The Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society reintroduced its premier spring sale to the sales calendar this year, with much improvement in demand. The breed in Ireland has witnessed a dramatic drop in registration numbers over the past number of years due to the loss of export markets for the breed’s weanling progeny.

This, in turn, has led to a number of disappointing sales for the society. However, last Friday’s sale in Tullamore marked the first big improvement for the breed. While there mightn’t have been a big crowd in attendance, those who were present were there to spend.

Numbers of stock present matched the demand and the sale witnessed a very positive 80% clearance to average €4,350. Bulls started trade a €3,400 and reached a ceiling of €6,000.

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Leading the way was the second-prizewinning bull Quarrymount Kaiser from local breeder Brian Matthews. Kaiser, a two-year-old black and white bull by Empire D’Ochain is out of homebred Quarrymount Haid ET, herself a Solway View Dynamite daughter. Back and forth bidding eventually saw auctioneer Noel Corcoran drop the hammer at a bid of €6,000 to Fermanagh breeder John Richie.

The overall champion of the show was next in line to receive the second-top price of €4,800. Corrandulla Kaelen, a bull bred by Derrick Forde and sold by Shay Hayden, Enniscorthy, was judge Jimmy McGee’s bull of choice. This bull is no stranger to the show ring, having picked up a number of rosettes over the past two showing seasons, including the all-Ireland calf championship in Tinahely in 2016. Sired by Harrison, Kaelen is out of the prolific breeder Corrandulla Gretta. This one heads to Waterford with Eddie Ryan.

Reserve championship honours at the sale went to David Pearson with Boherard King Of Diamonds ET. Sired by Janvier, this one is out of the 2013 Tullamore champion Boherard Euro.

The youngest bull catalogued on the day, born September 2016, he also has a successful track record at summer shows, securing the reserve championship at Clonmel. Having gone unsold in the ring, he later sold outside for €3,500 to Adrian McEllin, Co Mayo.

Carlow native Myles McDermott exhibited two bulls on the night, trading at €4,500 and €4,300. Top of his pen was the third-prizewinning Rathlyon Jacob ET. Sired by Germinal De Fooz, Jacob is out of a homebred dam by Boherard Cantona. This one sold to Kilkenny man Denis Holden. McDermott’s second bull, Rathlyon Kodiac ET, secured the blue rosette in the same class. This one is sired by Lotto and out of Empire D’Ochain daughter Rathlyon Destiny ET. Successful bidder at €4,300 was Declan Madden, Roscommon.

Rose McSweeney, from Bantry, Co Cork, also sold her two exhibits. Her two January 2016-born bulls were embryo calves sired by Imperial and out of Ballysheedy Bridie Mary. Securing a price of €4,300 was Rosies Kermit ET, selling to Killian Griffith, Co Carlow. His full brother Rosies Kelso ET was knocked down to Oliver Lalor, Co Laois, at €3,400.

Finally, selling for €4,000 was Tipp Jacko from Mary Casey, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Jacko was the easiest-calving bull catalogued with a calving difficulty figure of 8%. This one is sired by Winston Van Perenhof and out of Tipp Gina. He stays in Tipperary, selling to Jim Ryan.

Overall eight of the 10 bulls on offer sold to average €4,350. While there was no spring 2017 premier sale to compare with, this average and clearance would be up significantly on the premier autumn sales the previous two years.