. The breed had the largest entry of 149 rams but still achieved a phenomenal clearance rate of 97% and the highest average price of €761/hd.

The price differential was wide-ranging from €340 to a top call of €1,420/hd.

The Suffolk breed recorded the next highest average price of €701/hd (range from €400 to €1,500) with 88% of the 58 rams entered finding new homes.

Genetics

The value of genetics and producing rams off grass-based systems appears to be gaining traction, with the top prices here paid for grass-reared hogget rams.

The 108 Charollais rams catalogued recorded a clearance rate of 93% and an average sale value of €677 each (€400 to €1,500).

The Belclare entry of 58 rams possessed the highest replacement index of €7.27 with some 95% of entries also fully parentage verified. Prices ranged from €300 to €800 and averaged €475/hd, with a clearance rate of 70%.

The 32 Vendéen rams catalogued averaged €513/hd (€300 to €800) and achieved a clearance rate of 72%.

The breed also had an impressive 94% of rams fully parentage verified.

Lleyn rams sold in a tight range, with prices from €400 to €600/hd (average €464) and recorded a clearance rate of 58% from 11 rams entered.

Eight of the nine Rouge de l’Ouest rams catalogued found new homes (89% clearance). Prices averaged €501/hd and topped out at €1,000.

The entry of eight Hampshire Down rams recorded an average price of €380/hd (€320 to €460) and a clearance rate of 75%.

Last but not least, there were two Border Leicester rams entered and these rams met good demand selling for €580 and €520.