Sheep Ireland sales going from strength to strength!
Sheep Ireland’s 14th Annual Multi-Breed Ram sale occurred on Saturday, August 24th, in Tullamore Mart.
The Sheep Ireland sale still remains to be the largest catalogued ram sale in Ireland. Whilst maintaining the numbers, this sale also has the highest entry criteria in Ireland! This high entry criteria ensures that only the most engaged performance recording flocks can enter (DQI of 85% or higher), and only the highest ranking performance recorded rams (minimum 5 stars in the Replacement or Terminal Index).
This strict criteria provides confidence for potential buyers that if they come to the sale they will find a ram that meets expectations and he will increase the profitability of the flock.
The sale had an overall clearance of 90%, with an average price of €853. Prices of the sale ranged €300 to €2550 with rams available for both commercial and pedigree breeders.
| Breed | Average Price(€) | Lowest Price (€) | Top Price(€) | No. through the Ring | Clearance Rate |
| Belclare | 603 | 400 | 900 | 38 | 82% |
| Blue Texel | 563 | 500 | 600 | 5 | 80% |
| Bluefaced Leicester | 1150 | 1150 | 1150 | 1 | 100% |
| Charollais | 808 | 400 | 1550 | 144 | 88% |
| Cheviot | 500 | 500 | 500 | 1 | 100% |
| Hampshire Down | 428 | 300 | 850 | 12 | 75% |
| Rouge de l’Ouest | 800 | 500 | 1400 | 7 | 100% |
| Suffolk | 1093 | 650 | 2550 | 60 | 100% |
| Texel | 930 | 400 | 2300 | 161 | 95% |
| Vendeen | 567 | 400 | 1050 | 33 | 72% |
| Zwartbles | 350 | 350 | 350 | 1 | 100% |
| Overall | 853 | 300 | 2550 | 464 | 90% |
Since the start of Sheep Ireland, the number of pedigree breeders’ performance recording has increased year on year and each year the number of commercial farmers searching for €uro-Stars before they purchase is also rising. Again this year, performance-recorded rams are in extra demand due to the Sheep Improvement Scheme Genotyped Ram Task. Lowland Flocks that choose this task must select a ram that is 4 or 5 Star on the Replacement or Terminal Index based on a genomic evaluation and be a scrapie Type 1,2 or 3. Hill flocks can also choose the lowland option or purchase a hill ram that is DNA sire verified and Scrapie type 1,2 or 3.
With the highest levels of entry criteria required to enter, all rams present on the day are the most genetically elite available in the country.
- Every breeder was required to have a Data Quality Index (DQI) of 85% or greater.
- Every flock in the sale must be genetically linked.
- Every ram must have passed a thorough physical inspection (3% 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 buyer.
- Every ram in the sale must have a Genomic Evaluation.
- Scrapie type 1,2 or 3.
Belclare
The first breed through the ring in Ring 1, was the belclares with 38 rams. The belclares had the highest replacement €urostar values of the breeds within the sale. The breed had a clearance rate of 82%, a figure that was up on last years 70%. The belclares averaged €603, with rams ranging from €400-€900. Breeder John McTigue’s, Lot 21 was the top priced belclare on the day at €900. The triplet lamb was in the top 11% of the Replacement index and Top 8% Terminal Index of his breed. .
Charollais
Following the Belclares in Ring 1 was the Charollais. There were 144 charollais rams through the ring with a clearance rate of 88%. Charollais were again this year the second largest breed available at the sale.
The average sale price was €808, with rams ranging from €400-€1550. David Argue, received the top honor’s for the third year in a row, with the top price, lot 70 reaching €1550. This Charollais was sold to a fellow pedigree breeder, demonstrating the range of options available for both pedigree and commercial sheep breeders.
Texel
The Texel were run through ring 2, with a superb clearance of 95%, the Texel breed had the largest number of entries on the day with 161 rams through the ring. The average price of the Texels was €930, with a range of rams available from €400 to €2300. The top priced ram of the day was bred by Robert John Dunne, lot 248, again sold to a fellow pedigree breeder. This ram was among the highest ranked terminal index rams of the Texel’s ranked in the Top 1 % for the terminal index and top 6% for the replacement index for his respective breed, making him a double threat with strong figures in both indexes.
Rouge de l’Ouest
The rouge breed had a strong sale with 100% clearance of the 7 catalogued rams. The prices ranged from €500-€1400, with an average of €800 on the day. Oliver and Claire Keaskin bred the top priced Rouge of the sale, the last rouge lot into the ring, lot 295 at €1,400. This ram was ranked in the top 1% in both the Terminal and Replacement index within the Rouge de l’Ouest breed, and in the top 1% rank days to slaughter for the breed.
Zwartbles
A first for the sale was the addition of the Zwartbles breed to the catalogue for the 2024 sale. Lot 296 (IE043084811652E) from Breeder Deirdre Heavy was sold on the day. This ram was ranked in the top 5% Replacement and Top 13% Terminal index of the Zwartbles breed. This is the first of the breed to be sold within the sale at €350.
Bluefaced Leicester
Breeders Dan & Ann O Mahony had the only lot for the Bluefaced Leicesters breed on the day. Lot 299, (IE045680200971H) was sold for €1150, the ram was ranked in the top 7% for days to slaughter of the Bluefaced leicester breed.
Cheviot
Another first for the sale was the inclusion of the cheviot breed in this years catalogue. Breeders John & Donie Foley sold lot 301 (IE042634503446B), a hogget ram at €500. The ram was ranked in the top 13% for the Terminal Index of the Cheviot breed.
Blue Texel
The Blue Texel breed was represented on the day with 5 rams through the ring averaging €563. The rams ranged from €500-€600 with a clearance of 80% . Joint top priced rams of the sale were lot 304 (breeder: William Tait) and lot 305 (breeder: Brendan Hanley), both at the €600 mark.
Vendeen
The Vendeens had 33 rams through the ring, an increase on last years entries. Prices ranged from €400-€1050, with a 72% clearance. The top priced lot of the day, lot 387 was a ram lamb from breeder Ciaran Coughaln which sold for €1050. This ram was ranked in the Top 2% Replacement Index and top 1% Terminal Index for the Vendeen breed. The average price for the Vendeens on the day was €567.
Hampshire Down
Hampshire Downs averaged €428 on the day for the 12 lots that went through the ring. There was a clearance rate of 75% with rams ranging from €300 to €850. The top priced lot, lot 422 from breeder Edward Buckley was ranked in the top 2% of the Replacement Index and top 7% Terminal index for his respective breed, again a ram with strong figures in both indexes.
Suffolk
The Suffolk breed was the third largest breed available on the day with 60 rams going through the ring. The average price on the day was €1093 with a 100% clearance for the breed. The top priced rams of the sale were from breeder Eamonn Duffy who had two lots reach a price of €2550 for lots 447 and 448. Both rams were sold to pedigree breeders. The price ranged from €650-€1900 for Suffolk’s excluding the two top priced lots, ensuring there were rams for every customer.
