Buyers flocked from all corners of Britain and Ireland to the on-farm production sale of Solpoll Herefords at Solitude, Co Down, on Saturday last.
Owned by John and William McMordie, the Solpoll herd has built up a reputation as one of the leading pedigree Hereford herds in the UK over a long number of years.
This reputation certainly lived up to its name, with the trade setting off at a rapid pace, as the very first lot through the ring, Solpoll 1 Fanny A32, rocketed to 9,000gns (€10,933).
A daughter of Solpoll 1 Spike out of Gouldingpoll 1 Fanny 1085, this powerhouse of a heifer sold in-calf to Rempstone 1 Worldwide, due to calve down in spring 2026.
Securing her as a foundation female for his Quaiken herd in the UK was Andrew Shakeshaft from Ellesmere.
High seller
The top price was paid for the Rempstone Worldwide Daughter Solpoll 1 Starlett B22.
This half-sister to what was the Northern Ireland record-priced Hereford bull, Solpoll 1 Braveheart, sold in-calf to Panmure 1 Henry.
After much online and ringside interest, she eventually stopped at 13,500gns (€16,399), selling to Paul Sammon of Firmoll Herefords in Co Tipperary.
Next in the female prices was another starlet, Solpoll 1 Starlet B25, a super sweet and correct daughter of CCR Stamina ET 199S.
Shown once when she took home a red rosette, this in-calf heifer had a number of traits in the top 5% of the breed. In-calf to Solpoll 1 Boomer, she was also acquired by the Quaiken Herd for 10,000gns (€12,148).
Two females sold for 6,000gns (€7,288). Firstly, Solpoll 1 Dainty B7 which descends from the great Dainty N11.
Latterly, Solpoll 1 Stella B24, the only Stella and sole Moeskaer Pacman daughter in the sale, selling to Jimmy Hodge from Berwick on Tweed.
Jimmy was a volume buyer on the day, purchasing four females and one bull, Solpoll 1 Boomer at 7,000gns (€8,503) for his Fellowhills Herd.
On to the bulls and, again, it was the very first lot through the ring which set the sale on fire, Solpoll 1 Blacksmith, a 17-month-old son of Fabb 1 Top Prize.
Deep red in color and indexes in the top 1% of the breed, he flew to 13,000gns (€15,792), selling to Rockness Herefords in Scotland.
Another five-figure bull was the uniquely bred Solpoll 1 Bruno (P), one of the very few sons of Square-D Diesel 957U. He was secured by the Kinsham Herd of Messrs B and M Chillman, Presteigne, for 10,000gns.
Frozen Genetics topped at 550gns (€667) for embryos of a mating between Solpoll 1 Stardust R8 and either Panmure 1 Henry or CCR 57G Stamina, while 15 straws of Panmure 1 Henry attracted intense bidding to 440gns (€534) each.
“A resounding success for the first production sale from this noted herd,” said auctioneer Jonny Dymond, from Halls, who conducted the auction.
"We would like to thank all the buyers, sale sponsors and the McMordie family for their instructions,” he added.
Commenting on the sale, the McMordies said: “It was a fantastic sale for us and the breed, with buyers from both new and established herds on both sides of the sea.
"To have four five-figure sums is a tremendous achievement and for the top-priced bull and heifer to be going to repeat customers is very satisfying."
Overall, 18 females averaged £5,980 (€6,918), five bulls averaged £8,715 (€10,082), 10 embryos averaged £430 (€497) and 25 straws of semen sold for £317 (€366) each.