Roscrea mart was the host of the Eyrecourt clearance sale last Saturday, when John Murphy dispersed his 15-year-old Limousin herd in light of a new venture into the dairy sector. A packed ringside throughout the sale meant trade remained strong, with the 76 lots presented for sale all sold to average €2,356.

The sale topper came late on in the sale when Pat Gill of the Kilskeagh herd in Co Galway purchased lot 60, Eyrecourt Flower, for €7,600. This five-star cow on replacement index was sired by Sympa and out of Ballymartle Victor daughter Allstars Carolaine. Born August 2010, Flower sold in-calf due any day to Queenshead Altea. Selling directly after Flower was her December 2016-born calf at foot Eyrecourt Lavaga. This On-Dit sired heifer found a new home with PJ Bryne at €4,500.

Securing the second top individual price on the day was again the same line. Eyrecourt Kloe, a daughter of the sale topper and full sister to her calf, this two-year-old heifer caught a number of people’s eyes before the hammer fell at €7,000. Five stars down the line, Kloe sold in-calf to Queenshead Altea. Successful bidders here were Joe and Jennifer Moran of the Cappaduff herd in Co Mayo.

Second-best of the cow and calf pairs was Eyrecourt Diamond and Lovell. Diamond was the first to go under the hammer. This near-nine-year-old was sired by Nenuphar and out of a Ferry-bred dam. She sold for €3,400 to Liam Maher. Her December-born Ampertaine Foreman daughter then went on to sell for €3,300. Carrying five stars on the replacement, carcase weight and carcase conformation traits, she sold to Sean and Jack Vahey of the Carrowclougher herd.

The June 2015-born Eyrecourt Kerstina achieved the second-best price of the in-calf heifers when she sold for €4,000. This Fieldson Alfie daughter is out of Ballydaniel V43 and carried five stars on the replacement index.

Selling also on the day were 10 young bulls from the herd. These ranged from €1,600 to €3,500, with all 10 selling to average €2,290.

Two bulls matched on the top price of €3,500, first in the money was the April 2016-born Eyrecourt Leo. This On-Dit sired bull is out of Allstar Ciara and carried four and five stars on the terminal and replacement index respectively.

Matching him at the money was Eyrecourt Laurence, another On-Dit son. Four stars for both terminal and replacement, Laurence sold with a calving figure of 4.6%.