The Irish Angus Cattle Society hosted their inaugural Roscrea bull sale on Wednesday with buyers in short supply.

In total, 23 of the 30 bulls catalogued were offered for sale with a mere 10 reaching their reserve.

Prices rose to €2,950 with average sale price resting at €2,350.

It must be noted that first-time sales often take a few years to get established and although this year was tough, next year could be a different story.

Dairy buyers

In previous years, May has been a good month for Angus bull sales with many dairy buyers securing bulls for work straight away. This spring, however, seen buyers secure bulls much earlier than usual which meant bulls sales in May, particularly in the southern part of the country are suffering.

While the sale in definitely something to work on, it may need to push back to an earlier date in years to come.

Hitting the top price on the day of €2,950 was the first bull sold through the ring, Bunnymore Sean.

Bred and exhibited by Carrick-on-Shannon breeders Michael and Aoibhin Reynolds, this October 2019-born bull had a calving figure of just 1.5%.

Sired by Ballymagrine Wonder, he is out of a Coneyisland Legend bred dam that goes back to Tonroe Lord Ian.

Four stars across breed on the replacement index, he was knocked down to Maurice Regan.

The stylish bull was also eligible for a €400 premium, paid to the buyer by the Irish Angus Cattle Society for obtaining the top price.

Hitting the top price on the day of €2,950 was the first bull sold through the ring, Bunnymore Sean

There was also a premium of €200 paid out for the purchaser of the second top-priced bull. This premium went to Michael O’Donovan who secured Knockmountagh Trailblaser as €2,700.

Knockmountagh Trailblaser sold for the second top price of €2,700.

The youngest bull in the catalogue he was bred by Louth breeders Eamon and John McKiernan. Homebred on both sides, this double five-star bull has Oakchurch De Admiral, Netherallen Peter Pershore and Early Sunset High Time in his pedigree.

The McKiernans also sold their second bull, Knockmountagh Tremendous, at €2,350. This 12-month-old bull was sired by Liss Brendan with Rawburn Lord Rocket also in the back breeding.

Five stars

Boasting five stars on the terminal index, he sold with a calving figure of 1.4%.

Securing the third top price of €2,650 was Killernan Sour Lad from Clare breeder Martin Hehir.

Killernan Sour Lad who sold for €2,650, exhibited by Martin Herir.

This November 2019-born bull is sired by Keirsbeath Karma with Goulding Jumbo King on the dam’s side.

Hehir also sold a second bull, Killernan Some Boy, at €2,350.

Another November 2019-born bull, this one was sired by Weeton Diamond Mine with the dam a Bor Nugget daughter.

Hitting €2,450 was Clooncolligan Simba from Kevin Diffley, Bornacoola, Co Leitrim.

This son of stock bull Drumsna Pat is out of a homebred dam who’s pedigree goes back to the aforementioned Ballymagrine Wonder.