There was a flying trade at the Irish Charolais Cattle Society’s annual Christmas Cracker sale of bulls on Saturday in Elphin, Co Roscommon. The older, more capable bulls got the sale off to a great start before the younger bulls kept the crowd around to finish well. Altogether 19 of the 83 bulls present sold for €5,000 or more, resulting in an average sale price of €4,300. The clearance rate was 83%, up 10 percentage points on last year, with the average price also rising by nearly €100.
There was a flying trade at the Irish Charolais Cattle Society’s annual Christmas Cracker sale of bulls on Saturday in Elphin, Co Roscommon.
The older, more capable bulls got the sale off to a great start before the younger bulls kept the crowd around to finish well. Altogether 19 of the 83 bulls present sold for €5,000 or more, resulting in an average sale price of €4,300. The clearance rate was 83%, up 10 percentage points on last year, with the average price also rising by nearly €100.
It proved to be a day of investment for some of Ireland’s AI centres, with both of the top two bulls heading to stud.
Top price
Selling for the top price of €11,500 to Dovea AI was the first prizewinning Bud Orpheus. This September 2018-born bull was brought out by relatively new breeder, Olivia Purcell from Athboy in Co Meath. Sired by Doonally New, he goes back to Pirate-bred cow Western Icon and carried five stars on a number of traits.
The second top price of the day was €10,200 paid by NCBC for Glera Oran. Having stood intermediate champion in the pre-sale show, the Cavelands Fenian son attracted a number of bids before auctioneer Tom Cox finally dropped his hammer.
This topped an exceptional day for breeder Rory Cullen, who also presented the reserve intermediate champion Glera Oneshot.
This Doonally New son is out of a full-sister to the dam of the champion and fetched a price of €9,500, selling to a Northern buyer.
Next in line was the Ryan family, who sold Goldstar Oscar for €9,200. This Doonally New-sired bull is out of one of the family’s show cows, Goldstar Falkland.
Junior champion
The day’s junior champion and this year’s national senior bull calf champion from Tullamore, Cloonglasna11 Oscar, fetched €9,000. This Balmyle Vagabond son out of a Cloverfield Excellent-bred cow was brought out by Padraig Egan, Ballina, Co Mayo.
Last of the major championships was the senior, which was secured by Pat McClean with Roughan Outh. This Roughan Justbeau-sired June 2018-born bull sold for €5,600.
Full report and pictures to follow.
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