The Portauns and Lisduff Angus herds held their first production sale last month at Roscrea Mart. The sale included 38 heifers and three select bulls, made up of both black and red Angus.

The sale saw 63% of heifers sell through the ring, but, as reported after, this boosted to 80% after private sales before leaving the yard. Average on the night broke the €3,000 mark for heifers, with the majority made up of maidens.

Topping the sale with a call of €5,300 was John and Laurence Lynch’s Portanes N Vanessa. This September 2016-born heifer was sired by the herd’s stock bull Ballykeevican Kaptain and out of a homebred cow by Bramley Grange Black Brindley.

The Lynch duo also secured the second-top price of the night with Portanes N Dockery. Again sired by stock bull Ballykeevican Kaptain, this March 2016-born heifer sold in-calf to Lisduff Dinky and went under the hammer at €4,700.

The red heifers were next in the money. After a very successful sale of bulls in the spring, Leo McEnroe’s reds were again in demand at the production sale. One buyer went all out on the night securing all three available.

Securing the herd’s top price of the sale at €4,000 was Lisduff Red Bon Bob. This yearling heifer was sired by Lannigan Red Krackerjack, who also bred Lisduff Red Pepper who sold earlier this year to Dovea Genetics for €8,000. The two other yearling red heifers were also sired by Krackerjack and sold for €3,650 and €3,250 respectively.

Top of the Lisduff blacks was Lisduff Cindy who sold for €3,750. This heifer was by Dovea AI bull Beryl Jamey, while dam was sired by Lawsons Ford Bagatelle. This May 2016-born heifer sold served to Liss Minter S590.

Charollais dispersal set for Tullow Mart

On Saturday 11 November, Tullow Mart will host the dispersal of two pedigree Charollais sheep flocks. These flocks are the D83 Cloughbally flock and the Haggard flock. The sale will also host a production sale of 20 quality ewes from the F62 Wexfo flock. The sale comprises of 93 sheep forward and kicks off at 12.30pm.

The D83 Cloughbally Charollais flock was established over a decade ago by Christy Hetherton and his family in Mullagh, Co Cavan. At its peak, the Charollais flock comprised 50 breeding ewes, but over the past five years it has reduced in numbers.

Every year, Christy has selected five to eight of the top ewe lambs and retained in the flock for breeding, while strict culling has been a priority on the farm over the past few years.

Rams have been bought from top flocks such as Ballyhibben, Artnagullion in Northern Ireland and Cloghala. The current ram being used claimed the title of all-Ireland shearling champion in 2016.

The Haggard flock was established in 1996 with the purchase of six ewe lambs from the late Edwin Kelso’s A3 Deerpark Flock. It has progressed over the years with the careful purchase of well-muscled, tight-skinned, correct feet and top-line rams at premier sales and also in Northern Ireland. The flock has won numerous prizes at society shows, sales and agricultural shows throughout the years.

The Wexfo flock was established in 2007 with the purchase of two in-lamb ewes from Kevin Waldron, one in-lamb ewe from Simon Brown and two ewe lambs from Jim and Fran Jeffrey.

In the following years, ewes were purchased at both dispersal sales and directly from breeders. Stock rams have been sourced at Tullow Premier Sale, Dungannon Premier Sale, Builthwells and through private purchase.

Throughout the years, each of the flocks and their breeding have been prominent on both the sale and show circuits.

All flocks are members of Lambplus and all scanning details will be available on the day.