This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Irish Charollais sheep society. While planned celebrations were called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the society's annual premier sale did go ahead and ended up breaking the previous top price record.

Previously standing at €5,500, Saturday's sale in Tullow saw that price smashed, with Rockdale Vespasian selling for €7,500.

This January 2019-born ram lamb was bred by David Argue from Drung in Co Cavan. Sired by Rhaeadr Prince he is out of an imported ewe from the Loanhead flock. Considered the best ram bred in the Rockdale flock over the last 10 years, Rockdale Vespasian was secured by William McAllister and Iain Craig for their flocks in Northern Ireland.

This was only the tip of the iceberg though in what was considered an overall exceptional sale, where 21 rams made four figures.

Full report and pictures in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.