Achieving the highest price of €12,400 in the Irish Aberdeen Angus Extravaganza sale in Mid-Tipp Mart, Thurles, on Saturday 3 October was the only red animal in the sale, Luddenmore Red Lass V402.
The July 2025-born heifer set the sale alight, sparking a flurry of bids from all corners of the ring.
Bred and exhibited by Michael Sheahan from Co Tipperary, Red Lass's cow line originated in Canada, combining Hawkley Red Zeppelin and Lanigan Red Deep Canyon, while her sire is Dovea Genetics' very own Lisduff Red Pepper.
Boasting an array of five-star indexes, she was purchased by Mayo breeder James Higgins.
Overall, demand was exceptionally strong for the females, as auctioneer Denis Barrett oversaw the sale of 38 heifers for an average of €4,910, representing a 93% clearance and the highest average ever achieved at the event.
Young heifer
Selling for the second-highest price of the day at €9,800 was one of the last heifers through the ring, Haroldstown Poppy B321.
A daughter of HW Mr Equilibrium out of a homebred Drumhill Lord Highway-bred cow, this December 2025-born heifer offered buyers a nice balance of figures, ranking in the top 20% of the breed across a host of traits, including terminal, dairy-beef, carcase weight and age at finish.
Exhibited by Carlow breeder Laurence Farrell, she will now join Richard Moore's pedigree herd in Northern Ireland.
Earlier in the day, Charlie McClafferty from Co Donegal received €8,600 for the much-fancied McClafferty Etta B122. Sired by the herd's stock bull, Clooncarne William 2, her dam Rathmooney Etta Y127 was purchased at the Extravaganza sale in 2023.
Like many of the high sellers, she came with a decorative set of indexes across a range of traits, sitting in the top 20% of the breed for docility and carcase weight. Adding Etta to his pedigree fold in Co Cork was Edward Buckley.
Outcross bloodline
Matching her at the same money was John Appelbe's in-calf heifer Carrigroe Victoria B163.
A daughter of the outcross AI bull Warrawee Patrol, her dam is bred from HF Alcatraz going back to Birches Lord Heath. With stars stacked across the page and calving figures in the top 10% of the breed, this single carrier of the NT821 gene will now join Padraig Hurley's pedigree herd in Co Cork.
Next in line at €6,200 was Gabriel Hoey's October 2025-born heifer Rathmooney Juli Eanna B176. Sired by the herd's stock bull Laheens Virgo and out of one of the herd's foundation cows Gigginstown Jupiter Elle V968, this sweet October 2025-born heifer came with four-star terminal, replacement and dairy-beef indices.
Acquiring this young heifer for his pedigree herd in Co Kilkenny was Joe Maher.
Michael Sheahan also realised €6,100 for the February 2025-born Luddenmore Ebony B690. This massive daughter of Drumhill Lord Hampstead went to auction with a mouthwatering terminal index of €122 and will join her counterpart and sale leader Luddenmore Red Lass at James Higgins' residence in Co Mayo.
The same buyer also bought Karol Connell's January 2025-born heifer Saoirois BFF B009 ET at €6,000.
Sired by the high-index AI bull Intelagri Matteo, she is a full sister to the 2023 IAA all-Ireland champion Bellingham V Trish. With stars in abundance, she sold due to calve down in February 2027.
Bull trade
Trade for bulls was tougher, as just two out of the four bulls on offer found new homes.
Leading the bull trade at €7,200 was Thomas and Patrick Beirne's acclaimed show calf Drumbeera Bob Marley B342. September 2025-born, this stylish young bull is one of the first progeny of the 38,000gns Blelack Dean Martin to go for sale in Ireland.
Backed up by a formidable show record and a string of red rosettes to his name, he went to auction with a five-star terminal index of €105 and a whopping carcase weight figure of +17.6kg. Securing Bob Marley for his growing pedigree enterprise in Northern Ireland was Clive Richardson.