Carrick returned to action over the weekend, albeit under strict restrictions it was still positive to see. Prospective buyers were allowed to view all the bulls on offer ahead of the sale taking place and all bidding done online. Those logged in online also got to witness the bull moving in the ring with auctioneer Francis McGowan in the background.

Much like many of the online sales over the past few months, clearance rate was hit massively compared to that of a live auction. In this instance, a total of nine of the 28 bulls on offer found homes, resulting in a clearance rate of 32%. This is near on par with many of the other online sales and indeed private tender sales which have taken place.

Five stars

The Charolais breed made up the most of these nine sales, with eight selling to average €2,400. Top of these was a call of €2,900 for Cloonflower Ollie. Bred and exhibited by Irene Foley, this October 2018 born bull is a son of Cavelands Fenian with Prime Roberto and Pirate also in the breeding. Ollie boasted five stars on both the terminal and replacement indexes with a beef cow calving figure of only 4.9%.

Just behind this and securing a price of €2,800 was Theforge Pablo from Dermot O’Dowd, Boyle, Co Roscommon. This 16-month-old bull was again the cross of Cavelands Fenian on a Prime Roberto cow. Pablo carried four stars on the replacement index and five stars on the terminal with a calving figure of 6%.

Pablo carried four stars on the replacement index and five stars on the terminal with a calving figure of 6%.

Next in line was Michael Kavanagh who sold his bull Aislinne Orgi at €2,600. This was yet again another Cavelands Fenian son while the dam’s lineage this time contained Doonally New and Pirate. Born May 2018, Orgi carried five stars on the terminal index across all breeds.

At €2,500 local breeder Michael Reynolds sold Bunnymore Pepsi. This January 2019 born bull is a son of the famous Pirate while the homebred dam is out Lisnagre Hansome. Pepsi ranked four stars on the terminal index with a calving figure of 8.1%.

The second round of the May Carrick bull sales takes place this Saturday, 16 May with Angus and Hereford bulls on offer. The same restrictions and procedures will again be in place.