Autumn bull sales have been getting under way across the country in recent weeks, with the Irish Hereford Breed Society staging its premier bull show and sale in Golden Vale Mart, Tullamore, on Saturday.

Although there were some eye-catching prices for the top lots, trade was mixed overall, as just 12 out of the 23 bulls on offer found new residences, with an average price of €5,433.

Despite a slow start, the sale kicked into gear when Knockmountagh Patriot HH entered the ring, going on to sell for the highest price of €8,400.

A first-prizewinner in the first class of the day, this February 2025-born bull was bred and exhibited by Eamon and John McKiernan from Co Louth.

Homebred on both sides of his pedigree – sired by Knockmountagh Winner 2 and out of the Cill Cormaic Kasper-bred dam Knockmountagh Purdy 2 – Patriot came with a five-star replacement index of €147 and a carcase weight figure of +12.8kg.

Bred from the best cow in the Monasterboice-based herd, this full-horned bull was purchased by James Thompson from Co Carlow.

Champion bull

Judge Michael Molloy awarded the overall champion title in the pre-sale show to Gurteragh Daniel 1179 PH, a heterozygous polled bull from the herd of Michael O'Keeffe in Co Cork.

July 2025-born, Daniel is a son of the herd's hugely successful stock bull Mullaghdoopoll 1 Finnian, while his dam, Kilronan Wanda Tina Maria, is a daughter of Allowdale Rambo 475.

Gurteragh Daniel 1179 PH, overall champion, which sold for €8,000, shown by Michael O'Keeffe, with judge Michael Molloy and society president Aidan Farrell. \ Tricia Kennedy

Not only did he garnish the championship ribbons, he also offered buyers a page of stars, ranking in the top 20% of the breed for replacement, terminal and dairy-beef indices. John Ryan from Newport, Co Tipperary, secured the champion at €8,000.

Phoenix sons

Inchvale Rocco HH was next best at €6,500 for Cork breeder Michael Barrett.

The Gurtaleen Inchvale Phoenix son is out of a homebred dam by Skehanore Whistler and came to auction with a terminal index value of €100 and beef sub-index of €141, putting him in the top 10% of the breed. Acquiring this July 2025-born bull was Tipperary breeder Richard Lalor.

Inchvale Rocco HH, shown by Michael Barrett, sold for €6,500. \ Tricia Kennedy

It proved a tremendous day out for Michael Barrett, as he also realised €6,200 for the reserve champion Inchvale Delboy HH.

Sired by Phoenix, Delboy's dam Balleen Ladybird 41147 is out of Balleen Achiever.

Around breed average on calving, he boasted five-star terminal and dairy-beef indices, backed up by a carcase weight figure of +15.6kg. He was knocked down to Kilkenny farmer Patrick O'Neill.

Inchvale Delboy HH, reserve champion, which sold for €6,200, shown by Michael Barrett, with judge Michael Molloy and Aidan Farrell. \ Tricia Kennedy

Clooncullane Maximus 582 HH stood top of the line in his class, before trading for €6,200, selling to a pedigree herd in Co Monaghan.

Brought out by Roscommon breeder Coman Neary, this June 2025-born son of Cill Cormaic Kasper carries a nice balanced set of indices, including a five-star replacement index of €155.

Tom Brennan received €5,800 for Balleen Wespoint HH, a March 2025-born son of the herd's stock bull Ballinveney United 2 and a homebred daughter of Cill Cormaic Leo.

Although above breed average on calving, he carries a five-star terminal index of €85 and a carcase weight figure of +14.8kg. Snapping this one up was Limerick man John Delee.