The Donegal Mule Group sale held last Friday in Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart was described as being a positive trade, with keen buying for a larger entry of sheep.
The hogget entry of just shy of 600 head was up almost 200 on last year, with prices averaging at €305/head.
This was down about €10 per head on the average price for ewe hoggets in 2025. The scale of the fall was viewed as positive given the higher numbers on offer and the fact that prices in many breeding sales held in recent weeks have reduced significantly compared to last year’s record high.
There was a tight window in prices paid, with close to 70% of hoggets selling from €300 to €345/head.
Three lots of excellent-quality sheep exceeded this price, selling for €375, €400 and €440/head.
Another 15% of lots sold from €160 to €295, with a similar figure from €235 to €250 and just 3.2% of sheep returning home unsold.
Ewe lambs
Ewe lambs also followed a steady trade for an entry of approximately 900 head.
The average price was recorded at €182.50/head, down just €6/head on last year.
A dozen lots of top-quality and heavier ewe lambs sold from €230 to a top price of €275 for the first-prizewinning pen of ewe lambs.
About 42% of the entry sold from €180 to €220, with keen buying for ewe lambs delivering an option of breeding in their first year.
Another 27% of entries sold from €150 to €175, with 17% of entries selling from €115 to €145. This left the balance of about 9% of lambs returning home unsold.
Mart manager Brian Crawford said that the sale was boosted by strong buying from repeat customers, with over 500 sheep heading to buyers in the midlands and south of the country.
There was also significant activity from within the county, with this particularly true of ewe lambs with a number of specialist hogget producers active.
Group chair Kieran McGrath said the group was happy with the sale performance.
He commented that it is good for the longer-term performance of the group to have a sale where both vendors and producers are satisfied.
He added that customers got quality sheep at an honest price, while producers were happy with the demand seen.
The mart has a busy weekend of sales, with the Donegal Cheviot and Cheviot crossbreeders group holding its sale on Friday night.
The mart is also conducting the Cooley Sheep Breeders Sale of over 4,000 sheep in Carlingford, Co Louth, on Saturday.
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