Last Wednesday was the first of the Kilkenny bull sales to be held in 2021 and while tricky for some breeds, the sale resulted in a further seven bulls sold, with the average price rising by €66.
That said, last year’s prices were a substantial step back, given it was held on the eve of the initial lockdown last March.
Altogether, 53 of the 85 bulls presented for sale sold to an average of €2,458 this year.
The Angus breed made up over half of these, with a total of 44 bulls on offer.
The breed witnessed one of the strongest clearance rates at 77%, with average price resting at €2,340.
This average is up €40 on the year, with a further nine bulls traded.
Leading the prices
Leading the prices and securing the top price of the sale was Laois breeder Nigel Peavoy with his bull Coolrain Salam.
This October 2019-born bull is a son of Friarstown Ideal Pete, with Netherton Mr Brazilian and Tonroe Udi in the back breeding.
With five stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down at €4,600.
Well-known regular exhibitor Frank McKiernan was also in the high prices, selling two of his bulls for an average of €3,325.
Top of these was a call of €3,500 for the June 2019-born Drumcrow Peach Snaps V048. This bull is a son of successful homebred stock bull Drumcrow Joker.
McKiernan’s second exhibit was Drumcrow Proud Joker V788, which sold for €3,150. Sired once again by Joker, he is out of a homebred Luddenmore Fionn-bred dam.
Matching this price in the Angus ring were Pat and Karl Harrison with Brideswell Shane.
This June 2019-born bull is a son of Ballymagrine Wonder and carried five stars on the replacement index.
Dairy
John O’Callaghan and his Mountfarna herd again stole the limelight in the Friesian ring, topping the sale for section for the fifth consecutive year. His best lot was Mountfarna Seattle which hit the market at €4,300.
Mountfarna Seattle which sold for the top Friesian price of €4,300.
This 100% Holstein bull is a son of Seagull-Bay Mvp and out of generations of cows which have had lactations in excess of 10,000kg.
This September 2019-bull had already served and sold with the highest solids figure in the sale at almost +30kg.
O’Callaghan’s second exhibit, Mountfarna Kansas, hit the market at €3,100.
Another big powerful bull, Kansas comes from four generations of EX-classified cows, with his grand dam awarded diamond cow status.
This bull comes backed with production, with his dam yielding 964kg of milk solids in her fourth lactation.
Sliabhnambon Ranger 5 which sold for €3,200.
Also hitting money in the Friesian ring was Sliabhnambon Ranger 5 from Michael Ryan, Fethard, Co Tipperary.
This 80% British Friesian bull carried a super EBI figure of €248 and hit the market at €3,200.
Sired by Manorpark Google, his dam gave over 7,600kg of milk in her last lactation.
Overall, 13 of the 19 Friesian bulls on offer sold for an average price of €2,458. This average is back €300 on the year, but with a further four bulls sold.
Hereford trade
Hereford trade was similar to last year, very mixed. That said, there was some notable prices for the better end of bulls on offer.
This was led by a call of €3,500 for Corlismorepoll 1 Bradstock 028 from Sean and Gary McKiernan, Co Cavan.
Corlismorepoll 1 Bradstock 028 which sold for €3,500.
This double-five-star bull was sired by the successful bull Panmure 1 Henry, while the dam was out of Dorepoll 1 Nationwide.
Securing a bid of €3,300 was Tourtane Brendan 1177. This bull was bred by Kilkenny-based Trevor Parr and was sired by Kilsunny Goliath.
In total, six of the 12 Herefords offered for sale met trade, selling for an average price of €2,117.
Continentals
There were small numbers of continental-bred bulls offered for sale. In general, these were met with a poor trade.
However, one Limousin breeder did perform well, selling his two bulls to average €3,050.
This breeder was Waterford-based Thomas Power, who sold the best of the two, Kilmagemogue P855, at €3,500.
Kilmagemogue P855 which sold for €3,500.
This August 2019-born bull was sired by Kaprico Eravelle, with Ampertaine Gigolo and Ionesco on the dam’s side.
Last Wednesday was the first of the Kilkenny bull sales to be held in 2021 and while tricky for some breeds, the sale resulted in a further seven bulls sold, with the average price rising by €66.
That said, last year’s prices were a substantial step back, given it was held on the eve of the initial lockdown last March.
Altogether, 53 of the 85 bulls presented for sale sold to an average of €2,458 this year.
The Angus breed made up over half of these, with a total of 44 bulls on offer.
The breed witnessed one of the strongest clearance rates at 77%, with average price resting at €2,340.
This average is up €40 on the year, with a further nine bulls traded.
Leading the prices
Leading the prices and securing the top price of the sale was Laois breeder Nigel Peavoy with his bull Coolrain Salam.
This October 2019-born bull is a son of Friarstown Ideal Pete, with Netherton Mr Brazilian and Tonroe Udi in the back breeding.
With five stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down at €4,600.
Well-known regular exhibitor Frank McKiernan was also in the high prices, selling two of his bulls for an average of €3,325.
Top of these was a call of €3,500 for the June 2019-born Drumcrow Peach Snaps V048. This bull is a son of successful homebred stock bull Drumcrow Joker.
McKiernan’s second exhibit was Drumcrow Proud Joker V788, which sold for €3,150. Sired once again by Joker, he is out of a homebred Luddenmore Fionn-bred dam.
Matching this price in the Angus ring were Pat and Karl Harrison with Brideswell Shane.
This June 2019-born bull is a son of Ballymagrine Wonder and carried five stars on the replacement index.
Dairy
John O’Callaghan and his Mountfarna herd again stole the limelight in the Friesian ring, topping the sale for section for the fifth consecutive year. His best lot was Mountfarna Seattle which hit the market at €4,300.
Mountfarna Seattle which sold for the top Friesian price of €4,300.
This 100% Holstein bull is a son of Seagull-Bay Mvp and out of generations of cows which have had lactations in excess of 10,000kg.
This September 2019-bull had already served and sold with the highest solids figure in the sale at almost +30kg.
O’Callaghan’s second exhibit, Mountfarna Kansas, hit the market at €3,100.
Another big powerful bull, Kansas comes from four generations of EX-classified cows, with his grand dam awarded diamond cow status.
This bull comes backed with production, with his dam yielding 964kg of milk solids in her fourth lactation.
Sliabhnambon Ranger 5 which sold for €3,200.
Also hitting money in the Friesian ring was Sliabhnambon Ranger 5 from Michael Ryan, Fethard, Co Tipperary.
This 80% British Friesian bull carried a super EBI figure of €248 and hit the market at €3,200.
Sired by Manorpark Google, his dam gave over 7,600kg of milk in her last lactation.
Overall, 13 of the 19 Friesian bulls on offer sold for an average price of €2,458. This average is back €300 on the year, but with a further four bulls sold.
Hereford trade
Hereford trade was similar to last year, very mixed. That said, there was some notable prices for the better end of bulls on offer.
This was led by a call of €3,500 for Corlismorepoll 1 Bradstock 028 from Sean and Gary McKiernan, Co Cavan.
Corlismorepoll 1 Bradstock 028 which sold for €3,500.
This double-five-star bull was sired by the successful bull Panmure 1 Henry, while the dam was out of Dorepoll 1 Nationwide.
Securing a bid of €3,300 was Tourtane Brendan 1177. This bull was bred by Kilkenny-based Trevor Parr and was sired by Kilsunny Goliath.
In total, six of the 12 Herefords offered for sale met trade, selling for an average price of €2,117.
Continentals
There were small numbers of continental-bred bulls offered for sale. In general, these were met with a poor trade.
However, one Limousin breeder did perform well, selling his two bulls to average €3,050.
This breeder was Waterford-based Thomas Power, who sold the best of the two, Kilmagemogue P855, at €3,500.
Kilmagemogue P855 which sold for €3,500.
This August 2019-born bull was sired by Kaprico Eravelle, with Ampertaine Gigolo and Ionesco on the dam’s side.
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