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Only four Simmental bulls were presented for sale in Dungannon Mart last month, with prices reaching highs of 3,500gns. This price contributed greatly to the average price rising by £516 on the year to settle at £2,861.
Claiming the top price and setting a herd record of 3,500gns was Pomeroy breeder David McElmurry. The 15-month-old Wellbray Kingbee was sired by Kilbride Farm Warren and is the first calf from homebred Kilbride Farm Dragoon’s daughter Wellbray Bella.
The sale-topper caught the eye of pedigree herd owner Aaron Smyth of the Gortnacarry herd in Maghera.
The second-highest price was 3,000gns, which went to William Nelson and son George from Rosslea, for the 14-month-old Drumacritten Kyle. He was sired by the 2014 and 2015 Balmoral Show breed champion Dermotstown Delboy, and is out of the homebred Omorga Volvo daughter Drumacritten Gaby. This one sold to suckler farmer David Wright from Caledon.
The same vendors also received 2,400gns for 14-month-old Drumacritten Ken. Another son of Dermotstown Delboy, this one is bred from the Omorga Murray daughter Drumacritten April.
Goulding select sale
Following the success of the record-smashing Gouldingpoll Opportunity sale in October 2019, this year Matthew Goulding and his family have gone a different route.
The herd has chosen just one select heifer from the entire calf crop to sell online at www.dennisbarrett.com.
Bidding is currently open, with bids accepted until 7.30pm on Monday 9 November.
The selected heifer is Gouldingpoll 1 Fanny 1085 and is described by Matthew as “the pick of the 2020-born calves”.
A daughter of Gouldingpoll 1 Captain, her maternal sister was a champion at Tullamore, while her full brother is stock bull at a top UK herd.
Although unusual to see a single animal marketed for an online sale, it’s understood the sale has already garnered a lot of attention both here in Ireland and throughout the UK.
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