While the €uro-Star ratings may not be working in the favour of a number of breeds, the same cannot be said for the Aubrac. The generally high replacement index seen across the breed helped greatly in the trade for heifers at the society’s annual sale at Tullamore Mart last Saturday. A top price of €4,000 was seen on the day with buyers from the north and south present.

Donegal man John Walsh secured the top price for his Deirieu Frezat-sired cow with an April Caporal-bred calf at foot. The now four-year-old with a replacement index of €178 sold back in-calf to the same bull to Clare breeder Anthony Kerins, Milltown Malbay. John Walsh was back in the money later in the day when his in-calf heifer of same breeding sold for €3,400.

€3,000 for champion

Claiming the overall championship under judge Martin Davis was Cullenwaine Khalessi (pictured). Bred by Donal Quinlan, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, this stylish maiden heifer is sired by well-known AI sire Duches (DSH). With a replacement index of €154 and five stars within and across breeds, she sold at €3,000 to fellow Tipp man Thomas Pollard of Thurles.

Taking reserve honours was Francis Donohoe, Johnstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, with his cow Johnstown Isabel 995. Sold alongside her April 2016 heifer calf by Invincible, she sold for the second top of €3,550. Francis also received €3,500 for his second prize-winning Roussel-bred Johnstown Isabel 1145. Again boasting five stars across the board, she sold with her May-born Invincible daughter at foot.

Weanling heifers also were met with flying trade, with autumn-born calves averaging at €1,500 with a ceiling of €2,000. However, similar trends weren’t seen when it came to the bull trade, with only one of the four bulls on offer finding a new home at €1,200.

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