There was jubilation at the recent West of Ireland Lanark Breeders ram sale when the hammer fell at €3,100 for the third prize winning ram produced by the Yeats County flock and purchased by Michael Ketch for his Trenearla flock in Co Waterford.

The hogget ram was judged as overall champion of the sale by judges John Dempsey and sons from Tipperary while the reserve champion was produced by the Currag Du Blackface flock.

The next highest price of the sale held in Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart was €1,850 for a hogget ram produced by the Woodview flock and purchased by Belmullet Lanarks. The top price of €900 in the ram lamb section was received by the Faughburren flock.

The general run of price for rams traded was reported between €500 and €800

Demand for the sale was a little mixed, with firm demand for top-quality rams and buyers reported as being more selective in their purchasing. The sale was split this year, with rams sold on the Friday and females on the Saturday and it is thought this contributed to the clearance rate falling below the levels of recent years. The general run of price for rams traded was reported between €500 and €800.

The split in sale dates did not affect the female sale, with hoggets and ewe lambs meeting strong demand.

The sale toppers were a pen of three hogget ewes produced by the Woodview flock which sold for €470.

The Yeats County flock also had a successful day

Several breeder pens sold from €250 to €300 while hogget ewes sold mainly from €200 to €260, with local Mule breeders reported as being active and driving the trade.

The Yeats County flock also had a successful day on the Saturday with their pen of three ewe lambs hitting a high of €340.

The majority of ewe lambs on offer sold within a price range of €120 to €175.

Clearance rate of 91% at Brockagh Perth Blackfaced female sale

The recent Brockagh Perth Blackfaced Sheep Breeders Association sale held in Cloghan/Brockagh Mart in Co Donegal recorded a top price of €1,300 for a single ewe hogget.

The sale topper which was also awarded best sheep of the show was produced by Dermot and John McGinley and was purchased by Edward Gallagher from Downings, Co Donegal. The McGinleys also sold another single hogget for €420 and a pair of hoggets for €390.

Other standout prices included €590 and €470 received by Michael Campbell for two pairs of hoggets, while Patrick McDonnell was awarded the best pen of hoggets which sold from €140 to €320. The average price of hoggets and aged ewes was recorded at €211.

The hammer fell for the top-priced ewe lamb at €350

David Tourish claimed the accolade for the best pen of ewe lambs, with prices here ranging from €160 and €320.

The hammer fell for the top-priced ewe lamb at €350, with the single ewe lamb produced by Seamus Kelly, while a price of €300 was received by Jason Morrow for a single ewe lamb and by Barry McDermott for a pair of ewe lambs. Ewe lambs sold in a brisk trade to average €132.

The sale entry of 450 head recorded a clearance of 91%. The seventh annual Brockagh Sheep Breeders Association sale of aged rams, shearling rams and ram lambs takes place on Saturday 10 October, with the show at 1pm, viewing from 2.30pm to 5pm and the sale starting at 5.30pm.

Charollais Society announce female sale dates

Ram sales are winding down

The Irish Charollais Sheep Society has announced its autumn female sales calendar. A sale of over 50 hoggets and ewe lambs will take place on Saturday 31 October in GVM Tullamore Mart. The society is celebrating 30 years of breeding in 2020 and is holding a second female society sale on Friday evening 13 November in Carrick-on-Shannon. There will also be a production sale for the Powerview and Bolinaspect flocks on 21 November in Tullow Mart. Ram sales are winding down, with upcoming sales taking place in Tullow Mart, Co Carlow, on 6 October and in Athenry Mart, Co Galway, on 19 October. Catalogues for all sales will be available on the Charollais society website in advance of sales.