The Kilkenny Agricultural Society held the first of its spring multibreed sales in Cillín Hill last week. Mixed results were evident throughout the breeds, with €uro-Star indices a defining factor in purchasing decisions.
Leading the way was the Friesian breed, which claimed the top three prices. Remarkably, these three prices all came from the one exhibitor, John O’Callaghan who runs the Mountfarna herd in Bandon, Co. Cork. He took home €17,900 for his four exhibits. John is a regular exhibitor at Friesian sales and also bagged the top two prices at the Kilkenny March sale in 2017.
Leading the way with a top call of €5,400 was Mountfarna Mars 4. This December 2016-born bull had earlier in the day been awarded the overall breed title by judge Noel Hennessy. Mars – a 50% British Friesian, 50% Holstein bull – comes with a proven pedigree for both production and style. The last five generations of cows all classified EX, and the last three produced over 12,000kg in a single 305-day lactation. Sired by Kirnby Jupiter, this one is out of Mountfarna Janke 29 which produced 946kg of solids in her last lactation. Eager bidders quickly brought the day’s champion to the leading price.
Mountfarna Franklin was the next highest on the day, securing a bid of €4,900. This Holstein bull again boasts massive production figures, being backed by four cows which have produced over 11,000kg in a single lactation. Sired by Ahafore Franko, Franklin is out of homebred dam Mountfarna Gasy Snowball who produced 886kg of milk solids in her last lactation.
Finishing off the top three prices for Mr O’Callaghan was Mountfarna Google. This 75% British Friesian bull is sired by Dovea Genetics bull Manorpark Google and out of Barrowvale Martell 12 daughter Mountfarna Vml Present. This dam has recently classified EX and produced over 10,000kg of 4.66% fat and 3.72% protein. Further adding to this Vml Present also boasts a caving interval of just 353 days. This one got knocked down at €4,500.
Overall, 14 of the 32 Friesian bulls on offer sold to and average of €2,829.
Easy-calving Angus bulls proved in demand with the largest number of any breed forward, but a scarcity of buyers meant only 58% sold. It was again the champion which led the way in this ring with Shane McKiernan coming out on top. His bull Drumcarbin Bouncer S244 ticked all the boxes for judge Aidan Molloney and a number of prospective buyers also. Sired by Clooncolligan Exotic, Bouncer is out of Cartonroe Ernie-bred dam Drumcarbin Bell P197. With a calving index of 1.4%, the Angus champion traded at €3,900.
Cork breeder John Tait was next in line when he sold his September 2016-born Westellen Fergie S808 for €3,700. Sired by AI bull Westellen Diego, Fergie also has Rosemead Karona and Rossiter Eric in his back breeding.
Close on his heels was Eamon McKiernan who sold his first prizewinning Knockmountagh Norris for €3,650. Norris is sired by Friarstown Ideal Pete and carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices.
Overall, Angus bulls averaged €2,752, with 23 of the 40 bulls forward selling.
Limousin bulls were much the same as the Angus breed in terms of clearance but the average for the breed was the lowest of all at €2,668. Stars proved very much in demand in the Limousin ring, with customers keen to acquire five-star easy-calving bulls. Leading the charge was Trevor Masterson’s second prize-winner Galbally Llyod 1186. This September 2016-born bull features Wilodge Vantastic, Millbrook Tanko and Rubis in his lineage and boasts five stars on the terminal index and four stars on the replacement index. With 5.4% on the calving index, this bull traded at €4,000.
Next best at €3,400 was Mineare Linden from Anthony Brennan, Co Kilkenny. Born September 2016, this bull is sired by Castleview Imaginable while the dam is an Ionesco daughter. Linden combined a calving index of 4.9% with five stars on most traits.
Championship in the Limousin ring went the way of Daniel Tynan for his 17-month-old Ardlea Listy. This bull was sired by the 10,500gns Goldies Informer and out of French-bred dam Citirio B. The hammer fell for this bull at €3,000.
Hereford and Simmental buyers were few and far between, with only three Herefords and two Simmental bulls selling. Leading the Herefords with a call of €3,400 was the day’s breed champion Ballyfrunk Sunny 2270. Bred and exhibited by Pat Murphy, Co Kilkenny, this 23-month-old was sired by popular AI bull Kilsunny Goliath.
Top of the Simmentals was the breed reserve champion Kilcloran Hunter from Matthew McDonald. This five-star bull was sired by Kilbride Farm Escalop, while the dam was sired by Glebefarm Tyson. This bull traded at €3,200.