The fourth annual Lisduff Angus sale took place in Mid Tipp Mart, Thurles, and averages soared to nearly €3,700 for bulls. The sale, which comprised 33 bulls and for the first time five heifers, witnessed strong demand throughout from all sectors along with strong overseas interest.
Topping the sale and setting the top 2017 price for an Angus was Lisduff Red Pepper R368 at €8,000. This October 2015-born Red Angus bull carried five stars on terminal and replacement indices, along with a calving difficulty figure of only 1.4%. Irish-bred on both sides, Pepper was sired by stock bull Lanigan Red Krackerjack and is out of Killanley Red Petal. Successful bidder after a flurry of bids was Irish AI centre Dovea Genetics.
The AI centre also purchased Lisduff Leonardo S387, a black Angus comrade to the high seller, for €4,400. Leonardo was homebred on both sides, with sire Lisduff Barney out of Elite sale champion Loughlynn Hurricane. He sold carrying five stars on the terminal index and four stars on replacement, with a calving difficulty of 2%.
The second-top price of the day also came in the form of a Red Angus, this time Lisduff Red Pat P278. This bull was out of the same dam as the sale leader, while the sire was UK-bred bull Flodden Red Beau Laddy K573.
Red Pat combined four stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and found a new home at €5,500 with George and Nikki Taylor of the Mosshall Red Angus herd.
The sale proved just how in demand Red Angus currently are, with all seven present selling to average €4,628.
Top of the black Angus was Lisduff Dano R340 at €5,000. This July 2015-born bull is by Goulding Jim Dandy, a former reserve all-Ireland junior champion who is the main herd sire at Lisduff. Dano also sees Dalrene Cruz 11F and TLA Northern Samurai in the back breeding. A five-star bull on the terminal index, successful bidder was David Chestnut of the Clougher herd.
A further two bulls traded at €4,400. First up was Lisduff Davi R335, another son of stock bull Goulding Jim Dandy. Born July 2015, Davi also sees Haymount Wessuro and Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot in the lineage. Carrying five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices, he sold to Ronald Pottinger of the well-known Isauld herd.
Matching him at the price tag was red bull Lisduff Red Dano R363. Sired by the same bull as the sale leader Lanigan Red Krackerjack, Red Dano is out of homebred dam Lisduff Red Daisy N189. Again a five-star bull for both traits, he sold to WM Walsh.
Overall, 31 of the 33 bulls for sale found a new home, representing a clearance rate of 94%. Average price paid for a bull levelled at €3,687, up significantly from €2,850 on the 2016 sale.
For the first time at the sale, females were also offered for auction. In total, five females were forward, with four finding new homes to average €3,375. This was led by a €4,000 call for Lisduff Deig S382, a daughter of the aforementioned Goulding Jim Dandy. Out the herd’s well-known Duchess line, she was secured by Albert De Cogan for his highly regarded Mogeely herd.
Lisduff Lady Jane was next up, selling for €3,700 to start a new pedigree herd. Jim Dandy was again behind this one, while dam was Gabriel Edward-bred Fermoyle Jane 741. John Tait of the Westellen herd secured the second heifer into the ring Lisduff Eire S397 at €3,500. Jim Dandy, all-Ireland champion Blelack Elijah and Roose Ulah were in this one’s breeding.
Other notable prices