The recently formed Donegal Mule Group held its second breeding sale last Saturday in Ballybofey and Stranorlar Co-op Mart.

The sale included about 200 ewe hoggets, with the top-priced pen selling for €215.

Good-quality hoggets sold from €180 to €200 per head, while lesser-quality lots sold from €150 to €170 on average, with a small selection of light hoggets selling back to €140 per head.

There was firm demand for an entry of 1,100 ewe lambs, with some buyers looking for heavier lambs to possibly breed from, while others were in the market for lighter lots to run in a dry hogget enterprise.

The best-quality ewe lambs sold on average from €120 to €140, with the top price of €148 paid for the first prize-winning pen. Lighter lots sold from €100 to €120 on average, while there was also an entry of light ewe lambs weighing around 30kg to 35kg, with these lots selling from €80 to €100.

Manager Brian Crawford said the sale attracted buyers from as far south as Wexford, with about 30% of sheep traded finding new homes outside of the county.

Kieran McGrath, Donegal Mule Group, said the sale is also helping to build interest, with new breeders joining the group.