The tough autumn pedigree sale trend continued at the Irish Simmental Cattle Society’s premier sale in Roscommon over the weekend.
This trend has been seen across most of the major breeds which have already held their premier sales. Confidence in beef remains an issue across all sales, with potential buyers unwilling to part with substantial sums in the current climate. This, coupled with an increase in the number of bulls on offer at most sales, has led to a drop in clearance and generally a drop in average price.
At the Simmental premier, the male clearance rate dropped to 50%. Not only that, the average price paid for bulls dropped by a staggering €1,400.
Top-priced animal and weanling heifer champion Lissadell Just The One ET which sold for €9,100. \ Alfie Shaw
While the 2017 sale was particularly impressive trade-wise, reaching a record average, this year still stands as a five-year low. Overall, 22 bulls sold, seven fewer than the previous year, to settle at an average of €2,525.
As mentioned, perhaps the biggest difference on previous years was buyers’ willingness to invest heavily in the acquisition of their bull of choice, instead settling for their second or even third choice at a lower price. It was the lack of these high sellers which contributed most to the drop in average. Last year saw the male trade peak at €9,400, with five bulls passing the €5,000 mark. This year was a different story, with the top male price of €4,100 hit twice and the next best after that a price of €3,300.
Despite the tough male trade, pedigree breeders were still willing to invest in the top female lots. The few top prices achieved were enough to boost the female average ahead of that of their male comrades.
However, this average was still nicely back on the year. The female average dropped to €2,705, back €800 on the year. It was the first time since 2014 that the female average has dropped below €3,000. Clearance rate also stands at a five-year low, but is still respectable, with 80% of those forward finding new homes.
Minor highs
However, there were some minor highs. For instance, the weanling heifer champion Lissadell Just The One ET sold for €9,100. This stylish young heifer bred by Kieran and Paul Mullarkey, Ballinfull, Co Sligo, placed top of her class at this year’s national championships in Tullamore, at the Connacht finals in Ballinrobe along with being placed champion at numerous other shows throughout the summer. Sired by three-time Balmoral champion Dermotstown Delboy, Just The One is out of Curaheen Tyson daughter Cladymore Edith.
A number of buyers waited eagerly for the red and white heifer to enter the ring, with bids quickly rising until auctioneer Denis Barrett knocked her down to Eoin McGovern at a price of €9,100. This topped a highly successful day for the Mullarkey outfit which also claimed the junior and reserve junior male championship titles.
Selective buying continued throughout the sale, with only the cream of the crop achieving the best prices. Including the high seller, the five individual heifer championship winners sold to average €5,840.
Senior heifer champion Rathlee Jessica sold for €5,100. \ Alfie Shaw
First of the female champions through the ring and securing the second top price of the day was Rathlee Jessica from Gerry Lenehan, Easkey, Co Sligo. Awarded senior heifer champion in the pre-sale show under judge David Donnelly, Jessica was secured by Joe Kilkenny, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, for €5,100. This January 2017 born heifer is sired by well-known AI bull Glebefarm Tyson while the dam Wanda also carries the Glebefarm prefix.
Kickhams Kassy, which sold for €5,000, pictured with breeders Michael and Erin Keating. \ Alfie Shaw
The first of four lots to hit the €5,000 sale price was the junior heifer champion Clonagh Jolly Glam Posh from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan. This July 2017-born heifer is sired by homebred Clonagh Tiger Gallant while the dam is a full sister to the spring premier €12,500 high seller Clonagh Just A Dream. Matching her at the money and the price tag was pen mate and yearling champion Jennalyn Jellybean Nora. This 15-month-old heifer is out of Clonagh World Class while the dam is Banwy T-Rex daughter Jennalyn Flora Nora. Both the junior and yearling champions head across the water to Scotland with Lockerbie-based Clive Houldey.
Heifer calf champion Lochview Kandy, which sold for €5,000 was exhibited by Patrick McNamee. \ Alfie Shaw
The heifer calf champion Lochview Kandy was secured by well-known breeder Padge Mulhare at the same price of €5,000. Bred by Portloaise breeder Paul McNamee, Kandy carried five stars down the line. Born February 2018, this heifer’s pedigree was much sought after, with Kilbride Farm Bantry, Glebefarm Tyson and Raceview King all featuring in her lineage.
Last of the females to hit the €5,000 mark was the youngest female catalogued Kickhams Kassy. This young heifer was bred by Michael Keating, Thurles, Co Tipperary, and was the matching of Kilbride Farm Dragoon with Banwy T-Rex daughter Clonagh Fancy Pants.
Yearling heifer champion Jennalyn Jellybean Nora, which sold for €5,000 was exhibited by Garrett Behan. \ Alfie Shaw
This helped Mr Keating achieve a better day than most with his male exhibit Kickhams Jupiter selling for the joint top male price of €4,100. This October 2017-born bull is sired by the €20,000 Curaheen Tyson, while the dam is Curaheen Wakeman daughter Carbery Firefly. A proven show bull having been placed first at the Ploughing bull championships, Jupiter was knocked down to Martin and Maeve Regan for their Corrib herd.
Joint top-priced male Kickhams Jupiter, which sold for €4,100, with new owner Maeve Regan and breeders Michael and Erin Keating. \ Alfie Shaw
Senior male bull champion
Matching him at the joint top bull price was the day’s senior male champion Brideland Jaguar from the O’Leary family from Ballincollig, Co Cork. This September 2017-born bull is sired by Woodhall Ferrari while the dam’s breeding contains Kilbride Farm Newry and Samark Superman. Jaguar was secured by Carlow native Billy Atkinson.
Senior male champion Brideland Jaguar, which sold for the joint top male price of €4,100, exhibited by Ava O'Leary. \ Alfie Shaw
Reserve senior championship honours went the way of Mooneking Jamirquai from David King, Athy, Co Kildare. This 15-month-old bull is sired by Clonagh Direct Debit, with his dam Mooneking Gloria a Hillcrest Champion daughter. With five stars on the terminal and four on the replacement, Jamirquai sold for €1,800.
Junior heifer champion Clonagh Jolly Glam Posh, which sold for €5,000 was exhibited by Garrett Behan. \ Alfie Shaw
As previously mentioned, it was a double championship for Kieran and Paul Mullarkey in the junior male championship. Taking the overall championship was Lissadell Jacob P, an 11-month-old bull by the €15,500 Curaheen Gunshot and the well-known show heifer Tawley Gretta. Pen mate Lissadell Jupiter ET stood reserve to Jacob in the junior male championship. This November 2017-born bull is a full brother to the €9,100 high seller Lissadell Just the One.
Adding to his shipment of champions, the aforementioned Scottish-based Clive Houldey secured both the champion and reserve at €3,100 and €2,600 respectively.
Junior male champion Lissadell Jacob sold for €3,100. \ Alfie Shaw
Second top price in the male section went the way of Bearna-Dhearg James who met trade at €3,300. This 14-month-old bull bred by Willie and Robbie O’Halloran comes with a proven track record having placed top of the line at numerous shows as well as placing reserve national yearling bull champion at Tullamore Show.
Also included in the sale was a draft from the Carbery herd of Keith and Caroline Vickery. All nine found new homes on the day to average €2,620.
Leading the way was Carbery Karissa. This stylish 10-month-old heifer was sired by Kilbride Farm Bantry with Omorga Volvo and Rosten Barney also in the pedigree. This young heifer was shown throughout the summer, collecting numerous accolades along the way. Karissa was knocked down to Denis McCarthy at a price of €4,400.
The tough autumn pedigree sale trend continued at the Irish Simmental Cattle Society’s premier sale in Roscommon over the weekend.
This trend has been seen across most of the major breeds which have already held their premier sales. Confidence in beef remains an issue across all sales, with potential buyers unwilling to part with substantial sums in the current climate. This, coupled with an increase in the number of bulls on offer at most sales, has led to a drop in clearance and generally a drop in average price.
At the Simmental premier, the male clearance rate dropped to 50%. Not only that, the average price paid for bulls dropped by a staggering €1,400.
Top-priced animal and weanling heifer champion Lissadell Just The One ET which sold for €9,100. \ Alfie Shaw
While the 2017 sale was particularly impressive trade-wise, reaching a record average, this year still stands as a five-year low. Overall, 22 bulls sold, seven fewer than the previous year, to settle at an average of €2,525.
As mentioned, perhaps the biggest difference on previous years was buyers’ willingness to invest heavily in the acquisition of their bull of choice, instead settling for their second or even third choice at a lower price. It was the lack of these high sellers which contributed most to the drop in average. Last year saw the male trade peak at €9,400, with five bulls passing the €5,000 mark. This year was a different story, with the top male price of €4,100 hit twice and the next best after that a price of €3,300.
Despite the tough male trade, pedigree breeders were still willing to invest in the top female lots. The few top prices achieved were enough to boost the female average ahead of that of their male comrades.
However, this average was still nicely back on the year. The female average dropped to €2,705, back €800 on the year. It was the first time since 2014 that the female average has dropped below €3,000. Clearance rate also stands at a five-year low, but is still respectable, with 80% of those forward finding new homes.
Minor highs
However, there were some minor highs. For instance, the weanling heifer champion Lissadell Just The One ET sold for €9,100. This stylish young heifer bred by Kieran and Paul Mullarkey, Ballinfull, Co Sligo, placed top of her class at this year’s national championships in Tullamore, at the Connacht finals in Ballinrobe along with being placed champion at numerous other shows throughout the summer. Sired by three-time Balmoral champion Dermotstown Delboy, Just The One is out of Curaheen Tyson daughter Cladymore Edith.
A number of buyers waited eagerly for the red and white heifer to enter the ring, with bids quickly rising until auctioneer Denis Barrett knocked her down to Eoin McGovern at a price of €9,100. This topped a highly successful day for the Mullarkey outfit which also claimed the junior and reserve junior male championship titles.
Selective buying continued throughout the sale, with only the cream of the crop achieving the best prices. Including the high seller, the five individual heifer championship winners sold to average €5,840.
Senior heifer champion Rathlee Jessica sold for €5,100. \ Alfie Shaw
First of the female champions through the ring and securing the second top price of the day was Rathlee Jessica from Gerry Lenehan, Easkey, Co Sligo. Awarded senior heifer champion in the pre-sale show under judge David Donnelly, Jessica was secured by Joe Kilkenny, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, for €5,100. This January 2017 born heifer is sired by well-known AI bull Glebefarm Tyson while the dam Wanda also carries the Glebefarm prefix.
Kickhams Kassy, which sold for €5,000, pictured with breeders Michael and Erin Keating. \ Alfie Shaw
The first of four lots to hit the €5,000 sale price was the junior heifer champion Clonagh Jolly Glam Posh from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan. This July 2017-born heifer is sired by homebred Clonagh Tiger Gallant while the dam is a full sister to the spring premier €12,500 high seller Clonagh Just A Dream. Matching her at the money and the price tag was pen mate and yearling champion Jennalyn Jellybean Nora. This 15-month-old heifer is out of Clonagh World Class while the dam is Banwy T-Rex daughter Jennalyn Flora Nora. Both the junior and yearling champions head across the water to Scotland with Lockerbie-based Clive Houldey.
Heifer calf champion Lochview Kandy, which sold for €5,000 was exhibited by Patrick McNamee. \ Alfie Shaw
The heifer calf champion Lochview Kandy was secured by well-known breeder Padge Mulhare at the same price of €5,000. Bred by Portloaise breeder Paul McNamee, Kandy carried five stars down the line. Born February 2018, this heifer’s pedigree was much sought after, with Kilbride Farm Bantry, Glebefarm Tyson and Raceview King all featuring in her lineage.
Last of the females to hit the €5,000 mark was the youngest female catalogued Kickhams Kassy. This young heifer was bred by Michael Keating, Thurles, Co Tipperary, and was the matching of Kilbride Farm Dragoon with Banwy T-Rex daughter Clonagh Fancy Pants.
Yearling heifer champion Jennalyn Jellybean Nora, which sold for €5,000 was exhibited by Garrett Behan. \ Alfie Shaw
This helped Mr Keating achieve a better day than most with his male exhibit Kickhams Jupiter selling for the joint top male price of €4,100. This October 2017-born bull is sired by the €20,000 Curaheen Tyson, while the dam is Curaheen Wakeman daughter Carbery Firefly. A proven show bull having been placed first at the Ploughing bull championships, Jupiter was knocked down to Martin and Maeve Regan for their Corrib herd.
Joint top-priced male Kickhams Jupiter, which sold for €4,100, with new owner Maeve Regan and breeders Michael and Erin Keating. \ Alfie Shaw
Senior male bull champion
Matching him at the joint top bull price was the day’s senior male champion Brideland Jaguar from the O’Leary family from Ballincollig, Co Cork. This September 2017-born bull is sired by Woodhall Ferrari while the dam’s breeding contains Kilbride Farm Newry and Samark Superman. Jaguar was secured by Carlow native Billy Atkinson.
Senior male champion Brideland Jaguar, which sold for the joint top male price of €4,100, exhibited by Ava O'Leary. \ Alfie Shaw
Reserve senior championship honours went the way of Mooneking Jamirquai from David King, Athy, Co Kildare. This 15-month-old bull is sired by Clonagh Direct Debit, with his dam Mooneking Gloria a Hillcrest Champion daughter. With five stars on the terminal and four on the replacement, Jamirquai sold for €1,800.
Junior heifer champion Clonagh Jolly Glam Posh, which sold for €5,000 was exhibited by Garrett Behan. \ Alfie Shaw
As previously mentioned, it was a double championship for Kieran and Paul Mullarkey in the junior male championship. Taking the overall championship was Lissadell Jacob P, an 11-month-old bull by the €15,500 Curaheen Gunshot and the well-known show heifer Tawley Gretta. Pen mate Lissadell Jupiter ET stood reserve to Jacob in the junior male championship. This November 2017-born bull is a full brother to the €9,100 high seller Lissadell Just the One.
Adding to his shipment of champions, the aforementioned Scottish-based Clive Houldey secured both the champion and reserve at €3,100 and €2,600 respectively.
Junior male champion Lissadell Jacob sold for €3,100. \ Alfie Shaw
Second top price in the male section went the way of Bearna-Dhearg James who met trade at €3,300. This 14-month-old bull bred by Willie and Robbie O’Halloran comes with a proven track record having placed top of the line at numerous shows as well as placing reserve national yearling bull champion at Tullamore Show.
Also included in the sale was a draft from the Carbery herd of Keith and Caroline Vickery. All nine found new homes on the day to average €2,620.
Leading the way was Carbery Karissa. This stylish 10-month-old heifer was sired by Kilbride Farm Bantry with Omorga Volvo and Rosten Barney also in the pedigree. This young heifer was shown throughout the summer, collecting numerous accolades along the way. Karissa was knocked down to Denis McCarthy at a price of €4,400.
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