Commercial farmers underpinned a strong demand at the British Charolais Cattle Society's show and sale of Charolais bulls at Swatragh Livestock Mart on Friday 7 November.
It was clear commercial producers were willing to pay a premium price for the top-end bulls, as 20% of the bulls sold exceeded 9,000gns.
When all was settled, 36 out of the 52 bulls on offer traded, averaging 7,205gns (€8,625).
A packed ringside watched on as a Northern Ireland breed record of 18,000gns (€21,549) was achieved by Sandelford Viper from the fold of Gary Henderson in Bushmills, Co Antrim.
This outstanding April 2024-born bull commanded attention from everyone in attendance, as judge Mike Massie of the Elrick herd in Scotland awarded him the reserve overall champion title.
With two copies of the profit gene and a number of traits in the top 20% of the breed, he was the go-to bull for a number of pedigree and commercial enterprises in the yard.
A son of Balthayock Musketeer and the Blelack Immaculate daughter Sandelford Salas, Viper was snapped up by Butler enterprises.
Spoilt for choice
Massie was spoilt for choice for his championship sashes, as some of the best bulls in the region went in front of him.
For his overall champion, he chose Stranagone Verynice, a favorite of many on this year's summer show circuit.
Bred in Co Derry by Robert McWilliams, this May 2024-born bull came to auction having won the overall junior champion title at Balmoral in May and went on to sell for the second-highest price of 15,500gns (€18,556).
Stranagone Verynice, shown by Robert McWilliams, with judge Mike Massie and Jeremy Paynter, sold for 15,500gns. \ Willie McElroy
Sired by the herd's French-bred stock bull Stranagone Saphir out of a homebred dam by Dundas Einstein, this single Q204X carrier had an appealing calving figure of +20 and will now join the Inverlochy and Lagavaich herds in Scotland.
Drumacritten double
George Edward Nelson was next in line at 14,000gns (€16,670) with the June 2024-born Drumacritten Valentino.
Sired by the Irish-bred Noble Prince and going back to a homebred dam by Whitecliffe James, this double F94L carrier had a calving figure of +1.5 and was acquired by Eamon Cassidy.
The same vendor also received 9,000gns (€10,774) for Drumacritten Vincent, a June 2024-born son of Dovea Genetics' Knockmoyle10 Loki.
Boasting two copies of the F94L gene and a gestation length figure in the top 20% of the breed, he was knocked down to Jonathan Adams.
Grinshill Roger
Ardmachree Vangogh from Aaron Quigley hit 12,000gns (€14,366), selling to James Millar.
A son of the herd's successful stock bull Grinshill Roger and out of a homebred dam by the French powerhouse Invictus, this single Q204X carrier had an intramuscular fat index (IMF) in the top 5% of the breed.
Another son of Grinshill Roger was next best at 10,000gns (€11,971) for Fermanagh-based breeder Trevor Phair.
Born in May 2024, Brogher Vagabond is out of the Goldies Icon daughter Brogher Nadine.
Carrying a number of terminal traits in the top 20% of the breed, this single Q204X carrier was knocked down to suckler farmer John McHenry.
Read all about the sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
Commercial farmers underpinned a strong demand at the British Charolais Cattle Society's show and sale of Charolais bulls at Swatragh Livestock Mart on Friday 7 November.
It was clear commercial producers were willing to pay a premium price for the top-end bulls, as 20% of the bulls sold exceeded 9,000gns.
When all was settled, 36 out of the 52 bulls on offer traded, averaging 7,205gns (€8,625).
A packed ringside watched on as a Northern Ireland breed record of 18,000gns (€21,549) was achieved by Sandelford Viper from the fold of Gary Henderson in Bushmills, Co Antrim.
This outstanding April 2024-born bull commanded attention from everyone in attendance, as judge Mike Massie of the Elrick herd in Scotland awarded him the reserve overall champion title.
With two copies of the profit gene and a number of traits in the top 20% of the breed, he was the go-to bull for a number of pedigree and commercial enterprises in the yard.
A son of Balthayock Musketeer and the Blelack Immaculate daughter Sandelford Salas, Viper was snapped up by Butler enterprises.
Spoilt for choice
Massie was spoilt for choice for his championship sashes, as some of the best bulls in the region went in front of him.
For his overall champion, he chose Stranagone Verynice, a favorite of many on this year's summer show circuit.
Bred in Co Derry by Robert McWilliams, this May 2024-born bull came to auction having won the overall junior champion title at Balmoral in May and went on to sell for the second-highest price of 15,500gns (€18,556).
Stranagone Verynice, shown by Robert McWilliams, with judge Mike Massie and Jeremy Paynter, sold for 15,500gns. \ Willie McElroy
Sired by the herd's French-bred stock bull Stranagone Saphir out of a homebred dam by Dundas Einstein, this single Q204X carrier had an appealing calving figure of +20 and will now join the Inverlochy and Lagavaich herds in Scotland.
Drumacritten double
George Edward Nelson was next in line at 14,000gns (€16,670) with the June 2024-born Drumacritten Valentino.
Sired by the Irish-bred Noble Prince and going back to a homebred dam by Whitecliffe James, this double F94L carrier had a calving figure of +1.5 and was acquired by Eamon Cassidy.
The same vendor also received 9,000gns (€10,774) for Drumacritten Vincent, a June 2024-born son of Dovea Genetics' Knockmoyle10 Loki.
Boasting two copies of the F94L gene and a gestation length figure in the top 20% of the breed, he was knocked down to Jonathan Adams.
Grinshill Roger
Ardmachree Vangogh from Aaron Quigley hit 12,000gns (€14,366), selling to James Millar.
A son of the herd's successful stock bull Grinshill Roger and out of a homebred dam by the French powerhouse Invictus, this single Q204X carrier had an intramuscular fat index (IMF) in the top 5% of the breed.
Another son of Grinshill Roger was next best at 10,000gns (€11,971) for Fermanagh-based breeder Trevor Phair.
Born in May 2024, Brogher Vagabond is out of the Goldies Icon daughter Brogher Nadine.
Carrying a number of terminal traits in the top 20% of the breed, this single Q204X carrier was knocked down to suckler farmer John McHenry.
Read all about the sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
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