The Maam Cross Mule Group is looking forward to Saturday’s annual ewe lamb sale in Maam Cross Mart, Co Galway, with an optimistic outlook.

Group member Stephen Joyce says the fact that fellow group member Padraic Canny claimed first prize in the Mule ewe lamb class at the Tullamore Show has started off the week’s preparations on a positive footing.

“The level of competition in Mule classes has gone from strength to strength in recent years with more groups coming together to market lambs and continual improvements in breeding.

''The win by Padraic was great for the group as a whole and has lifted the spirits and gone some way to rewarding producers for their hard work in what has been a difficult start to the year. We hope now that the good fortune carries through for our sale on Saturday 18 August,” said Stephen.

Variation

The 12-member group has a strong association dating back over 30 years and this year will offer about 1,200 ewe lambs and in the region of 100 hoggets.

Stephen explained that there is a good variation in sheep on offer for customers with flocks implementing varying breeding programmes and utilising different hill genetics.

The 12-member group has a strong association dating back over 30 years and this year will offer about 1,200 ewe lambs and in the region of 100 hoggets

“We have breeders working with the traditional Scottish Blackface ewe in the area while others have incorporated some Lanark genetics in recent years. The same can be said for the Bluefaced Leicester rams. Some are using the traditional Blue while others have gone for a crossing-type ram. All the sheep have the same characteristics though. They are bred on hard terrain, are hardy and will excel when transferred to better ground.“

Strong link-up

Stephen said that it will also be a sad day for the group in light of the passing of Maam Cross Mart manager Eoin Burke last November. “We had a fantastic relationship with Eoin and he was central to the success of the group. We are delighted to be continuing our long tradition of working with the Burke family and all farmers in the area are pleased to see the mart continuing to perform well.”

The show and sale of ewe lambs takes place this Saturday 18 August starting at 11am in Maam Cross Mart, Maam Cross, Co Galway.