The Northern Ireland Hereford and Angus clubs hosted the first of their spring sales in Dungannon on Tuesday, with nearly all bulls finding new homes.

Leading the way was the Hereford breed, which boasted the top selling price and highest clearance.

The average of £3,477 stands as a new breed record in Dungannon and was accompanied by a 100% clearance rate.

Topping the sale and selling for a record price of 5,500gns was Graceland 1 Silas.

Bred by Robin and James Irvine, this June 2019-born bull is a son of Blakesley 1 Nathan and was secured by AI services.

Behind this, at a price of 4,300gns, was the youngest bull forward Brookfield 1 Teddy.

Bred and exhibited by Roy and Pat McClenaghan, this Moorside 1 Joseph-sired bull was born in July 2019. Teddy was secured by T McAuley.

Sunshine

Next in the running was Solitude 1 Sunshine, which hit the market at 3,800gns. He was bred by Andrew McMordie and is a son of current sire of the year Moeskaer Upgrade. Sunshine was the pick of A Porter, based in Omagh.

Hitting a price of 3,600gns was Panmure 1 Henry son River-Dale 1 Spartacus. Brought out by the McMordie family, this May 2019-born bull was selected by JA Humphey.

Angus

The Angus ring saw 12 of its 16 bulls forward selling for an average of £3,613. This average was up a substantial £446 on last year’s sale.

Birches Bellboy V916, exhibited by Sam Matchett, fetched the top Angus price of 5,100gns. \ Julie Hazelton

Leading trade in the blacks was Birches Bellboy V916, meeting his reserve at 5,100gns. Brought out by the well-known Matchett family from Portadown, he was the choice of Meadow Brook Farm.

Bellboy is a son of former all-Ireland champion Cheeklaw Emlyn P480, which also bred the sale topper for the family at the October sale.

Drumhill Lord Highway V271sold for 4,800gns. \ Julie Hazelton

AI Services NI also secured an Angus bull for its expanding stud, selecting Drumhill Lord Highway V271 at 4,800gns.

Sired by former stock bull Wedderlie Tarquin, he is out of a homebred Blelack Prince Consort daughter from the Lady Heather line.

Securing a price of 4,300gns was the 20-month-old Glen Cowie Royal Senator V634 from Iain Colville. Sired by Blelack Evolution R454, he is out of foundation female Ardoyne Royal Lavender.

The youngest Angus bull presented for sale was Solitude Elite V777 from John, William and Andrew McMordie.

This embryo calf is sired by Netherallen Peter Pershore and out of Rawburn Ellen Erica G666. He was knocked down to John and Ann Henning of the Drumcorn herd.

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