Massive crowds at Carrick winter fair

The Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society hosted its 14th annual winter fat stock show and sale in Carrick-on-Shannon last Sunday and Monday.

Although cattle numbers present were back slightly on the year, a massive 390 animals were brought to the showgrounds. The sale will go in the history books with a flying trade throughout the entirety of the day.

Despite uncertainty in the beef sector, crowds flocked around the sales ring from 11am all the way to the final sale which occurred after 10pm, with only standing room for most.

Even more assuring was the big numbers of youngsters getting involved in showing cattle.

Young handlers

The young handler class was one of the best on show on the Sunday, with large numbers of spectators looking on.

This interest also followed through to sale day, with dozens of young breeders willing to spend money to acquire the animal of their choice.

This gives great reassurance to the industry as to what the future holds.

€4.70/kg average for weanling heifers

Leading the way in the sales ring was the reserve junior Limousin champion, which sold for €6,200.

Brought out by Sean Walsh, Ballinrobe, the young daughter of Elite Forever Brill is out of a Blue dam, which goes back to a pedigree Limousin cow.

Weighing in at 295kg, the stylish all-black heifer sold for a whopping €21/kg. This topped an exceptional day in the sales ring for young Walsh, who also sold his second entry for €4,000; another all-black heifer, this time out of a Belgian Blue sire, weighing in at 358kg.

Second-top price of the sale also went to a weanling heifer, this time a Belgian Blue calf from Nicky Flaherty, Moycullen, Co Galway.

This shapely black and white heifer placed second the previous day in the under 350kg Belgian Blue class. Weighing in at 343kg, she sold for €5,400 (€15.74/kg).

A total of 134 heifers sold on the day to average €4.70/kg. This average is up significantly from the €4.17/kg average achieved last year, with a similar number sold. Clearance rate for weanling heifers was just shy of 80%, up 9% on the year.

Hitting a price of €4,650 was a third-prizewinning Charolais heifer from Martin Killeen, Mullagh, Co Clare. This Guepard-sired heifer weighed in at 400kg and sold for €11.62/kg.

Older heifers found it harder to reach the higher price per kilo, but 56 of those forward sold to average €3.54/kg.

Top-priced bull went the way of Shane Giltinane, Croagh, Co Limerick, for his Charolais weanling.

Sired by Lanzac, this stylish young bull was awarded the reserve junior Charolais championship under judge Blair Duffton the previous day. Weighing in at 462kg, this one was knocked down by auctioneer Francis McGowen at a price of €4,100.

Weanling bulls met with a tougher trade, but still managed to achieve nearly €4.00/kg, well up on that of the previous year’s sale.

The overall junior Charolais championship was awarded to a stylish golden heifer from Damien McGowan, Cloone, Co Leitrim. Sired by Lisnagree Elite, she was marked off by many in attendance and sold for €3,600. Weighing 320kg, she fetched €11.25/kg.

Nicky Flaherty was back in the money when he sold his yearling Limousin heifer for €3,700. This 568kg heifer is sired by Elite Forever Brill.

Top of the Charolais-cross heifers showing no permanent teeth class was David Gibbons, Caggle, Strokestown. Having placed as reserve senior Charolais champion the previous day, this one hit the market at €3,650 and weighed 752kg (€4.85/kg). This one is out of Dovea Genetics bull Limkiln Hulk.

David also sold a breeding Limousin heifer for €3,500. This 829kg heifer is another daughter of Elite Forever Brill.

The second-prizewinner of the big Limousin-cross heifer suitable for breeding class secured a bid of €3,600. This yearling heifer was brought out by Gareth McGuinness, Drogheda.

Clare-based Martin Killeen was back in the money when he sold his weanling heifer calf for €3,550. The Limousin-sired heifer hit the scales at 450kg.

Declan Cusack received the second-top bull price when he sold his golden Charolais weanling for €3,300.

This 359kg bull claimed first in the previous day’s showing and is a son of Gedeon.

Not far behind, Gerry Boyle, Castleblaney, sold his first-prizewinning Limousin weanling bull for €3,250. This stylish young bull hit the scales at 480kg, selling for €6.77/kg.

Such was the exceptional trade on the day, a total of 18 lots made over €3,000. In total, 230 animals sold out of the 298 forward, representing a 77% clearance.

This clearance is up 11% on the year. However, due to the increased numbers through the ring, a similar number of animals were sold.

Show

While a number of the show champions were sold the next day, not all breeders decided to part ways.

Topping a massive entry of junior Limousin cattle were the Maxwell brothers, Ballinagare, Co Roscommon.

This stylish black Limousin heifer is a daughter of Malibu. Tapped out by judge Karol Connell, she first came out of her class of nearly 40 females before being awarded overall junior Limousin champion. Standing reserve to this heifer was the previously mentioned high seller from Sean Walsh.

In the senior Limousin classes, top spot was awarded to Eamon Cleary, Co Westmeath.

None of the Belgian Blue champions of the show were forward for sale. Top of the senior section was Nick Friel, Letterkenny, who came out on top of the heifer any breed, which was also judged by UK-based Blair Duffton. Well-known breeder John Barry Moran had to settle for reserve, with his heifer with no permanent teeth claiming the reserve accolade.

In the junior Belgian Blue championship, the Barnetts from Donegal were top of the lot. This young male weanling bull is by the well-proven AI bull Empire.

Galway-based Frank Mulligan was just one step behind when he claimed the top spo-t in the female calf class and was later awarded the reserve junior Blue title. This one is a daughter of Belgian bull Du Grand Bon Dieu.

The senior Charolais champion remained unsold. Exhibited by Derek Moorhead, Ballinalee, Co Longford, this stylish heifer came out on top of the heifer showing no permanent teeth class and is a daughter of Icy Admiral. Derek also took the reserve Simmental championship with the winner of the in-calf maiden heifer over 550kg class.

Claiming top spot in the Simmental championship was the aforementioned Shane Giltinane. His stylish weanling heifer calf was the pick of well-known judge and cattle man William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath. Weighing in at 430kg, she sold for €2,100 the next day.

Small numbers were forward for the Angus classes, which saw Fergal Flannagan awarded the number one position. This yearling heifer is no stranger to success, having placed second at the all-Ireland class in Strokestown. Claiming the reserve spot and going on to sell for €1,950 the next day was PJ Smith’s bullock by Cahirmee Gino.

Martha Thomas made the long journey from Bantry, Co Cork, worthwhile when she claimed the Blonde championship. She went on to sell her 405kg champion for €1,400. Claiming reserve spot under Karol Connell was another Cork breeder, this time Michael Creed, with a heifer from the same class. This one also met trade, selling for €1,580 the next day.