The Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society held its annual premier autumn sale at Tullamore Mart over the weekend, with a small turnout witnessing one of the breed’s worst sales in many years. While clearances were slightly up on 2015 levels, only 12 of the 18 bulls presented found new homes. On top of this, prices proved well back on 2015 levels with averages plummeting by €1,700 for males to a final figure of €2,840.

The minor highs of the 2015 sales, which saw bulls sell to €9,200, helped boost that average greatly. However, the same was not to be seen this year, with a top price of €5,100.

The highest price on the day was for the pre-sale show reserve champion Ballinclare Ivan (photo above). Born in November 2014, this all-black son of Solway View Dynamite was exhibited by Trevor Jackson, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. Boasting €137 on the terminal index, he found a new home across the water with a pedigree herd in England, showing the price of sterling not to be a deterrent for potential UK buyers.

Claiming the overall male championship was Hilltops Jazz Dancer from Kieran McGee, Pettigo, Co Donegal (photo above). An ET-bred son of Heros Du Peroy, he is out of UK-bred cow Drait Davina ET. With five stars across breeds for terminal, the January 2015-born bull met his reserve at €3,200.

Thomas Lawless, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, found a new home at €3,500 for his two-year-old Timoney Invincible. Sired by popular AI bull Mannequain De Sberchamps, he is out of a homebred Boherard Cantona daughter and carried five stars on replacement within breed and terminal across breed.

The remainder sold made between €2,000 and €3,000 for bulls ranging from 14 to 25 months old.

Females

Only four of the 12 heifers presented for sale sold, to an average of €2,100, and this followed a similar trend to the bulls, with averages back by €700 (€2,824 in 2015). Picking up the top spot in the pre-sale show in the female ring was David Pearson, Ballacolla, Co Laois, with Villablues Idyllic (photo below).

An ET-born Harrison daughter, she goes back to Boherard Vanessa and later sold for the top female price of €3,050.

Reserve championship honours went to Cork breeder Richard Stanley for his two-year-old Ballinakill Indigo (photo below). This embryo-bred Langoureux De Fooz daughter was shown successfully over the last two summers, but unfortunately failed to meet her reserve.

Next best in the money for the heifers was the 11-month-old Heatherview Jenifer at €2,050. Bred by Thomas Fitzgerald, Portlaoise, Jenifer is also a daughter of Mannequin and out of a homebred Kilowatt D’Ochain-sired dam.

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