Demand for Cheviot ewe hoggets, lambs and breeding ewes is outstripping supply and leading to keen competition ringside. Three sales held over the last week witnessed 100% clearance rates and top prices for hoggets exceed a price of €400/head on numerous occasions.
Tuesday’s sheep sale in Blessington Mart included its annual show and sale of Cheviot sheep. John Doyle described the trade as phenomenal, adding that demand is increasing each year in response to a continued decline in sheep numbers on the hills.
He said that the highest-quality Wicklow Cheviot hoggets freely topped €400/head, with the hammer falling at €480 for the top-priced lot. Lesser-quality lots sold from €320 to €380/head with very few falling below €300/head.
Tight supplies of hoggets has boosted demand for breeding ewes with three and four year old ewes selling from €250 to €350/head and reaching as high as €400/head. While ewe lambs sold in the main from €200 to €280/head and up to €350/head for excellent-quality lots.
Cooley
The Cooley Sheep Breeders Association sale of over 3,000 breeding sheep on Saturday also witnessed a flying trade, with an entry of over 100 hoggets averaging €370/head and reaching as high as €530/head. Over 150 ewe lambs averaged €236/head.
The Donegal Cheviot and Cheviot-Cross Breeders Group reported a similar theme in their sale in Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart on Friday night. An entry of over 160 hoggets averaged €281/head, with quality lots selling to upwards of €400/head. Ewe lambs on offer were top-quality and averaged over €200/head, with the best-quality lots topping €300/head.
Special sales of breeding sheep have seen average prices running from €60 to €80/head higher than in 2024 with tight supplies boosting demand.
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