The 18-month-old Charolais bull Knockmahon Ireland was recently exported to the well-known Harestone Herd, owned by Neil Barclay in northeast Scotland. Established in the early 1980s, the Harestone pedigree herd is one of the biggest in the UK, comprising 200 pedigree breeding females, while also operating a 1,000-head commercial unit.

Knockmahon Ireland generated active interest from a number of top overseas herds and one Irish AI station prior to a sale being agreed.

Bred by Christy Comerford, Knockmahon, Castlewarren, Co Kilkenny, he is sired by Inverlochy Ferdie and is out of Knockmahon Countess – a maternal half sister to Knockmahon Hyacinth, the supreme Charolais champion at the 2014 National Livestock Show in Tullamore.

He is one of eight Knockmahon cattle that have been acquired by the Harestone herd in recent times– they also bought seven breeding heifers. This brings to 15 the number of cattle that have been exported from the Knockmahon herd in the past six months to the UK and Northern Ireland. It’s understood that Neil Barclay intends to use Knockmahon Ireland as a stock bull and show him throughout the summer in Scotland.

Apart from success at selling, Christy clearly has longevity on his side when it comes to his stock bulls. The Irish Farmers Journal wrote an article back in January 2007 about his then 15-year- old stock bull Adamstown Hubert. Christy told me that Hubert went on to live to the ripe age of 21 years. If his grandson, the recently exported Knockmahon Ireland, follows in his footsteps, then Neil Barclay could have him in his Harestone herd for many years to come.

Vendeen premier show and sale

The Irish Vendeen Sheep Society will stage its 19th annual premier show and sale at Roscommon Mart on 15 July. There will be circa 40 rams and 10 females on offer, and most of the entries are lamb-plus recorded. Lambs born in 2015 with a five-star terminal trait rating will compete in a special lamb-plus class (class 2A for ram lambs and class 4A for ewe lambs). The winner will receive the Lamb Performance Cup, kindly donated by Pat Oliver. For catalogues visit www.vendeensheep.ie

Young handlers workshop

The Oldcastle Agricultural Show committee is organising a grooming and showing workshop this Saturday 11 July. Open to all youngsters under 16, the day will kick off with registration at 10am, followed by a number of grooming, showing and handling demonstrations. There will also be a segment outlining the daily feeding and nutritional requirements of a show animal. The day will conclude with a young handlers’ competition, where all those who attend will get a chance to compete. The workshop takes place on the farm of John McEnroe, Oldcastle, Co Meath. For more, contact Karl at 086-3705729.