There was a tough trade at the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society annual April sale of pedigree Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn bulls and heifers on Saturday.

There were 112 Aberdeen Angus bulls catalogued, but, with a number of bulls not presenting for sale, 57 bulls found new homes.

The trade could be described as sticky, with average-quality bulls hard to shift. The average for Angus bulls was €2,018. A few southern-based bull dealers were very active, with a number of bulls heading south.

Top Price Laheens Rebel for Cathal Duignan sold for €4,000.\ Tricia Kennedy.

Top price of the day went to Cathal and Cormac Duignan, Eslin Bridge, for their March 2018-born Westellen Diego son. Out of a Nakkeg Nord cow, this bull has five stars on the terminal index and four stars on the replacement index, along with a calving difficulty figure of 3.2%. He was knocked down at €4,000.

Drumcrow Port Royal T712 f sold for €3,700 .\ Tricia Kennedy.

Drumcrow duo

It was a good day’s trading for Frank McKiernan, Corlismore, Cavan, who had two Drumcrow Joker sons on offer.

The first into the ring was Drumcrow Port Royal T712, a November 2017-born bull out of an Old Glenort Lamont cow. He had earlier been given a red rosette by judge Eustace Burke in the pre-sale show. He was knocked down at €3,700.

The next lot was Drumcrow Lucky Jim T713, another November 2017-born bull by Drumcrow Joker out of a Lissard Mark cow. He was sold at €3,600 and went home with Noel Fitzpatrick to join his Milltown pedigree herd, just outside Belturbet, Co Cavan.

Eamon McKiernan, Newtown, Monasterboice, Co Louth, also took a red rosette in the pre-sale show with his February 2018-born Knockmountagh Robert, a Rawburn Jagger Eric son out of a Goulding Jumbo King cow.

Robert was crowned reserve overall junior champion at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore last August. He has five stars on the replacement index and five stars on the terminal index and is +2.4% on calving difficulty. He generated a lot of interest around the ring and was knocked down at €3,500.

Champion Aberdeen Angus

The champion Aberdeen Angus bull title went to Martin Garvey, Hillstreet, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, for his February 2018-born Luddenmore Fionn son out of a Lawsonsford Bagatelle cow.

Fionn has four stars on the terminal index, four stars on the replacement index and a calving difficulty figure of 2.8%. He was sold at €3,500.

The reserve champion Angus title went to John Heneghan, Ballinlough, Co Roscommon, for his bull Jackie Rambo, a January 2018 Blackfield Lasher son out of a Goulding Jumbo King cow. Rambo has four stars on the terminal index and is +3% for calving. He sold at €3,000.

Champion Aberdeen Angus heifer

Champion heifer and top price in the female section came from the herd of James Heneghan, Castlerea, Co Roscommon. By Steil Knockranny and out of a Coneyisland Legend cow, this April 2017 heifer has five stars on the replacement index at €116. She was sold scanned in calf to Liss Brendan calving in October 2018. She was knocked down at €3,100.

Next highest price in the Angus female section went to Patrick Regan, Claremorris, Co Mayo, for his May 2018-born heifer Loughlynn Regina. She was by Friarstown Ideal Pete and out of a Lawsonsford Bagatelle cow and sold for €2,550. The average price for the 10 heifers sold in the female section was €1,865.

Hereford section

Top price in the small Hereford section went to the champion Lahask Nigel 2 from the herd of Mary Burke, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. By Moyclare Lieutenant and out of a Yarram Star General cow, this May 2017-born bull had a calving difficulty figure of +4.8% was sold at €2,500.

Five Hereford bulls sold to average €2,060.

Four heifers sold in the Hereford female section to average €1,975 and the top price went to Nelson McCrabbe, Raphoe, Lifford, Co Donegal, for his April 2017 heifer Ardstewardpoll 1 Candygirl. She was sired by Ardstweartpoll 1 Walker and has five stars on the replacement index. She sold in calf to Cill Cormaic Prince 2 and was knocked down at €2,650.

The champion Hereford heifer came from the herd of Coote Geelan, Dromod, Co Leitrim. Baltymore Ann 486 is by Kye Rodge 553 and out of a Boveen Ginger cow and has five stars on the replacement index. She was scanned in calf to Mount William Kevin and sold for €2,400.

The next sale of pedigree continental cattle takes place in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 13 April, where there are 82 animals catalogued for sale.