Prices started at €2,000 and topped €7,700 at the fifth Charolais Society show and sale in Tullamore last Saturday. Buoyant demand from commercial suckler farmers saw 90% of bulls (up from 60% last year) finding new homes, at an average price of €3,589 (up from €3,100 at the same sale last year).

Eleven bulls made over €4,000, with a total of six animals going to Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The top price of €7,700 was paid for the senior champion Sliabhbawn Jack, bred by James Duke from Caggle, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

“A very good natural type bull”, was how judge Michael Hargroves described his senior champion. By Enfield Plexus and out of a homebred dam by Doonally New, he sold in less than two minutes by auctioneer Tom Cox to James’ neighbour, Dermot McDermott, Kildallogue, Strokestown. The senior champion ticked all the boxes, with five stars for terminal index, three and a half stars for maternal index, a muscle score of 118 and a top functionality score of 122.

Not stopping there, James went on to sell his second bull, Sliabhbawn Jackpot, for €6,300.

A full brother to the senior champion, he was purchased by another Roscommon man, Michael Frawley, Fuerty.

James Phelan, Rathnageera, Garryhill, Co Carlow, took the reserve senior championship with Looby Indra. By Mogador and out of a homebred dam by Pirate, he was purchased by Teagasc, Grange, for €6,300 to run with their Derrypatrick herd. He has four stars for both carcase weight and carcase conformation.

Meanwhile, the junior championship went to the youngest bull at the sale, Cloughbrack Jonnyman, bred by Mattie Kelly, Cloughbrack, Newbridge, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Just 12 months old, he is by Balthazar (CF85) and out of a homebred dam by Enfield Newlook. He has four stars for terminal index, a massive muscle score of 132 (top 1% of the breed) and is only 8.9% for calving. He was purchased for €6,500 by a local Co Offaly farmer, Mary Duffy, Rathfeston, Geashill, Co Offaly.

Mattie sold a second bull, Cloughbrack Jackson, also just 12 months old, for €4,350. By Inverlochy Ferdie (S1381) and out of a homebred dam by Indurain, he was second in his class to the junior champion and was purchased by John Mannion, Newtown, Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, Co Galway.

The reserve junior championship went to Noel Farrell, Castledaly, Moate, Co Westmeath, with Kilcleagh JJ. Just 14 months old, he is by Lisnagre Elite (LGL) and out of a Bova Sylvain dam. A full brother to National Show prize winner Kilcleagh Haley, he was purchased for €5,800 by Luke Flynn, Ardline, Ballyfannon, Boyle, Co Sligo.

Other top prices:

  • €5,200 to Basil Kells, Bohora, Derrylane, Killeshandra, Co Cavan, for Dalehill Isaac. By Doonally New and out of a Nevers-bred dam, he was purchased by Frank Kelly, Draperstown, Co Derry.
  • €5,050 to Robert Dunne, Belturbet, Co Cavan, for Kilduff Icon. By Bowerhouses Topper and out of a homebred dam by Bova Sylvain, he was bought by Trevor Levis, Townview, Skibbereen, Co Cork.
  • €4,600 to Michael Kavanagh, Ballinvalley, Oldcastle, Co Meath, for his first prize winner Ballinvalley Jacque. By Balthazar and out of a homebred dam by Doonally New, he was purchased by Damien Casement, Loughisland, Co Down.
  • €4,100 to Matt Ryan, Clonismullen, Drom, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, for the second prize winner Kilvilcorris Jed. By Utrillo Mic and out of a homebred dam by Doonally Nicefor, he was purchased by Billy Glazebrook, Crewburn Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  • €4,100 to Basil Bothwell, Dereskit, Killeshandra, Co Cavan, for Dereskit Ian, by Victorieux (S1334) and out of a homebred dam by Nelson. The buyer was Enda Fury, Oranbeg, Oranmore, Co Galway.
  • €3,800 to Jim Geoghegan, Lisnagre, Streamstown, Mullingar, for Lisnagre Ivery by Pirate. He was purchased by Seamus Carey, Kinnegad, Co Westmeath.
  • €3,600 to Louise Quinn, Ballymoran House, Edenderry, for the second prize winner Ballym Intro, by Ballym Grivois. He was purchased by James Rice, Armagh.
  • €3,600 to Dan Weston, Meelick, Rosenallis, Portlaoise, for Sliabhbloom Jim Bob Junior, by Oscar. He was purchased by Ciaran Doogan, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
  • €3,500 to Ronan Gallagher, Carrowcardin, Enniscrone, Co Sligo, for Enniscrone Jockey by Oldstone Egbert. He was purchased by Patrick Grue, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh.

    • The final spring Charolais Society show and sale will be held on 23 May in Tullamore.