On Friday last (August 21), the Carrick Prolific Ewe Lamb Breeders’ Sale took place at The Showgrounds, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
The sale, which consisted of over 650 ewe lambs of various different breeds, was a “great success”, according to Cathal McCauley of the group, who himself sold lambs on the day.
Cathal reported a “near full clearance, with only five lots not sold on the day”.
He said: “It was a very successful sale, with the average price across the sale working out at €130.20, which is up on last year’s inaugural sale.
In total, 649 lambs were sold on the night, which represented a very high clearance rate.
“There were very good-quality lambs on offer and this was reflected in some of the prices paid out.”
Some of the top prices are listed (below).
Top prices:
- Suffolk-cross lambs: €170/head – Bryan Barber, Grange, Co. Sligo;
- Belclare-cross lambs: €120/head – Seamus Connolly, Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim;
- Lleyn-cross lambs: €126/head – Clifford Richardson, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim;
- Aber-cross lambs: €138/head – Cathal McCauley, Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim;
- Texel-cross lambs: €168/head – David Irwin, Co. Sligo;
- Mule lambs: €138/head – Martin Feeney, Grange, Co. Sligo;
- Cheviot-cross lambs: €208/head – Martin Travers, Elphin, Co. Roscommon.
The average prices for the different breeds are listed (below).
Average prices:
- Suffolk-cross lambs: €133; 223 lambs sold;
- Belclare-cross lambs: €116; 22 lambs sold;
- Lleyn-cross lambs: €122; 16 lambs sold;
- Aber-cross lambs: €138; Nine lambs sold;
- Texel and Charollais-cross lambs: €132; 90 lambs sold;
- Mule lambs: €122; 173 lambs sold;
- Cheviot-cross lambs: €147; 58 lambs sold;
- Wicklow Cheviot-cross lambs: €117; 30 lambs sold;
- North Country Cheviot lambs: €179; 28 lambs sold.