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The Irish Aubrac cattle society hosted its premier autumn sale in Tullamore last week, with a new record price of €4,350 set for an Aubrac bull. The sale took place online amid COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and the bull in question, Ashbrook Othello, had caught a few breeders’ eyes in the pre-sale viewing time. This interest led to a number of keen parties driving Othello’s price to a new record of €4,350. Born in May 2019, this stylish bull was bred by Michael Hanlon from Dring in Co Longford. Sired by Dauphin and out of a Roussel bred dam he sold with five stars on the replacement index and a dairy beef index of €138.
Mr Hanlon also secured the second top male price of €2,700 with Ashbrook Obama.This bull was by Johnstown Ian and out of a homebred dam by Hector. Just behind this was Ardough Oliver which hit the market at €2,600. This bull was sired by the same as the sale topper, French bull Dauphin.
The overall male average hit an impressive €2,730, but the clearance rate sank just below 40%.
The female trade was much more lively, with 93% of heifers on offer finding new homes to hit an average of just below €2,000.
Securing top spot in the heifer section was Cairn Hill Orlaith who sold for €2,500. This double five star heifer was bred by another Longford breeder, this time Bernard Casey from Drumlish. Just behind this the price of €2,400 was hit twice. First at the money was Johnstown Oceana 1572 with Ballintra Orsola just after.
A small entry of in-calf cows sold slightly higher than this when Ballinclea Gisele sold for €2,600. This well-made cow from Sonny Jennings based in Tuam sold with a replacement index of €237.
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