The Irish Charolais Cattle Society held a sale in Tuam over the weekend that reached a high of €5,100. A small turnout of bulls saw 18 of the 27 bulls present sell to average €3,261.

Leading the charge with a call of €5,100 was Aiden MacHale, Ballina, Co Mayo, with his February 2017-born Garracloon Notorious. This Thrunton Bonjoi son is out of a Major-bred dam and carried four stars on the terminal index with a calving index of 7.8%. After quickly rising in price, Notorious was eventually knocked down to Peter Carney, Claremorris.

Galway native Patrick Hillary got his January 2017-born bull Whitepark Nicky away at €4,150. Nicky’s pedigree featured the two most in-demand bulls being sired by Pirate, while the dam is a Doonally New-bred cow. With five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and a calving ease figure of just 5.4%, he was knocked down to Michael Lynch, Ennis, Co Clare.

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Patrick was back in the money securing the third-top price also. His second exhibit Whitepark Nathan met his reserve at €4,050. Tombapik, Vostigen and Doonally New all feature in this bull’s pedigree, which was combined with five stars down the line on his €uro-Star indices.

Champion on the day was awarded to Camber Macy ET from Vincent McBrien, Corriga, Co Leitrim. This 17-month-old bull was again sired by the aforementioned Doonally New, while the homebred dam Camber Agnes sees Lyonsdemesne Tzar and Doonally Fabus in the breeding. Lower than what was hoped for, this bull met trade at €3,000.

David Rattigan, Elphin, Co Roscommon, secured the reserve championship with his bull Rattigan Noah ET. This stylish young bull was sired by Oldstone Egbert, while the dam Liscally Emeraldstar was a daughter of Macmelvin Barry90. Buyers remain focused on easier-calving bulls, so Noah’s harder than average calving index was a contributing factor to him leaving the ring unsold.

Noel McGoldrick got his sole exhibit Cloonhill Notorious away at €3,700. This 14-month-old bull was sired by Goldstar Echo, while the dam is out of the previously mentioned Oldstone Egbert.

A five-star terminal bull, Notorious carried a calving index of 8.4% and was knocked down to Michael Grogan from Co Clare.

Finishing off the higher end of the prices was the oldest bull present Lisnagree Michael ET, which sold for €3,500. Prime Roberto, Major and the prolific Ballydownan Simone makes up this September 2016-born bull’s pedigree. Local breeder Patrick Sweeney was the successful bidder here.