Saturday's premier Hereford heifer sale in Golden Vale Mart, Tullamore, concluded business for 2025 for the Irish Hereford Breed Society.
Cataloged for the show and sale were 34 pre-inspected heifers, of which 33 presented for sale.
Demand was up and down, as 21 heifers traded on the day, with auctioneer Eamonn Gaffney reporting a sale average of €3,890.
There were buyers in the market for the quality lots, as Glaslough Crystal 2 HH from Nigel Heatrick romped her way to €5,900, selling to a breeder from Co Waterford.
A full-horned heifer, Crystal is a daughter of Cill Cormaic Quinlan out of a homebred dam by Ballyaville Ger.
Despite being low on indexes, this July 2024-born heifer picked up a second-prize ticket in the pre-sale show and attracted significant interest in the sale ring.
Glaslough success
It proved a wonderful day's trading for Nigel, as he parted company with his second offering Glaslough Candice HH at €5,000.
A third-prizewinner in her class, this full-horned Glaslough Stan daughter is out of a Cill Cormaic Quinlan-bred dam.
Once again, stars were scarce, but quality was in abundance, as customers dug deep, with Candice eventually falling to pedigree breeder David Jones from Co Longford.
Overall champion Grianan Cooperobin C033 HH shown by Anselm and Tom Fitzgerald with judge Jack Wilson sold for €5,000. \ Shanon Kinahan
Jack Wilson from Northern Ireland had the tough task of sorting through the pre-sale classes.
The Lisrace man awarded the supreme champion honors to Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald's Grianan Cooperobin C033 HH, a full-horned daughter of Pulham Powerhouse.
Taking her back to Co Cork to join his pedigree herd at €5,000 was Con McCarthy.
Carrying above-average breed calving figures and a three-star replacement index of €96, indexes were put to one side, as once again buyers chose quality.
Horned heifers
Full-horned heifers were definitely at a premium, as Cork breeder Eugene Lynch received €5,000 for Droumdaniel Mel Bella 175 HH.
A daughter of Balleen Powerplay HH going back to Auckvale Stroll On, this March 2024-born heifer displayed a four-star replacement index of €108, as well as below-average breed calving figures. Snapping her up was Cavan breeder John Donoghue.
The second-prizewinner Droumdaniel Mel Bella 175 HH sold for €5,000. \ Shannon Kinahan
The first-prizewinner Athgreine Sally 297 was next best at €4,600, finding a new abode in Co Clare with Albert Murphy.
A daughter of the popular AI sire Allowdale Rory 896, this 26-month-old in-calf heifer displayed a two-star replacement index of €69.
Westmeath breeder Padraig Farrell went away with the reserve championship sash and a price tag of €3,800 for Cave Hill Dolly HH.
Born in August 2024, this Pulham Powerhouse daughter offered buyers some impressive terminal numbers, packing a carcase weight figure of +11.3kg. Having the final call on Dolly was Patrick O'Neill from Co Kilkenny.
Read all about Saturday's sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
Saturday's premier Hereford heifer sale in Golden Vale Mart, Tullamore, concluded business for 2025 for the Irish Hereford Breed Society.
Cataloged for the show and sale were 34 pre-inspected heifers, of which 33 presented for sale.
Demand was up and down, as 21 heifers traded on the day, with auctioneer Eamonn Gaffney reporting a sale average of €3,890.
There were buyers in the market for the quality lots, as Glaslough Crystal 2 HH from Nigel Heatrick romped her way to €5,900, selling to a breeder from Co Waterford.
A full-horned heifer, Crystal is a daughter of Cill Cormaic Quinlan out of a homebred dam by Ballyaville Ger.
Despite being low on indexes, this July 2024-born heifer picked up a second-prize ticket in the pre-sale show and attracted significant interest in the sale ring.
Glaslough success
It proved a wonderful day's trading for Nigel, as he parted company with his second offering Glaslough Candice HH at €5,000.
A third-prizewinner in her class, this full-horned Glaslough Stan daughter is out of a Cill Cormaic Quinlan-bred dam.
Once again, stars were scarce, but quality was in abundance, as customers dug deep, with Candice eventually falling to pedigree breeder David Jones from Co Longford.
Overall champion Grianan Cooperobin C033 HH shown by Anselm and Tom Fitzgerald with judge Jack Wilson sold for €5,000. \ Shanon Kinahan
Jack Wilson from Northern Ireland had the tough task of sorting through the pre-sale classes.
The Lisrace man awarded the supreme champion honors to Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald's Grianan Cooperobin C033 HH, a full-horned daughter of Pulham Powerhouse.
Taking her back to Co Cork to join his pedigree herd at €5,000 was Con McCarthy.
Carrying above-average breed calving figures and a three-star replacement index of €96, indexes were put to one side, as once again buyers chose quality.
Horned heifers
Full-horned heifers were definitely at a premium, as Cork breeder Eugene Lynch received €5,000 for Droumdaniel Mel Bella 175 HH.
A daughter of Balleen Powerplay HH going back to Auckvale Stroll On, this March 2024-born heifer displayed a four-star replacement index of €108, as well as below-average breed calving figures. Snapping her up was Cavan breeder John Donoghue.
The second-prizewinner Droumdaniel Mel Bella 175 HH sold for €5,000. \ Shannon Kinahan
The first-prizewinner Athgreine Sally 297 was next best at €4,600, finding a new abode in Co Clare with Albert Murphy.
A daughter of the popular AI sire Allowdale Rory 896, this 26-month-old in-calf heifer displayed a two-star replacement index of €69.
Westmeath breeder Padraig Farrell went away with the reserve championship sash and a price tag of €3,800 for Cave Hill Dolly HH.
Born in August 2024, this Pulham Powerhouse daughter offered buyers some impressive terminal numbers, packing a carcase weight figure of +11.3kg. Having the final call on Dolly was Patrick O'Neill from Co Kilkenny.
Read all about Saturday's sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
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