The IHFA held its premier sale in Nenagh once again this year, with an increased catalogue available. However, these added bulls didn’t make the cut, with only 18 of the 33 bulls through the ring finding new homes. This comes off the back of a remarkable 2018 sale, which saw 24 of the 26 bulls present sell to represent a 92% clearance.
While clearance rate may have been back, the average price remained fairly steady with the 2018 sale, settling at €3,025. There wasn’t a huge crowd in attendance, but those who were there were there to buy and were looking for bulls with dams that had a proven track record.
Topping the sale was the December 2017-born bull Radney Figo ET, which secured a price of €4,600. This bull was bred and exhibited by Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, who will be hosting this year’s IHFA national open day on their farm in Freemount, Co Cork.
Sired by Oldcastletown Ronaldo, this stylish young bull is out of the herd’s best cow, Radney Qur Odetta. This prolific cow is classified EX93 and is an IHFA diamond award protein recipient. She has also bred the successful AI bull Radney Levi 5 and is the grand dam of AI bull Radney Steve.
The O’Keeffe father and son duo didn’t stop there, with the next lot into the ring, Radney Browne ET, securing the third-top price of €3,800. This bull is a full brother to the sale leader and carried an EBI of €189.
Last of the Radney bulls through the ring was Radney Nut, which sold for €2,300. This son of the aforementioned Radney Steve is out of the fourth-lactation Radney 908 Odetta. This VG87 cow gave nearly 9,000kg in her last lactation of 4.67% fat and 4.10% protein.
In the pre-sale show, the overall champion also came from a Cork herd, this time the well-known Laurelelm herd of Rickey Barrett. Having been awarded the red rosette in the first class, Laurelelm Daffy 2 was later tapped out as overall champion and was described by judge Tom Murphy of the Swiftsheath herd as an “upstanding bull that was good all through with exceptional legs, feet and conformation”.
Overall champion Laurelelm Daffy 2 exhibited by Rickey Barrett, with judge Tom Murphy, association CEO Charles Gallagher and president Peter Kennelly.
Daffy comes from five generations of EX dams, with the Daffodil line one of the highest-achieving in the show ring for the Ballinhassig-based herd, accounting for numerous championships at the national dairy show.
Sired by Muckruss Cashcoin Faith, the October 2017-born bull is out of Laurelelm Gold Daffodil 3 EX91, which has a projected milk yield of over 12,000kg. Securing his reserve, this bull was knocked down at €3,500.
Taking the reserve overall championship and second-top price was Lisnalty Harry. This November 2017-born bull was brought out by well-known breeder Paul Hannon, Crecora, Co Limerick. Sired by Stantons Applicable, he is out of EX90 classified cow Lynbrook Bogart Classic. This dam has produced in excess of 15,000kg over a 305-day lactation, with highs of 4.6% fat and 3.63% protein. This bull was knocked down at €4,000.
Securing the honourable mention was highly regarded bull producer John O’Callaghan, Bandon, Co Cork. His January 2018-born bull Mountfarna Alexa is sired by Cogent Peak Alex and hit the market at €3,000.
Honourable mention Mountfarna Alexa, with breeder John O'Callaghan and judge Tom Murphy.
Another young bull with a strong family line, Alexa’s dam gave over 12,000kg in her last lactation with fat of 3.57% and protein of 3.59%. This was one of three bulls John sold to total €8,600.
Also having an exceptional day were James and Tom Kelly, who sold four bulls to average €3,600.
Leading the outfit’s prices with a call of €3,700 was Monamore Treanor. This third-prizewinner is sired by Boldi V Armour, with the dam Monamore Torch 330 VG86. This young bull comes from eight generations of VG or EX generations and is from the well respected Torch family.
Not far behind and one of two bulls from the Kellys to hit €3,600 was Monamore Franko. This December 2017-born bull is sired by Springhaven Otto and carries an EBI of €275. Dam Monamore Pesky Fifi has a projected yield of nearly 11,700kg of milk and is a fourth generation of either VG or EX.
Matching the money was the first lot into the ring Monamore Gandolf. This bull is also a son of Springhaven Otto, with the dam Monamore Rman Gay. This bull has four generations of EX, with the sire’s dam now having completed 12 lactations.
Last of the Kellys’ team was Monamore Gingersnap, which sold for €3,500. This fourth-prizewinner is again sired by Otto, with the dam another from the herd’s Gay line, this time Monamore Dominos Gay. This VG87 cow gave over 13,000kg in her last lactation of 3.77% fat and 3.39% protein.
The IHFA held its premier sale in Nenagh once again this year, with an increased catalogue available. However, these added bulls didn’t make the cut, with only 18 of the 33 bulls through the ring finding new homes. This comes off the back of a remarkable 2018 sale, which saw 24 of the 26 bulls present sell to represent a 92% clearance.
While clearance rate may have been back, the average price remained fairly steady with the 2018 sale, settling at €3,025. There wasn’t a huge crowd in attendance, but those who were there were there to buy and were looking for bulls with dams that had a proven track record.
Topping the sale was the December 2017-born bull Radney Figo ET, which secured a price of €4,600. This bull was bred and exhibited by Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, who will be hosting this year’s IHFA national open day on their farm in Freemount, Co Cork.
Sired by Oldcastletown Ronaldo, this stylish young bull is out of the herd’s best cow, Radney Qur Odetta. This prolific cow is classified EX93 and is an IHFA diamond award protein recipient. She has also bred the successful AI bull Radney Levi 5 and is the grand dam of AI bull Radney Steve.
The O’Keeffe father and son duo didn’t stop there, with the next lot into the ring, Radney Browne ET, securing the third-top price of €3,800. This bull is a full brother to the sale leader and carried an EBI of €189.
Last of the Radney bulls through the ring was Radney Nut, which sold for €2,300. This son of the aforementioned Radney Steve is out of the fourth-lactation Radney 908 Odetta. This VG87 cow gave nearly 9,000kg in her last lactation of 4.67% fat and 4.10% protein.
In the pre-sale show, the overall champion also came from a Cork herd, this time the well-known Laurelelm herd of Rickey Barrett. Having been awarded the red rosette in the first class, Laurelelm Daffy 2 was later tapped out as overall champion and was described by judge Tom Murphy of the Swiftsheath herd as an “upstanding bull that was good all through with exceptional legs, feet and conformation”.
Overall champion Laurelelm Daffy 2 exhibited by Rickey Barrett, with judge Tom Murphy, association CEO Charles Gallagher and president Peter Kennelly.
Daffy comes from five generations of EX dams, with the Daffodil line one of the highest-achieving in the show ring for the Ballinhassig-based herd, accounting for numerous championships at the national dairy show.
Sired by Muckruss Cashcoin Faith, the October 2017-born bull is out of Laurelelm Gold Daffodil 3 EX91, which has a projected milk yield of over 12,000kg. Securing his reserve, this bull was knocked down at €3,500.
Taking the reserve overall championship and second-top price was Lisnalty Harry. This November 2017-born bull was brought out by well-known breeder Paul Hannon, Crecora, Co Limerick. Sired by Stantons Applicable, he is out of EX90 classified cow Lynbrook Bogart Classic. This dam has produced in excess of 15,000kg over a 305-day lactation, with highs of 4.6% fat and 3.63% protein. This bull was knocked down at €4,000.
Securing the honourable mention was highly regarded bull producer John O’Callaghan, Bandon, Co Cork. His January 2018-born bull Mountfarna Alexa is sired by Cogent Peak Alex and hit the market at €3,000.
Honourable mention Mountfarna Alexa, with breeder John O'Callaghan and judge Tom Murphy.
Another young bull with a strong family line, Alexa’s dam gave over 12,000kg in her last lactation with fat of 3.57% and protein of 3.59%. This was one of three bulls John sold to total €8,600.
Also having an exceptional day were James and Tom Kelly, who sold four bulls to average €3,600.
Leading the outfit’s prices with a call of €3,700 was Monamore Treanor. This third-prizewinner is sired by Boldi V Armour, with the dam Monamore Torch 330 VG86. This young bull comes from eight generations of VG or EX generations and is from the well respected Torch family.
Not far behind and one of two bulls from the Kellys to hit €3,600 was Monamore Franko. This December 2017-born bull is sired by Springhaven Otto and carries an EBI of €275. Dam Monamore Pesky Fifi has a projected yield of nearly 11,700kg of milk and is a fourth generation of either VG or EX.
Matching the money was the first lot into the ring Monamore Gandolf. This bull is also a son of Springhaven Otto, with the dam Monamore Rman Gay. This bull has four generations of EX, with the sire’s dam now having completed 12 lactations.
Last of the Kellys’ team was Monamore Gingersnap, which sold for €3,500. This fourth-prizewinner is again sired by Otto, with the dam another from the herd’s Gay line, this time Monamore Dominos Gay. This VG87 cow gave over 13,000kg in her last lactation of 3.77% fat and 3.39% protein.
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