The Sheep Ireland Guide and Directory of Breeders for 2026 has officially been released by Sheep Ireland, ahead of the upcoming autumn 2026 breeding season.

According to Sheep Ireland, the directory is published annually and distributed to thousands of farmers nationwide.

A statement from Sheep Ireland described the directory as a "guide to better genetics and performance through better breeding decisions".

The Sheep Ireland statement explained that the Guide and Directory of Breeders highlights pedigree breeders participating in the LambPlus programme who are actively performance recording and producing high €uroStar animals.

It also contains information about the hill sheep breeders, and the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS).

Inside the 2026 edition, farmers will find:

Contact details for performance-recording breeders across all sheep breeds;
Practical advice on selecting the right ram for their flock;
Clear explanations of €uroStar indexes and how they translate to profit on-farm;
Information on breeders producing SIS-eligible and genotyped rams;
Breed society contact details.

The directory will help farmers make "informed breeding decisions, driving long-term productivity, profitability and sustainability across the national flock", according to Sheep Ireland.

The €uroStar system

Sheep Ireland describes the €uroStar system as being "the heart of its breeding programme, allowing farmers to identify animals with superior genetic potential based on traits such as lamb survivability, growth rate, and reproductive performance".

"One of the key strengths of the Guide and Directory is its ability to connect ram buyers directly with trusted breeders" helping to "bridge the gap between breeders and commercial farmers", according to the industry body.

"For commercial farmers, sourcing the right ram can often be the most important decision of the year."

The directory simplifies this process by providing:

Direct access to breeders producing elite genetics;
Confidence that listed breeders meet key programme requirements.

The scale of distribution ensures strong reach across the country, delivering targeted knowledge transfer directly to the farm gate and reinforcing Sheep Ireland’s mission of improving genetic gain across the sector.

The online version of the Sheep Ireland Guide and Directory of Breeders 2026 is available to view here.

New feature for Catalogue Sales Card

Alongside the Guide and Directory, Sheep Ireland is introducing a new feature to the Catalogue Sales Card for 2026.

This innovation is designed to make it easier for farmers to access key information when purchasing rams at sales.

The Catalogue Sales Card works as a quick-reference guide, helping buyers to:

Understand €uroStar ratings instantly;
Identify whether a ram is suitable for replacement or terminal breeding;
Interpret genetic values in a practical way;
Make faster and more confident buying decisions at the point of sale.

"By simplifying complex genetic information into a clear and practical format, the sales card ensures that all farmers can benefit from the latest advances in genetic evaluation."

Each sale catalogue will include a QR code for accessing a full page per animal sales card, with a full list of traits explanation and an extra layer of ancestry.

Farmers can scan the QR code or click here to access the €uroStar all traits explanation page and have a look at the new tool available.

New 2026 Ram Sales Calendar search

In response to farmer demand for better planning tools, Sheep Ireland has also launched a new online Ram Sales Calendar search for 2026.

Accessible via the Sheep Ireland website, this new feature allows farmers to view all upcoming ram sales nationwide in one place.

Through this tool, users can:

Browse all ram sale dates across lowland and hill breeds;
View sale locations, marts, and associated breed societies;
Access links to sale catalogues;
Plan purchasing decisions well in advance.

With a large number of ram sales taking place across the country throughout the season, this tool aims to remove the need to search across multiple sources and bring everything together in a single, easy-to-use platform.

Typical listings include major sales such as:

Multi-breed sales across counties nationwide;
Individual breed premier sales;
Regional ram sales.

This centralised approach ensures farmers never miss an important sale and can plan their breeding strategy more effectively.

By combining breeder information, genetic tools, and improved access to sales nationwide, Sheep Ireland said that it aims to "continue to lead the way in supporting Irish sheep farmers".