Hogget ewes were a steady trade at the 60th anniversary Borris Ewe Breeders show and sale in Carlow on Saturday.
The first-prizewinners bred by Donal O’Brien made €300/head, down slightly from the €315/head paid for the equivalent pen in 2022.
Hogget ewe prices averaged between €210 and €220 generally, with plainer lots closer to €190/head and better quality reaching €280/head.
The famous Cheviot-cross-Suffolk breeding ewe drew buyers from all over, with several farmers from Northern Ireland down to fill loads.
Several pens on the trot made €200 to €205/head, with value to be had towards the end of the sale.
Some lighter hogget ewes which would require a good flush of grass to be ready for the ram went unsold at €180 to €190/head.
The top-prizewinning hogget ewe pens at the show and sale were:
Borris Sheep Breeders sale ticking along here at Leinster Marts #Carlow. Prices so far between €180 and €300/head, for the 1st prize winners.
— Barry Murphy (@BarryMurphyIFJ) August 12, 2023
These 4th prize winners go for €280 @farmersjournal @FJSheep pic.twitter.com/zTLciFa637
Ewe lambs
While there was also a steady trade for quality and heavier ewe lambs, a number of lighter lots struggled to find bidders.
Some farmers present suggested the poor summer and high cost of meal as reasons why there were a number of ewe lamb lots weighing closer to 30kg than 40kg.
That said, the best of the ewe lambs went for €280/head, while the majority made between €160 and €180/head.
The top prizewinning ewe lamb pens at the show and sale were:
