Trade for Angus bulls was booming at Saturday's Irish Angus elite sale in Carrick-on-Shannon, as 33 bulls exchanged hands, selling for an average of €5,840.

Fears that the recent bluetongue outbreak in Northern Ireland would hinder the trade soon disappeared, as just three bulls left the ring unsold.

Bite for heifers was not just as strong, as 33 out of the 48 heifers on offer averaged €4,624. Buyers came from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland, as 15 cattle found new homes north of the border, with one heifer destined for France.

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Achieving the highest price on the day of €9,200 was Gerard and Patrick Regan from Castlerea in Co Roscommon with Driney Ace of Spades. Born in June 2024, this third-prizewinner in his class is a son of the proven performance specialist Rawburn Boss Hogg going back to the breed powerhouse HF Rebel. His impressive line up of indexes meant a number of pedigree and commercial breeders competed to secure the Boss Hogg son, before he eventually fell to the Ferguson family in Newtownbutler for their pedigree enterprise.

Driney Ace of Spades selling for €9,200

The Roscommon men enjoyed an unforgettable day, as the pair also picked up the junior male champion with Driney Atomic Bomb which went on to sell for €8,000. Born in September 2024, Bomb is a son Drumcrow Reeko and the Westellen Diego daughter, Driney Pamela. Packing boastful terminal and dairy-beef-indexes, he was knocked down to the Chestnutt family from Northern Ireland.

Driney Atomic Bomb selling for €8,000

Cork breeder John Appelbe also crossed the €8,000 barrier, selling his August 2024-born bull Carrigroe Alister for €8,200. A son of Prohurst Eoghan, his dam is a HF Rebel daughter going back to Rathosheen Hugo. Offering one of the highest replacement indexes in the catalogue of €234 and a page full of stars, he was choice lot of Michael Joyce from Urlingford in Co Kilkenny.

Carrigroe Alister selling for €8,200

The last bull to hit €8,000 was Shane McKiernan's first prize winner, Drumcarbin Accelator 448. Displaying five-star terminal and dairy-beef-indexes, this Stouphill Bomber son is out of a Drumcarbin No Difficulty-bred cow going back to Rawburn Elysium. Securing him for their Powerstown herd in Co Kilkenny were Joe and Michael Moran.

Drumcarbin Accelator 448 selling for €8,000

Claiming the senior male championship was the Roscommon duo Joe and Cathal McCormack with their powerful bull, Steil Avatar. Born in April 2024, Avatar is a son of Ernehill Rum while his dam is sired by the herd's former stock bull The Moss Kriss. Coming from the best line in the herd and boasting some impressive numbers on paper Michael Veale from Co Waterford snapped him up in the sale ring at €7,800.

Steil Avatar selling for €7,800

Angus heifers

Females topped at €9,000 on three occasions. The first of these came in the form of Laheens Ariana from Cormac and Cathal Duignan in Co Leitrim. A daughter of the UK powerhouse Elliot Bravo, this 16-month-old heifer is out of the HF Rebel daughter, Laheens Tasty. Indexes were in abundance once again, as Ariana displayed a terminal index of €128 and a carcase weight figure of +19.2kg. She sold to fellow Leitrim breeder, David Walpole.

Laheens Ariana selling for €9,000

She was quickly followed by Loughglass Alexa for the same price tag. Bred and exhibited by Noel and Lisa Dowd, this catchy Keirsbeath Karma daughter goes back to Stouphill Bomber and Luddenmore Fionn. Despite being low on indexes she attracted plenty of admirers before finding a new abode in the Limousin region of France with Conor McPadden.

Loughglass Alexa selling for €9,000

Up next at €9,000 was Amanda Bogan from Co Longford with Millbawn Autumn Star, the overall junior female champion from the pre-sale show. A daughter of Intelagri Matteo and a HF Alcatraz-bred cow, this super stylish young heifer had figures to burn, leaving Wesley Cousins in Co Tyrone in no doubt she was the heifer for him.

Millbawn Autumn Star selling for €9,000

Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald received €7,000 for their attractive second prize winner Caulry A023 Ellen Erica. Descending from the famous Ellen Erica line at Rawburn, this January 2024-born black beauty is sired by Drumcrow Savoy and was picked up by Co Antrim breeder, Peter Fitzgerald.

Read all about Saturday's sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.