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Having been postponed for a week due to Storm Emma, the rescheduled Irish Limousin Cattle Society’s March premier sale took place in Roscrea last Sunday and Monday.
This rescheduling brought a number of concerns regarding attendance, particularly for overseas buyers who would usually pay a number of high-end prices at each of the breed’s premier sales.
While crowds could be described as back on previous years, overseas buyers were still highly active, with 15 exported on the day.
The sale saw 106 bulls catalogued, which is back significantly on the same sale last year. Adding to this, a number failing to pass inspection and another few drop-outs saw the final number of bulls on offer drop to 64.
This number had a big impact on how the sale played out. While a similar clearance and average was seen to the corresponding sale in 2017, it was the lower number of bulls forward and a small number of high prices which helped maintain this stat.
If we look at it in bull numbers, while the average was only €30 back at €3,720, 24 fewer bulls were sold on the year. That being said, trade at the premier sale can be described as better than most, given the effect the fodder shortage and prolonged winter seems to be having on other pedigree breed sales.
The showing end took place on the Sunday evening preceding the sale, with judge David Thomlinson of the Beeches herd taking centre stage.
Junior champion and top-priced bull Millburn Luquacious which sold for €13,800. \ Alfie Shaw
His awarding of the junior championship proved a precursor for the sale, where Richard O’Beirne’s Millburn Luquacious ET stole the show when he sold for the sale’s top price of €13,800.
This bull had been ticked off on a number of spectators’ catalogues pre-sale, combining show-shopping looks with a proven pedigree.
Luquacious is a son of the renowned Limousin bull Wilodge Vantastic and is out of Millburn Bobby Dazzler, a daughter of Mas Du Clo who was champion at the Irish Beef Expo a number of years ago.
With five stars on the terminal index, the junior champion heads across the water to R & K Davidson of Corsairtly farm in Banffshire.
Next in line and securing a price tag of €8,300 was September 2016-born bull Keltic Londolozi. Bred and exhibited by Teleri Thomas, Enfield, Co Meath, this stylish bull is out of Progressive Genetics’ bull Keltic Handsome, which Teleri also bred. A heifer’s calf, this bull carries five stars on almost all traits. Securing Londolozi was Orkney Island’s Laga Farms Ltd.
Adding to an already special day, Richard O’Beirne was back in the money when he sold his Millburn Letterman for €5,100. This bull was reserve senior champion in the pre-sale show and ticked a number of boxes for a lot of breeders.
Sired by Dovea bull Wilodge Joskins, Letterman’s dam line again features Mas Du Clo, as well as Highlander. With five stars across all the terminal traits, the muscly September-born bull was secured by Anthony Quinn from Co Kildare.
The two remaining championship winners secured bids of €5,000. First up was the senior champion Ardlea Lordship ET from Dan Tynan, Mountrath, Co Laois.
Lordship is sired by herd stock bull Craigatoke Jack, who was purchased for 17,000gns in Carlisle in 2015. Dam of the senior champion is Ampertaine Foreman daughter Elite Jessica ET. Acquiring the champion for his pedigree Fairgreen herd was Tom O’Reilly, Co Armagh.
The last of the championships to be awarded was the reserve junior, which went the way of Kevin and Kieran Treanor’s Clontown Loni.
Sired by old favourite Wilodge Cerberus, the dam’s breeding sees an Ampertaine Elgin-Rocky cross. This bull is no stranger to the show ring, having claimed first prize at Tullamore Show, as well as champion and reserve champion at several shows. Carrying five stars on the terminal index, he was secured by Walter Wright for his Monkeypuzzle herd in the Scottish Borders at €5,000.
Cavelands Lord was next in line when he sold for €4,800. This stylish young bull was sired by outcross bull Hamac, which the Irish Limousin Society imported semen off. Dam is Cavelands Irene, who features Ronick Hawk and Mas Du Clo in the breeding. Again going across the water to Scotland, this one was secured by K Stewart and Sons for their Greenhaugh herd in Aberdeenshire.
Derek Russell from Drogheda saw his entry Townleyhall Lion King secure a blue rosette before selling for €4,350.
Lion King is a son of the herd’s stock sire and national male champion in 2013 and 2014 Mullary Intrepid.
Dam behind Lion King is Townleyhall Important, a Fieldson Alfy daughter. Securing the second-prizewinner was John McSorley and Sons, Omagh, Co Tyrone, who purchased Lion King for their Clougherney herd.
The oldest bull catalogued was the next in the money, selling for €4,200. Aloor Lunt from the herd of Patsy Creighton, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, was born April 2016 and was sired by Fieldson Alfy.
Having secured first prize in the pre-sale show, Launt was acquired by Mike and Helen Kissane, Cahirciveen, Co Kerry. The purchase price for first-prizewinning Lunt was €4,200.
Ampertaine Gigolo featured in the breeding for the next top-priced bull Toher Leo. Bred by Martin Costigan, Portlaoise, Leo carries five stars on a number of traits and sold for €4,100. Securing Leo was Roscommon native Martin Kenny.
Finishing off a very good day for Richard O’Beirne was his third-prizewinner Millburn Landmark ET. This embryo-born calf is son of Wilodge Cerberus and out of an Imperial daughter Vern Blossom. This one sold for €4,000 to Mountrath farmer Brendan Delaney.
Matching him at the money was Finboy Lynx ET from Tom Harney, Moneygall, Co Offaly. This first-prizewinner is sired by Wilodge Joskins and carries five stars on a number of traits. He was acquired by multi-purchaser Owain Llyr from north Wales.
Speaking after the sale, society secretary Paul Sykes said: “We would like to convey our gratitude to our breeders and customers for your understanding and patience last week, as, in the interest of safety, it was imperative to reschedule the sale and hold it a week later.”
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