The phenomenal trade witnessed on farms in the southern part of the country played its part in the last of the spring 2021 Irish Angus Munster branch sales.

With most branch members reporting extremely strong business from early March, it seemed the potential buyers looking for a bull were scarce on the ground last Saturday.

In total, 16 of the 25 bulls entered for the sale were in attendance, with just nine finding new homes.

Tough job hitting €2,000

With numbers selling low, it meant that auctioneer Tom Cox had a tough job on his hands to get bids to rise to and past the €2,000 mark.

Overall, half the bulls that sold hit this mark, selling to a top of €2,400.

Top price

Securing the top price was the March 2020-born Mercury Terrific Eric.

Bred by Cork breeder John Murphy, this five-star bull carried a beef cow calving figure of just 1.4%.

Sired by the homebred Mercury Royal Figo, the twin bull is out Rossiter Eric-bred dam Luddenmore Ellen Erica. He heads to a Cork dairy farmer.

Back in action

Martin Hehir from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, was back in action after securing the two top prices at the previous branch sale.

This time, his bull Killernan Sim Bad sold for the second-top price at €2,200.

This five-star terminal bull was born in November 2019 and is sired by Bunlahy John G, with Lissduff Dicky and Bohey Jasper also in the back breeding.

Fellow Clare breeder Pat Pender was next in line when he sold two bulls at €2,100 and €2,000.

The upper of these prices was paid for Cahermurphy Tantrum. This 13-month-old bull is sired by Lanigan Red Deep Canyon, with Drumcrow Power Drive also in the lineage.