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There was an entry of 2,200 ewe lambs and 800 hoggets at the first breeding sale of the Mule and Greyface Group on Friday.
The sale followed in the trend of breeding sales this year, with ewe lambs meeting the best demand and hogget prices easing slightly.
Average price of hoggets
The average price of hoggets was 184, a reduction of €11 on last year’s equivalent sale.
Top-quality lots sold from €185 to €210 in general, with a few lots selling to €230 and the first prize winners fetching €255.
Lighter, quality hoggets sold from €170 to €185, while there was a small number selling back to €160. In total, 110 hoggets went unsold.
Demand
The strongest demand seemed to be for Mule hoggets with Lanark breeding and a blacker head, but good-quality traditional hoggets with a good frame and size also sold well.
This was the same for ewe hoggets and ewe lambs, with a noticeable trend in the ewe lamb section of greater competition for lambs fit to breed this year.
Prices for such lambs ranged from €120 to €145 on average, with some excellent-quality lots breaking €150 and rising to €170 for prize winners.
Slightly lesser-quality lambs sold from €110 to €120, with light lots selling from €100 upwards. Just 60 lambs went unsold in this section.
Great condition
Joe Scahill, chairman of the Mule and Greyface Group, commended breeders for once again presenting lambs in great condition.
“The quality of sheep on offer continues to improve year on year, which is shown in so many repeat customers thankfully getting on well and returning each year.
“A lot of work goes into the sale and having 3,000 sheep at a breeding sale, and full credit has to go to everyone involved.”
Further sale photos will be available with this story on Saturday morning
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