Over 200 Salers breeding females exchanged hands at the Irish Salers Cattle Society breeding heifer sale in Gort Mart on Saturday 17 October.

Making up the majority of the entries were Salers-cross breeding females, with eight pedigree Salers heifers on offer.

Heifers sold all over Ireland, with 28 exported to Northern Ireland.

Demand was particularly strong for the pedigree heifers, which consisted of one in-calf, three maiden and four weanling heifers.

This was reflected in a full clearance and average price of €4,587 for the eight pedigree heifers.

Top seller

Leading the prices at €6,700 was the in-calf pedigree heifer Brownhall Davina.

Bred in Co Donegal by James McGroarty and exhibited by Peatsai O'Conghaile from Co Galway, Davina is full French-bred, sired by Tudor and out of Grace.

As well as offering buyers an out-cross pedigree, this May 2024-born heifer came with a five-star replacement index of €215 and a milk figure of +8.4kg. Purchasing the sale leader was Brendan Clarke.

Ryan Griffith from Co Donegal was next in line in the pedigrees with Cashelard Eclipse, a December 2025-born daughter of Rio and the homebred cow Cashelard Champagne.

Despite being short on stars, this classy young heifer got the nod from judge Niall McGovern for the overall champion in the pre-sale show before selling to Liam McIntyre for €6,500.

Sligo Eleanor 3, which sold for €5,000, was reserve champion pedigree Salers, shown here by Niall Hunt, with judge Niall McGovern and Bernard Hunt. \ Tricia Kennedy

Realising €5,000 was the reserve champion pedigree Sligo Eleanor 3, brought out by Sligo breeder Bernard Hunt.

Just over one year old, Eleanor is a daughter of Sligo Bert and Sligo Umarie, a Hailey-bred cow.

Carrying a five-star milk figure of +7.9kg, she was the pick of a PJ Maginn for his pedigree herd in Northern Ireland.

Commercials

Cork breeder Niall O'Connell achieved the two highest prices in the commercial section, with his two heifers going under the hammer at €6,500 and €5,900.

Both pedigree registered, they sold in-calf to Gareth McCormack from Co Cavan.

In general, commercial breeding heifers ranging from 400kg to 500kg averaged €2,756, heifers over 500kg averaged €3,626 and weanlings averaged €2,584, while maidens averaged €2,150.