Bandon multi-breed sale tops €3,600

A strong trade for Angus and Friesian bulls was met at last week's multi-breed sale in Bandon.

Shane Murphy

10 April 2019

Champion Friesian Mountfarna Futuristic sold for €3,600, with owner John O’Callaghan, Farnivane, Bandon, Co Cork; Ursula Forrest, Cork Holstein Friesian Breeders Club (CHFBC) chair; Seamus Crowley, CHFBC president; and judge Rickey Barrett, Ballinhassig. \ O’Gorman Photography.

Champion Angus at the annual pedigree bull show and sale in Bandon Mart Westellen Dyson, which sold for €2,950, with owner John Tait, Rostellan, Midleton, Co Cork; judge Barry Smith, Cavan; and mart chair Donal Kelly. \ O’Gorman Photography.

Champion Hereford Drumdaniel Richie, with owner Clodagh Lynch, Bantry, Co Cork; John Appelbe presenting the Appelbe Cup; judges Martin Murphy and Shane O’Brien; and Irish Hereford Society Council member Pat McCarthy. \ O’Gorman Photography.

A number of society branches and clubs held sales in Bandon last week, reaching highs of €3,600. The combination of Friesian, Angus and Hereford bulls present meant that dairy farmers were there in abundance, making it a very successful day for some breeders.The highly successful sale held by the Cork Holstein Friesian Breeders Club last year at the same venue was replicated this year, with average price and clearance rate virtually on par. In total, 20 of the 28 Friesian bulls present sold, up one on the year, to an average price of €2,126. This is back only €30 on the year.

The highly successful sale held by the Cork Holstein Friesian Breeders Club last year at the same venue was replicated this year, with average price and clearance rate virtually on par. In total, 20 of the 28 Friesian bulls present sold, up one on the year, to an average price of €2,126. This is back only €30 on the year.

Leading the way in this ring and continuing his run from Kilkenny was local breeder John O’Callaghan with his Mountfarna herd.

Awarded the overall championship in the pre-sale show by judge Rickey Barrett, Mountfarna Futuristic attracted a flurry of bids before reaching his final price of €3,600.

This January 2018-born bull is a son of VH Tirsvad Future, while the dam is EX90 classified cow Mountfarna VML Present. This fourth-lactation cow gave over 11,000kg of milk in her last lactation of 4.01% fat and 3.71% protein. A firm favourite throughout the day, Futuristic comes from a long line of EX-classified cows.

Standing reserve to Mr O’Callaghan in the championship was Donal Murphy, Coachford, Co Cork, with Roovesmore Iris Miracle.

This October 2017-born bull again comes from a long line of EX-classified cows, with the dam Roovesmore Irish 96 classifying EX91. Sired by VH Anderstrup Massey Miracle, Iris Miracle was knocked down at €2,400.

Angus

The Munster Aberdeen Angus Breeders Club held its sale in conjunction with the Friesian sale and it was met with a great trade.

While average was back on the year, clearance was up with a particularly good trade for the earlier bulls through the ring. It seems that dairy herds are looking for that older stronger bull due to the amount of work that has to be undertaken by the young bull. All in all, 60% of the Angus bulls present found new homes, with an average price just shy of €2,600.

Leading the way in prices for the second year running was Denis O’Riordan, Macroom, Co Cork, with his Inchisine herd. His September 2017-born Inchisine Padraic was a crowd favourite, securing a price of €3,260.

This young bull is sired by the herd’s stock bull Cooldaniel Jane and a son of the homebred Inchisine Hancy. This bull also carried all the stars, with five on the replacement index combined with a calving index of 1.8%. This topped a particularly good day for Mr O’Riordan, who sold a total of four bulls to average €2,765.

Taking the overall Angus championship in the pre-sale show under judge Barry Smith of the Lawsonsford herd in Cavan was John Tait with Westellen Dyson T831 ET. This November 2017-born bull is sired by Bova Lord Bonanza and out of Liss Dana E680.

A maternal brother to this bull was joint-second-top-priced bull at the same sale last year and another maternal brother is successful AI bull Westellen Diego.

Carrying five stars on the terminal index and four stars on the replacement, he was knocked down at the second-top Angus price of €2,950.

Hereford

The Hereford ring proved particularly tough, with the clearance rate slashing by nearly half.

Only eight of the 22 Hereford bulls presented for sale met trade, representing a clearance of 36%. This rate is back from 65% on the previous year. Average price remained near on par, settling at €2,356.

Leading prices was the first bull into the ring, Coisceim Jasper from Timothy Breen, Kiskeam, Co Cork. This two-year-old bull is by Lisnalurg Celtic and out of Newstar Joy.

Carrying five stars on the terminal index and with a calving index of 3.2%, he met his reserve at €2,800.

This topped a good day for Breen, who also secured the reserve championship with Coisceim Kyro. This stylish October 2017-born bull is sired by Kilsunny Goliath and out of Newstar Allegra. Carrying five stars on the terminal index and four stars on the replacement, he was knocked down at €2,200.

Taking the overall championship in the Hereford ring was Droumdaniel Richie from Eugene Lynch, Bantry, Co Cork. This 19-month-old bull is sired by Allowdale Exceller, while the dam is Kingsgrove Val Ranger daughter Rossfort Lara. A four-star replacement bull with a calving figure of 4.5%, the champion was secured for €2,450.