The annual autumn Aubrac sale in Tullamore was met with a lively trade on Saturday 28 October. Weanling heifers were first into the ring, and setting the trend for the day was William P Walsh, who sold the first heifer through for €1,800. Next in was the first prizewinner from the Turloughmore Herd who went on to fetch €1,500. Overall weanling heifers on the day averaged €1,320.

Next offered for sale were maiden heifers and with buyers from both Northern Ireland and the UK present, the trade excelled. Claiming first prize in her class and overall champion was Ballintra Larissa bred by John Walsh; making €3,200 she was a true champion. From the same herd was Ballintra Lea claiming a cool €2,800. An Invincible-sired heifer then went on to make €2,100 for Shane and Joanne Bowers of Shrubbywood Aubracs. Strong demand throughout saw maiden heifers average €1,810.

Next into the ring were in-calf heifers. Claiming first prize and a price of €3,000 was another Ballintra-bred champion Ballintra Kaye. Claiming second prize was Tipperary Kayla bred by James Bernard Ryan of Tipperary Aubracs, while third prize went to Shrubbywood Kari who sold for €2,450. With a smaller number of in-calf heifers available, averages remained high to settle at €2,425.

Firm trade for cows

A small number of cows made their way to the sale and these were met with a firm trade. Winning first prize was Johnstown Holly 2816 with a heifer calf at foot hailing from the famous Johnstown Aubrac herd of Francis Donahoe. She sold for the highest cow price of €3,050. Second place honours in the cow class went to Shrubbywood Jadore bred by Shane and Joanne Bowers; she was unsold at €2, 500. Third prize went to Julie and Eugene Lynch for their Bedos Benji-bred in-calf cow. Last but not least to go through the ring were the bulls. Champion bull was De Buitlier Lenny sold by Francis Butler from Culvin, Streete, Co Westmeath. Lenny sold for a solid €3,050. Close on his heels in both the show and sale ring the second prizewinner Turloughmore Lothar who sold for €3,000. This one was bred and exhibited by Kevin O’Brien from Co Galway. Finishing off the placing was the third prizewinner, Tipperary Leo 307, from James Bernard Ryan. He later sold for €2,100.