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Breeding sheep sales across NI have got off to a flying start with average prices hitting record levels in all locations.
The first major breeding sheep sale in Ballymena Mart on Saturday saw over 2,000 hoggets sell for £180/head on average. It represents an increase of £22/head on the same sale last year.
The top price was £232/head for a pen of Texel-cross gimmers shown by JR Curry from Ballymena. Patrick Donnelly from Rathkenny was close behind receiving £230/head for his first pen of Suffolk Cheviots.
It was the strongest sale that we have ever had
The first outdoor sale at Aghanloo near Limavady on Tuesday saw 400 hoggets on show with the trade topping out at £200/head for a pen of Mules.
“It was the strongest sale that we have ever had. The run of hoggets made from £170 to £180, and smaller ones were around the £160 mark,” said auctioneer Alexander Gourley.
James Alexander from Randalstown held an on-farm sale of almost 1,000 sheep last Thursday. Overall, 900 commercial hoggets averaged £245/head with the highest priced pen selling for £350/head.
More marts are planning to hold opening breeding sheep sales over the coming week. The strong demand for replacements is being underpinned by the firm trade for cull ewes and fat lambs throughout the summer.
Prices are generally running around 90p/kg ahead of last year’s levels
Despite factory quotes for fat lambs easing back to 445p/kg, farmers report that 450p/kg to 455p/kg is widely available, with deals still being done for more. Prices are generally running around 90p/kg ahead of last year’s levels, which equates to almost £19/head on a 21kg carcase.
There has also been a buoyant trade for the few ewe lambs that have been presented at breeding sheep sales to date.
In Ballymena, ewe lambs averaged £116/head on Saturday, which is up £18/head on 2019 levels. The top price of £198/head was paid to Logan Anderson from Kilwaughter for a pen of Suffolk Cheviot ewe lambs.
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