Last Saturday’s elite pedigree sale for the Irish Charolais Cattle Society was the second time the society has run a special sale for elite heifers and the strategy seems to be working.
Commenting on the reasoning behind the separate sale, breed secretary Nevan McKiernan said: “We felt the heifers weren’t getting fair play at the Christmas Cracker sale and we knew there were plenty of top-quality heifers out there to have a sale on their own.”
McKiernan added: “By keeping the standard of quality very high and pre-inspecting animals, it has meant purchasers can be assured of top-quality animals with no faults.”
Saturday’s sale certainly didn’t disappoint, with a top call of €7,500 going to John and James Dunne, Belturbet, Co Cavan, for their October 2017-born heifer Kilduff Nikita ET, bred by CF52 and out of a Meillard cow. Nikita has a two-star replacement index of €20 and a terminal index of €169. She had been selected as the day’s reserve junior champion in the morning’s pre-sale show.
After back and forth bidding, she was eventually knocked down to Northern Ireland-based breeders Nigel and Gail Matchett, Portadown, Co Armagh.
Senior champion Summervilla Niki, with Ciaran O’Donnell and judge Chris Curry. \ Tricia Kennedy
The overall senior champion came from Tony and Ciaran O’Donnell, Ballysundriven, Elphin, Co Roscommon, for their April 2017-born heifer Summervilla Nikita.
Sired by Cavelands Fenian and out of a Fury Action cow, Nikita has a four-star replacement index of €75 and a terminal index of €148.
Once again, Nigel and Gail Matchett were ready buyers and secured Nikita with a €7,000 bid. The Matchetts run the well-known Birches pedigree herd in Northern Ireland and export a large number of cattle to the UK every year.
Junior champion Tullaghan Nora ET, with Michael and Cathal Daly and judge Chris Curry. \ Tricia Kennedy
British-based judge Chris Curry tapped out Tulaghan Nova ET from Michael Daniel Daly, Wardhouse, Tullaghan, Co Leitrim, as his junior champion.
This September 2017-born heifer was by Domino and out of an Organdi cow. She has a three-star replacement index of €50 and a terminal index of €169.
She knocked down at €6,800 to the Clare-based breeder Gerry Lynch for his Knockmoyle pedigree Charolais herd in Co Clare.
John O’Grady from Glenamaddy, Co Galway, realised €5,100 for the final of the championship lots, selling the reserve senior champion for €5,100. Glenree Matilda ET is an August 2016-born heifer, which is French-bred on both sides.
Sired by Royal Excellent and out of dam Royal Adeline, Matilda was knocked down to Damian Maher, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
Well-known breeder Gerry O’Keeffe saw his top lot Grangewood North knocked down for €4,700.
This April 2017-born heifer is a daughter of the popular Pirate, while the dam’s sire is the proven Texan Gie. North lived up to her name and headed North with Clare Ferris to Co Down.
Ciaran Daly from Co Leitrim sold his Tawny Mermaid for €4,500. Mermaid’s pedigree is the matching of the much in demand Pirate crossed with Doonally New.
This one will now join Matthew Doonaun in Tulla, Co Clare.
The first of three lots to hit the €4,000 mark was Elphin breeder Gerard Beirne’s Tullyloyd Nora. This January 2017-born daughter of Cavelands Fenian sold with five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices. Matching Nora at the money was Fieldview Natalie from David Erskine, Co Monaghan.
Sired by the homebred Fieldview Jethro, the stylish 19-month-old daughter was secured by Kevin Mc Grath from Boyle, Co Roscommon.
Reserve senior champion Glenree Matilda ET for John O’Grady. \ Tricia Kennedy
Last to hit the €4,000 mark was the first-prizewinner Limkiln Nicole ET from Richard Hackett, Co Clare.
Sired by Panama, this one goes back on a Plexus-bred dam and again ticked all the boxes for the aforementioned purchasers Nigel and Gail Matchett.
Overall, the sale will be hailed by the society as a great success. In a very difficult climate, where the majority of pedigree sales are seeing massive falls in clearance rates, the elite Charolais sale held its own, with 75% of the heifers on offer finding new homes.
While the average was back by €500 on the inaugural sale, that particular sale was of a very high standard, with a few exceptional prices helping to lift the overall average.
Charolais breeders can look upon it very favourably, with the breed witnessing a good resurgence over the past 12 months.
Last Saturday’s elite pedigree sale for the Irish Charolais Cattle Society was the second time the society has run a special sale for elite heifers and the strategy seems to be working.
Commenting on the reasoning behind the separate sale, breed secretary Nevan McKiernan said: “We felt the heifers weren’t getting fair play at the Christmas Cracker sale and we knew there were plenty of top-quality heifers out there to have a sale on their own.”
McKiernan added: “By keeping the standard of quality very high and pre-inspecting animals, it has meant purchasers can be assured of top-quality animals with no faults.”
Saturday’s sale certainly didn’t disappoint, with a top call of €7,500 going to John and James Dunne, Belturbet, Co Cavan, for their October 2017-born heifer Kilduff Nikita ET, bred by CF52 and out of a Meillard cow. Nikita has a two-star replacement index of €20 and a terminal index of €169. She had been selected as the day’s reserve junior champion in the morning’s pre-sale show.
After back and forth bidding, she was eventually knocked down to Northern Ireland-based breeders Nigel and Gail Matchett, Portadown, Co Armagh.
Senior champion Summervilla Niki, with Ciaran O’Donnell and judge Chris Curry. \ Tricia Kennedy
The overall senior champion came from Tony and Ciaran O’Donnell, Ballysundriven, Elphin, Co Roscommon, for their April 2017-born heifer Summervilla Nikita.
Sired by Cavelands Fenian and out of a Fury Action cow, Nikita has a four-star replacement index of €75 and a terminal index of €148.
Once again, Nigel and Gail Matchett were ready buyers and secured Nikita with a €7,000 bid. The Matchetts run the well-known Birches pedigree herd in Northern Ireland and export a large number of cattle to the UK every year.
Junior champion Tullaghan Nora ET, with Michael and Cathal Daly and judge Chris Curry. \ Tricia Kennedy
British-based judge Chris Curry tapped out Tulaghan Nova ET from Michael Daniel Daly, Wardhouse, Tullaghan, Co Leitrim, as his junior champion.
This September 2017-born heifer was by Domino and out of an Organdi cow. She has a three-star replacement index of €50 and a terminal index of €169.
She knocked down at €6,800 to the Clare-based breeder Gerry Lynch for his Knockmoyle pedigree Charolais herd in Co Clare.
John O’Grady from Glenamaddy, Co Galway, realised €5,100 for the final of the championship lots, selling the reserve senior champion for €5,100. Glenree Matilda ET is an August 2016-born heifer, which is French-bred on both sides.
Sired by Royal Excellent and out of dam Royal Adeline, Matilda was knocked down to Damian Maher, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
Well-known breeder Gerry O’Keeffe saw his top lot Grangewood North knocked down for €4,700.
This April 2017-born heifer is a daughter of the popular Pirate, while the dam’s sire is the proven Texan Gie. North lived up to her name and headed North with Clare Ferris to Co Down.
Ciaran Daly from Co Leitrim sold his Tawny Mermaid for €4,500. Mermaid’s pedigree is the matching of the much in demand Pirate crossed with Doonally New.
This one will now join Matthew Doonaun in Tulla, Co Clare.
The first of three lots to hit the €4,000 mark was Elphin breeder Gerard Beirne’s Tullyloyd Nora. This January 2017-born daughter of Cavelands Fenian sold with five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices. Matching Nora at the money was Fieldview Natalie from David Erskine, Co Monaghan.
Sired by the homebred Fieldview Jethro, the stylish 19-month-old daughter was secured by Kevin Mc Grath from Boyle, Co Roscommon.
Reserve senior champion Glenree Matilda ET for John O’Grady. \ Tricia Kennedy
Last to hit the €4,000 mark was the first-prizewinner Limkiln Nicole ET from Richard Hackett, Co Clare.
Sired by Panama, this one goes back on a Plexus-bred dam and again ticked all the boxes for the aforementioned purchasers Nigel and Gail Matchett.
Overall, the sale will be hailed by the society as a great success. In a very difficult climate, where the majority of pedigree sales are seeing massive falls in clearance rates, the elite Charolais sale held its own, with 75% of the heifers on offer finding new homes.
While the average was back by €500 on the inaugural sale, that particular sale was of a very high standard, with a few exceptional prices helping to lift the overall average.
Charolais breeders can look upon it very favourably, with the breed witnessing a good resurgence over the past 12 months.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: