It has been a good month for John O’Callaghan of the Mountfarna Friesian herd. In his last three outings, he has topped all sales to a high of €4,800. The most recent was the Cork Holstein Friesian club’s sale held in Bandon last Wednesday in conjunction with the Munster Aberdeen Angus club sale and the Irish Hereford breeder’s society sale.

Leading the sale was the 15-month-old Mountfarna Allrounder. Sired by Mars Allround, he carried an EBI of €87 and had earlier in the day placed second to the overall Friesian champion under judge Jane O’Mahony. After opening at €2,100, Allrounder went up in €50 bids before eventually being knocked down at €4,300. This makes it three from three for the Bandon man, having taken the top two prices at the IHFA’s premier sale in Nenagh at €4,000 and €3,800, as well as the top two prices at the Kilkenny multi-breed last month with €4,800 and €4,600 respectively.

John also secured the overall championship for the Friesian section at Bandon with Mountfarna Torondo. This 97% Holstein bull was sired by Locker-Lane Rw Banning and his EX92 classified dam gave 10,000kg in her last lactation. Torondo met his reserve at €3,000.

Picking up the reserve championship was Glenny Derry 1517 from Daniel O’Leary, Riverstick, Co Cork. Sired by Derrinsallow 812 Arthur and carrying an EBI of €102, Derry found a new home at €2,550.

The Friesian portion of the sale saw an average of €2,256, with 15 of the 32 bulls forward sold.

Angus

The Munster Aberdeen Angus club saw its champion and reserve take home the breeds two top prices. Securing the overall championship under judge Brian Jeffrey was Albert De Cogan with Mogeely Lord Hub R400. This September 2015-born bull is a son of successful AI bull Coneyisland Legend and out of a Westellen Black Buck-bred dam. He finished bidding at €3,600, selling to pedigree breeder Jim Thompson of the Crown herd in Stradbally, Co Waterford.

The reserve championship rosette was awarded to Westellen Black Bandit from John Tait, Middleton, Co Cork. This embryo-born son sees Cheeklaw Eirwyn, Tonroe Udi and DMM Distinction in the back breeding and sold to €3,000.

Fifty-seven percent of Angus bulls sold to average €2,636, up from €2,525 on the year.

Hereford

Hereford trade peaked at €2,900 twice. First hitting the money was the reserve champion Appel 1 Federation. Judged by Liam Philpott, this polled bull was exhibited by John Appelbe, Clonakilty, Co Cork, and was sired by the herd’s former UK-bred stock bull Pallas 1 Jubliee.

Matching him at the pricetag was Jerry and Amy O’Sullivan, Millstreet, Co Cork. Their bull Hollycrest Nidge by Kilsunny Goliath helped make it a week to remember, as four days earlier the O’Sullivans topped the Angus sale in Kilmallock on their first Angus outing.

Claiming the championship sash in the Hereford ring and selling for €2,650 was Christopher Mullins’ Island View Alex. Sired by Droumdaniel Hector and out of a Kilronan Hosea-bred dam, Alex carried four stars on the terminal index with a calving figure of 3.5%.

Hereford reported a similar clearance to the Angus with 60% selling to average €2,553.