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The Irish Holstein Friesian Association’s premier sale was held in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on Thursday and continued the trend seen earlier in the week at Hereford and Angus sales of selective buying by dairy farmers.
Unsettled weather in March has many farmers hesitant about purchasing a stock bull until they can be sure he can be left out to grass with cows full time.
However, the selective buying lead to an overall increase in the sale average from the 2016 sale by €150 to €2,613. This average encompassed the 15 bulls that sold out of the 28 present, which meant a drop in clearance rate from 62% to 54% this year.
Top price
Topping trade on the day was John O’Callaghan, Bandon, Co Cork, with Mountfarna Rangler. This son of Relough Dangler Et is out of VG 87 classified cow Mountfarna Eight Rose, which gave 10,979kg of milk in her first lactation. Carrying an EBI of €67 he sold at €4,000 to Ms Ann O’Hanlon.
Mr O’ Callaghan was also the receiver of the second top price for the day’s reserve overall champion Mountfarna Wonder. This time Welcome Shamrock Windsor was the sire with Mountfarna Seaver Fay VG87 the dam. Ranking very high on type traits and with an EBI of €88, the October 2015-born bull was knocked down at €3,900 to Ray Marshall.
This topped a very good day for the Mountfarna outfit, with their four bulls all placing and all selling. Mountfarna Winterfell again by Welcome Shamrock Windsor and Mountfarna Rubie by De-Su Distinction both sold for €2,500, meaning the pen averaged out at €3,225. John also claimed the two top prices at Kilkenny bull sales the week before, selling bulls for €4,800 and €4,700 respectively.
Champion
Mr Gary Hurley, Arklow, Co Wicklow, was given the job of judge for the day and he found his champion in the form of Evergrange Planet from Mervyn Eager, Newcastle, Co Dublin. This September 2015-born bull secured the red rosette in the first class, before eventually being tapped forward as overall champion.
Sired by Lumville Duke Planet, this young bull comes from six generations of VG classified cows, with his dam giving 9,319kg of milk in her first lactation. Carrying an EBI of €77 Planet sold to James Gray for €2,400.
Honourable mention on the day was awarded to the winner of the youngest class Lisnalty Flame 4 from Paul Hannon, Friarstown, Co Limerick. Exhibited by Jane Hannon, Flame is a son of Vieuxsaule Flame and out of Leagh Mauis Toystory daughter Lynbrook Liquirice. However, the first prize-winner failed to meet his reserve on the day.
Top EBI
Highest EBI of the catalogue at €245 went to Radney Giggs from Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Knockilla, Freemount, Co Cork. This January 2016-born bull is sired by AI bull Radney Levi 5, also bred by the O’Keeffe’s, and carried a protein percentage of 0.16. Successful bidder at €3,100 was Coolacurragh farms. This was one of four bulls exhibited on the day by the O’Keeffe duo, which seen three sell to average €2,750.
James Kelly, Drogheda, Co Louth, exhibited the last of the bulls to pass the €3,000. His bull Monamore Tall Order was sired by Vieuxsaule Flame and out of homebred EX91 classified dam Monamore Mascol Torch 1. Carrying an EBI of €151 he sold to Kevin Hasset at €3,400.
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