The Cooley Sheep Breeders Association annual one-day sale of ewe hoggets and ewe lambs continues to break new ground, with prices increasing by €65 to €70/head on 2024 returns.
The unique sale, which takes place in a field on the outskirts of Carlingford, Co Louth, is the only one of its kind, with a huge voluntary effort witnessing a sales ring and penning erected and dismantled in the space of a few days.
Throughput defied the trend of lower numbers seen in many parts of the country, with an entry of 3,124 head recording a 100% clearance rate.
The 1,309 hoggets on offer averaged €194/head, up €70 on the year.
Crossbred hoggets, including Suffolk-crosses, Texel-crosses, etc, accounted for about 40% of hoggets on offer. The average price was recorded at €303/head with a range from €225 to €500 and a high percentage from €270 to €330/head.
The Mule entry of 285 head recorded a higher average price of €310/head, with a range from €245 to €440, while over 260 Scottish Blackface hoggets averaged €239/head in a range from €130 to €405.
The 120 Hiltex, Lleyn and Cheviot-crosses averaged €273/head in a range from €220 to €335.
It was the entry of over 100 Cheviot sheep that set the headlines, with demand outstripping supply and prices averaging €370/head and ranging from €290 to a high point of €530.
The 1,815 ewe lambs on offer averaged €195/head, up €64. Prices ranged from €130 to €460, with the sale continuing to offer options for all price points.
Crossbred ewe lambs dominated the sale entry, accounting for over 65% of entries. The average of €189/head was close to the overall average.
The highest-priced lot at €350/head was paid for a batch of super-quality Suffolk-cross lambs, with five lots selling upwards of €300 and another handful from €250 to €300.
Almost 28% of lambs sold from €200 to €240, with a similar number from €170 to €195 and also €150 to €165. Mule ewe lambs were the second-highest entry, with 324 lambs averaging €193/head and selling from €130 to €240, with keen demand for lambs fit to breed this season.
Demand for Scottish Blackface lambs was sharp, with an entry of over 110 lambs averaging €212/head and selling from €130 to €320.
It was Cheviots again that secured the highest prices, with 155 lambs averaging €236/head and selling from €150 to a top of €460.
These medium-sized Cheviot-cross ewe hoggets sold for €275 each.
These nice-quality crossbred ewe hoggets sold for €335 each.
These Cheviot-cross ewe hoggets sold for €275 each.
These top-quality Mule ewe hoggets sold for €370 each.
This first-prizewinning pen of Mule ewe hoggets sold for €370 each.
These Mule ewe hoggets sold for €315 each.
These white-faced Mule ewe hoggets sold for €325 each.
These whiter-faced Mule ewe hoggets sold for €335 each.
This batch of Suffolk-cross ewe hoggets sold for €295 each.
This batch of lighter Texel-cross ewe lambs sold for €135 each.
These large-framed Texel-cross ewe hoggets sold for €340 each.
This pen of lighter crossbred ewe lambs sold for €150 each.
This batch of Texel-cross ewe lambs sold for €190 each.
These strong Suffolk-cross ewe lambs sold for €270 each.
These prizewinning Suffolk ewe lambs sold for €350 each.
These sharp-headed Suffolk-cross ewe lambs sold for €265 each.
These good-quality Suffolk-cross ewe lambs sold for €225 each.
This first-prizewinning pen of Lleyn ewe lambs sold for €200 each.
This third-prizewinning pen of quality Cheviot ewe lambs sold for €270 each.
These nice-quality crossbred ewe lambs sold for €195 each.
These black-headed Mule ewe lambs sold for €175 each.
These quality Bluefaced Leicester-cross ewe lambs sold for €240 each.
These Mule ewe lambs sold for €165 each.
This batch of Lanark-type Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €225 each.
These quality Swaledale Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €265 each.
These good-quality Lanark-type Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €260 each.
These nice-quality Suffolk ewe hoggets sold for €295 each.
This second-prizewinning pen of Cheviot ewe hoggets sold for €410 each.
The Cooley Sheep Breeders Association annual one-day sale of ewe hoggets and ewe lambs continues to break new ground, with prices increasing by €65 to €70/head on 2024 returns.
The unique sale, which takes place in a field on the outskirts of Carlingford, Co Louth, is the only one of its kind, with a huge voluntary effort witnessing a sales ring and penning erected and dismantled in the space of a few days.
Throughput defied the trend of lower numbers seen in many parts of the country, with an entry of 3,124 head recording a 100% clearance rate.
The 1,309 hoggets on offer averaged €194/head, up €70 on the year.
Crossbred hoggets, including Suffolk-crosses, Texel-crosses, etc, accounted for about 40% of hoggets on offer. The average price was recorded at €303/head with a range from €225 to €500 and a high percentage from €270 to €330/head.
The Mule entry of 285 head recorded a higher average price of €310/head, with a range from €245 to €440, while over 260 Scottish Blackface hoggets averaged €239/head in a range from €130 to €405.
The 120 Hiltex, Lleyn and Cheviot-crosses averaged €273/head in a range from €220 to €335.
It was the entry of over 100 Cheviot sheep that set the headlines, with demand outstripping supply and prices averaging €370/head and ranging from €290 to a high point of €530.
The 1,815 ewe lambs on offer averaged €195/head, up €64. Prices ranged from €130 to €460, with the sale continuing to offer options for all price points.
Crossbred ewe lambs dominated the sale entry, accounting for over 65% of entries. The average of €189/head was close to the overall average.
The highest-priced lot at €350/head was paid for a batch of super-quality Suffolk-cross lambs, with five lots selling upwards of €300 and another handful from €250 to €300.
Almost 28% of lambs sold from €200 to €240, with a similar number from €170 to €195 and also €150 to €165. Mule ewe lambs were the second-highest entry, with 324 lambs averaging €193/head and selling from €130 to €240, with keen demand for lambs fit to breed this season.
Demand for Scottish Blackface lambs was sharp, with an entry of over 110 lambs averaging €212/head and selling from €130 to €320.
It was Cheviots again that secured the highest prices, with 155 lambs averaging €236/head and selling from €150 to a top of €460.
These medium-sized Cheviot-cross ewe hoggets sold for €275 each.
These nice-quality crossbred ewe hoggets sold for €335 each.
These Cheviot-cross ewe hoggets sold for €275 each.
These top-quality Mule ewe hoggets sold for €370 each.
This first-prizewinning pen of Mule ewe hoggets sold for €370 each.
These Mule ewe hoggets sold for €315 each.
These white-faced Mule ewe hoggets sold for €325 each.
These whiter-faced Mule ewe hoggets sold for €335 each.
This batch of Suffolk-cross ewe hoggets sold for €295 each.
This batch of lighter Texel-cross ewe lambs sold for €135 each.
These large-framed Texel-cross ewe hoggets sold for €340 each.
This pen of lighter crossbred ewe lambs sold for €150 each.
This batch of Texel-cross ewe lambs sold for €190 each.
These strong Suffolk-cross ewe lambs sold for €270 each.
These prizewinning Suffolk ewe lambs sold for €350 each.
These sharp-headed Suffolk-cross ewe lambs sold for €265 each.
These good-quality Suffolk-cross ewe lambs sold for €225 each.
This first-prizewinning pen of Lleyn ewe lambs sold for €200 each.
This third-prizewinning pen of quality Cheviot ewe lambs sold for €270 each.
These nice-quality crossbred ewe lambs sold for €195 each.
These black-headed Mule ewe lambs sold for €175 each.
These quality Bluefaced Leicester-cross ewe lambs sold for €240 each.
These Mule ewe lambs sold for €165 each.
This batch of Lanark-type Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €225 each.
These quality Swaledale Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €265 each.
These good-quality Lanark-type Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €260 each.
These nice-quality Suffolk ewe hoggets sold for €295 each.
This second-prizewinning pen of Cheviot ewe hoggets sold for €410 each.
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