Lack of quality at Munster branch sale

Lower-quality animals at this year’s Irish Angus Munster branch sale led to a significant drop in the average price.

Shane Murphy

15 November 2017

The female champion at the Munster branch of the Irish Angus Cattle Society show and sale in Kilmallock Ryans Naomi, which sold for €2,600, is pictured with owner Ger Ryan and judge Pat Murphy. \ O’Gorman Photography

The male champion at the Munster branch of the Irish Angus Cattle Society show and sale in Kilmallock, Carrigroe Neville, is pictured with owner John Appelbe. \ O’Gorman Photography

The Irish Angus Munster branch relaunched its autumn sale last year after a break of a number of years. Trade on the day could be described as good with haltered, well turned-out animals achieving a notable premium above unhaltered ones. This year, the branch decided that all animals put forward had to be led into the ring with the hope of maintaining the higher average achieved the previous year. However, apart from the odd exception, quality throughout the classes was well back.

This year, the branch decided that all animals put forward had to be led into the ring with the hope of maintaining the higher average achieved the previous year. However, apart from the odd exception, quality throughout the classes was well back.

In line with this, averages and clearance rates also took a nosedive. The 2016 sale saw nine of the 11 haltered animals sell to an average of €2,300, whereas the 2017 sale only saw 10 of the 17 put forward sell to average less then €2,000, despite a number of older animals.

Breeders need to start utilising the range of export markets available for heifers, rather than selling on lesser-quality animals for breeding. These markets are the envy of most other breeds as they set a base price for females and have the ability to drastically increase the quality within the breed if used correctly. However, breeders need to know their animal’s value and not expect a premium price just for halter training an animal and bringing it to auction.

Securing the overall and reserve female championships was Ger Ryan, Ballyhooly, Co Cork. The champion came in the form of Ryan’s Naoimi, a 12-month-old daughter of Mogeely Joe. Carrying five stars on the replacement index, she sold for the day’s top price of €2,600. The reserve championship went to Ryan’s Nancy. Again, October 2016-born, she was sired by Birches Littleman L923 and sold for €1,800.

The second top price of the day went to Curraclough Mary who was bought for €2,400. Sired by Goulding Jumbo King, Mary goes back on a homebred Lawsonsford Bagatelle cow. Bred and exhibited by Gerard Coughlan, this March 2015-born heifer sold in calf to Netherton Americano. Coughlan also achieved the third top price when he sold Curraclough Nuala for €2,150. This five-star March 2016-born heifer was sired by Tubridmore Gizmo and out of a Jerusalem Faraday-bred dam.

Similar to last year, trade for bulls at the sale was almost non-existent. Champion bull on the day went to John Appelbe’s Carrigroe Neville. This September 2016-born bull was sired by homebred stock bull Carrigroe Mr Furry and carried four stars on the replacement index. Having failed to meet his reserve he left the ring unsold.

The reserve champion came in the form of Monemore Nikki from Timmie Taylor, Knocklong, Co Limerick. This five-star son of Tubridmore Gizmo also failed to meet his reserve.