The Northern Ireland Charolais club held its spring sale in Dungannon last week. Similar to a number of sales, this had been postponed two weeks ago due to weather conditions. However, the rescheduling didn’t hamper trade, with both averages and clearance rate increasing on the year.

In total, 38 bulls sold to average £3,285, which was up £367 on the 2017 sale, with an extra five bulls sold.

Jonathan Crawford led the way, taking home the two top prices of the sale. The top-priced lot from the Maghera breeder came in the form of Coolnaslee Manager.

Having been tapped out as third in his class, this August 2016-born bull caught the eye of O Jeffers, Cookstown, and traded at 5,600gns.

Sired by former 10,000gns Carlisle champion Ratoary Ferguson, Manager is out of Edenhurst Hrh, which was purchased two years ago for 8,000gns.

Close on his heels from the same pen and selling for 5,000gns was Coolnaslee Minto. This bull had earlier in the day been awarded the reserve junior championship under judge Terry Coghill of the Orkney Islands.

A son of the 10,000gns Carlisle intermediate champion and Clogher Show intermediate champion Ratoary Icebreaker, he is out of the 10,000gns Blelack Babe, which goes back to the 25,000gns Perth supreme champion and Royal Show junior male champion Thrunton Socrates. Securing the stylish 15-month-old was Belfast breeder C Shaw.

Next best was the day’s reserve senior and reserve supreme champion Derryharney Mustang.

This 19-month-old bull from Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh, Crummy, Co Fermanagh, was one of two bulls to trade at 4,800gns.

Reserve overall champion Derryharney Mustang which sold for 4,800gns. \ Tricia Kennedy

Mustang features a number of top names in his pedigree, including the 10,000gns Perth supreme champion Thrunton Bonjovi and the Balmoral Show supreme champion Goldies Carnival daughter Derryharney Hazel.

Securing the reserve champion was pre-sale judge Terry Coghill, on behalf of Mr Patterson, Feltigar, Orkney.

Matching Mustang at the money was his pen mate Derryharney Muncher, who helped Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh sell four bulls to average £4,252.50.

Muncher was sired by the proven easy calver Blelack Digger, while the dam is Derryharney Jazzystar. This one found a new home in Antrim with John McHenry.

Will Short, Co Tyrone, was next in the money when he sold his second-prizewinner Woodpark McBeth at 4,400gns. This 16-month-old bull is sired by the 14,000gns Goldies Usher and out of Woodpark Idele. Successful bidder of this lot was Ed Sherrard, Belfast.

After his earlier purchase of the reserve champion, pre-sale show judge Terry Coghill was again prepared to back up his judgement when he purchased the supreme champion Carrgene Muckian on behalf of Mr Featter, Westray, Orkney. This August 2016-born bull was brought out by Eugene Muckian, Silverbridge, Co Down, and was sired by Dovea AI bull Crossmolina Euro, with Major on the dam’s side.

Having claimed senior male, overall male and supreme championship in the pre-sale show, Muckian saw the hammer drop for him at 4,200gns.

Read more

Another hard days trading in Carrick

New NI commercial record price