The Portaun and Lisduff Angus herds are all set for their first production sale which is due to take place on Friday 20 October at Roscrea Mart. This is the first sale of the two herds, which includes 35 black Angus females, three red Angus and two select young bulls.

The Portauns herd, run by John and Michael Lynch, has achieved a number of highs over the past number of years, including selling bulls to AI centres and achieving championships at both Munster and all-Ireland sales.

The Lisduff herd of Leo and James McEnroe has also hit the highs. While the herd no longer shows, it has made a very strong name for itself with the bull sale it hosts every year in Thurles, where 35 of the herd’s top young bulls are sold. All animals going to the sale will have been export-tested, genotyped and both sellers are members of ICBF’s whole herd performance recording programme. The herds also run rigorous herd health programmes to AI centre standard.

Speaking ahead of the sale, John Lynch said: “This sale offers breeders a unique opportunity to acquire top-class breeding stock from two established herds that are striving to produce top-end cattle for today’s markets.

“Following on from previous sales, customer satisfaction is top priority for us.”

In the run-up to the sale, both herds are hosting open evenings on-farm to view cattle. The Portauns open evening will take place on Friday 13 October from 7pm to 9pm, while the Lisduff will take place on Saturday 14 October from 3pm to 5pm.

Being held in conjunction with the Portauns open evening, the Irish Angus Cattle Society will host a pedigree herd management workshop and stock judging final in conjunction with its youth development programme. This programme caters for all age groups and will cover topics such as grooming and show preparation, animal nutrition and feed management, handling, sire selection and AI and open stock judging.

Details can be got from John on 087-660 5506 or Leo on 086-638 4072.

Change of location for Aberdeen calf show

The 2017 National Aberdeen-Angus Calf Show will take place this Saturday 14 October at the new venue of Carrick-On-Shannon Mart.

Judging will take place at 10.30am, with two young handler classes and 10 individual calf classes, as well as two overall calf championships and total prize money in excess of €4,000 up for grabs on the day.

For the first time in its history, calves from Northern Ireland have been confirmed to attend, making it the only calf show in the country to attract entries from both sides of the border.

As well as the first-time Northern Irish exhibits, several of the regular winners from the Irish summer show circuit will be in attendance and it promises to be a spectacular showcase of the very best Aberdeen Angus youngstock in the country.