The average price of hogget rams traded at the 2026 Donegal Pedigree Cheviot Breeders annual show and sale was remarkably exactly the same as in 2025 at an average price of €949/head. The clearance rate of 75%, with 38 of the 51 rams on offer finding new homes, was slightly down on the 80% achieved in 2025.

The trade for the top-quality rams on offer was solid with a stickier trade for lesser-quality types. A top price of €3,150 was paid for the second placed hogget ram, Figart Elia, offered by the Figart flock run by Shane McHugh, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal.

The champion hogget ram owned by Manus McHugh pictured with is grandsons John, Michael and Cathal McHugh and judge Joe Burke.

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The performance recorded ram is parentage DNA verified and is eligible for the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS). Three of the ram’s pen mates topped the €1,000 mark with seven of the eight hogget rams offered selling to average €1,265/head.

The ram shaded out the first prize hogget ram, McHughs Errol, offered by Manus McHugh, Dunfanaghy and gave judge Joe Burke, Co Laois and a member of the Wicklow Pedigree Cheviot Group a hard task. The hammer fell on McHughs Errol at a price of €3,000. Manus’s pen offering of nine hogget rams had a successful sale with prices averaging at shy of €1,400 per head and four rams selling upwards of €1,300/head.

The third-prize-winning ram, Speenogue Eustachy, bred by the Speenogue flock of Sean McHugh, Lifford, Co Donegal sold for €2,250. Three of the flocks seven rams offered topped €1,500 with six of the seven rams entered selling on average for €1,233.

Demand for rams was helped by the sale being approved as an export sale with keen interest from breeders from Northern Ireland. Rams at the lower end of the price range sold from €350 to €700 with rams unsold falling within a price range of €400 to €900.

Female offering

There was a 100% clearance rate in the ewe hogget and ewe lamb section. The entry of 24 ewe hoggets sold for an average of €395 per head. This was down on the record price of €610/hd recorded in 2025, with prices on a par to 2024.

Patrick Haughey with the first prizewinning pen of ewe lambs. Pictured from left to right is Bill Halligan, judge, Jack Kelly, Patrick Haughey and Anthony Halligan, judge. / Kevin Robinson. Glenalla Photography

The top price achieved of €520/head was paid for three excellent-quality hoggets (pictured on right) offered by Patrick Haughey, Ardara, Co Donegal and which claimed first prize in the hogget section. The hoggets were also tapped forward as reserve champions of the show.

The second and third prize hoggets sold for a similar price of €450/head to Shane McHugh and Manus McHugh. Remaining hoggets sold from €290 to €430/head.

An entry of 30 ewe lambs sold in a 100% clearance to average at €307/head, about €75/head lower than the record prices witnessed in 2025.

The champion pen of three hogget rams owned by Shane McHugh and shown by from left John McHugh, Cathal McHugh and Michael McHugh, alongside judge Joe Burke. / Kevin Robinson, Glenalla Photography

The first-prizewinning pen of three ewe lambs was again claimed by Patrick Haughey with these sharp-headed ewe lambs judged overall champion of the show and selling for €500/head.

Haughey also claimed the second prize with this batch of three ewe lambs selling for an average of €390/head. While Sean McHugh claimed the third prize with these lambs selling for €300/head. The remaining ewe lambs sold from €210 to €250/head.