The last Simmental sale of the season took place at Roscommon last Friday evening, which saw a buoyant trade for the large selection of commercial breeding heifers that were on offer.
In the pedigree ring, just 12 bulls were offered for sale from the 17 that were catalogued as a number of animals were sold privately prior to Friday evening’s sale.
Topping the bull section at €6,600 was the male champion Newcastle Granger exhibited by Frank Kelly, Farthingstown, Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath.
At just 13 months of age, the champion is a Curaheen Vio son out of the Milton Lord Tiffany dam, Clonfad Cutie Pie. He was bought by Tom Bruton, Dunboyne, Co Meath, for his Cullendragh Simmental herd.
Not stopping there, Tom also bought the reserve champion, Fearna Goliath, exhibited by the Neenan Brothers Ballyhaunis, for €3,000. Born in January 2015, he is a Raceview King son and is out of the Herkules dam, Fearna Aspen.
Selling at €2,800 for Ciaran Clarke, Strokestown, was Lisarden Garfield. Sired by Cloondroon Calling and out of a Kilbride Farm Newry dam, Clonguish Apple, this February 2015-born bull went to a Co Cavan purchaser.
Overall, there was a 60% clearance of bulls with an average price of €2,900.
Commercial heifers
Meanwhile, a flying trade for commercial breeding heifers saw a 100% clearance of the 63 heifers that went through the ring.
All heifers were catalogued with a replacement value and clearly some customers were buying to meet the requirements of the BDGP scheme.
The sale attracted a lot of repeat buyers who attend the sale every year to secure their suckler replacements.
On the day, prices of up to €3.90/kg were paid for maiden heifers but the general run was from €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg.
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