Western farmers were out in force at the Irish Charolais Cattle Society sale of pedigree bulls in Tuam at the weekend. The sale saw an 87% clearance rate, which was up there with some of the highest clearance rates this spring. The average for the sale settled at €3,022.
Achieving the day’s top price of €4,350 was the first-prizewinner from the pre-sale show Landleague Nixon ET, exhibited by Francis Ryan from Rosscahill, Co Galway.
This October 2017-born bull is a son of CF 52 and a Baurnafea Baccarat-bred dam. He has five stars with a terminal index value of €156 and a calving figure of 9.6%.
Next-highest price went through at €4,000. This went to the first-prizewinner from the second class Coshleens Ollie, exhibited by Conal Tiernan from Elphin, Co Roscommon.
This Goldstar Echo (GHX) son was out of a Cavelands Fenian cow and Ollie had a four-star terminal index value of €126, a five-star replacement index value of €81 and a calving difficulty figure of 6.6%.
Two bulls went through the ring selling for €3,600. First to make that price was the day’s overall champion Kilvilcorris Owen, exhibited by Matt and PJ Ryan from Thurles, Co Tipperary.
A son of the French sire Glasgow, Owen has a four-star terminal index of €115 and a four-star replacement index value of €69.
Also selling at €3,600 was Dereskit Obama, exhibited by Basil Bothwell from Killeshandra, Co Cavan.
This 16-month-old Alwent Goldbar son displayed lots of stars, which included five stars on both terminal and replacement indices.
Selling at €3,450 was Sliabhbawn Ollie exhibited by Co Roscommon breeder James Duke.
A son of Roughan Lincoln and an Indurain-bred dam, Ollie went under Tom Cox’s hammer with another full set of stars across both the terminal and replacement indices and a below-average calving figure of 6.4%.
Judge for the day Seamus Nagle found his reserve champion in Cloughbrack Oaktree, exhibited by Mattie Kelly from Newbridge, Co Galway.
This 14-month-old bull is a son of Sylvaner and a Grimaldi-bred dam. He was hammered down in the sales ring at €3,300.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society will hold its final spring sale on Saturday 25 May in Tullamore Mart, Co Offaly.