The Donegal Cheviot and Cheviot Crossbreeders Group held its inaugural breeding sale last Friday in Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart. The entry of more than 600 hoggets and ewe lambs was greeted with a packed ringside and firm appetite, with only two lots going unsold.

The presentation of sheep was described as helping the trade.

Suffolk-Cheviot-cross hoggets secured the highest average of €187.60, with the majority selling from €180 to €196. Five pens topped €200 and sold to a high of €220, with three pens below the €180 mark.

Cheviot hoggets averaged €162.25, with a wider price differential ranging from €116 to €208, including five pens topping €200. Three pens of Cheviot-cross-Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets sold for €134, €154 and €160.

Suffolk Cheviot ewe lambs averaged €121. Again, there was a wide differential in price, with young and light hill lambs selling from €88 to €115, while 10 lots sold from €130 to €160, with the top pen selling for €188. Cheviot ewe lambs averaged €104 per head and sold within a tighter range of €70 to €120, while Cheviot-cross-Scottish Blackface ewe lambs sold from €65 to €98.