The first of the two April sales to be hosted in Carrick by the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society took place over the weekend, with prices hitting over €5,000 on two occasions.

Last weekend’s sale included all traditional breeds, mainly Angus and Hereford, while this weekend sees the continental breed selling.

One point to note was that last Saturday saw three sales of Angus bulls taking place across the country, which inevitably led to lower numbers of buyers attending each of them.

At two of these sales, pedigree breeders were quite active, securing stock bulls for the coming season.

If these sales didn’t clash, it may have meant an increased number of bidding wars between buyers for certain lots, helping to increase averages.

Solution

A logical solution is that the weeks for the traditional sale and continental sale in Carrick be reversed in future. While this would have led to two Hereford sales clashing, only five Hereford bulls were catalogued in Carrick compared with the 67 Angus.

Of the 67 Angus bull catalogued, 51 were presented for sale, with 39 finding new homes. The average for these settled at €2,480, with four heading north of the border.

Top price was paid for Driney Top Dollar from the herd of Gerard Regan, Castlerea, Co Roscommon. Sired by the 2012 elite sale champion Loughlynn Humdinger, which sold for €7,300, the March 2020-born bull is out of a Westellen Diego-bred dam. Carrying five stars on the terminal and replacement indices, he was secured by Michael and Alymer Power for their Knockarlow herd in Co Limerick at a price of €5,150.

Taking the second top price was well-known breeder Frank McKiernan with his February 2020-born bull Drumcrow The Hog.

This stylish young bull also boasted five stars on both indices and secured a price of €5,050. The Hog is a son of Rawburn Boss Hogg, with Cashelane Lord Jeremy also in the back breeding.

Selling behind this was Rathra Tarzan, which hit the market at €4,950. Bred and exhibited by Castlerea breeder Liam Mahon, this son of the aforementioned Westellen Diego is out of a Belvin Patriach-bred dam, with Bohey Jasper also in the back breeding.

Alan Gibbons secured a price of €3,600 for his bull Carrowboy Seamus. This double five-star bull was born in November 2019 and was sired by Hawkley Red Zepplin.

Just behind this with a price of €3,550 was Ballinalee Lord Harri. This September 2019-born bull is a son of Thrunton Picador, with HF Rebel on the dam’s side. Michael Edgeworth from Co Waterford was the breeder here.

Selling at €3,500 was Gallawy Super from Michael Kiernan, Co Leitrim. This son of HW Farghal is out of a Netherton Mr Brazilian-bred dam, with Priestown Jupiter also in the back breeding.

Shane McKiernan from Co Cavan sold his bull Drumcarbin Superb at €3,400. This direct son of the famous Bohey Jasper is out of the embryo-bred Drumcarbin Laura, which is a maternal sister to former Highland Show female champion Haughton Laura.

In the females, the top price of €2,600 was achieved by Tomriland Esmerica from Dermot Lynch, Co Wicklow. This two-year-old daughter of Weeton Diamond Mine sold scanned in-calf.

Top of the small entry of Herefords was Drumboy Twister, which hit the market at €2,400. Bred and exhibited by Shane Kilrane, Twister is a son of Moyclare Lieutenant.