The Dealer spotted Tipperary councillor Micheal Anglim on an unusual mission at Cashel mart recently.

Anglim was active at the ringside, bidding for Friesian calves on behalf of a local playground committee in Ardfinnan.

More than 30 local farmers have volunteered to rear a Friesian bull calf to beef at 18-20 months of age, or a heifer calf to first breeding.

The aim is to generate a cash bounty of €30,000 in 2019, which will be used to develop a community playground in Ardfinnan. All of the farmers who have signed up are located within a four-mile radius of the village.

Those rearing bulls will be hoping that the nearest factory, Larry Goodman’s ABP plant in Cahir, will be offering a good price in spring 2019.