Records were smashed in Roscommon over the weekend, with a Simmental bull selling for a whopping €52,000.

Clonagh Lucky Explorer was the bull’s name, but I’m told the sale was far from a bit of luck. My sources tell me that breeder Garrett Behan made quite the substantial investment to be able to produce a bull of that standard.

The Laois breeder forked out £23,100 (€25,531) at the Stirling bull sales three years ago for Lucky’s sire, Manor Park Hansome. Last Saturday Behan sold four of his sons for an average of €17,400.

That’s a pretty shrewd investment by anyone’s standard. I wonder how many more five-figure Hansome sons are roaming the fields of Ballyfin?