The Irish Hereford Breed Society held the first of its autumn sales last Saturday as storm Brian approached. The sale generally brings out a large crowd of both exhibitors and potential customers and, despite the weather, this year proved no different.

The sale saw tough competition throughout the pre-sale show, with many familiar animals from the summer show circuit present.

One of those bulls was Michael Molloy’s Moyclare Phoenix, who won a number of top accolades throughout the summer months. After back and forth bidding between two hopeful buyers, the hammer eventually fell at €6,600, selling to Michael Hoey for the day’s top price.

This 16-month-old bull is sired out of David Larkin’s bull Cill Cormaic Kasper and out of one of Michael’s homebred cows Moyclare Rose 22nd, both animals which have produced champions at numerous shows in recent years.

Claiming the second-top price in the bull ring was the pre-sale show reserve champion Grianan Ranger from Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald. Born August 2016, this stylish bull was sired by the well-known Grianan Freddy and sold to John Ryan, Co Tipperary.

It was Shane Kilrane’s bull that was crowned champion bull at the event. Drumboy Jamie was on exhibition at the society’s stand at the National Ploughing Championship this year where he caught the eye of many passers-by. This one was sired by Dovea AI bull Kilsunny Goliath and found a new home with Tom Roycroft for a price of €3,650.

K & M Diffley, Co Leitrim, sold Duibhgiolla Grian for €3,800. This 16-month-old bull was sired by Gageboro Morgan and found a new home in the sunny southeast with Gerard and James Scrahan, Co Waterford.

Michael and Sinead Conry’s bull Rathnollag Lucky 790 was purchased by long-time Hereford breeder James Thompson from Ballraggan for €3,200. Scoring four and five stars for both the terminal and replacement indices, along with a calving difficulty of 2.2%, he should fit well in his new herd.

Females

On to the females and it was a day to remember for John Appelbe as he sold the top-priced heifer Appel 1 Joy for €4,600.

This stylish 14-month-old heifer was sired by this year’s Hereford national champion Solpoll 1 Lawman. Not going far from home, she sold to fellow Cork man Michael Dullea as a foundation female for his Deelish Hereford herd.

Second-top female price was achieved by the Dudley family for the reserve female champion Kilsunny Lass Nadia. This young heifer was secured by Cavan breeder Philip Lynch for €3,400.

Champion of the female classes went to Padraig McGrath’s Kye Sunshine 722. The champion sold for €2,900 in-calf to stock bull Knoxlustre Twilight. Successful buyer was Leitrim man Cathal Dolan.