Organisers will be hoping that this week’s interbreed bull sale in Kilkenny on Wednesday will live up to the success of the previous two sales already held this spring.

The April sale saw notable increases in the amounts paid out for bulls across a number of the breed averages, with a top price of €4,150 given for one Friesian bull.

In the Simmental ring (at the April sale), a top price of €2,800 was taken by breeder Garrett Behan of Ballyfin, Co Laois, while the average of €2,638 was up more than €600 on the same event last year.

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Oliver Byrne, Gowran, Co Kilkenny, took the top Limousin price of €3,500 for his bull, bought by John Culleton of nearby Piltown.

The average for Limousins was €2,524, up by €354 on last year.

Active demand from dairy farmers saw the average jump by a whooping €1,026 to €2,876 for Frissian bulls when compared to the same sale last year.

Frank Gowing, Ballinakill, Co Laois, paid the top price of €4,150 for a bull exhibited by Michael Spillane, Fethard, Co Tipperary.

Meanwhile, John Bambrick, Castlewarren, Co Kilkenny, took a top bid of €3,100 in the Charolais ring from buyer, Bill Connolly, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny. The average at €2,500 was up €363 on last year.

Angus and Hereford bulls commanded a lot of interest.

A steady demand for Angus bulls generated a top price of €3,900 for breeder Henry Dudley of Thurles from buyer John Barlow, Aherlow, Co Tipperary. The average for Angus stood at €2,726, up €135 on last year.

The average for Hereford bulls almost reached the €3,000 threshold when Pat Fogarty, Carrick-on-Suir, paid a top of €4,600 for a bull exhibited by Tom Brennan of Freshford, Co Kilkenny.

Hereford bulls averaged €2,995 – up €190 on last year’s figures.

Pat Kavanagh, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, took home €2,800 twice for his two Parthenaise bulls, one of which was bought by James Bennett of Portlaoise.

It was clear that anybody who came was there to do business – 136 bulls were finished going through the ring by 3.30pm.

Of these, 105 sold (77% clearance) to an overall average of €2,702 (up €424 on the same sale last year).

At the British Limousin Society show and sale in Brecon market, a top price of 9,500gns was given for the January 2014-born bull, Wilodge Joskins, exhibited by Wilodge Limousins, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal.

The youngest bull at the sale, he is an embryo calf by Wilodge Vantastic and is out of Hazelhead Annie, making him a full brother to the noted Wilodge Fastrac.

Crowned the pre-sale show supreme champion, he comes to Ireland after being purchased by Dovea AI. Described as “very correct”, it’s believed Joskins is the first Wilodge bull to be exported to the Republic.

The reserve champion was another young bull, Dyfri Icon, exhibited by Messrs DG & MJ Edwards, Home Farm, Cilycwm, Llandovery. By Plumtree Deus, he is out of a Jockey daughter and sold for 6,100gns to JK Morgan, Sennybridge, Brecon, Powys.

Overall, 34 bulls sold to average £4,200 (€5,860) while 14 females averaged £2,464 (€3,437), for an 85% clearance. Sixteen bulls made 4,000gns or more.