Both clearance rate and average sale price rose substantially on previous years at the first of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society’s premier spring sales, held on bank holiday Monday.

A massive 83% of bulls forward for sale met trade. This high clearance rate was accompanied by an average sale price of €3,972, the highest at this sale since 2013.

Quality bulls

Any fears over a negative trade held before the sale were dispelled early on, as the quality of bulls on offer, plus the presence of a number of key overseas buyers meant that the sale took off from the get-go.

This resulted in 23 of the 64 bulls sold on the day making €4,000 or more, of which nine made €5,000 or more.

Perhaps the best example of how good the trade was is if we compare this with last year, when only 11 bulls hit that €4,000 or more mark. This sensational trade will give great reassurance to breeders that suckler and beef farmers still have confidence in their sector.

It is also worth noting a total of 19 of the 64 bulls sold were secured by NI or mainland UK buyers. While the breed generally has good export connections, this increased number can be associated with the uncertainty surrounding the looming Brexit date.

Ardlea Elite dominates Limousin show and sale

Topping this exceptional day in the sales ring, and indeed in the show ring the previous night, was the Ardlea Elite Limousin herd owned by the Tynan family based in Mountrath, Co Laois.

Junior champion and top-priced animal Ardlea Nemo, which sold for €9,500. \ Alfie Shaw.

In the pre-sale show under judge Michael Cursiter, the herd claimed the overall senior and overall junior championships, as well as the reserve senior championship.

These three champions were all sons of the herd’s show cow Whitehall Iris, which claimed the senior female championship at the society’s national show in Tullamore last year.

The herd also had another embryo-born calf from this Haltcliffe Dancer daughter and together her four offspring went to sell for an average price of €7,475.

Leading the way and claiming the overall top price of the day was the junior champion Ardlea Nemo, which was knocked down by auctioneer George Candler at a price of €9,500.

Nemo is well used to the show ring, having been shown alongside his dam at a number of shows in 2018.

He also secured a red rosette in his own class at the national show last year.

Sired by Killmactransa Karson, Nemo carries five stars on the terminal index and was the pick of Mr John Kingham.

Securing the senior championship and the second-top price was his half-brother Elite Monteque ET, which sold for €9,000.

Senior champion Elite Monteque ET which sold for €9,000. \ Alfie Shaw

Sire this time was Lodge Hamlet, making him a full brother to Elite Manilla ET, which was also a first-prizewinner in Tullamore.

After back and forth bidding, he was eventually secured by UK buyer Mrs Melanie Alford for her Foxhillfarm herd. This was one of 18 bulls exported to the North and UK on the day.

The reserve senior champion went to Elite Messi ET. This September 2018-born bull is a full brother to the overall senior champion and met his reserve at €6,200. Five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices, the shapely bull was knocked down to William Shennan.

The last of the Iris progeny was Elite Magic ET, which sold for €5,200. Magic is another son of Lodge Hamlet, making him a full brother to the overall and reserve senior champions.

Also boasting five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices, he was secured for export by Mr Andrew Eweing.

The only other championship up for grabs was the reserve junior, which was secured by Kelly Stephenson and PJ McGrath with Glenford Magnum ET.

This Netherall Jackpot son’s pedigree also includes Grahams Samson and Espoir. A calving index of nearly 12% deterred a lot of buyers and Magnum, a shapely bull nonetheless, was eventually knocked down at €3,400.

Third-top price of the day went to Lisfort Maradona ET, which was knocked down at €7,600.

Lisfort Maradonna ET which sold for €7,600. \ Alfie Shaw

Bred and exhibited by Finbarr Murphy, Clones, Co Monaghan, the September 2017-born bull carries five stars on the terminal index and four stars on the replacement.

Sired by Ampertaine Gigolo, Maradona’s dam is the cross of Wilodge Cerberus and the prolific Drummin Cliona. A second-prizewinner in the pre-sale show, he was knocked down to Peter Gibson.

Next in the money were the October premier sale high-sellers John and Karol Connell. They sold their second-prizewinning bull Carrickmore Mickeyfinn ET for €7,100 to the Claffey family for their Ballykilroe herd.

Carrickmore Mickeyfinn ET which sold for €7,100. \ Alfie Shaw

Sired by Ampertaine Foreman, he is out of Limousin congress champion Baileys Ice Princess, making him a full brother to the €38,000 Carrickmore Maximus.

Next in line was one of the last lots through the ring, Lanmore Neptune from Richard and TJ Duffy, Westport, Co Mayo.

This five-star Gamin son is out of Donnelly Gina, a Haltcliffe Dancer daughter whose lineage also includes Lino.

The stylish January 2018-born calf was also shown successfully last summer.

Back to the senior bulls and Galway-based Seamus Keady secured a bid of €5,100 for Shanna Magic ET.

Born September 2017, this stylish bull’s pedigree included Sympa, Wilodge Cerberus and Dauphin. With five stars on the terminal index and four on the replacement, he was knocked down to Peter Gibson.

Hitting the €5,000 mark was Killcastle Marvel ET from Alan and Paul Kelly, Moate, Co Westmeath.

Killcastle Marvel ET which sold for €5,000. \ Alfie Shaw

This five-star terminal bull is sired by Ampertaine Elgin and out of the best female line in the Killcastle herd. Dam of Marvel is Killcastle Gina Monique, which has bred numerous champions and comes from the same line as bulls which have sold to €12,500. Securing the first-prizewinner was Declan McKenna.

Richard O’Beirne got the top of his lots away at €4,800 for Millburn Mac Murphy. This son of Cavelands Jolly also combines Huntershall Gladiator and Rocky in the pedigree.

With five stars on the terminal index and with a calving figure of 6.8%, he was knocked down to Albert Stanley.

Three bulls hit the €4,600 mark. First at the money was well-known breeder Eddie lynch with Ernevalley Miley ET.

This direct son of Sympa is out of UK-bred cow Sarkley Gertrude, which is the cross of Malibu on a Ronick Luke cow. With five stars on the terminal index, he was knocked down to Thomas Swaine.

Matching him at the money was Brendan Curtain with Corcamore Maverick.

This son of Plumtree Fantastic is out of Goldies Terence daughter Corcamore Fay. Five stars down the line and a calving index of only 4.6% were a great help when he entered the ring, with the eventual purchaser being Joe Deacon.

Last at the money was Ahey Bridge Farms Limited’s October 2017-born Mount Scott Major ET.

This son of Ampertaine Foreman is out of Mount Scott Eileen, which sold for €8,000 at the herd dispersal last year. With five stars on most traits, he was the pick of Martin McGann.