A massiive crowd packed into the small ringside at Leinster Marts Kilcullen last Wednesday 16 January for the dispersal of the Sheplands Farm suckler herd.

The herd was managed by Heinz Eggert and the farm had been a previous participant in the Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef programme.

The sale included 89 spring calving cows, 11 in-calf heifers and four pedigree stock bulls. Having been established in 1990, breeding was dominated by the use of bulls with high milk and fertility traits while keeping a focus on good conformation and good functionality.

Heinz had worked with mostly Limousin genetics during this time, with weight gains in calves and stock performance having been maintained at very high levels over the years.

Docility was also a major focus for the herd.

The herd was vaccinated for BVD, Lepto and Salmonella and was TB-free for the last 12 years. The herd had a very high replacement index at €128, with cows as high as €220 included in the sale.

First-calving heifers' average replacement index came in at €160. Average calving interval for the herd was 359 days. Cows were in-calf to Simmental, Limousin and Hereford stock bulls and were calving in February, March and April.

Trade was brisk, with the average price for the herd coming in at €1,410, which was very good for 100 animals sold.

Three- and four-year-old cows made from €1,600 to €1,800. Older cows were easier sold, making between €1,300 and €1,500.

Eleven first-calving heifers all calving at two years old averaged €1,310.

Speaking after the sale, herd manager Heinz Eggert said it was tough to see the herd being sold but was very happy with the prices, especially for some of the very high-index cows. The farm owners are yet undecided about what they will do with the farm but are currently exploring opportunities around contract-rearing.