There was a scarcity of buyers at last Saturday’s Irish Angus premier sale of bulls and heifers in Tullamore, with just a 45% clearance rate.

The sale saw 31 bulls and one heifer put forward for sale. Customers were scarce on the day, with just 14 bulls out of the 31 finding new homes and 17 bulls going home unsold.

The average for the sale was €2,596, marginally down from the 2016 average of €2,656 with 41% clearance.

A small crowd was present on the day, with good weather being blamed for keeping potential bull buyers away. The disappointing return at Saturday’s sale continues a trend this spring of poor clearance rates at pedigree sales.

Champion Knappagh Mike.

Judge Michael Flanagan tapped out Maria Calvey’s Knappagh Mike, a May 2015-born son of the popular NCBC sire Cornamuckla Lord Hardy K222. He went on to sell for €3,200 in the sales ring.

Reserve Champion went to Kevin Diffley’s December 2015 bull Clooncolligan Marshall by the Dovea Genetics sire Bunlahy John G. Unsold in the ring, he later sold outside for €2,900 to Larry Kiernan, Irishtown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Top price of the sale went to Aidan Moloney, Co Clare, with his March 2016-born bull, Ballinacragga Nemesis. This bull was again by Cornamuckla Lord Hardy K222 and out of a Rawburn Lord Rocket F609 cow and boasted a terminal index of €71, a replacement index of €152 along with a calving difficulty of only 1.6%.

After a flurry of bids, he was eventually knocked down at €4,000 to Andrew Fossit, The Derries, Geashill, Co Offaly.

Other bull prices

  • John and Cathy Farrell from Mountdillon, Curraghroe, Co. Roscommon, had a successful outing, selling their three Carrigroe Hulk sons on the day for €2,500, €2,550 and €2,800. Carrigroe Hulk is the Farrell’s stock sire.
  • €3,100 for Tubridmore Mark from Denis Twomey, Causeway, Co Kerry. The September 2015-born Friarstown Ideal Pete K202 son had a terminal index of €90, a replacement index of €137 with a calving difficulty figure of +2.8%.
  • €2,900 for Listrolin Maximus from Seamus Rohan, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny. This November 2015-born Nightingale El Paso son had a terminal index of €96 and a replacement index of €126, with a calving difficulty figure of +5.3%.
  • €2,500 for Dunlaveymore Major from Michael Gallagher, Charlestown, Co Mayo. This September 2015-born bull by Templequain Lord Jake K798 was awarded first in his class in the pre-sale show and had a terminal index of €54, a replacement index of €62 and a calving difficulty figure of +3.6%.
  • The only heifer in the sale Tubridmore Megan from Denis Twomey, Causeway, Co Kerry, went home unsold having failed to meet her reserve.

    • The next Irish Angus sale is in Kilmallock on Saturday 1 April.