Champion secures €7,000 at Angus Elite sale

The Irish Angus cattle society held its Elite show and sale in Carrick-on-Shannon over the weekend. This sale has grown in stature year on year to now stand as the country’s leading Angus sale, achieving record prices and strong averages.

Due to its growing reputation, this year’s sale witnessed higher stock numbers than ever before.

While large crowds filled the shed and sales arena throughout the day, the weather still had a significant impact on crowds. Plummeting temperatures both on sale day and the day previous meant many potential buyers were unable to attend due to road conditions.

However, those present who were interested in acquiring a top-quality bull did so, with a further eight bulls sold on the year.

Leading the charge and achieving the top bull price in a number of years was Frank McKiernan’s bull Drumcrow Night Rider, which sold for a whopping €7,000.

This bull was awarded overall male title earlier in the day by judge Gerald Hogan, Kilfeacle, Co Tipperary. Frank also bred the overall male champion and top-priced bull at the 2015 sale.

Night Rider, an April 2016-born son of Netherton Americano, is out of Drumcrow Gabby, described as the herd’s best cow having also produced Drumcrow Joker. With five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices, Night Rider sold with the lowest calving figure in the catalogue at only 0.7%. Successful buyer of the champion was Brendan O’Connell, Cork, who runs a pedigree Angus herd alongside his dairy enterprise.

Securing the reserve male championship were Patrick and Gerard Regan, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, with Driney Neymar. This July 2016-born bull is sired by Dovea Genetics bull Beryl Jamey and out of homebred Driney Ha-Lo, a Loughlynn Foxyboy daughter. With five stars on the terminal index and a calving figure of 1.5%, he met his reserve and sold for €4,000.

Second top price of the day went the way of Anthony Scanlon, Ballymote, Co Sligo, for his powerful Owenmore Nick. Sired by homebred Owenmore Kit, the April 2016-born bull is out of Steil F Ella, who goes back to Young Dale Touchdown. Nick also claimed the senior male championship at the society’s all-Irelands in September.

The five-star show winner will take up residence in Northern Ireland at a price tag of €5,100.

Carrick-on-Shannon-based Cathal and Cormac Duignan claimed both the third and fourth top male prices. Their September 2016-born twin bulls secured €5,000 and €4,300 respectively. Sired by Friarstown Ideal Pete, the two also feature Bohey Jasper and GDA Universe in their pedigree.

Thomas Kelleghan, Mullingar, secured €4,200 for his second prize winning Borrow Tiger S332. He carries five stars on the terminal index, with four stars on replacement and a calving figure of 1.5%. Tiger has HF Rebel 53Y, Castleard Great and Mountgordan Pride in his lineage.

Garryedmond Nebraska ET was the next in the money for exhibitor Pat Noonan, Claremorris, Co Mayo. This five-star son of Retties JFK goes back to the Evora line, featuring Friarstown Ideal Pete and Blelack Blackstock in the breeding. This first prize-winner in the pre-sale show met trade at €3,900.

Joseph Kelly, Moate, Co Westmeath, sold his May 2016-born Ballinlig Nigel at €3,800. Sired by Tubridmore Gizmo and out of a Lawson’s Ford Bagatelle bred dam, he carried four and five stars on the terminal and replacement indices respectively.

Shane McKiernan, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan, saw his entry sell for €3,750. Having failed to meet his reserve inside the ring, Drumcarbin No-Difficulty was sold outside to a pedigree breeder. This bull was sired by proven easy-calver Cartonroe Ernie and out of homebred dam Drumcarbin Lady Haddo P190. Carrying five stars on the terminal index, he sold with a calving index of just 1.1%.

Two bulls traded at €3,700. First in the money was David and Aiden Reynolds’ Bigtree Number One. HF Rebel was the sire behind this one, with Mogeely Joe and Netherton Fabulous Cruz also in the back breeding. He sold carrying five stars on the terminal, docility, carcase weight and daughter milk traits.

Matching him at the price was the very stylish Caulry Nationwide from Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald, Moate, Co, Westmeath. This October 2016-born bull has the making of a great herd sire with a pedigree combining Aynho Rossiter Eric, Rawburn Transformer and Hoff Limited Edition with the famous Ellen Erica line. With five stars on both the replacement and terminal indices, Nationwide found a new home in a successful pedigree herd.

Overall, the average price for bulls settled at €2,900, back slightly on the 2016 price of €3,000. As mentioned, bull numbers increased to 68 compared with 45 the previous year. Of these, 46 found new homes, leading to a 68% clearance back from 80% in 2016. These drops in clearance and averages were largely down to a small number of lower quality bulls. While all stock were pre-inspected, a more rigorous inspection, and reducing stock numbers to the best 50, would no doubt enhance both clearance and average for the next Elite sale.

Females

Female trade was tougher than had been seen for a number of years. Fewer people were waiting around due to freezing conditions later in the day, and worries of a hard winter yet to come were just two of the concerns of potential buyers. Overall averages fell to €2,520 from the record of €3,400 witnessed in 2016. Clearance remained around 70% with a similar story to the bulls, more finding new homes due to the increased entry. In all 37 of the 57 heifers forward sold.

Securing the overall championship in the female ring were Patrick and Daniel Murphy with their two-year-old heifer Lecarrow Maverick. This well-made heifer ticked all the boxes for judge Gerald Hogan. Sired by Bunlahy John G, Maverick is out of homebred dam Lecarrow Kylie who features Luddenmore Fionn and Fordel Eisenhower in her pedigree. However, having failed to meet her reserve, she left the ring unsold.

Reserve female championship honours went the way of Lavalley Nikie ET from John and Mary Mullooly, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. Their April 2016-born heifer was sired by Bohey Jasper and out of Lavalley Lady Janelle B101, making her a full sister to the Irish record holder Lavalley Angie who sold for a massive €31,000. Not reaching the same heights but still selling for the day’s third top female price, Nikie met her reserve at €3,700.

Securing the top female price was John Appelbe, Clonakilty, Co Cork, with his heifer Carrigroe M Evening Tinge. Sired by herd stock bull Rathosheen Hugo, she is out of homebred Carrigroe J Lady Heather, a Loughlynn Ace daughter. With five stars on the replacement index, she was offered in-calf to AI bull Wall Royal Leo. Having failed to meet her reserve in the ring, negotiations post sale saw the heifer sell to Gigginstown House for €4,750.

The second highest female price went the way of Michael Sheehan for his January 2016-born Luddenmore Judy S267. Sired by stock bull Friarstown Evolver, this stylish heifer has two Highland show champions on the maternal side in Luddenmore Mr Edition and Duncanziemere Jody D147. With five stars on the replacement index, she sold for €4,500.

John and Mary Mullooly were back in business when they sold Lavalley Nina for €3,200. This January 2016-born heifer is sired by Dillon Knight Eagle Challenger and out of homebred Lavally Kylie, a Netherton Mr Rader daughter.

Two heifers traded at €3,150. First in was Patrick Harrison, Athlone, with his heifer Brideswell Martha. This daughter of all-Ireland champion Ballyshannon Eric is out of Liss Beamish sired cow Rockville Gail. Born October 2015, she sold in-calf to Tubridmore Pride. Matching her at the money was Jesana Noir from John Joseph Freyne, Charlestown, Co Mayo. This Bunlahy John G daughter was out of homebred Jesana Darcy and sold in-calf to Dillon Knight Eagle Challenger.

Kevin Diffley secured a price of €3,100 for his March 2016-born heifer Clooncolligan North. Sired by Brideswell Kevin, this heifer sold with four stars on the replacement index.

Also securing €3,100 were Amanda Bogan and Conor Craig for their heifer Millbawn Nikki. This 18-month-old Retties JFK daughter is out of Fordson Jodie and carried four stars on the replacement index. The Bogan, Craig outfit exhibited half of the animals in the female championship lineup having secured a red rosette in the youngest class of the day also with Millbawn Petra.

Overall 10 animals were exported to Northern Ireland with a further three bulls exported to France, Spain and Romania. These export numbers are well up on 2016 levels which saw five exported to NI and three to Spain.