The Irish Charolais Cattle Society held its annual Christmas Cracker sale in Elphin Mart over the weekend, where average prices surpassed all other breed sales this autumn.
In all, 64 of the bulls forward sold to an average of €4,260. While this is back €300 on the 2017 average, Charolais breeders will look upon it favourably, seeing as a similar number of bulls sold despite an extremely tough autumn season across the board.
One thing clear on the day was buyers’ willingness to pay for quality animals with proven pedigrees.
Phenotype traits
Charolais bull purchasers have always ranked pedigree and quality ahead of indices when purchasing bulls and this sale was no different, with only nine of the 16 bulls ranked four or five stars on the terminal index making €5,000 or more.
Even more proof that buyers were looking more at phenotypic traits of the animal was that 11 of these 16 top-priced bulls secured a first to third placing in the pre-sale show. Given the task of judging the event was Kevin Thomas who runs the Moelfre herd in Wales.
He found his senior champion in the form of Ballynabreen Nevin from John McDermott, Lifford, Co Donegal. This August 2016-born bull is a son of Goldstar Echo, while the dam is a homebred daughter of Prime Roberto.
Exceptional day
Five stars on the terminal index with a calving figure of 6.9%, the champion saw the hammer drop at €7,100.
This topped an exceptional day for the Donegal man, who sold his other two exhibits for €5,000 apiece. First at the money was the five-star August 2016-born Ballynabreen Norman. This bull’s pedigree combined Doonally New, Oldstone Egbert and Indurain.
Also hitting the money was the first-prizewinning Ballynabreen Nevers. This 15-month-old son of Goldstar Echo is out of Fury Action dam Deeleview Gladys.
Donegal breeders took a host of top honours, with another Lifford man Patrick McClean securing the two top prices of the day.
Top-priced bull Roughan Noah 2, which sold for €10,000. \ Alfie Shaw
His September 2016-born Roughan Noah 2 ticked all the boxes for Galway commercial farmer Bernard Fallon and was knocked down by auctioneer Tom Cox at €10,000.
Sired by French imported stock bull Roughan Gibraltar, Noah 2 goes back on a homebred dam with French breeding on both sides.
Matching Noah at the money was McClean’s second bull Roughan Nixon. Strong bidding by breeders from across the water wasn’t enough to secure this bull in the ring. However, the bull was sold later through the mart to fellow Donegal breeder Charles Harkin.
This 12-month-old bull is another son of the aforementioned stock bull Roughan Gibraltar and carries five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices.
Mr McClean’s final entry secured a bid of €7,100 for Roughan Nial 2. The youngest bull in the sale, the 12-month-old first-prizewinner is also sired by Roughan Gibraltar. Carrying five stars on the replacement index and four stars on the terminal, Nial carried a calving figure of only 6.2%.
Junior championship
In the junior championship, it proved a successful day for David Erskine from Co Monaghan. His late-October-born bull Fieldview Nathaniel was awarded top honours and later secured the joint second-top price.
Junior champion Fieldview Nathaniel, which sold for €8,500. \ Alfie Shaw
Sired by Asleigh Admiral, his pedigree also includes Prime Roberto and Excellent. Five stars on the terminal index, this one heads north at a price of €8,500.
Matching him at the money was the second-prizewinning Cloonglasna11 Noddy ET from Patrick Egan, Ballina, Co Mayo. This 14-month-old bull is a son of well-known Major, with Domino and Doonally New also making up his star-studded pedigree. This joint second-top seller also headed to Northern Ireland.
Reserve junior champion Goldstar Nobility, which sold for €6,800. \ Alfie Shaw
Standing reserve junior champion was Goldstar Nobility from the Ryan family, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Sired by Virtuose, Nobility is a son of Goldstar Indira who is also the dam of NCBC bull Goldstar Ludwig. Four stars across breeds on the terminal index, Nobility hit the market at a price of €6,800.
Last of the championships was the reserve senior, which was awarded to Aghafad Nickel ET from Edward Walsh, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Reserve senior champion Aghafad Nickel ET, which sold for €4,400. \ Alfie Shaw
This September 2017-born bull is a son of Jumper, while the homebred dam’s pedigree includes Dromiskin Stallone and Ecrin Rj. Carrying five stars on the terminal index, this bull was knocked down at €4,400.
One of the last lots through the ring was the super stylish third-prizewinner Mucklagh Nimble. Bred and exhibited by Patricia and Liam Mitchell, Mohill, Co Leitrim, this 13-month-old bull is a son of Carrickbrack96 Hutch.
Muckanagh Nimble, which sold for €7,100. \ Alfie Shaw
Out of Cloverfield Excellent daughter Muckanagh Giuliana, Nimble carries five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and secured a price of €7,100 selling to a northern buyer.
Busy day for Scottish buyer
Martin Barr from Scotland had a busy day ringside, securing four bulls for export. Top of the lots was Tonroe New from Vincent Callaghan, Swinford, Co Mayo.
Having failed to meet his reserve in the ring, an agreement was made outside, as Tonroe New was secured by the Scottish buyer for €7,000. Sired by Doonally New, the September 2016-born bull is out of an Enfield Newlook-bred dam.
The second lot secured by the Scottish man was Sionhill Nick from Ronan Carey, Killucan, Co Westmeath. This second-prizewinner is a son of Fury Action, while the dam’s pedigree includes Bova Sylvain and Doonally New. Three stars on both the terminal and replacement indices, this one was knocked down at €6,100.
The second-prizewinner Rivergloir Notorous also heads on the boat. Bred and exhibited by Jarlath McHugh, Co Mayo, this 13-month-old bull’s lineage contains Utrillo, Doonally New and Trim Highness. Four stars on the terminal index across breed, Notorous met his reserve at €5,100.
Last of the lots to be secured by Martin Barr was Skiddernagh Noble from Peter McDonnell, Castlebar, Co Mayo. This August 2017-born bull is a son of the aforementioned Carrickbrack96 Hutch and was secured for €2,600.
Securing a price of €6,000 was Michael Kiernan with his third-prizewinning Gallaway Nice Boy 2 ET. This young bull is sired by Doonally New, while the dam’s pedigree includes Bova Sylvain and Enfield Hara Kiri.
Carrying five stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down to a northern purchaser at €6,000.
Thomas Keane, Westport, Co Mayo, realised €5,100 for his 15-month-old Cuillmore Ned. Sired by Dromiskin Viceroy, Ned is out of Enfield Plexus daughter Cuillmore Jackie.
Four stars on the terminal index and with a calving figure of 9.5%, he was knocked down to Edward Greene.
The reserve senior male calf champion from this year’s National Show in Tullamore Bostonia Nonstopabull hit the market at €5,000.
This September 2017-born bull was bred and exhibited by the Feeney brothers, Scurmore, Co Sligo, and placed first in his respective class earlier in the day.
Sired by Davally Illusion, Nonstopabull also sees Elgin Davinci and Padirac in his pedigree.
First prize
First prize in the first class of the day went to Knockglass Noah from Pat Keane, Newport, Co Mayo. This July 2017-born bull is another son of Doonally New, while the dam is a daughter of Tattenhall Impeccable. Four stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down at €4,800.
Matching him at the money was the second-prizewinner in the same class Cassina Nigel. Bred and exhibited by Martin Joseph Clyne, Co Longford, this bull carries five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices. This one is a son of old reliable Pirate, while the dam is a daughter of Fiston.
Adding to these prices, a further 10 bulls made €4,000 or more. This means 27 of the 63 bulls sold, or 43%, made in excess of €4,000.
While this shows a very positive commercial trade, it also shows that value was to be had for the remaining 36 bulls, which sold between €2,500 and €3,900.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society held its annual Christmas Cracker sale in Elphin Mart over the weekend, where average prices surpassed all other breed sales this autumn.
In all, 64 of the bulls forward sold to an average of €4,260. While this is back €300 on the 2017 average, Charolais breeders will look upon it favourably, seeing as a similar number of bulls sold despite an extremely tough autumn season across the board.
One thing clear on the day was buyers’ willingness to pay for quality animals with proven pedigrees.
Phenotype traits
Charolais bull purchasers have always ranked pedigree and quality ahead of indices when purchasing bulls and this sale was no different, with only nine of the 16 bulls ranked four or five stars on the terminal index making €5,000 or more.
Even more proof that buyers were looking more at phenotypic traits of the animal was that 11 of these 16 top-priced bulls secured a first to third placing in the pre-sale show. Given the task of judging the event was Kevin Thomas who runs the Moelfre herd in Wales.
He found his senior champion in the form of Ballynabreen Nevin from John McDermott, Lifford, Co Donegal. This August 2016-born bull is a son of Goldstar Echo, while the dam is a homebred daughter of Prime Roberto.
Exceptional day
Five stars on the terminal index with a calving figure of 6.9%, the champion saw the hammer drop at €7,100.
This topped an exceptional day for the Donegal man, who sold his other two exhibits for €5,000 apiece. First at the money was the five-star August 2016-born Ballynabreen Norman. This bull’s pedigree combined Doonally New, Oldstone Egbert and Indurain.
Also hitting the money was the first-prizewinning Ballynabreen Nevers. This 15-month-old son of Goldstar Echo is out of Fury Action dam Deeleview Gladys.
Donegal breeders took a host of top honours, with another Lifford man Patrick McClean securing the two top prices of the day.
Top-priced bull Roughan Noah 2, which sold for €10,000. \ Alfie Shaw
His September 2016-born Roughan Noah 2 ticked all the boxes for Galway commercial farmer Bernard Fallon and was knocked down by auctioneer Tom Cox at €10,000.
Sired by French imported stock bull Roughan Gibraltar, Noah 2 goes back on a homebred dam with French breeding on both sides.
Matching Noah at the money was McClean’s second bull Roughan Nixon. Strong bidding by breeders from across the water wasn’t enough to secure this bull in the ring. However, the bull was sold later through the mart to fellow Donegal breeder Charles Harkin.
This 12-month-old bull is another son of the aforementioned stock bull Roughan Gibraltar and carries five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices.
Mr McClean’s final entry secured a bid of €7,100 for Roughan Nial 2. The youngest bull in the sale, the 12-month-old first-prizewinner is also sired by Roughan Gibraltar. Carrying five stars on the replacement index and four stars on the terminal, Nial carried a calving figure of only 6.2%.
Junior championship
In the junior championship, it proved a successful day for David Erskine from Co Monaghan. His late-October-born bull Fieldview Nathaniel was awarded top honours and later secured the joint second-top price.
Junior champion Fieldview Nathaniel, which sold for €8,500. \ Alfie Shaw
Sired by Asleigh Admiral, his pedigree also includes Prime Roberto and Excellent. Five stars on the terminal index, this one heads north at a price of €8,500.
Matching him at the money was the second-prizewinning Cloonglasna11 Noddy ET from Patrick Egan, Ballina, Co Mayo. This 14-month-old bull is a son of well-known Major, with Domino and Doonally New also making up his star-studded pedigree. This joint second-top seller also headed to Northern Ireland.
Reserve junior champion Goldstar Nobility, which sold for €6,800. \ Alfie Shaw
Standing reserve junior champion was Goldstar Nobility from the Ryan family, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Sired by Virtuose, Nobility is a son of Goldstar Indira who is also the dam of NCBC bull Goldstar Ludwig. Four stars across breeds on the terminal index, Nobility hit the market at a price of €6,800.
Last of the championships was the reserve senior, which was awarded to Aghafad Nickel ET from Edward Walsh, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Reserve senior champion Aghafad Nickel ET, which sold for €4,400. \ Alfie Shaw
This September 2017-born bull is a son of Jumper, while the homebred dam’s pedigree includes Dromiskin Stallone and Ecrin Rj. Carrying five stars on the terminal index, this bull was knocked down at €4,400.
One of the last lots through the ring was the super stylish third-prizewinner Mucklagh Nimble. Bred and exhibited by Patricia and Liam Mitchell, Mohill, Co Leitrim, this 13-month-old bull is a son of Carrickbrack96 Hutch.
Muckanagh Nimble, which sold for €7,100. \ Alfie Shaw
Out of Cloverfield Excellent daughter Muckanagh Giuliana, Nimble carries five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and secured a price of €7,100 selling to a northern buyer.
Busy day for Scottish buyer
Martin Barr from Scotland had a busy day ringside, securing four bulls for export. Top of the lots was Tonroe New from Vincent Callaghan, Swinford, Co Mayo.
Having failed to meet his reserve in the ring, an agreement was made outside, as Tonroe New was secured by the Scottish buyer for €7,000. Sired by Doonally New, the September 2016-born bull is out of an Enfield Newlook-bred dam.
The second lot secured by the Scottish man was Sionhill Nick from Ronan Carey, Killucan, Co Westmeath. This second-prizewinner is a son of Fury Action, while the dam’s pedigree includes Bova Sylvain and Doonally New. Three stars on both the terminal and replacement indices, this one was knocked down at €6,100.
The second-prizewinner Rivergloir Notorous also heads on the boat. Bred and exhibited by Jarlath McHugh, Co Mayo, this 13-month-old bull’s lineage contains Utrillo, Doonally New and Trim Highness. Four stars on the terminal index across breed, Notorous met his reserve at €5,100.
Last of the lots to be secured by Martin Barr was Skiddernagh Noble from Peter McDonnell, Castlebar, Co Mayo. This August 2017-born bull is a son of the aforementioned Carrickbrack96 Hutch and was secured for €2,600.
Securing a price of €6,000 was Michael Kiernan with his third-prizewinning Gallaway Nice Boy 2 ET. This young bull is sired by Doonally New, while the dam’s pedigree includes Bova Sylvain and Enfield Hara Kiri.
Carrying five stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down to a northern purchaser at €6,000.
Thomas Keane, Westport, Co Mayo, realised €5,100 for his 15-month-old Cuillmore Ned. Sired by Dromiskin Viceroy, Ned is out of Enfield Plexus daughter Cuillmore Jackie.
Four stars on the terminal index and with a calving figure of 9.5%, he was knocked down to Edward Greene.
The reserve senior male calf champion from this year’s National Show in Tullamore Bostonia Nonstopabull hit the market at €5,000.
This September 2017-born bull was bred and exhibited by the Feeney brothers, Scurmore, Co Sligo, and placed first in his respective class earlier in the day.
Sired by Davally Illusion, Nonstopabull also sees Elgin Davinci and Padirac in his pedigree.
First prize
First prize in the first class of the day went to Knockglass Noah from Pat Keane, Newport, Co Mayo. This July 2017-born bull is another son of Doonally New, while the dam is a daughter of Tattenhall Impeccable. Four stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down at €4,800.
Matching him at the money was the second-prizewinner in the same class Cassina Nigel. Bred and exhibited by Martin Joseph Clyne, Co Longford, this bull carries five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices. This one is a son of old reliable Pirate, while the dam is a daughter of Fiston.
Adding to these prices, a further 10 bulls made €4,000 or more. This means 27 of the 63 bulls sold, or 43%, made in excess of €4,000.
While this shows a very positive commercial trade, it also shows that value was to be had for the remaining 36 bulls, which sold between €2,500 and €3,900.
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