It's been another incredible year on the commercial cattle show scene.
As the standard continues to rise year on year, breeders will be looking ahead to see what bulls will produce the next showstoppers and sale toppers.
Some of the old favorites are still producing the goods, while a few newcomers have risen to the helm.
It's difficult to pin down one or two bulls, as there are a number of heavy hitters in each of the main continental beef breeds.
Belgian Blue
As the breed with the highest price at this year's Carrick Winter Fair, it's only fair to start with the Blues. Producing that record-breaking calf at €33,500 was Tropique from the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC).
An old favorite from a number of years ago, if Tropique was alive today, he would be 23 years old.
The Tropique sired heifer which sold for €33,500 at the Carrick Winter Fair for the Davis family. / Chloe Goggins
A newcomer in recent years, Notaire Du Tordoir established himself at the top of the Blue list at this year's Carrick Winter Fair, producing the champion and reserve champion Belgian Blue for Cian McGloin.
Available from Dovea Genetics, McGloin's two young daughters of Notaire sold for €16,000 and €15,000.
Belgian Blue sire Notaire Du Tordoir.
Delure De La Beole from the NCBC is up there with the best, producing numerous high sellers and championship winners.
Senior daughters at this year's Winter Fair sold to €9,600, with another claiming the senior champion Belgian Blue for the Dolan family, not to mention the top-priced animal in Stranorlar at €12,000.
The 2014-born sire has been around a while, but has really flourished in recent years.
Belgian Blue sire Delure De La Beole. \ MacGregor photography
There are too many to choose from in the Blues, old reliables such as Imperial De L'Ecluse from Dovea bred the top-priced heifer at the first weekend of the Carrick Winter Fair.
NCBC's Patissier De La Grande Rose continues to produce the goods, as does Hazard VD Panemeers from Dovea.
Boherard Overdose and Negrita Du Lac also from Dovea need no introduction, continuously producing prizewinners and high-priced cattle.
One to watch in the years to come is Iz Priceless from Future Genetics, with one of his first daughters selling to €20,000 at the Winter Fair.
Limousin
Arguably the most consistent producer of show champions and high sellers in recent years is Claddagh McCabe ET from Dovea Genetics.
Without doubt one of the best in the business, siring calves to €17,500 and €14,000 in Carrick, as well heifers to €10,500 in Stranorlar.
The Ampertaine Foreman son also produced the reserve supreme champion at this year's National Livestock Show in Tullamore.
Frank and Michael Glynn's Claddagh McCabe ET daughter was junior champion Limousin and sold for €17,500 at the Winter Fair. \ Darragh Giblin
Also battling it out for top spot in the Limousin is Trueman Idol.
Available from Elite Pedigree Genetics, Idol has proven himself as one of the go-to sires in the Limousin breed, with two daughters claiming the champion Limousin at both weekends of the 2025 Winter Fair, with one going on to sell for €23,000 and another daughter retailing at €16,000.
Derrick Forde's Trueman Idol daughter which was champion Limousin and sold for €23,000 at the Carrick Winter Fair. \ Swarber photography
A newcomer to the scene is Pabo Rocknroll, available from Elite Pedigree Genetics. The Grahams Nashville son made a name for himself at this year's Winter Fair, producing the reserve champion Limousin, which sold for €20,000.
Graiggoch Rambo
The record-breaking Graiggoch Rambo, also from Elite Pedigree Genetics, produced the reserve calf champion at this year's National Livestock Show in Tullamore, as well as the overall commercial champion in Balmoral and continues to breed stylish show cattle.
Dovea's Elderberry Galahad also continues to produce showstoppers, as does Ballinloan Jaegerbomb, siring this year's National Livestock Show champion and multiple awardwinner Ruby for Kevin Devine and, of course, the Callaghan family's £19,000 calf at the Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships.
Charolais
The top sires in the Charolais breed are not so prominent. NCBC's Cloonradoon Ricky bred the reserve champion Charolais at this year's Winter Fair, which sold for €11,000.
But old reliables Ashleigh Admiral and Crossmolina Euro still seem to be up there with the best.
Maybe newcomers Clenagh Superior from Dovea Genetics or Kilvilcorris Udo from NCBC will buck the trend and replace the great CF52.
It's been another incredible year on the commercial cattle show scene.
As the standard continues to rise year on year, breeders will be looking ahead to see what bulls will produce the next showstoppers and sale toppers.
Some of the old favorites are still producing the goods, while a few newcomers have risen to the helm.
It's difficult to pin down one or two bulls, as there are a number of heavy hitters in each of the main continental beef breeds.
Belgian Blue
As the breed with the highest price at this year's Carrick Winter Fair, it's only fair to start with the Blues. Producing that record-breaking calf at €33,500 was Tropique from the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC).
An old favorite from a number of years ago, if Tropique was alive today, he would be 23 years old.
The Tropique sired heifer which sold for €33,500 at the Carrick Winter Fair for the Davis family. / Chloe Goggins
A newcomer in recent years, Notaire Du Tordoir established himself at the top of the Blue list at this year's Carrick Winter Fair, producing the champion and reserve champion Belgian Blue for Cian McGloin.
Available from Dovea Genetics, McGloin's two young daughters of Notaire sold for €16,000 and €15,000.
Belgian Blue sire Notaire Du Tordoir.
Delure De La Beole from the NCBC is up there with the best, producing numerous high sellers and championship winners.
Senior daughters at this year's Winter Fair sold to €9,600, with another claiming the senior champion Belgian Blue for the Dolan family, not to mention the top-priced animal in Stranorlar at €12,000.
The 2014-born sire has been around a while, but has really flourished in recent years.
Belgian Blue sire Delure De La Beole. \ MacGregor photography
There are too many to choose from in the Blues, old reliables such as Imperial De L'Ecluse from Dovea bred the top-priced heifer at the first weekend of the Carrick Winter Fair.
NCBC's Patissier De La Grande Rose continues to produce the goods, as does Hazard VD Panemeers from Dovea.
Boherard Overdose and Negrita Du Lac also from Dovea need no introduction, continuously producing prizewinners and high-priced cattle.
One to watch in the years to come is Iz Priceless from Future Genetics, with one of his first daughters selling to €20,000 at the Winter Fair.
Limousin
Arguably the most consistent producer of show champions and high sellers in recent years is Claddagh McCabe ET from Dovea Genetics.
Without doubt one of the best in the business, siring calves to €17,500 and €14,000 in Carrick, as well heifers to €10,500 in Stranorlar.
The Ampertaine Foreman son also produced the reserve supreme champion at this year's National Livestock Show in Tullamore.
Frank and Michael Glynn's Claddagh McCabe ET daughter was junior champion Limousin and sold for €17,500 at the Winter Fair. \ Darragh Giblin
Also battling it out for top spot in the Limousin is Trueman Idol.
Available from Elite Pedigree Genetics, Idol has proven himself as one of the go-to sires in the Limousin breed, with two daughters claiming the champion Limousin at both weekends of the 2025 Winter Fair, with one going on to sell for €23,000 and another daughter retailing at €16,000.
Derrick Forde's Trueman Idol daughter which was champion Limousin and sold for €23,000 at the Carrick Winter Fair. \ Swarber photography
A newcomer to the scene is Pabo Rocknroll, available from Elite Pedigree Genetics. The Grahams Nashville son made a name for himself at this year's Winter Fair, producing the reserve champion Limousin, which sold for €20,000.
Graiggoch Rambo
The record-breaking Graiggoch Rambo, also from Elite Pedigree Genetics, produced the reserve calf champion at this year's National Livestock Show in Tullamore, as well as the overall commercial champion in Balmoral and continues to breed stylish show cattle.
Dovea's Elderberry Galahad also continues to produce showstoppers, as does Ballinloan Jaegerbomb, siring this year's National Livestock Show champion and multiple awardwinner Ruby for Kevin Devine and, of course, the Callaghan family's £19,000 calf at the Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships.
Charolais
The top sires in the Charolais breed are not so prominent. NCBC's Cloonradoon Ricky bred the reserve champion Charolais at this year's Winter Fair, which sold for €11,000.
But old reliables Ashleigh Admiral and Crossmolina Euro still seem to be up there with the best.
Maybe newcomers Clenagh Superior from Dovea Genetics or Kilvilcorris Udo from NCBC will buck the trend and replace the great CF52.
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