There doesn’t appear to be any let up in breeding sales, with mart managers yet again reporting a solid trade for all types of breeding sheep.
Although, some mart managers did note that hogget numbers were smaller in some marts over the past week.
Plainer-quality hoggets are generally selling from €130/head up to €160/head.
At special breeding sales, hoggets continue to break past the €200/head mark and hit up to €400/head last week.
Ewe lambs continue to be a good trade. In general, ewe lamb prices are varying from €90/head up to €150/head, with again select lots selling above this.
Two, three and four-year old ewes continue to trade from in or around €115/head up to €180/head across most marts, with select lots making close to €200/head and breaking past the €200/head at special breeding sales.
Mart round-up
Enniscorthy Mart
Kevin Murphy of Enniscorthy Mart reported a solid trade for breeding sheep at last Wednesday’s (September 9) weekly sheep sale.
Nice Suffolk-cross ewe lambs were a strong trade. They sold from €108/head up to €139/head for strong ewe lambs.
Sample ewe lamb prices:
- 10 lambs weighing 50kg sold for €139/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 42kg sold for €118/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 37kg sold for €112/head;
- 12 lambs weighing 36kg sold for €115/head;
- 13 lambs weighing 30kg sold for €108/head.
There were 170 hogget ewes on offer at last week’s sale, which saw a full clearance. Hogget prices ranged from €155/head up to €200/head and averaged €185.
Tuam Mart
At Tuam Mart last week, hoggets sold from €170/head up to €200/head mainly, with a couple of exceptional lots of hoggets making upwards of €200/head and topping out at €232/head.
Also Read: Pics from the mart: Ewe lambs and factory lambs in high demand at TuamEwe lambs were the standout trade on the night, particularly lambs weighing in excess of 50kg, which sold up to €157/head.
In general, ewe lambs made from €90/head up to €150/head, with some lots, as mentioned above, breaking past the €150/head mark and topping out at €157/head.
Sample ewe lamb prices:
- 12 lambs weighing 43.5kg sold for €100/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 51.5kg sold for €150/head;
- Eight lambs weighing 48.8kg sold for €130/head;
- 12 lambs weighing 45kg sold for €138/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 35kg sold for €113/head.
Special sales
The Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Breeders Group had a very successful day out in Blessington Mart last week, where ewe hoggets made up to a record breaking price of €400/head.
On the day, hoggets sold from €200/head up to €400/head, while three and four-year-old ewes made from €140/head up to €252/head.
Also Read: Cheviot hoggets hit €400/head at Blessington MartEwe lamb prices started from €120/head and made up to €237/head on the day.
The Borris Ewe Breeders’ Association held its third sale of the season on Saturday last (September 12). Like the previous two sales, the trade was very good on the day, according to a member of the group.
Cheviot hogget ewes made up to €195/head, while Suffolk-cross hoggets sold up to €220/head and averaged €180. Lastly, two and three-year-old ewes topped out at €220/head.