The strong commercial demand for Angus cattle was reflected in the buzz around the show and sales ring at last Saturday’s Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society show and sale in Carrick-on-Shannon.

While bidders from Northern Ireland and Scotland were active, most of the high priced bulls stayed in the Republic of Ireland.

Judge Albert De Cogan, Cork, had to compete hard to secure his show champion Steil Leader for the day’s top price of €5,700. This February 2014 bull from the herd of Joe and Cathal McCormack, Steil, Tulsk, was a son of The Moss Kriss. Cathal Duignan, Laheen, Eslin, exhibited the reserve champion Laheens Kevin, sired by Mogeely Joe, which sold for €4,350 to Larry Healy, Ballymote.

Overall, 45 of the 63 Angus bulls sold at an average of €2,800. By the end of the sale 10 bulls were consigned to Northern Ireland and a further two to Scotland. A feature of the show catalogues at Carrick was the complete absence of Eurostars.

Top prices included:

  • €4,500 for Currycramp Karim, sired by Clooncarne Frank and bred by Gerard Mulligan, Currycramp, Dromod.
  • €4,050 for Mercury Kiefer, sired by Nightingale El Paso and bred by Shane and John Murphy, Glenworth, Banteer, Cork.
  • €4,050 for Dararea Kevin, sired by Mogeely Joe and bred by Eamon Beirne, Oatfield, Strokestown.
  • €4,000 for Gaigue Millview Vulcan, sired by Netherton Mr Brazilian and bred by Michael Sheridan, Gaigue, Ballinamuck, Longford.
  • Sean Regan, Farmhill, Loughglynn, Castlerea, and Thomas Kellaghan, Knockdrin, Mullingar, both achieved €3,600 for Farmhill Keith, by Black Banner X1 Of Idvies, and Borrow Josh, by Castleard Great.
  • €3,200 for Logboy King, by Lawsonsford Bagatelle and bred by Liam Mahon, Tibohine, Castlerea.
  • €3,050 for Shankill Marader, by Eastfield Black Buddy and bred by Pat and Finbarr Cahill, Shankill, Cavan.

    • Four breeders got €3,000:

  • Patrick Hever, Carrickbanagher, Drumfin, Sligo, for Carrickbanagher Kyle by Goulding Jumbo King.
  • John and Cathy Farrell, Mount Dillon, Curraghroe, for Dillon Kurtis, by Coneyisland Legend.
  • John O’Connor, Cloonroughan, Elphin, for Cloonroughan Kevin, by Mogeely.
  • Joe and Gerard Kilgallon, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris, for Mayo Kingpin, by Westellen DeeKay.

    • In the Shorthorn section, Alo O’Hara, Ballysundriven, Elphin, exhibited the champion Kinard Kev, by Sliabh Bhui Prince, which sold for €2,200.

    Four of the six Hereford bulls exhibited sold at an average of €2,060, with Cloncahirpoll 1 Tommy, sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Captain, getting the top price of €2,250 for breeder David Faughnan, Lisdadnan, Mohill.

    22,000gns in Carlisle

    Gurteen, Co Sligo, Limousin breeder Michael Phillips purchased reserve champion Norman Inventor for 22,000gns (€31,200) at last week’s Limousin sale in Carlisle. It is expected that the bull with Wilodge Vantastic and Sympa in his pedigree will be collected for AI, as were two previous British bulls purchased by Michael Phillips. Laois breeder Dan Tynan paid 10,500gns for Goldies Informer – also carrying Wilodge Vantastic and Sympa in his pedigree. On the selling side, NI breeder Henry Savage and Sons of Altamackin, Newry, sold Limousin bulls at 17,000gns and 12,500gns. Overall, 91 bulls averaged £5,539.

    NI breeders shine in Stirling

    Derrycallaghan Ernest 13, a 14-month-old bull from the four-cow herd of Henry Stubbs and A Burleigh, Ballindarragh Co Fermanagh, was overall champion and sold for the top price of 12,000gns (€17,000) at this week’s show and sale in Stirling, Scotland. The bull, with Irish bloodlines of Kilbride Farm Newry and Raceview King, was among the youngest at Stirling. H Robson and Sons sold senior champion Kilbride Farm Emperor for 10,000gns. KC Keitch Lisbellaw sold Drumlone Engineer for 9,500gns and J Wilson Newry sold female champion Ballinalare Farm Ellie to R Rodgers, Ballymena, for 3,600gns. Overall, 129 bulls sold to average £4,984, down about £300 on February 2014.

    €4,000 four times in Tullamore

    A big entry of 74 bulls but a small crowd at last Saturday’s Charolais Society show and sale in Tullamore resulted in poor clearance. The sale started at €2,800 and €4,000, but when the third bull wasn’t sold at a bid of €3,000 the momentum seemed to be gone. Four times the sale hit €4,000:

  • Matt and P. J. Ryan, Drom, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co Tipperary, for show champion Kilvilcorris Idealist, by Prime Roberto and out of a home-bred dam by Bova Oniraloin, sold to Patrick Leonard, Glosna, Wolfhill, Co Laois.
  • Tommie Leonard, Ballina, for Cilin Iggy, a 19-month-old CF52, sold to Patrick Lawlor, Bishophill, Co Kildare.
  • Harold Given, Loughross Point, Ardara, Co Donegal, for first prize winner Loughross Ivan, by a Doonally New son x Indurain cow, sold to John Daly, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.
  • Jim Geoghegan, Streamstown, for Lisnagre Indiana by CF52 x Nelson, sold to Marie Hannon Friarstown, Crecora Co Limerick.

    • Overall, 30 bulls sold from €2,000 to €4,000/head.