Sheep Ireland Elite €uroStar Multi-Breed Ram Sale 2026 Set for Kilkenny
The countdown is underway to one of the most important events in the Irish sheep breeding calendar, the Sheep Ireland Elite €uroStar Multi-Breed Ram Sale 2026. Taking place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Kilkenny Mart, Co. Kilkenny, starting at 10.30am, Seán Godfrey from Sheep Ireland gives us a rundown of what to expect.
The sale has become a flagship event for the sheep industry, bringing together some of the highest genetic merit rams available in Ireland and providing commercial sheep farmers with an opportunity to invest in proven genetics that can deliver long-term gains within their flocks.
As one of Ireland’s largest catalogued multi-breed ram sale, the event is expected to attract significant interest from both pedigree breeders and commercial farmers. Building on the success of recent years, the sale is anticipated to feature more than 500 elite rams drawn from a wide range of lowland breeds. Viewing of rams will begin at 9:00am, with selling commencing at 10:30am.
Strict entry criteria ensure quality
One of the main reasons for the continued success of the sale is the exceptionally high standard required for entry. Sheep Ireland’s objective is to ensure that farmers attending the sale can purchase rams with reliable genetic evaluations backed by accurate performance data and DNA information.
To qualify for the 2026 sale, every ram must:
- Be 5-star on either the Replacement or Terminal Index at the time of catalogue printing.
- Be genotyped and have a genomic evaluation through Sheep Ireland.
- Be fully parentage verified, with both sire and dam confirmed through DNA.
- Be scrapie genotype Type 1, 2 or 3.
- Pass a comprehensive physical inspection before entering the sale.
In addition, only flocks with a Data Quality Index (DQI) of 85% or greater are permitted to enter rams. All participating flocks must also be genetically linked, which strengthens the accuracy of genetic evaluations and allows meaningful comparisons between animals from different flocks.
These stringent requirements provide confidence to purchasers that the rams on offer are among the most genetically elite animals available in the country.
As part of a recent OviCast podcast, Seán Godfrey joined Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Ciaran Lynch to preview the Sheep Ireland Elite €uroStar Multi-Breed Ram Sale 2026. Listen in below:
Exceptional breed choice
The sale offers farmers access to genetics from a broad range of breeds in one location. Based on recent entry levels, rams are expected from over 10 different breeds, making it one of the most diverse ram sales in Ireland.
Breeds such as Texel, Charollais, Suffolk, Belclare and Vendeen are expected to feature strongly, while additional breeds including Lleyn, Dutch Spotted, Galway, Beltex, Blue Texel, Bluefaced Leicester, Hampshire Down, Easy Care, Border Leicester, Rouge de l’Ouest and Zwartbles have also been represented in previous catalogues. There will be a mixture of hoggets and ram lambs available on the day.
This wide breed selection gives farmers an opportunity to source rams that best suit their breeding objectives, whether they are targeting improved maternal performance, increased lamb growth rates, enhanced carcass traits or greater flock profitability.
Three rings operating throughout the day
To facilitate the large number of entries and buyers attending the event, the sale will operate with three sale rings running simultaneously. This format has proven successful in recent years and allows large numbers of rams to be sold efficiently while maintaining buyer interest throughout the day. The final catalogue will outline the selling order and ring allocations for each breed.
Online bidding will also be available through Martbids, allowing farmers who cannot attend in person to participate in the sale. All rams will have undergone physical inspection before sale day, providing additional reassurance for both onsite and online purchasers.
Why invest in a 5-star ram?
The ram contributes half of the genetic potential of every lamb born in a flock, making ram selection one of the most important management decisions a sheep farmer can make.
A 5-star ram has been identified through Sheep Ireland’s genetic evaluations as being among the highest-performing animals for economically important traits. Depending on the index, these traits can include:
- Lamb growth rate
- Carcass weight and conformation
- Ewe fertility
- Lamb survival
- Maternal ability
- Overall flock profitability
By using high-index rams, farmers can make cumulative genetic progress year after year. The benefits are permanent and passed on to future generations, helping to improve the productivity and efficiency of the national flock. Sheep Ireland’s genetic evaluations, genomic testing and performance recording systems provide farmers with information that allows them to make breeding decisions based on data rather than appearance alone.
The demand for high genetic merit rams has increased significantly in recent years, driven by growing recognition among commercial farmers of the financial returns achievable through better genetics. The Elite €uroStar Multi-Breed Ram Sale provides an ideal opportunity to access these genetics in a single venue.
With over 500 elite, performance-recorded and DNA-verified rams expected, representing over 10 breeds and selling through three rings, the Sheep Ireland Elite €uroStar Multi-Breed Ram Sale continues to play a key role in driving genetic improvement within the Irish sheep industry. Farmers seeking to improve flock performance, meet Sheep Improvement Scheme requirements and invest in future profitability should mark Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 in their calendars.