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The Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society held its February bull sales over the past two weekends in Carrick-on-Shannon. A total of 120 bulls were catalogued for the sale, which covered a range of breeds. The well-publicised fodder problem in the west and northwest was one of the main concerns affecting the two days of trading. With no end to the harsh weather in sight, potential buyers remain reluctant to part with money.
The Angus breed had the highest number of entries and also secured the top price. Sean, Gary and Evelyn McKiernan secured a bid of €4,700 for their December-born Corlismore Proud Boss. Sired by TC Freedom 104 son Rawburn Boss Hogg, he goes back on a homebred Aynho Rossiter Eric cow. Having been successful in claiming the Aberdeen Angus championship in the pre-sale show under judge Aidan Moloney, Proud Boss caused quite a stir upon entering the sales ring in an otherwise tough day’s trading. Carrying five stars down the line, he sold with a calving index of 2.6% to an undisclosed buyer.
Securing the second top price of the day was Noel Fitzpatrick, Belturbet, Co Cavan, with Ernehill Nasa. This first prize-winner was sired by high-performance easy-calving bull Te Mania Berkley and out of a Rosemead Jeronny-sired dam. With a calving figure of just 1%, he sold for €3,550.
Frank and Margaret McKiernan got their two Angus bulls away at €3,500 and €3,000 respectively. Lot 66 Drumcrow Philadelphia was the higher of the two. This June 2016-born bull was sired by herd stock bull Drumcrow Joker and out of homebred dam Drumcrow Purty. Sold directly after him, his stablemate is sired by Nightingale Dunbar, while the dam is sired by Netherton Mr Brazilian.
The top of Tom Mulligan’s outfit, Clooncarne Nathan, sold for €3,100. This November 2016-born bull was sired by homebred Clooncarne Kyle, which sold at the Elite sale a few years back for €4,600.
Securing the day’s Irish Angus championship was John and Cathy Farrell, Curraghroe, Co Roscommon. Their September 2016-born bull Dillon Newton was sired by Dillon Knight Eagle Challenger and out of a Coldstream Genetic Trend bred dam. Carrying a calving index of 2.1%, he sold for €3,000.
The Irish Angus reserve championship sash was awarded to Walter Hughes for Towerhill Nigel. This 22-month-old bull is sired by Corrick Hero and sees Bohey Jasper and Drumdeevin Dancer also in the lineage. This bull traded at €2,700. Overall 38 out of the 61 Angus bulls forward sold to average €2,285.
The select number of Herefords forward saw a top of €2,200 for the day’s champion. Drumboy Joker exhibited by Margaret and Shane Kilrane came up trumps in the pre-sale show. Sired by Black Water Lad, he goes back to Meiltron Leisure on the dam’s side.
Nelson McCrabbe, Lifford, Co Donegal, sold two Herefords for €2,000. Both these bulls were two years old and sired by stock bull Grianan Marksman. Four of the six Herefords forward sold to average €2,000.
The previous week’s trading saw similar results for the Charolais and Limousin breeds. Top price that day went to the Charolais breeds reserve champion Tullaghan McGregor. This May 2016-born bull was bred and exhibited by Michael Daly, Tullaghan, Co Leitrim, and has Doonally New, Fury Action and Enfield Newlook in its lineage. With five stars on the terminal index he sold for the top figure of €3,500. Close on his heels and one step ahead in the pre-sale show was the day’s Charolais champion Coolembley Major. Bred by Martin Herity, Drumcliffe, Co Sligo, he met a trade of €3,300. Along with five stars on the page, the champion’s pedigree features Alwent Goldbar, Meillard and Mogador.
Two other bulls broke the €3,000 barrier that day. First in the money and selling for €3,200 was Hydestreet Mahongy.
This son of Lisnagre Hansome was bred by Peter Logan, Hyde Street, Mohill. Securing a price of €3,100 was Cavehill McGregor from Padraig Farrell, Athlone. This September 2016-born bull was sired by Doonally Nicefor and out of a Cavelands Adam-bred dam.
Limousins were met with a tougher trade, with the day’s champion selling for the breed’s top price of €2,600. This bull, Laheens Luke, was bred and exhibited by Cathal and Cormac Duignan, Carrick-on-Shannon. Sired by On-Dit with Netherall Epic and Mas Du Clo in the back breeding, he sold with a calving figure of 6.5%.
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