The Irish Charolais cattle society hosted its spring premier in Elphin on Saturday, with a very strong trade throughout.

Overall, 48 of the 61 bulls present sold to average €4,494. This average is up a massive €709 on the year.

Leading trade with a call of €8,200 was Cloonradoon Ricky. Bred and exhibited by Anthony McDermott, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, Ricky is a son of popular commercial bull Fiston, with Cavelands Fenian on the dam’s side.

Backing its own breeding, the successful bidder was the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC), the distributor of semen from Ricky’s sire and grandsire. The January 2020-born bull boasts five stars on nearly all traits, with a beef calving figure of 6.4%.

AI centre Coneyisland Genetics was also in buying form, securing Clenagh Picasso ET for €7,400. Brought out by Michael and Barry Quinn, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, this October 2019-born bull is a son of the old reliable Domino, with Doonally New and Pirate on the dam’s side. Picasso carried five stars on all terminal traits.

The females were just as strong, topping at €8,000. This was paid for the June 2019-born Roughan Pandora from pat McClean, Lifford, Co Donegal. Sired by French bull Roughan Dix De Coe, she goes back on a Roughan Echo-bred dam.

Also selling well was the December 2018-born Glenree Olive, which hit the market at €7,400. This daughter of Nelson is out of a Cottage Devon-bred dam and sold in-calf to Whitecliffe James. She was brought out by John Anthony O’Grady.

Full report to follow.