Sheep Ireland’s 16th Annual Multi-Breed Ram sale occurred on Saturday, August 22nd, in Kilkenny Mart.
There were 472 rams in the final catalogue. This sales 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 76%, with an average price of €906. Prices of the sale ranged €300 to €3,100 with rams available for both commercial and pedigree breeders.
| Breed | Average Price (€) | Lowest price (€) | Top price (€) | No. through ring | % Clearance |
| Belclare | 641 | 300 | 1250 | 48 | 77 |
| Beltex | 450 | 450 | 450 | 3 | 33 |
| Bluefaced Leicester | 700 | 700 | 700 | 1 | 100 |
| Charollais | 909 | 450 | 1900 | 143 | 75 |
| Dorset | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4 | 0 |
| Dutch Spotted | 483 | 450 | 500 | 3 | 100 |
| EasyCare | 1033 | 900 | 1300 | 3 | 100 |
| Galway | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 | 0 |
| Hampshire Down | 600 | 450 | 850 | 7 | 43 |
| Ile de France | 750 | 750 | 750 | 2 | 100 |
| Jacob | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 | 0 |
| Lleyn | 488 | 350 | 650 | 6 | 67 |
| Rouge de l’Ouest | 492 | 400 | 600 | 7 | 86 |
| Suffolk | 1020 | 550 | 3000 | 64 | 75 |
| Texel | 1031 | 450 | 3100 | 121 | 85 |
| Vendeen | 663 | 550 | 950 | 11 | 73 |
| Total | 906 | 300 | 3100 | 427 | 76 |
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.
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.
- 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 (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 buyer.
- Every ram in the sale must have a Genomic Evaluation.
- Scrapie type 1,2 or 3.
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 to €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 (Lot 158 bred by John & Dudley Maher) finding a buyer at €450. The breed recorded a clearance rate of 33%.
Galway
There were 2 lots for the Galway breed through the ring, they were not sold on the day.
Jacob
There were 2 Jacobs present on the day, both lots went unsold.
Dutch Spotted
The Dutch Spotted breed achieved a 100% clearance rate, with all three rams presented finding buyers. Prices ranged from €450 to €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..
Dorset
There were 4 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 to €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 to €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 to €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 to €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 to €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.
Finally, Sheep Ireland would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the running of the sale, including our sponsors FBD, Cormac Tagging and Weatherbys Scientific, the auctioneers, the mart staff, ram inspectors, breeders and buyers.
