This year marked the 10th year of the Borderway Agri Expo, held on Friday 28 October, which played host to over 900 head of livestock. Picking up the overall Borderway Agri-Expo 2016 champion title was J-Lo. This December 2014-born heifer was bought by the group of Gareth Corrie, Johnny Neal and Charles Bever, who together make up JCB Commercials, based at Newtownards, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Sired by a Limousin and out of a Limousin-cross-Belgian Blue dam, the heifer has already picked up a number of top accolades, including commercial champion at the Royal Highland and runner-up interbreed commercial at Balmoral.

Speaking afterwards, Gareth said: “This is almost unbelievable and we are all over the moon to be heading back to Ireland tonight with such an accolade.”

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Reserve Champion was 17 month old heifer Honey-Dime, a Charolais X Limousin, owned by Wilson Peters of Cuilt Farm House, Monzie, Perthshire and bred by Carwood of Elgin.

Ladies-first Charollais ewe production sale

A major production sale of pedigree Charollais in-lamb ewes and ewes’ lambs is to take place on 5 November in Blessington Mart, which involves some of Ireland’s top flocks.

The sale starts at 12.30pm and sees some 135 head from the Ballyhibben, Ardcath, Bloomfield and Knockcroghery flocks go under the hammer. The bloodlines of these ewes have bred numerous champions and sale-toppers at most major events.

This will be followed by the dispersal sale of Powers Suffolk’s HCP and a guest consignment from Oliver Dean’s Mountfort Flock.

Munster Angus branch relaunches autumn sale

The Irish Angus Munster branch has relaunched its autumn sale at Killmallock Mart after a break of a number of years. Taking place on the evening of Friday 11 November, the sale sees a bunch of 25 heifers and six bulls go under the hammer. There will be a mix of haltered and unhaltered animals present on the day, with the show for the haltered animals to take place at 5pm followed by the sale at 7pm.

Clearance drops to 40% at Carrick October sales

While over 100 animals were catalogued for the recent all-breeds autumn sale in Carrick-on-Shannon, trade was brief, with a clearance rate of only 40% witnessed by the depleted crowd. Topping trade on the day at €2,800 was Creagh Pete R098, an Angus bull bred by David Jones, Kenagh, Longford. Prices remained well back throughout the day, with many bulls selling for as little as €1,500. The female side was just as disappointing, with heifers peaking at €2,000.