The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) hosted their premier sale in Nenagh on Wednesday with average price skyrocketing.

Strong demand at marts for milking cows and heifers over the past number of weeks gave an air of confidence to bull buyers.

This resulted in 16 of the 19 bulls presented for sale finding new homes to average a massive €3,600. This average is up €600 on the 2018 and 2019 sales.

In total four bulls sold for over €5,000. Two of these prices, including the sale topper, came from the Monamore herd of James and Tom Kelly, Drogheda, Co Louth.

Monamore Revvup who sold for €5,600, exhibited by James Kelly.

Their top lot, Monamore Revvup, had a number of interested parties before auctioneer Denis Barrett eventually dropped his hammer at €5,600 selling to John Hanly.

Sired by Seagull Bay MVP and carrying an EBI of €212, this powerful bull was described by James as one of the most complete animals ever bred at Monamore.

The Kelly’s second entry to break the €5,000 barrier was Monamore Quorum.

This son of Ballygown Albert is from the Quarts family line with his dam having produced over 10,000kg of milk in her first lactation, over 800kg of which were solids. Carrying an EBI of €236 he was secured by Fintan McSweeney at €5,100.

James Kelly and Micheal McEvoy exhibiting the top priced bull, Monamore Revvup, who sold for €5,600 and Monamore Quorum who sold for €5,100.

The Kelly family also sold a third bull at €3,800, recording an impressive pen average of over €4,830.

Taking the second top price of the day was Henry and Liam O’Keeffe of the Radney herd based outside Freemount in Co Cork. Their January 2020 born bull, Radney Wazza, hit the market at €5,300.

Radney Wazza who sold for €5,300, exhibited by Liam O'Keeffe.

Carrying one of the highest EBIs in the catalogue at €285, this son of SSI Shamrock Mystic is from the herds Deborah line with a number of 4% protein cows in the lineage.

The Radney outfit sold three bulls to an average price of just shy of €4,000.

One of the first lots into the ring, Mountfarna Dallas, sold for €5,100. Bred and exhibited by Bandon native John O’Callaghan this big powerful bull is a son of Westcoast Yamaska. Dam of Dallas is the EX90 classified cow, Mountfarna Frajo Daisy, who gave over 11,000kg in her last lactation, with nearly 1,000kg of this being solids.

Full report to follow.

Mountfarna Dallas who sold for €5,100, exhibited by John O'Callaghan.