In total, 95 pedigree animals across three breeds took to the showgrounds for the Midland and Western Livestock Society’s elite sale of continental bulls and heifers. This was the first show and sale held by the society in its new exhibition hall.The Charolais breed dominated both the entries and the headlines with 83 cattle forward selling to a top of €4,850. Securing the top price was 13-month-old Mandela Lucas from Ultan Lynch, Virginia, Co Cavan. Carrying five stars on the terminal index, Lucas has Doonally New, Oscar and Excellent in his breeding.
In total, 95 pedigree animals across three breeds took to the showgrounds for the Midland and Western Livestock Society’s elite sale of continental bulls and heifers. This was the first show and sale held by the society in its new exhibition hall.
The Charolais breed dominated both the entries and the headlines with 83 cattle forward selling to a top of €4,850. Securing the top price was 13-month-old Mandela Lucas from Ultan Lynch, Virginia, Co Cavan. Carrying five stars on the terminal index, Lucas has Doonally New, Oscar and Excellent in his breeding.
Benedict Mulrennan, Elphin, Co Roscommon, was next in the money, selling his May 2015 bull Derrykirk Luke 2 for €4,700. Sired by Cloverfield Excellent, with Balthazar as the grandsire, Luke was a first prize winner in the pre-sale show.
Kilvilcorris Leader 2 from Matt Ryan, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was next top at €4,200. Again a first prizewinner in the pre-sale show, this one has Lisnagree Elite and Doonally new in the direct lineage.
Overall Charolais bull championship
Matt Ryan was also the recipient of the overall Charolais bull championship with the youngest bull catalogued, KIlvilcorris Levi. Born Christmas day last year, this stylish young bull is sired by Thrunton Voldemont and changed hands for €4,100.
Claiming the reserve championship rosette was Ballymakea Leggo from Peter Mcnamara, Mullagh, Co Clare. Leggo, a Tullygarley Alibaba son with Pirate and Doonally New in his breeding, found a new home at €3,000 to Northern Ireland.
Overall, 42 of the 68 Charolais bulls on offer sold to average €2,746, with five going across the border.
Heifers
Fifteen heifers were forward but only six found new homes to a top of €3,900 for the reserve champion Castlenode Lucy. Bred by Anthony Bosquette, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, this embryo-bred daughter of Texan-Gie from a Bourgogne bred dam boasts five stars for replacement and again found a new home in the North. Ultan Lynch, breeder of the sale topper, claimed the champion title with his two-year-old Mandela Jameson. Sired by Mandela General Et with the €24,000 Cottage Devon as the grand sire, Jameson found a new home at €2,600.
Clearance rates for heifers remained low at 40%, selling to an average of €2,225.
The small turnout of Limousin saw a top of €3,500 for Tom Mulligan's Currycamp King Foreman. Sired by Ampertaine Foreman with Highland and Mas Du Clu in the back breeding, King Foreman boasted five stars on both terminal and replacement indices.
Martin O’Connor selected Liverpool Kenny as his overall champion. Bred by Michael and Kevin Graham, Keadue, Co Roscoomon, Kenny is sired by Haltcliffe Dancer from a Sauvignon-bred cow. Selling with five stars on the terminal index, he found a new home at €2,500.
In the female Limousin section, the Richardson family claimed both the overall and reserve championships with their only two entries. Securing the championship was Newtown Kiwi by Lowerffrydd Empire, which changed hands at €2,100, while the reserve, Newtown Kizzy by Castleview Gringo, found a home at €2,000.
There was a clearance of 59% of all animals presented for sale, with the continued vibe of customers buying with star ratings in mind.
Read more
Strong cattle prices at Headford special sale
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: