A buoyant trade saw a complete clearance and a top of 4,400gns at the Aberdeen Angus show and sale in Dungannon recently. Ten bulls sold to average £2,793, up £308 on the same sale last year.

The top price of 4,400gns went to the male champion, Taugh Blane Black Knight M166, a 20-month-old Hallington Endeavour G136 son, bred by building contractor William Wallace from Dromore, Co Down, who runs a herd of six pedigree cows.

Bred from one the herd’s foundation females, Croftburn Blackbird H331 (she was purchased from Bernard Mairs for 9,000gns at the Croftburn dispersal in 2009), the champion sold to dairy farmer George Hazlett from Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Next highest at 3,500gns went to Alan and Naomi Morrison, who run a 15-cow herd at Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, for the second prize winner, Drummeer Blackblaze N127.

By the Netherton Figo C244 son, Hallington Endeavour G136, this 13-month-old entry is out of the Gigginstown House Drew E300 daughter, Knockadrinan Blackbird G400 (bought privately by the Morrisons as a four-month-old heifer calf).

The buyer at 3,500gns was David Dunn from Donemana, Co Tyrone.

Ulster and Ireland rugby star Rory Best from Gilford, Co Armagh, took home 2,800gns for the second prize-winning Loughans Mark.

Sired by the Nakkeg Nord 913 son, Ballycaher Faithfull, he is out of a dam carrying the Corridan prefix and sold to N Cunningham from Kilkeel, Co Down.

Also selling at 2,800gns was the first prize-winning Leggygowan Ernie N737, bred by Danny Ward from Saintfield, Co Down.

This 13-month-old bull is by Netherton Mr Brazilian E337, and is out of a homebred dam by Woodvale Roscoe Y054. The buyer was Eric Walker from Keady, Co Armagh.

The final 2,800gns was paid to Alwyn and Carol Armour and sons, Dromore, Co Down, for the third prize winner Woodford Turbo.

Born in March 2013, he is sired by Ankonian Elixir 100 and is out of a homebred dam by Cudlobe Millennium 12M. The new owner is Glenn Cuddy from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone.

In the ring, judge JJ Farrell from Co Longford awarded the reserve male championship to Camus Eminent, bred by retired veterinary surgeon Joe Campbell, Strabane, Co Tyrone.

Born January 2013, he is by the Tully performance champion Goulding Jumbo King K436, and is out of Camus Eliza J685 – one of seven cows in the herd. He later sold for 2,500gns to S Patton, Doagh, Co Antrim.

Females

Females peaked at 1,600gns, paid to NI Aberdeen Angus Club vice-chairman Frank Moore, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, for the four-year-old cow Crieve Parisbuns Pop K834. By Old Glenort Popeye H777, she is out of a homebred dam by the former Balmoral Show champion Bruno of Spittal Shore. She sold with her five-week-old heifer calf by Old Glenort Evolution L296 at foot to Alan Clarke from Randalstown.

Samuel Scott, and son Timothy, from Newtownards, Co Down, claimed the day’s female and reserve female championships. Both heifers were born in January 2013 and are daughters of the herd’s stock bull, Old Glenort Knockmore J153. They failed to meet their reserve in the sale and were unsold.

Herefords achieve 91% clearance rate in Nenagh

The recent favourable weather, coupled with the fact that cows are finally out on grass, has generated a major increase in demand for Hereford bulls ex-farm, according to the Irish Hereford Society.

Consequently, 16 of the bulls that were entered for the recent sale in Nenagh were already sold ex-farm or at the Kilkenny bull sale which was staged the same week.

Overall, 30 of the 33 bulls (91% clearance) on offer at Nenagh sold to average €2,775 with a top of €3,500 given for an Ardlahan Ginger son exhibited by Philip Lynch, Finea, Mullingar.

His October-born bull, Carrick Luckey, not only took the top price but also claimed the supreme championship in the pre-sale show.

Out of the dam Ballydowel Flipper (sired by Glaslough Esquire), the champion later sold for €3,500 to Michael Clancy, Clonlara, Co Limerick.

Trillick Express 2, a son of successful herd sire Steil Gerard out of a Yarram Pompeii V055 daughter, Trillick Rose, made €3,100. Exhibited by JJ Farrell, Trillick-a-Temple, Co Longford, he was purchased by Athy man Brendan Lynch, Oaklade Farm, Cloney.

James Kirwan, Frankfurt, Dunkerrin, was well rewarded for two strong bulls with plenty of size and power. Sheepwalk Tomi, shown by his son Gerard, sold for €3,000.

Born December ’12, he is by the Dovea AI sire Kilsunny Goliath and out of Sheepwalk Beauty (by Sheepwalk Tobbie). The purchaser was James McInerney, Kilmaley, Ennis, Co Clare.

Sheepwalk Tobi, the second bull of the pair, was just a month older and is by Australian sire Banemore Pompeii T036.

Out of a Trillick Best daughter, Sheepwalk Una 2nd, he was bought by Frank Flood, Cormackstown, Co Kildare, for €2,900.

Local man Rory Farrell from Toomevara, a regular exhibitor at Nenagh, took home €2,950 for his bull, Ballinveney Nero.

A son of the top maternal sire Yarram Star General W251, he is out of Ballinveney Trendy (by BP Regulator 320C) and sold to local farmer Conor Slattery, Killowney, Ballymackey, Nenagh.

Thurles breeder Tom Ryan, Pallas, Upperchurch, exhibited a Gouldingpoll 1 Captain son, Tinraherpoll 1 Flash. Out of a Udel 1 Xponent daughter, this five-star bull sold to Tom Minogue, Fahy, Bridgetown, O’Brien’s Bridge, for €2,900.

Meanwhile, Toomevara breeder Bobby Powell and son Robbie exhibited Blean Fabio.

This young bull, born February ’13, is by herd sire Woodview John and out of Blean Victoria. The purchaser at €2,850 was Michael Slattery, Kilcolman, Newtown, Nenagh.

The two youngest bulls in the sale were purchased by well-known Co Meath breeder Val Ledwith, Batterstown, Dunboyne.

The reserve champion FH Patrick, from the well-known herd of Frank Harrington, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, sold for €2,700. A mid-March born son of Bowmont Storm A584, he is out of the PDHR 9322 Domino 69G daughter, FH Blossom Celine.

Not stopping there, Val Ledwith also purchased Brocca John, the youngest bull at the sale exhibited by Noel Farrell, Castledaly, Moate, for €2,800.

Also by Bowmont Storm A584, he is a five-star bull across all traits and has an excellent maternal index. Bull prices started at €2,350.