The 6th Annual Sheep Ireland Elite €uroStar Multi-breed ram sale took place on Saturday (Aug 27th) in Tullamore Co. Offaly. This was the largest Sheep Ireland sale held to date, despite the fact that the sale entry criteria was set at its highest level ever. On the other side of it we had our largest attendance of commercial farmers to date, as the sale goes from strength to strength each year it is becoming a day in the calendar not to be missed by commercial farmers with buyers from 21 counties taking rams home at the end of the day. It was very encouraging to see such a large attendance at the sale given that there is no Department of Agriculture Scheme (STAP) incentivising farmers to use €uroStar rams in 2016.
There was 215 animals catalogued with only 10 of these not being presented for sale, these rams were either rejected upon inspection before the sale for physical faults (feet, testicles, mouths) or were not brought to the sale for other reasons.
Of the 205 entries that did make it though the ring 175 of these lots found new homes giving the sale an overall clearance rate of 85%, just 2% behind last years clearance of 87%. The average price paid across all breeds was €525, €13/head back on last year. Each purchaser at the sale bought 1.86 rams on average and a lot of these also bought rams from more than one breed, which is another real attraction to the sale for commercial farmers.
Belclares were the first though the ring, and with only 17 lots entered in the catalogue demand was high which lead to a clearance of 94%. A Laurence Barrett bred Belclare hogget (LB151777) sired by LB131506 (A CPT sire), took the highest price of the sale with the hammer dropped at €980. The average price paid for Belclares on the day was €622, with the lowest price being €350.
Texels were the second through the ring. They had 67 lots catalogued and had a clearance of 89% for the breed. An Anne Murphy bred ram lamb (PXI16018) sired by Oberstown Tuff (A CPT sire), was the top priced Texel selling for €880. The average price for paid for Texels was €470 with the lowest price being €250.
Suffolks were next on the ballot. They had 42 lots catalogued and had a clearance of 90% for the breed. An Eamon Duffy bred ram lamb (C461602346) sired by Deburca Lewis (A CPT Sire) took the top Suffolk price on the day at €840. The average price paid for Suffolks on the day was €532 with the lowest price being €400.
Rouge de L’Ouest had 4 entries in the sale with 100% clearance for the breed. An Anne Murphy bred ram lamb (FMI16009) sired by ASI14001 took the top Rouge de L’Ouest price on the day at €600. The average price paid was €463 with the lowest price paid being €350.
Vendeen were the 5th breed to go through the sale with 9 lots catalogued, again with a 100% clearance rate. An Anthony & Oisin Gannon bred ram lamb (GAB16025) sired by Ballivor Norway took the top Vendeen price on the day at €620. The average price paid was €487 with the lowest price paid being €360.
Charollais were the 6th and final breed to go through the ring. They had the largest presence at the sale with 73 catalogued lots and a final clearance rate of 75%. Their was a tie for the top priced Charollais on the day with a Jim & Frampton Jeffery bred ram lamb (D3216103) sired by Carriganeela Cracker making €920 as well as a Simon Brown bred lamb (A216097) sired by Bawnard Alexander. The average price paid was €564 with the lowest price paid being €320.
We would also like to thank all the staff at Tullamore mart for all their assistance and co-operation, all the breeders who brought rams to the sale and helped out in any way on the day and finally to all the purchasers who attended the sale, without all of these people the sale would not be possible.