The much anticipated elite commercial haltered sale took place in Stranorlar Mart on Saturday, with prices topping at €7,400. Securing the top price was a January 2020-born Limousin heifer from Sean Hughes, Carricmacross, Co Monaghan.
Weighing in at 365kg, the stylish roan red heifer’s breeding contains Cantona and Imperial. The sale topper sold at an outstanding €20.27/kg. This topped an impeccable day for Hughes, who also took home the top bull calf price of €2,850. This bull was a Charolais calf born in April that weighed 380kg (€7.50/kg).
The last exhibit from Hughes was another bull calf which sold at €2,250. Also born in April and also weighing 380kg, this Belgian Blue sold for €5.92/kg.
Just behind the sale-topper and taking home a price of €7,300 was a Charolais heifer calf from Martin Harold. Sired by a CF52 stock bull, the May 2020-born calf was out of a Limousin dam. Weighing 340kg, she sold for €21.47/kg.
Martin Harold with the second top-priced heifer which sold for €7,300. \ Tricia Kennedy
Also breaking the €20/kg mark was head organiser of the event Pearce McNamee from Convoy, Co Donegal. His top calf was a July-born Limousin-cross heifer that weighed 240kg and sold for €5,000. McNamee also secured the second-top male price when his stylish 306kg Limousin calf sold for €2,500 (€8.17/kg).
Pearce McNamee with his Limousin heifer calf which sold for €5,000. \ Tricia Kennedy
Overall, 22 lots sold for €3,000 or more. Seventeen of these came from the heifer calf section. Along with the three high-sellers, there were a further three that hit €4,000 or more. Securing a bid of €4,800 was a 300kg Limousin heifer born in June from Colm Harold (€16/kg). John McGinley topped his day with his February-born Belgian Blue heifer, who weighed in at 410kg, selling for €4,100 (€10/kg).
The Harold family with their heifer which sold for €4,800. \ Tricia Kennedy
Hitting the €4,000 mark was Carlow-based Owen O’Neill with a 354kg Limousin born in January of this year (€11.30/kg).
James Brady saw the top of his three heifer calves reach €3,800. This was for a January-born Limousin weighing 398kg (€9.55/kg).
Jim Cunney realised €3,700 for his April-born Limousin heifer. This one weighed 328kg and sold for €11.28/kg.
One of the highest-grossing exhibiters was Galway-based Derick Forde, who took home €16,800. He sold all six exhibits for an average of €2,800.
These were all March- and April-born heifers sired by a Limousin bull and out of a Blue dam with a top price of €3,300.
John McCloskey got two of his heifer calves away at €3,400 and €3,000. These two Limousin calves had a top of over €11/kg.
Thomas Gilligan saws his 428kg Limousin-cross heifer sell for €3,250 (€7.59/kg).
The Mayo-based Flatley brothers sold their twin roan Limousin heifers that were born in May for €3,050 and €3,000.
In total, 45 heifer calves sold for an incredible €2,880.
A good entry of breeding heifers on offer saw 21 sold for €2,400. A total of five of these fetched between €3,000 and €3,650. Topping this section was Dennis Kelly with his May 2019-born Limousin heifer that weighed 578kg and sold for €6.31/kg. Just behind this at €3,450 was a Charolais heifer from John Walsh. This April 2019-born heifer weighed 622kg and sold for €5.55/kg.
The 20 young bull calves on offer also met a lively trade, averaging at €1,630.
As already mentioned, this was led by Sean Hughes with a call of €2,850, with a further five making €2,000 or more. Of the 81 lots sold, eight went to Britain, with a further 18 to Northern Ireland.
Charollais production sale breaks records
The highly anticipated production sale of the noted Tullyear Charollais sheep herd attracted huge interest, with a large number of
established and new breeders keen to source genetics from this flock.
The flock was established in 1986 by Drew and Maureen Cowan and is managed in partnership with their son Stephen.
They have earned a reputation for producing top-notch stock consistently and are highly regarded as breeders within the Charollais breed.
It was little surprise that bidding kicked off briskly, with lot 10 breaking the breed record for a female, selling at 7,500gns.
This daughter of Tullyear Egbert was snapped up by the Ingram family for their Logie Durno flock, based in Aberdeen.
This stock ewe was previewed ahead of the sale as one of the best ever offered from the flock and is scanned with a single to Logie Durno Van the Man.
The success story didn’t end there for the Tullyear ladies, with 7,500gns also paid out for lot 98, this time purchased by Graham Foster, Springhill. This gimmer is sired by Loanhead Topgun and is carrying twins to Logie Durno Van the Man.
Last season’s show ewe lamb also caught the eye, reaching 5,500gns, which was paid by Robert Gregory, Shrewsbury. She is sired by Edstaston Toulouse Laitrec and is carrying twins to Van the Man.
The Cowan family generously offered a sole ram in the sale, with the full proceeds donated to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust. This realised 1,000gns and was purchased by Jim and Gillian Devenney, Donegal.
Over 75% of the sales catalogue was sold for export to Britain and the Republic of Ireland, with a 100% clearance realised. The average was £1,048.
Black Beauties
return to Blessington
The Black Beauties in-lamb Suffolk ewe sale will take place on 5 December in Blessington Livestock Mart at 12.30pm.
This sale features the top flocks in the country such as Annakisha, Clyda, Castleisle, Shannagh, Barrowlands, Glyde, Malinhead, Finnvale and Ballyboe.
These flocks have had a staggering 35 premier sale champions or reserves and 35 national champions or reserves.
Included in the sale are progeny from sire of the year 2019 Limestone Aston Martin and sire of the year 2017 Rookery Rodeo, as well as other top sires. A number of the lots will also sell in-lamb to Irish sire of the year 2020 Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. Catalogues can be viewed online or by contacting any of the vendors.
Irish Angus Munster branch rescheduled sale
The Irish Angus Munster branch autumn sale set to take place earlier this month has been rescheduled for Friday 4 December. The sale will take place at Kilmallock Mart at 6.30pm, with viewing available for two hours beforehand. A total of 23 pre-inspected heifers and two bulls are forward on the night, with catalogues available on the Irish Angus website. All COVID-19 lockdown regulations will be adhered to.
Read more
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Limousin society loses breed secretary again
The much anticipated elite commercial haltered sale took place in Stranorlar Mart on Saturday, with prices topping at €7,400. Securing the top price was a January 2020-born Limousin heifer from Sean Hughes, Carricmacross, Co Monaghan.
Weighing in at 365kg, the stylish roan red heifer’s breeding contains Cantona and Imperial. The sale topper sold at an outstanding €20.27/kg. This topped an impeccable day for Hughes, who also took home the top bull calf price of €2,850. This bull was a Charolais calf born in April that weighed 380kg (€7.50/kg).
The last exhibit from Hughes was another bull calf which sold at €2,250. Also born in April and also weighing 380kg, this Belgian Blue sold for €5.92/kg.
Just behind the sale-topper and taking home a price of €7,300 was a Charolais heifer calf from Martin Harold. Sired by a CF52 stock bull, the May 2020-born calf was out of a Limousin dam. Weighing 340kg, she sold for €21.47/kg.
Martin Harold with the second top-priced heifer which sold for €7,300. \ Tricia Kennedy
Also breaking the €20/kg mark was head organiser of the event Pearce McNamee from Convoy, Co Donegal. His top calf was a July-born Limousin-cross heifer that weighed 240kg and sold for €5,000. McNamee also secured the second-top male price when his stylish 306kg Limousin calf sold for €2,500 (€8.17/kg).
Pearce McNamee with his Limousin heifer calf which sold for €5,000. \ Tricia Kennedy
Overall, 22 lots sold for €3,000 or more. Seventeen of these came from the heifer calf section. Along with the three high-sellers, there were a further three that hit €4,000 or more. Securing a bid of €4,800 was a 300kg Limousin heifer born in June from Colm Harold (€16/kg). John McGinley topped his day with his February-born Belgian Blue heifer, who weighed in at 410kg, selling for €4,100 (€10/kg).
The Harold family with their heifer which sold for €4,800. \ Tricia Kennedy
Hitting the €4,000 mark was Carlow-based Owen O’Neill with a 354kg Limousin born in January of this year (€11.30/kg).
James Brady saw the top of his three heifer calves reach €3,800. This was for a January-born Limousin weighing 398kg (€9.55/kg).
Jim Cunney realised €3,700 for his April-born Limousin heifer. This one weighed 328kg and sold for €11.28/kg.
One of the highest-grossing exhibiters was Galway-based Derick Forde, who took home €16,800. He sold all six exhibits for an average of €2,800.
These were all March- and April-born heifers sired by a Limousin bull and out of a Blue dam with a top price of €3,300.
John McCloskey got two of his heifer calves away at €3,400 and €3,000. These two Limousin calves had a top of over €11/kg.
Thomas Gilligan saws his 428kg Limousin-cross heifer sell for €3,250 (€7.59/kg).
The Mayo-based Flatley brothers sold their twin roan Limousin heifers that were born in May for €3,050 and €3,000.
In total, 45 heifer calves sold for an incredible €2,880.
A good entry of breeding heifers on offer saw 21 sold for €2,400. A total of five of these fetched between €3,000 and €3,650. Topping this section was Dennis Kelly with his May 2019-born Limousin heifer that weighed 578kg and sold for €6.31/kg. Just behind this at €3,450 was a Charolais heifer from John Walsh. This April 2019-born heifer weighed 622kg and sold for €5.55/kg.
The 20 young bull calves on offer also met a lively trade, averaging at €1,630.
As already mentioned, this was led by Sean Hughes with a call of €2,850, with a further five making €2,000 or more. Of the 81 lots sold, eight went to Britain, with a further 18 to Northern Ireland.
Charollais production sale breaks records
The highly anticipated production sale of the noted Tullyear Charollais sheep herd attracted huge interest, with a large number of
established and new breeders keen to source genetics from this flock.
The flock was established in 1986 by Drew and Maureen Cowan and is managed in partnership with their son Stephen.
They have earned a reputation for producing top-notch stock consistently and are highly regarded as breeders within the Charollais breed.
It was little surprise that bidding kicked off briskly, with lot 10 breaking the breed record for a female, selling at 7,500gns.
This daughter of Tullyear Egbert was snapped up by the Ingram family for their Logie Durno flock, based in Aberdeen.
This stock ewe was previewed ahead of the sale as one of the best ever offered from the flock and is scanned with a single to Logie Durno Van the Man.
The success story didn’t end there for the Tullyear ladies, with 7,500gns also paid out for lot 98, this time purchased by Graham Foster, Springhill. This gimmer is sired by Loanhead Topgun and is carrying twins to Logie Durno Van the Man.
Last season’s show ewe lamb also caught the eye, reaching 5,500gns, which was paid by Robert Gregory, Shrewsbury. She is sired by Edstaston Toulouse Laitrec and is carrying twins to Van the Man.
The Cowan family generously offered a sole ram in the sale, with the full proceeds donated to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust. This realised 1,000gns and was purchased by Jim and Gillian Devenney, Donegal.
Over 75% of the sales catalogue was sold for export to Britain and the Republic of Ireland, with a 100% clearance realised. The average was £1,048.
Black Beauties
return to Blessington
The Black Beauties in-lamb Suffolk ewe sale will take place on 5 December in Blessington Livestock Mart at 12.30pm.
This sale features the top flocks in the country such as Annakisha, Clyda, Castleisle, Shannagh, Barrowlands, Glyde, Malinhead, Finnvale and Ballyboe.
These flocks have had a staggering 35 premier sale champions or reserves and 35 national champions or reserves.
Included in the sale are progeny from sire of the year 2019 Limestone Aston Martin and sire of the year 2017 Rookery Rodeo, as well as other top sires. A number of the lots will also sell in-lamb to Irish sire of the year 2020 Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. Catalogues can be viewed online or by contacting any of the vendors.
Irish Angus Munster branch rescheduled sale
The Irish Angus Munster branch autumn sale set to take place earlier this month has been rescheduled for Friday 4 December. The sale will take place at Kilmallock Mart at 6.30pm, with viewing available for two hours beforehand. A total of 23 pre-inspected heifers and two bulls are forward on the night, with catalogues available on the Irish Angus website. All COVID-19 lockdown regulations will be adhered to.
Read more
In pictures: Walter Brennan sale tops €5,000 at Balla
Revealed: how marts can operate after Level 5 lockdown is lifted
Limousin society loses breed secretary again
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