Average of over €4,000 at premium red ladies

The inaugural premium red ladies production sale took place in Roscrea on bank holiday Monday. The sale offered prospective buyers a choice of 50 heifers from the Baileys, Ballinrahin and Grangeford herds, which came together for the sale.

Offering unique incentives for young and first-time buyers, the sale was a roaring success. In all, 92% of the heifers on offer traded on the day to average over €4,000, with three heifers reaching five-figure sums.

Both the sale leader and the second-highest seller came from the Baileys herd of Thomas Bailey, Batterstown, Co Meath. These two lots were secured by the same purchasing outfit of PJ McGrath and Kelly Stephenson at prices of €16,800 and €14,400 respectively.

Top call came for Baileys Minnie, an April 2017-born daughter of Goldies Jackpot. Jackpot, a bull purchased by Mr Bailey in Scotland, is sired by Ampertaine Foreman and out of the renowned Goldies Vitality.

Dam line of the €16,800 heifer is homebred Baileys Irene, a Queenshead Altea bred cow. Minnie, who carried three stars on the replacement index with five stars for carcase weight and conformation, was a favourite for many of the onlookers on the day.

Just below her at €14,400 was Baileys Laura. This December 2016-born heifer carried much the same breeding as the sale leader, being sired by Goldies Jackpot and out of a Queenshead Altea-bred dam. This five-star heifer on daughter milk goes back to one of the herd’s foundation females Pelletstown Hostess.

Top of Gary Morrissey’s outfit was the fourth lot into the ring Grangeford Lady ET. Sired by Ampertaine Elgin and out of Wilodge Vantastic-bred dam Goldies Flojo, this 18-month-old heifer was national calf champion in Tullamore in 2017. Lady is also a full sister to Grangeford Jojo, overall male champion at Tullamore in 2015 and current stock sire at the Grangeford herd. After back and forth bidding, auctioneer Denis Barrett dropped the hammer at €12,800 to Patrick Brennan.

The first lot into the ring, Grangeford Kacie, also came from Mr Morrissey’s pen. This five-star two-year-old heifer is sired by Ampertaine Commander, while Wilodge Cerberus and Procters Ena make up the dam’s side. Scanned in calf to Grangeford Jojo, Kacie hit the market at €6,100, selling to Brendan Curtin.

Noel Kenny went to €5,300 to secure his pick of the heifers, Grangeford Missie. This 17-month-old heifer was the highest-priced daughter of the aforementioned Grangeford Jojo. Dam Grangeford Helena ET is sired by Emerson and goes back to Ballyfin Venetica.

Last of the heifers to break the €5,000 mark was Baileys Molly, who was one of a number of heifers secured by UK buyers. This yearling heifer is again sired by Goldies Jackpot, while her granddam is Roundhill Vjoyeuse, dam of Baileys Ice Princess World Limousin Congress champion 2016. With four stars on the replacement index, the stylish Molly sold for €5,100.

Thomas Bailey was again in the money when he sold Baileys Lucy for €4,800. Sired by Queenshead Altea, Lucy is out of UK import Woodhouse Abbie, making her a full sister to Baileys Gucci who sold for €6,200.

Top of Michael Malone’s Ballinrahin herd selection was Ballinrahin Karen, which sold for €4,700. This heifer’s breeding needs no introduction, being sired by Loosebeare Fantastic, with Wilodge Tonka and Bankdale Alice on the female side. Selling in-calf to Lodge Hamlet, Karen was secured by Brendan Curtin.

All but four of the 50 heifers on offer found new homes to average €4,057. Michael Malone brought the largest number of heifers out, with 19 of the 20 Ballinrahin heifers selling to average €2,742. Gary Morrissey’s herd sold all 12 of the Grangeford heifers on offer to average €4,550. Finally, Thomas Bailey saw 15 of his 18 forward sell to average €5,326.