While breeds such as Hereford, Belgian Blue and Shorthorn may have held sales across the water, the first of the Irish society sales takes place this Saturday.

The Irish Hereford Breed Society holds its premier sale over the weekend with a catalogue of 58 bulls and 25 females forward. Also on the day, the Irish Salers Cattle Society will host a commercial and pedigree heifer sale in Gort.

Not stopping there, the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society hosts its multi-breed pedigree autumn sale in Carrick-on-Shannon. The sale will include 72 lots of bulls and heifers from the Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental and Charolais breeds.

The weekend will also play host to two of the UK’s biggest autumn sales. The British Limousin Cattle Society hosts its annual premier autumn sale in Carlisle this Friday and Saturday. With 221 lots, the sale usually stands as a good indicator for trade for the Irish premier sale, which this year takes place on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 October in Roscrea.

Stirling bull sales

Later on this weekend, the Stirling bull sales in Scotland begin on Sunday. This three-day event is usually the largest sale, with 771 bulls and females across eight breeds.

This bumper entry will feature three dispersal sales of highly respected herds, two Angus and one Simmental.

The Stirling bull sales in Scotland begin on Sunday. This three-day event is usually the largest sale, with 771 bulls and females across eight breeds.

First in the ring will be the Moncur Aberdeen Angus herd, with 50 lots from GC Taylor (Farms) Ltd. This Perthshire-based herd, founded in 1992 by the late Mark Taylor, has a good history of selling at both Stirling and Perth and has seen success in both the sale and show rings, as well as significant export trade with females and bulls.

Rounding up the Aberdeen Angus sales will be the dispersal of the Ellon-based Schivas herd from Schivas Estates. With 101 lots, the sale is one of the largest staged by United Auctions at the Stirling bull sales in recent years. The herd has been run on a commercial basis since it was established in 2001.

The Simmental female sale on Tuesday morning includes the dispersal of the renowned Mendick herd, totalling 38 lots. This long-established herd is run by the Dykes family at South Slipperfield, West Linton.

Bank holiday weekend

The October bank holiday weekend is also a busy one. Along with the aforementioned Limousin premier, the Aubrac and Belgian Blue breeds also host premier sales.

For all the pedigree news updates, keep an eye on www.farmersjournal.ie/pedigree.