Belgian Blue breeders enjoyed a bumper day’s trading at the Premier Belgian Blue Show and Sale at Roscrea on Saturday 25 October.

The sale peaked at €9,000, with a further six animals breaking the €5,000 mark. Demand was strong, resulting in an average sale price of €4,850 for the males and €3,100 for the females.

A bull bred by Melvin Masterson was sold for export to France. Also on the day, a draft lot of heifers from the Rathlyon Herd drew great interest for the export and home markets, with the top price for heifers at €7,000 each. Judge Alistair Smart, Scotland, had the unenviable task of judging on the day.

Top price of €9,000 went to this year’s Tullamore male champion Rathlyon Glen, by Germinal De Fooz out of an Empire D’Ochain dam Rathlyon Beryl, bred by Myles McDermott, Tullow, Co Carlow, and sold to Jimmy and Enda McGee, Glasson, Athlone, Co Westmeath, for €9,000.

Champion male went to Don Gaz by Imperial De L’Ecluse out of a Greystones Jackpot dam Ballyconry Aoife, bred by Tim Donovan, Dunmanway, Co Cork, and sold to David and Gail Ellis, Cornwall, for €7,500. Gaz was the all-Ireland senior bull reserve champion at Strokestown 2014.

Reserve champion male went to Castletrench Gangster by Empire D’Ochain out of Gitan dam Sheehills Abbey, bred by Michael and Mary Williams, Mountrath, Co Laois, and sold to John Maher, Clonakenny, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, for €5,500.

Rosemount Gino by Rosemount Dane out of an Empire D’Ochain dam Rosemount Ulla, bred by Trevor Ashmore, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, was sold to Michael Edgeworth, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, for €5,800.

The female section saw a strong trade, with six of the females being sold for export to England and Wales. The top call at €7,000 went to the Rathlyon Herd for Rathlyon Geneva by Boherard Cantona out of a Y Black dam Rathlyon Barbara. She was sold to Phil Halhead, Norbreck Genetics, Lancaster, Lancashire, England.

The next highest-priced heifer Rathlyon Gina by Boherard Cantona out of a Gitan dam Rathlyon Connie, bred by Myles McDermott, Tullow, Co Carlow, sold to Jeff and Lorraine Dunn, Devon, Cornwall, for €5,000.

Rathlyon Forever by Imperial De L’Ecluse out of Colibri dam Bringlee Bronwen bred by Myles McDermott, sold to John Maher, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, for €4,500. Rathlyon Gypsy by Adajio de Bray out of an Armurier dam Rathlyon Wispa, bred by Myles McDermott, sold to Nigel Hogan, Grangeford, Co Carlow, for €4,000.