Sheep Ireland's 16th annual €urostar Multi-Breed Ram sale at Kilkenny Mart saw 427 through the ring in a 76% clearance rate.

The average sale price was €906/ram and prices in the sale on Saturday (August 22) ranged from €300-€3,100/head, with rams available to suit both commercial and pedigree breeders.

According to Sheep Ireland, the high entry criteria for the sale - which saw were 472 rams catalogued -ensured that only the most engaged performance recording flocks could enter and only the highest-ranking performance recorded rams make it to the ring for this sale.

Flocks were required to have a data quality index (DQI) of 85% or higher, and rams had to be a minimum of 5-stars in the Replacement or Terminal Index.

"This criteria provides confidence for potential buyers that if they come to the sale, they will find a ram that meets expectations and will increase the profitability of the flock," the entity said.

The table below gives a breakdown of some of the key statistics of the sale by breed:

The number of pedigree breeders that are performance recording has been increasing year-on-year, with the number of commercial farmers seeking out €uro-Stars before purchasing a ram also rising.

The entry criteria to the Sheep Ireland sale included:

Every breeder was required to have a DQI of 85% or greater;
Every flock in the sale must be genetically linked;
Every ram must have passed a thorough physical inspection (5% of rams were rejected on the morning of the sale based on physical inspections);
Every ram in the sale must be 5-star (top 20% of the breed) on either the Replacement or Terminal Index based on a genomic evaluation;
100% of rams were DNA parentage (sire and dam) verified to increase the confidence of potential buyers;
Every ram in the sale must have a Genomic Evaluation;
Scrapie type 1, 2, or 3.

With the highest levels of entry criteria required to enter, all rams present on the day "are the some of the most genetically elite available in the country", Sheep Ireland said.

Below is a report on each individual breed at the Sheep Ireland sale and how the prices fared.

Charollais

The Charollais was the only breed sold through Ring 1 and had the largest entry per breed of the day, with 143 rams passing through the ring.

The breed achieved an average sale price of €909, with prices ranging from €450-1,900.

The highest-priced Charollais ram was Lot 85, exhibited by David Argue, which sold for €1,900. This ram lamb ranked in the top 2% of the breed for Days to Slaughter.

Overall, the Charollais section recorded a 75% clearance rate.

Beltex 

Kicking off Ring 2 on the day was the Beltex breed.

Three Beltex rams passed through the ring with one, Lot 158, bred by John and Dudley Maher finding a buyer at €450.

The breed recorded a clearance rate of 33%.

Galway and Jacob

There were two lots for the Galway breed through the ring and these were not sold on the day.

There were two Jacobs present on the day and both lots also went unsold .

Dutch Spotted and Dorset

The Dutch Spotted breed achieved a full clearance, with all three rams presented finding buyers.

Prices ranged from €450-500, with the top price of €500 shared by two lots: Lot 167 from Oliver and Claire Keaskin and Lot 168 from Eddie and Sheena McCarthy.

Both lots were double 5-star rams and ranked in the top 1% of the breed for Lamb Survivability.

There were four lots for the Dorset breed through the ring, they were not sold on the day.

Blueface Leicester

The Bluefaced Leicester breed was represented by one entry on the day.

Lot 174, exhibited by Dan and Ann O’Mahony, sold for €700, giving the breed a 100% clearance rate.

The double 5-star ram ranked in the top 2% of the breed for both Days to Slaughter and Number of Lambs Born.

Texel

The Texel breed had the second-largest entry on the day, with 121 rams passing through Ring 2.

The breed achieved an average price of €1,031 and recorded an 85% clearance rate, with prices ranging from €450 to €3,100.

The highest-priced Texel ram was Lot 208 from breeders John, Colm, and Michael McHugh, which sold for €3,100.

The double 5-star ram lamb ranked in the top 4% of the breed for both Days to Slaughter and Number of Lambs Born.

Suffolk 

The Suffolk breed opened Ring 3, with 64 lots presented for sale on the day.

The breed achieved an average price of €1,020 and a clearance rate of 75%, with prices ranging from €550 to €3,000.

The highest-priced Suffolk ram was Lot 315 from breeder Susan O’Keeffe, which sold for €3,000.

This ram lamb ranked in the top 10% of the breed for the Terminal Index and was purchased by another pedigree breeder.

Vendeen

The Vendeen breed was represented by 11 rams in Ring 3, achieving a clearance rate of 73% and an average sale price of €663.

Prices ranged from €550-950, with the highest-priced Vendeen being Lot 384 from breeders Brendan and Carmel Rooney, which sold for €950.

The double 5-star ram lamb ranked in the top 2% of the breed for the Replacement Index and in the top 5% for the Terminal Index.

Lleyn

Six Lleyn rams were presented in Ring 3, achieving a clearance rate of 67% and an average sale price of €488.

Prices ranged from €350-650, with the highest-priced Lleyn being Lot 394, a hogget ram exhibited by Finbarr Godfrey, which sold for €650.

The ram ranked in the top 2% of the breed for Lamb Survivability.

Rouge de l’Ouest

Seven Rouge de l’Ouest rams were presented in Ring 3, achieving a clearance rate of 86% and an average sale price of €492.

Prices ranged from €400-600, with the highest-priced lot being Lot 399 from breeders Oliver and Claire Keaskin, which sold for €600.

The ram lamb ranked in the top 13% of the breed for the Terminal Index.

EasyCare

All three EasyCare lots presented in Ring 3 were exhibited by breeder William J. Hutchinson.

The breed achieved a 100% clearance rate and an average sale price of €1,033, with prices ranging from €900 to €1,300.

The top-priced EasyCare was Lot 406, which sold for €1,300.

The hogget ram ranked in the top 5% of the breed for Days to Slaughter and in the top 8% for the Terminal Index.

Ile de France

The Ile de France breed was represented by two hogget rams from breeder William J. Hutchinson in Ring 3.

Lots 409 and 410 both found buyers, achieving a 100% clearance rate, with each lot selling for €750.

Hampshire Down 

The Hampshire Down section featured seven rams in Ring 3, achieving a clearance rate of 43% and an average sale price of €600.

Prices ranged from €450-850, with the highest-priced lot being Lot 417 from breeder Edward Buckley, which sold for €850.

The double 5-star ram lamb ranked in the top 6% of the breed for the Replacement Index and in the top 2% for the Terminal Index.

Belclare

Bringing Ring 3 to a close was the Belclare breed, with 48 rams presented for sale on the day.

The breed achieved a clearance rate of 77% and an average sale price of €641, with prices ranging from €300-1,250.

The highest-priced Belclare was Lot 428 from breeders Liam and Eoin Dunne, a double 5-star ram lamb that sold to another pedigree breeder for €1,250.

Sheep Ireland expressed its thanks to all who contributed to the running of the sale and wished all buyers the best of luck with their purchases.