There was a strong clearance of around 65% at the first of the Kilkenny Agricultural Society spring sales in Cillin Hill last week, with 132 bulls on offer.
Driving this clearance was the Angus section, which saw 20 more bulls sold than last year. A total of 43 of the 62 bulls forward sold to average just shy of €2,600. While this average is back over €100 on the year, it is looked upon very favourably by organisers given the massive increase in bulls sold.
Leading the way in this section was the pre-sale show’s reserve breed champion Coolrain Pajero. Bred and exhibited by Nigel Peavoy, Portlaoise, Co Laois, this son of Ardrossan Admiral has four stars on the terminal index, with a calving index of only 2.4%. Born in August 2017, Pajero was knocked down at €4,000.
Champion and reserve champion Friesian came from the Mountfarna herd. From left judge Ricky Barrett, John O'Callaghan exhibiting the overall champion Mountfarna Aristocat (€3,800), Niall Kelly and Michael O'Callaghan exhibiting teh reserve champion Mountfarna Hilton (€3,700).
Securing the overall championship under judge Derek Lovell was Berry Packy from Patrick and Aaron Murphy, Athlone, Co Westmeath. This stylish September 2017-born bull is a son of Bunlahy John G and Earlson Jennie. With five stars on the terminal index, Packy sold outside the ring for €3,100.
Limousin champion Farmleigh Malcolm who sold for €2,600
The Murphy duo also went on to claim the second-top price when they sold Berry Prince for €3,600. This two-year-old bull is a son of Templequain Lord Jake, with Friarstown Edition and Bohey Jasper also in the back breeding.
Such was the demand for Angus bulls, over 25% of them sold for €3,000 or more.
Hereford champion Tullyfarm Leader who sold for €3,500
Friesian
Friesian trade remained near enough on par with the equivalent sale last year. While there were not as many high flyers, a similar number of bulls sold, with demand for bigger bulls with more power.
Leading the way in this ring for the third year on the trot with the top two prices was the Mountfarna herd of John O’Callaghan, Bandon, Co Cork.
These top two prices in the Friesian ring came after another stellar performance in the show ring, where the herd claimed both the champion and reserve rosettes under judge Ricky Barrett.
The champion bull Mountfarna Aristocat got the sale off to a good start when sold for the top price of €3,800. This November 2017-born bull is from the herd’s Ruth family and is a son of Gurranes Adema 278. Backed by production, this black and white bull’s third dam holds a diamond award for classifying EX and producing more than 3,000kg of protein.
Close behind in both the show and sale ring was the reserve champion Mountfarna Hilton, which sold for €3,700. Sired by Morcourt Hilton, this September 2017-born bull is out of the EX91 classified Mountfarna Spk Wendy. This fifth-lactation dam gave a massive 1,132kg of milk solids in its last 305-day lactation.
These were the top two of the O’Callaghan outfit, who sold all four of their bulls to average €3,275.
In total, 13 Friesian bulls sold, which is on par with the previous year. The average dropped marginally, settling at €2,785.
Limousin
The Limousin breed had the highest clearance rate for the second year in a row. While prices may not have been as high as breeders would have liked, 13 of the 14 bulls forward found new homes. Securing the top price of €3,350 in the Limousin ring was the second-prizewinner Ballyquirke Mack. This August 2017-born bull was bred and exhibited by Oliver Byrne, Gowran, Co Kilkenny, and carries five stars on the terminal index. Sired by the easy-calving sire Elderberry Galahad, he goes back on a homebred Grahams Samson daughter.
Securing the pre-sale chow championship for the breed was Farmleigh Malcom from Thomas Swaine, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. This bull is homebred on both sides, being sired by Farmleigh Jager and out of Farmleigh Jena. Another five-star bull on the terminal index, Malcom met his reserve at €2,600. Standing reserve to Mr Swaine in the championship was Brian Campion with Knockiel Mayweather. Sired by Keltic Handsome, the August 2016-born bull is out of Castleview Duke-sired dam Knockiel Imogen. A five-star replacement bull, he was knocked down at €2,800.
Hereford
The Hereford trade was much improved on the year, with 13 of the 18 forward finding new homes at an average price of €2,688. Bulls ranged from €1,900 to €3,700, with five bulls making €3,000 or more.
Leading the charge in the sales ring was the first-prizewinning Baleen Laptop from Thomas Brennan, Freshford, Co Kilkenny. This 22-month-old Balleen Achiever-sired bull carries five stars on most traits and achieved the top price of €3,700.
Taking the championship in the Hereford division was Tullyfarm Leader from Michael Nolan, Castlebar, Co Mayo. This two-year-old bull, sired by AI bull Glaslough Esquire, has a calving index of 3.8% and met his reserve at €3,500.
Nolan sold his second exhibit Tullyfarm Riddle for €3,600.
He is another two-year old-bull, this time sired by successful AI bull Gageboro Morgan.
There was a strong clearance of around 65% at the first of the Kilkenny Agricultural Society spring sales in Cillin Hill last week, with 132 bulls on offer.
Driving this clearance was the Angus section, which saw 20 more bulls sold than last year. A total of 43 of the 62 bulls forward sold to average just shy of €2,600. While this average is back over €100 on the year, it is looked upon very favourably by organisers given the massive increase in bulls sold.
Leading the way in this section was the pre-sale show’s reserve breed champion Coolrain Pajero. Bred and exhibited by Nigel Peavoy, Portlaoise, Co Laois, this son of Ardrossan Admiral has four stars on the terminal index, with a calving index of only 2.4%. Born in August 2017, Pajero was knocked down at €4,000.
Champion and reserve champion Friesian came from the Mountfarna herd. From left judge Ricky Barrett, John O'Callaghan exhibiting the overall champion Mountfarna Aristocat (€3,800), Niall Kelly and Michael O'Callaghan exhibiting teh reserve champion Mountfarna Hilton (€3,700).
Securing the overall championship under judge Derek Lovell was Berry Packy from Patrick and Aaron Murphy, Athlone, Co Westmeath. This stylish September 2017-born bull is a son of Bunlahy John G and Earlson Jennie. With five stars on the terminal index, Packy sold outside the ring for €3,100.
Limousin champion Farmleigh Malcolm who sold for €2,600
The Murphy duo also went on to claim the second-top price when they sold Berry Prince for €3,600. This two-year-old bull is a son of Templequain Lord Jake, with Friarstown Edition and Bohey Jasper also in the back breeding.
Such was the demand for Angus bulls, over 25% of them sold for €3,000 or more.
Hereford champion Tullyfarm Leader who sold for €3,500
Friesian
Friesian trade remained near enough on par with the equivalent sale last year. While there were not as many high flyers, a similar number of bulls sold, with demand for bigger bulls with more power.
Leading the way in this ring for the third year on the trot with the top two prices was the Mountfarna herd of John O’Callaghan, Bandon, Co Cork.
These top two prices in the Friesian ring came after another stellar performance in the show ring, where the herd claimed both the champion and reserve rosettes under judge Ricky Barrett.
The champion bull Mountfarna Aristocat got the sale off to a good start when sold for the top price of €3,800. This November 2017-born bull is from the herd’s Ruth family and is a son of Gurranes Adema 278. Backed by production, this black and white bull’s third dam holds a diamond award for classifying EX and producing more than 3,000kg of protein.
Close behind in both the show and sale ring was the reserve champion Mountfarna Hilton, which sold for €3,700. Sired by Morcourt Hilton, this September 2017-born bull is out of the EX91 classified Mountfarna Spk Wendy. This fifth-lactation dam gave a massive 1,132kg of milk solids in its last 305-day lactation.
These were the top two of the O’Callaghan outfit, who sold all four of their bulls to average €3,275.
In total, 13 Friesian bulls sold, which is on par with the previous year. The average dropped marginally, settling at €2,785.
Limousin
The Limousin breed had the highest clearance rate for the second year in a row. While prices may not have been as high as breeders would have liked, 13 of the 14 bulls forward found new homes. Securing the top price of €3,350 in the Limousin ring was the second-prizewinner Ballyquirke Mack. This August 2017-born bull was bred and exhibited by Oliver Byrne, Gowran, Co Kilkenny, and carries five stars on the terminal index. Sired by the easy-calving sire Elderberry Galahad, he goes back on a homebred Grahams Samson daughter.
Securing the pre-sale chow championship for the breed was Farmleigh Malcom from Thomas Swaine, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. This bull is homebred on both sides, being sired by Farmleigh Jager and out of Farmleigh Jena. Another five-star bull on the terminal index, Malcom met his reserve at €2,600. Standing reserve to Mr Swaine in the championship was Brian Campion with Knockiel Mayweather. Sired by Keltic Handsome, the August 2016-born bull is out of Castleview Duke-sired dam Knockiel Imogen. A five-star replacement bull, he was knocked down at €2,800.
Hereford
The Hereford trade was much improved on the year, with 13 of the 18 forward finding new homes at an average price of €2,688. Bulls ranged from €1,900 to €3,700, with five bulls making €3,000 or more.
Leading the charge in the sales ring was the first-prizewinning Baleen Laptop from Thomas Brennan, Freshford, Co Kilkenny. This 22-month-old Balleen Achiever-sired bull carries five stars on most traits and achieved the top price of €3,700.
Taking the championship in the Hereford division was Tullyfarm Leader from Michael Nolan, Castlebar, Co Mayo. This two-year-old bull, sired by AI bull Glaslough Esquire, has a calving index of 3.8% and met his reserve at €3,500.
Nolan sold his second exhibit Tullyfarm Riddle for €3,600.
He is another two-year old-bull, this time sired by successful AI bull Gageboro Morgan.
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