For the second year in a row, John O’Callaghan and family from Bandon in Co Cork achieved the highest price at the Irish Holstein Friesian Association Premier show and sale in Golden Vale Mart, Kilmallock, on 2 April. Having topped the trade in 2025 at €10,000 with Mountfarna Frankie, the O’Callaghans realised the four highest prices at this year’s sale, including the highest price of €6,600 for Mountfarna Zeus.
Hailing from the herd’s famous Beattie cow family, the powerful Zeus is an October 2024-born son of Badger Sse Taos Zythos. A pure-bred Holstein, he boasted an EBI of €96 and a milk sub-index of €65.
Fay cow family
He was followed up at €5,800 by Mountfarna Birdman. Descending from the Fay cow family, this October 2024-born bull is a son of Westcoast Earlybird. Carrying an EBI of just €1, he boasted a massive milk figure of +514kg.
Not to be outdone by his stablemates, Mountfarna Beast rocked his way to €5,500.
Having been awarded the honourable mention in the pre-sale show by judge John Dillon, this powerhouse of a bull also offered buyers a chance to buy into the herd’s Beattie cow line.
Sired by Slash and out of Mountfarna Griff Beattie, he catalogued with an EBI of €79 and a milk sub-index of €83. Concluding proceedings for the Cork-based herd was Mountfarna Dogman, a September 2024-born son of Badger Sse Taos Zythos.
With five generations of very good or excellent cows behind him, Dogman comes from the same cow family as the €10,000 Mountfarna Frankie. He offered buyers an EBI of €80 and a fertility sub-index of €32.
Champion bull
For his champion, John Dillon tapped out the September 2024-born Laurelelm Perseus Bro, from the herd of Rickey Barrett in Co Cork. A son of Westcoast Perseus, his dam Laurelelm Fever Brilliant was champion at Tullamore Show and reserve champion at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet in 2018. Backed up by an EBI of €44 and a milk figure of +401kg, he was knocked down at €5,000.
Also trading at €5,000 was Radney Bully Boy, exhibited by John O’Keeffe, Charleville, Co Cork.
One of the younger lots on the day at just 15-months-old, he is a son of Dungrange Dan and Radney Sebastian Ostrich. He carries an EBI of €242 and a fertility index of €117.
Michael Spillane from Co Tipperary also hit the €5,000 mark with Mountain Martini. Again just 15-months-old, this Martini ET son which goes back to Dovea Jubilaris came with an EBI of €158.
The reserve champion of the day was awarded to Greenlea Clash. Bred and exhibited by the Greenan family from Co Monaghan, this November 2024-born bull is a son of Slash and the Gortcreen Sebastian daughter, Greenlea Sebastian Carla. With an EBI of €144 and moderate calving figures, he exchanged hands at €4,500.
Strong clearance
Although the average price was down on the 2025 Premier sale, the number of bulls sold was up, as 18 bulls sold to an average of €4,677, representing a 95% clearance.
