Nearly 100 Charollais females were taken to Tullamore Mart recently for the first of the society female sales.

While the normal sale brought the numbers, the production sale of Dymphna and Gerry Grogan’s Duiske flock stole the limelight, achieving the top price of €1,250.

This top-selling very correct ewe, sold in-lamb to Ballyhibben Talisman, was the pick of Sarah and Michael O’Neill of the Bolinaspect flock in Co Wexford. Overall, the production sale witnessed a 100% clearance rate, with average price settling at €520.

The normal portion of the sale, like many sheep sales, found a tougher trade. Prices averaged at €450, with a clearance rate of 50%. Topping trade here was the overall champion, a ewe lamb from the Curabane flock of Declan and Eoin O’Connor, Elphin, Co Roscommon.

Tapped out by judge Albert Ferguson, the stylish ewe lamb was no stranger to the show ring, as she had won prizes at numerous shows this year. In the sale ring later in the day, she sold for €760 to Thomas Murphy, Cleriestown, Co Wexford.

In the hogget ewe class, Tipperary breeders Edmond and Paul O’Gorman, Lisfuncheon flock, took the red ribbon for the second year in a row and went on to be reserve champion of the show.

This hogget ewe by homebred sire Lisfuncheon Gus is in-lamb to Lisfuncheon Jack O’Patsy, son of three-time all-Ireland winning ewe Lisfuncheon Princess. She later sold for €560 to Michael Weston, Dunmore, Co Galway.

Next production

The next Charollais production sale will take place on Saturday 9 November at Tullow Livestock Mart at 12.30pm.

The sale is that of Willie Gleeson’s Wexfo flock (F62) and Joe and ML Byrne’s Foynes flock, with a guest consignment from the Ballinabarnet flock of James Byrne.

The sale of nearly 80 sheep has become a highlight in most people’s calendars, with a number of top sheep purchased at previous year’s sales.

Some of the most recent successes include a Wexfo-bred ewe sold at the sale, which bred the sale topper at this year’s premier society sale.

All three flocks have obtained a number of top placings and sale-toppers in recent years, which should ensure that the sheep forward will be the picks of their young ewes.