Steady commercial demand resulted in a 65% clearance at the Charolais Society’s sixth spring sale which took place in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Averages were up by over €500 to €3,332, with a top price of €5,400 given on two occasions for a son of Utrillo Mic and Enfield Plexus, respectively.

First in the money was the pre-sale junior champion Aghafad Jad bred by Edward Walsh, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. Sired by Utrillo Mic and out of a homebred dam by Dromiskin Phoenix, this 13-month-old carried five stars for replacement index.

Joining him at top money was Richard Hackett’s 14-month-old Limkiln Jasper. This Enfield Plexus son was reserve junior champion and was again a five-star bull but this time for terminal index.

Kinnard Juggernaut was the senior champion but failed to meet his reserve for owner Adrian Morris of Elphin. Blakestown Seignior and Hermes are in the back breeding of this February 2014 bull.

Louise Quinn from Edenderry, Co Offaly, received €4,200 for Ballym Jack, the reserve senior champion in the pre-sale show. This bull was sired by Doonally New and out of Anneskeagh Rosebud.

A sum of €4,200 was also received by Ronan Gallagher for his 15-month-old Enniscrone Jacob ET. This Oldstone Egbert son headed to Scottish breeder Billy Glazebrook. Mr Glazebrook also purchased the first prize winner Mullaghdoo Ideal for €3,750. Bred by Basil Arnold, Killeshandra, Co Cavan, this Roughan Garson son is out of a Blakestown Templier cow. He has four and half stars for terminal index and five for replacement index.

Two lots hit €3,700, including junior champion, Drimina Juggernaut, sired by Prime Roberto and out of a Doonally Nicefor daughter. He was bred by John F Gallagher, Drimina, Tourlestrane, Co Sligo. Also at €3,700 was the 12-month-old Lisscullane Joystick, bred by Peadar Keenan, Dundalk. With five stars for both terminal index and replacement index, he is sired by Pirate and is out of a Donnally New daughter.

Second prize winner Gallaway Justin sold for €3,300 to Christopher Divilly, Scregg, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Bred by Michael Kiernan, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim, he is by Nippur and out of a homebred Nelson dam.

The oldest bull on offer, Cliffview Ivan, made €3,150 for Clare breeder Patrick Darcy. He is out of a homebred dam by Balthazar and sired by French bull Indurian.

Pure Friesian open day

The Churchclara herd, property of the O’Keeffe family, Co Kilkenny, will host this year’s Irish Pure Friesian Open Day on 19 June. Bill, Phil and Matt O’Keeffe milk over 200 pedigree registered Friesian cows near Clara.

The herd was graded up to pedigree in the late 1990s and the family have grown and developed the herd significantly. Average herd production last year was 6,057kg milk at 4.22 % fat and 3.62% protein. SCC for the year was 64. The average calving interval was 367 days with a 9% empty rate after a 10-week breeding season.

Bill took the champion and honourable mention Friesian awards, the EBI award and the premier exhibitor awards at the 2015 Emerald Expo in Punchestown.

The open day kicks off at 1pm with a stockjudging competition followed by an introduction to the herd and a demonstration on linear scoring/classification. A sale of 12 heifers and eight bull calves will end proceedings.