The seventh genetic advantage sale of the Roundhill and Castleview Limousin herds is set to take place in Roscrea Mart this coming Friday 14 September.

The sale, which runs biannually, incorporates pedigree Limousin females from the Roundhill herd of the Corridan family and the Castleview herd of Sean O’Sullivan.

Over the years, the sale has gained much traction, with the 2016 sale seeing a high of €19,500 for Roundhill Egiroflee, a seven-year-old cow who was a former junior champion at Tullamore Show. Her daughter also sold at the same sale for a massive€16,000.

The Roundhill herd was established in 1996 and family lines were sourced from the best available genetics in Europe, either as breeding females or as embryos.

This, coupled with nearly all AI use and an extensive on-farm embryo transfer (ET) programme, meant the herd made rapid progress in a short number of years.

Currently, the main emphasis is on the use of proven French genetics, with the aim of balancing terminal and maternal traits.

The Castleview herd started eight years further back, in 1988, and has also gained significant traction, particularly on the AI front.

A number of the top bloodlines in the herd have been acquired by Irish studs in recent years and have gone on to perform at the highest level.

Castleview Gazelle, better known as ZAG, is one of the most prominent Limousin bulls on the market. He is from the well-known G7 line, with a number of related heifers in the sale.

Both herds refrain from selling heifers throughout the year, with the aim being to save them all for the biannual sale.

Along with this, the herds run a very strict herd health programme, with both carrying a level one Johnes-free status and a BVD-negative health status. This is coupled with stringent vaccination programmes.

A total of 49 females will go under the hammer of auctioneer George Chandler, with proceedings kicking off at 7pm.