Exceptional trade for rams at Tullow signals renewed confidence among breeders

There was an exceptional trade for all categories at the 30th anniversary Irish Charollais Sheep Society premier show and sale at Tullow Mart.

“It was a great day and we were delighted,” said secretary Joe Nolan, who felt that the flying trade for rams was an indication of renewed confidence in breeding.

Six rams sold for €2,000 or over, with 21 breaking the €1,000 mark; there was an overall sale average of €870 at 76pc clearance.

The ram lambs sold to an average of €925 at 73pc clearance, while the hogget ewes achieved a clearance of 95pc at an average of €785.

The first prize-winning shearling ram from the flock of Tom and Jim Murphy, of Inistioge, Co Kilkenny went on to become the choice of judge Andrew Duncan for male champion of show and supreme champion.

The January 2019-born ram from the A9 Fiddawn flock is five stars on the terminal index, and four on the replacement index ram; a son of Carriganeela Cracker, he

Good day:

went on to sell at €1,150.

The reserve male champion, exhibited by the Miley brothers, Declan, Mark and Joe from Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon was judged the reserve overall champion. Five stars on both terminal and replacement indices , he was purchased for export to a flock in the UK at €4,100.

The record price of €7,500 for David Argue’s Rockdale Vespasian was followed by a seven-month-old with double five stars from Michael and Sarah O’Neill’s flock at Camolin, Enniscorthy selling at €5,200.

Smaller

Fourth highest price was €3,650 for a January 2020born from Ger and Paula O’Leary’s flock at Ralahine, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare.

In the smaller female section, Edmond and Paul O’Gorman, of Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary, showed the female champion. The reserve came from Michael and Alymer Power’s flock at Askeaton, Co Limerick and secured the top female price of €1,160.

The second highest female price was €1,080 paid for

Declan Miley, Knockcroghery, with the Reserve Champion of the Show. The ram sold for €4,100 to a UK breeder a prize-winning ewe from Simon Brown’s flock at Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny.