A top price of €920 was realised at last week’s Irish Vendeen Sheep Society premier show and sale in Roscommon. Strong interest from commercial farmers for STAP-eligible rams generated an 80% clearance and an average of €497 for ram lambs (down from €540 at the same sale last year). Shearling rams averaged €427 (down from €450 last year).

In the ring, judge Tim Butcher from the Tiramisu flock in Kent tapped forward a shearling ram, Ballinascraw Neron, owned by John Lynch, Co Longford, as the supreme champion.

He later sold for €500 to Daryl Moffitt of the Stockmaster flock. In reserve was a ram lamb, Quitrent Oswald, exhibited by Cheryl O’Brien and selling for the second highest price of the sale at €700.

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The five-star ram Landmark Ogburn, exhibited by Ena Nagle, Mitchelstown, took the top price of €920. Not stopping there, Ena also won the Pat Oliver Production Cup for another five-star ram lamb, Landmark Osborne, while Gordon and Yvonne Johnston took second place with a stylish ram, Cottage O’Cuive, that sold for €580.

From a small female section, the champion ewe lamb title went to Ciaran Coughlan, Co Offaly, while Andrew Gilmore, Kingscourt, took reserve. The champion later sold for €440 while the reserve made €380.

John Lynch, Co Longford exhibited both the champion and reserve champion shearling ewes. Both ewes sold for €410.

Aberdeen Angus workshops

The Munster Aberdeen Angus Club will host a youth development day at the Westellen Aberdeen Angus Herd of John and Kate Tait, Westwood, Rostellan, Midleton, Co Cork, on Saturday 25 July starting at 11am.

This event is open to people from eight to 24 years old who have an interest in cattle. No experience is necessary and all ability levels are catered for. Young people involved in other breeds are welcome.

A team of British and Irish trainers and experts will be available to pass on their knowledge. Workshops will be provided on a range of areas including clipping demonstrations, ring craft, showmanship, stock judging, halter making, cattle grooming and show ring presentation.

More events

There will also be Youth Development Days held at the Broomstreet Aberdeen Angus Herd, Mohill, Co Leitrim, on Friday 7 August and at the Drummeer Aberdeen Angus Herd, 116 Drummeer Road, Drummeer, Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, on Saturday 8 August. For further details, contact club secretary Edward Dudley on 086-3559210.

Parthenaise open day

The Irish Parthenaise Cattle Breed Society is staging an open day on the farm of George Steacy, Wingfield, Gorey, Co Wexford, this Saturday 25 July starting at 4pm.

YMA National finals in Kilkenny

Handlers from all over the country will be gearing up for next week’s IHFA Young Members Association (YMA) National Calf and Showmanship finals.

One of the highlights of the year for the YMA, the event takes place on 28-29 July in The Hub at Kilkenny Mart. The event will feature a team from each of the clubs around the country who have already qualified at their local event. It’s believed that over 100 young people will participate over the course of the two days.

The first day will play host to a clipping competition, starting at noon, where a team of two from each club will be obliged to clip a calf within 70 minutes. This will be followed by all the handler classes where youngsters will be asked to show and present a calf in the ring. Later that evening the prestigious overall champion handler award will be announced.

On the second day, some of the top calves in the country will compete in the National Calf Championships, starting at 11am. This is an all-dairy breeds championship with Holstein, Jersey, Shorthorn and for the first time this year, Ayrshire, taking part.

The day will finish with the crowning of the 2015 national calf champion. The judge is David Gray from Scotland who himself was an active member and winner in the British equivalent of the YMA.