With sheep breeding sales going very well around the country, confidence is high in the sector. This confidence is being reflected in high averages and good clearances at pedigree ram sales. The top price of €1,710 at the Donegal Texel Breeders ram sale on Friday went to Mervyn and Anna Boal, Killydesert, Letterkenny, for their February 2019-born shearling by Clew Bay Amigo.

Shane McHugh Figart, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, had a great night, selling five ram lambs to average €896. Top price in the pen went to his February 2020-born ram lamb by Kilclammon Brody and out of a homebred ewe.

This February 2020-born Texel ram lamb by Emlach Campbell from Shane McHugh, Donegal, sold for €1,020.

The Greene family from Culdaff also had a good night’s selling, with the top price from their consignment going to their February-born ram lamb by Rhaedr Best of the Best and out of a Tophill Wall Street ewe which sold for €1,680.

This January 2019-born Texel shearling sired by Strathbogie Yes Sir from John Greene, Donegal, sold for €940.

This January 2020-born Texel ram lamb by Turoe Yogie from Shaun Boyce, Donegal, sold for €1,200.

Shaun Boyce from Millford, Donegal, sold his January 2020 ram lamb by Turoe Yogie for €1,200.

Danny Murray from Petigo, Donegal, also had a good night, selling his Quarry House Baby Guinness March 2019-born shearling for €1,200. Paul Mallon’s shearling ram by Knockem Bentley sold for €1,220.

This February 2019-born Texel shearling ram by Knockem Bentley from Paul Mallon, Donegal, sold for €780.

This March 2019-born Texel shearling ram by Knockem Bently from Paul Mallon, Donegal, sold for €1,040.

This March 2019-born Texel shearling ram by Springwell Abu Dhabi from Neville Myles, Donegal, sold for €480.

This February 2019-born Texel shearling ram by Mullan Armani from Richard Wilson, Donegal, sold for €780.

This January 2020-born Texel ram lamb by Drumderg Won and Only from John Parke, Donegal, sold for €640.

This February 2019-born Texel shearling by Kindrum Big Ears from Stuart McKeague, Donegal, sold for €980.

This February-born Texel ram by Turoe Yogi from Ciaran Hegarty, Donegal, sold for €580.

This February 2020-born Texel ram lamb by Kilclammon Brody from th McHugh brothers, Monaghan, sold for €620.

This January-born Texel ram lamb from McHugh brothers, Monaghan, sold for €660.

This February 2020-born Texel ram lamb by Haymount Crowdpuller from McHugh brothers, Monaghan, sold for €500

The general run of ram lambs made between €400/head and €600/head, with the general run of shearlings selling for between €400/head and €700/head depending on quality.

The sale, which was powered by the MartBids app, had good activity online.

For a full sale report and photos, check out next week’s edition of the Irish Farmers Journal.