The Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society hosted the second of its May bull sales over the weekend under continued strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Buyers again were afforded time slots in advance of the auction to view cattle, with most bidding then carried out online. A technical error for the online video streaming didn’t help proceedings but 10 bulls did find homes from the 60 catalogued.

Topping trade with a bid of €2,900 was the 13-month-old Laheens Sterling. Bred and exhibited by local breeders Cathal and Cormac Duignan, his breeding includes Early Sunset Hightime, Goulding Jumbo King and Lawsons Ford Bagatelle. Carrying four stars on the replacement index and five stars on the terminal he had a calving figure for beef cows of only 0.9%. Securing the highseller was a breeder from Sligo.

Next highest through the ring at €2,600 was Leacarrow Rover. This December 2018-born bull was brought out by Sligo breeder Morgan Mulhern. Sired by Netheron Americano, he is out of a homebred dam by Bunlahy John G. A five-star terminal bull with a calving figure of 2%, he was the choice of a bidder all the way from Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

The youngest bull catalogued, Clooncarne San Andreas, was next in line, attracting a top bid of €2,450. Bred by local pedigree breeder Tom Mulligan, he is a son of former homebred stock bull Clooncarne Frank. The dam of this bull has been an exceptional breeder for the herd, producing five other bulls which averaged €4,400. Carrying three stars on the replacement index and four stars on the terminal, he was again acquired by a Sligo farmer.

Joe and Cathal McCormack were next in the money when they sold Steil Stephen 393 for €2,400. This December 2018-born bull is a son of former stock bull Ballyshannon Eustace who also bred the reserve all-Ireland champion in 2019. His dam line is equally as impressive, with his granddam being a former all-Ireland champion.

Top of the Hereford bulls on offer was Hillockpoll 1 Buster, which sold for €1,900. This December 2018-born bull is a son of Solpoll 1 Kentucky Kid with Solpoll 1 Handsome as the grandsire. Carrying five stars and four stars on the replacement and terminal indices, he had a calving figure of only 3.2% for beef cows.

Overall, eight Angus bulls sold to average €2,375. Of the Herefords two sold to average €1,850.