The annual show and sale of Texel cross and Hiltex ewes (Texel ram x Scottish Blackface ewe) was held at Ballinrobe Mart on Saturday 18 August. The sale was met with a similar trade to other breeding sales, with good demand for top-quality hoggets while lesser quality lots were a more challenging trade.

An entry of in excess of 300 Texel cross lowland hoggets averaged €163. Good-quality strong hoggets sold from €170 to €190 on average, with choice lots rising to €200 while four pens broke the €200 mark, including the first prizewinners which sold for €225. Medium-quality hoggets sold from €155 to €170, while some lighter lots sold upwards from €140.

The entry of more than 600 Hiltex hoggets met a more challenging trade, with demand not helped by a few strong customers in recent years curtailed in buying by drought and a resultant lack of grass and lower drafting rates in lambs. The average price was €132, with a top of €160 and a range in price of €115 to €150 on average. There was a lower clearance rate of about 80%. The sale also included an entry of Texel rams which repeated the upturn in fortunes for the breed in sales held to date. The average price for ram lambs was €586, with a top price of €920, while hogget rams averaged €545.