Bulls sold to a top of 3,000gns, while heifers peaked at 2,500gns, at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s spring show and sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart recently.

Despite a strong entry of good quality bulls, trade was sluggish, reflecting the current downturn in beef prices and the uncertainty facing the industry in the wake of the CAP proposals.

A spokesman for the club said: “Buyers were bidding on a budget which left many bull vendors disappointed. However, on the positive side, we managed to retain our share of a decreasing market, selling the same number of bulls as last year.”

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Sale leader at 3,000gns was the second prize-winning Kilbride Farm Drennan from breed stalwart Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

At 15 months old, he is sired by the 9,500gns Kilbride Farm Warren – the reserve intermediate champion at Stirling in February 2010 – and is bred from a dam by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy. The buyer was pedigree breeder Joe Wilson who runs the 60-cow Ballinlare Farm herd at Rathfriland, Co Down.

Next best at 2,800gns was the second prize-winning Inishrush Denis consigned by brothers William and Philip Whyte from Portglenone, Co Antrim. Sired by the 6,600gns Omorga Baldwin – the supreme champion at Dungannon in February 2011 – he was bred from the Stirling Nelson daughter Inishrush Sheila (one of 15 cows in the herd which is being dispersed at the end of May). This September 2012-born entry sold to suckler herd owner Michael McManus, Swatragh, Co Londonderry.

Three lots made 2,600gns. These were a July 2012-born Banwy T-Rex son from Seamus O’Kane’s herd at Drumquin, Co Tyrone; the Cairnview Snazzy son Kilbride Farm Ahoghill exhibited by Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo, Co Fermanagh; and the reserve champion, Castlemount Downtown, an Omorga Volvo son, bred by Duncan McDowell from Newtownards, Co Down.

Meanwhile, the male championship was awarded to the September 2012-born Derrycallaghan Duke bred by Harold Stubbs and grandson Alan Burleigh, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. Sired by Drumlone Anchor, he is out of Delfur Tanya and sold for 2,150gns to Michael McCullagh, Loughmacrory, Co Tyrone.

Females

Pedigree Simmental heifers met a strong demand, selling to a top of 2,500gns, paid to Kenny Veitch, Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh, for the reserve female champion. The 17-month-old Drumlone Dusty was sired by the 10,000gns Drumlone Anchor, and is bred from the Strathisla Nuggat daughter Corskie Vashka, whose sons have sold to a top of 9,000gns. The buyer was G Morris from Omagh, Co Tyrone.

The female championship went to Drumagarner Deena, bred by the father and son team of Michael and Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea, Co Londonderry. Sired by the herd’s €2,800 stock bull Barnattan Wally, she out of the Lisglass Python daughter Drumagarner Toner. She joins the Castlewood Farm herd founded recently by Gary Peters, Castlewellan, Co Down.

Overall, 18 bulls averaged £2,324, while the average for eight females was £2,192.