While witnessing a tough autumn at pedigree sales, 2018 also experienced some highlights.
Detailed below are the top five prices achieved for different breeds at public auction.
Limousin
Carrickmore Maximus ET sold for a whopping €38,000 at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society’s premier autumn sale over the October bank holiday weekend.
The 13-month-old bull entered the sales ring with a proven pedigree, stellar show career and the junior championship from the previous day. All of these factors played a part in ensuring that he topped a bumper catalogue that saw a total of 146 bulls and 32 females put forward.
Bred by Karl and John O’Connell in Oldcastle, Co Meath, Maximus is already a familiar name among breeders after he claimed the overall national championship at Tullamore Show in August at less than 11 months old.
The sire behind the show-topper is the 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman, while the dam is Baileys Ice Princess, another familiar name in Limousin circles having won the National Limousin Show in 2015 and 2016.
This is now the record price for a Limousin bull sold by public auction in Ireland.
The previous record was held by Kilcor Iceman, which sold for €28,000 at the premier in 2015.
The successful bidder for the record-breaker was a syndicate comprising the Goldies, Harestone and Tweeddale herds of Messrs Goldie, Barclay and Watson.
Simmental
Leading the way for the Simmental breed with a call of €12,500 was the spring premier junior champion Clonagh Just A Dream from the Behan outfit. This 12-month-old bull is sired by the herd’s former stock bull Kilbride Farm Dragoon and out of national champion Cloneygowan Temptress Posh.
A maternal brother to two national champions, Just A Dream was himself placed third at the society’s national calf finals in September.
With five stars down the line, the stylish young bull was knocked down to Padge Mulhare of the famous Hillcrest herd in Co Offaly.
Charolais
The top-priced Charolais this year was at the March premier sale where Mullawn Noble secured a bid of €11,500. Bred and exhibited by Austin Garvey from Drumsna, Co Leitrim, this son of CF52 goes back to a Pirate-bred dam.
Having caused a stir all day, catching the eye of many potential customers the young bull also secured the title of reserve junior championship. Securing this 14-month-old high terminal index sire was Michael O’Reilly from Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.
Shorthorn
Top of the Shorthorn breed came from the Caramba online auction in April.
This sale proved a phenomenal success with females averaging €4,614, higher than any pedigree sale held in Ireland for all breeds over the last number of years.
Headlining the sale when sold for €8,400 was Caramba Rothes Lovable. This January 2017-born heifer is sired by Carrarock Chalkie, while the dam is Uppermill Rothes Molly 2nd. This line has been one of the herd’s most successful to date, with Lovable’s full sister Hottie securing championship wins at Balmoral, Tullamore and the society’s all-Ireland.
Another full-sister, Caramba Rothes Kissable, topped the 2017 sale with a bid of €5,100. Back-and-forth bidding saw 54 bids placed before the sale-topper was knocked down to David and Tom Bradley Farmer for their Meonside herd in Dumfries, Scotland.
Angus
The highest price in the Angus breed came from the female clearance sale of the Mercury Angus herd at Roscrea Mart in October.
The sale hit a top of €8,100 for the five-year-old Mercury J Flora.
This December 2012-born Friarstown Idol daughter was secured as a foundation Angus female for Harte Peat Ltd in Co Monaghan.
Five stars down the line, the cow was a firm favourite with spectators. The Flora line performed particularly well on the night, with J Flora’s rising 10-year-old dam Luddenmore Flora J016 selling for €4,500.
Overall, the sale witnessed a 100% female clearance with 42 female lots selling to average €3,383.