While there were plenty of customers for shorthorn heifers at the Irish Shorthorn Society’s premier sale in Roscommon on Saturday, bulls were a hard sell. Just 4 out of the 14 bulls put forward for sale found a new home with a sale clearance rate of 28% down 9% on last year’s clearance of 37%. Sale average was down almost €1,000/head year-on-year on a difficult day for bulls.
Top price of the sale went to Martin Kelly, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow for his bull Ricketstown Navigator. This February 2019 bull was by Podehole Elite and sold for €1,700. Both the male champion and reserve male champion went home unsold having failed to meet their reserve selling price.
Bulls a tough sell here at the Irish Shorthorn Society premier sale in Roscommon, both champion and reserve make leave the ring unsold. Some bulls not being opened. @farmersjournal @FJBeef @FJ_Pedigree pic.twitter.com/hj04Ek6Ytl
— Adam Woods (@ajwwoods) November 9, 2019
Heifers
In the heifer section, clearance rate was up to 75% from last year’s clearance rate of 58% but the average sale price of €1,795 was back over €200 on the 2018 average of €2,050 for females.
Top price in the female section went to Lot 1 Ricketstown Phantasy Lucy P from Martin Kelly, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow. This November 2017-born Knockenjig Hercules sired heifer was sold in-calf to Podehole Elite. She was sold for €3,500.
One of the highlights in the female section was Lot 48 Bellevue Doris (RO). This March 2019-born heifer was bred by Jim and Mary Kilcullen, Grangemore, Templeboy, Co. Sligo. She is by Dunsyre Konstantin (P). The first prize winner was sold for €2,750. See the full sale report in this weeks Irish Farmers Journal
Shorthorn Premier Roscommon: One of the highlights of the sale, this 1st prize winning March 2019 born Dunsyre Konstantin sired heifer from Jim and Mary Kilcullen, Sligo sold for €2750. Check out https://t.co/US84e5nYMY later for sale report. @farmersjournal @FJ_Pedigree pic.twitter.com/yScAS3805G
— Adam Woods (@ajwwoods) November 9, 2019
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