Export trade for the premier pedigree sales continued this weekend as the Irish Charolais Cattle Society’s biggest sale of the year took centre stage in Elphin. A total of 23 animals were exported on the day, with five of these heading to Britain.

Topping trade at €13,000 was the pre-sale show’s junior champion Clenagh Lyle from Co Clare breeder Michael Quinn. Lyle was the senior male calf champion at the society’s national calf show held in September. Sired by Domino and out of home-bred Clenagh Tranquil, the 14-month-old embryo-bred bull boasted five stars down the line.

Crown for Louis XIV

Claiming the senior championship was the 18-month-old Ballym Louis XIV. Bred by Louise Quinn, Edenderry, Co Offaly, Louis XIV ticked all the boxes for judge Ian Cambell, who runs the well-known Thrunton herd. Home-bred on both sides, Louis XIV carried five stars on both terminal and replacement indices. However, he failed to meet his reserve at the sale and left the ring unsold.

Heifers

Esmor Evans, a well-known breeder in the Charolais circles running the Maerdy herd in Wales, took on the role of officiating judge for the female section. He found his champion in the form of Bostonia Joy Et from Brendan Feeney, Enniscrone, Co Sligo. Joy, a now two-year-old heifer, is sired by Elgin Davinci and out of Major-bred cow Enniscrone Fiona. Just like the senior male champion, she left the ring unsold.

Topping trade in the female section were Brendan and Niall Canning with their two-year-old heifer Sagesse Lauren Et who sold for €8,200. She picked up red rosettes at both the national show and Tullamore. Sired by Farmleigh Ludovic, Lauren is out of Roundhill Cameron-bred cow Kilcumreragh Grimaldi.

While the sale was slow to kick off, the clearance rate remained high, with 74 of the 96 bulls on offer finding new homes along with 29 of the 39 heifers.

Full report and pictures to follow on Monday.

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