Double success for Kilmaine sheep breeder

A KILMAINE sheep breeder scored a double success at the annual Mayo Mule and Greyface Sheep Breeders Show and Sale at Ballinrobe on Friday.

John Morahan showed the winners of the red rosettes in both the ewe lamb and ewe hogget classes at the show before going on to receive the top price at the subsequent sale.

The best pen of 10 ewe hoggets, which came from the Morahan flock, sold for €255 each.

Having been presented with the first prize rosette in the class for ewe lambs for his pen of ten, which sold for €178 each, another pen from his flock, which had been unplaced at the show, went on to record the highest price of the day for ewe lambs when they sold for €198 each.

Second in the class for ewe lambs were a pen of ten shown by Tom Staunton Jnr which were sold for the second highest price of the day for ewe lambs when the auctioneer’s hammer fell at €188 each.

Tom Staunton, one of the organisers of the annual show and sale, said that breeders were very pleased with the sale.

The quality on offer was good and a strong attendance of buyers contributed to a lively trade for all lots.

“There was a great trade for both the lambs and hoggets and there was a clearance of over 95pc in the lambs - very strong demand,” he said.

Prices paid for the heavier ewe lambs, suitable for breeding, ranged from €130€190 each and the lighter lots sold from €100 to 130 each.

The forward ewe hoggets sold for up to €255 with the prices ranging from €200. The medium range sold for €160 to €200 and lighter lots sold for €140-€160.