A packed ringside saw a 100% clearance at Saturday's Hillcrest Simmental sale at GVM Mart, Tullamore, Co Offaly, with plenty of interest for top-quality lots.

Many of the lots went to existing Irish breeders keen to pick up some of the famous Hillcrest bloodlines.

Top call

A top call of €7,200 was made for the September 2014-born Raceview Favourite cow at Paudge Mulhare's full reduction sale.

The Hillcrest Champion-sired cow was out of a Kilbride Farm Newry dam and was purchased from the herd of Peter O'Connell, Knopogue, Mallow, Co Cork.

She was sold with her May-born bull calf by Clonagh Just a Dream. She had a four-star replacement index of €89 and heads across the border to the herd of Leslie Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

Next-highest price went to the February 2018-born Lochview Kandy. Originally bred by Patrick McNamee, The Heath, Portlaoise, Co Laois, this heifer was by Kilbride Farm Bantry 10 and out of a Glebefarm Tyson cow.

Lot 10 Fohera Emma, a March 2013-born cow, sold for €2,800. \ Alfie Shaw

She was knocked down to Martin Reape, Bonniconnlon, Co Mayo, for €7,000. She has five stars across the board, with a replacement index of €146.

Sligo breeder Gerry Lenehan snapped up the third cow into the ring.

Hillcrest Grace, a February 2015-born cow, was by Hillcrest Champion and out of Auroch Belle ET. She had a five-star replacement index at €134 and sold with her March-born bull calf by Clonagh Just a Dream at foot for €5,500.

Eight straws of Hillcrest Champion sold for €463 each.

See our full sale report in next week's Irish Farmers Journal.