There was just under 80 bulls and heifers on offer at the autumn sale in Carrick-on-Shannon. Quality animals met a good demand, while plainer cattle were harder sold.

The top-priced Charolais bull was bred by John Barry Moran from Fardrum, Athlone, Co Westmeath. Brocca Major Tom, sired by Jupiter, sold for €3,400 and the bull was purchased by John McLoughlin, Swinford, Co Mayo.

Tony and Bridget O’Donnell, Elphin, Co Roscommon, sold their September 2016 bull Summervilla Maximus, sired by Excellent, for €3,100.

Gerard Kilgallon, Claremorris, Co Mayo, also achieved €3,100 for his Charolais bull Brenmac Mark, sired by Progressive Genetics bull Fiston. This bull had a €uro-Star index of €121 for terminal and €113 for replacement.

Ronan Carey from Killucan, Co Westmeath, also reached the €3,000 mark for his Charolais bull, sired by his stock bull Sionhill Commandeur. Overall, there was an average price of €2,557 and a clearance rate of 72% for Charolais bulls.

The only Charolais heifer on show was owned by Thomas Beirne, Carrick-on-Shannon. Sired by Lisnagre Hansome, this heifer achieved €2,550, the top-priced heifer on the day.

Out of the eight Limousin bulls on offer, only two went under the hammer, with the top price of €2,300 going to James Coffey, Kilmovee, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, for his bull sired by Ecrin. The only other Limousin bull sold was bred by Michael Gunn, Elphin, Co Roscommon, and sold for €2,250.

Angus

Stars were the biggest determining factor in the sale of Angus bulls with poorer-star bulls failing to meet their reserve. A top price of €2,500 in the Angus ring was achieved by Seamus Prior, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, for his five-star bull, Bawn Trooper. There was a clearance rate of 44% for Angus bulls.

William Moreton, Carrickslavin, Leitrim, achieved the top price of the three heifers sold, selling Ballygart Nancy, a February 2016 daughter of Goulding Jumbo King, for €1,700.

The only Hereford bull on offer was sired by Trillick Hotspur and it achieved a price of €1,900 for breeder John Morrow. Of the three Hereford heifers through the ring, only one went under the hammer. This heifer, owned by Pauline Casey, Lisnalurg, Co Sligo, was sired by Ardmulchan Eddy and sold for €1,050.

Rosemount Blue sale sees top of €4,500

Having bred Belgian Blues for 25 years, the decision by Trevor Ashmore to disperse his well-known Rosemount herd was not made lightly. His sale, which took place last week in Carnew Mart, saw a 100% clearance to a top of €4,500. Behind the top-selling price tag was the fourth lot into the ring Rosemount Janice ET. This two-year-old black heifer is sired by popular AI bull Mannequin and goes back to the prolific Bringlee Sandy. Similar to a number of lots, this one sold to the UK.

The dark colour proved to be in demand, with the second-top price of €4,400 being paid for another black heifer, Rosemount Julia. Again, a two-year-old heifer, Julia is sired by Kubitus De Bray and is out of Rosemount Elisha.

The two-year-old Rosemount Jenny met trade of €4,000. Sired by Crack Du Pont De Messe, she is out of Heros daughter Rosemount Deer ET. Top of the bulls on offer was the two-year-old Rosemount Jim ET who went for €3,250. This son of De Fooz is out of Rosemount Evelyn.

Overall, trade was back on what would be expected for a top-end herd.