Quality counted in Tullamore on Saturday with lots of buyers for good bulls, while plainer bulls were harder to shift.

After a number of home sales, just 70 of the 103 catalogued bulls were presented for sale. The clearance rate was good at 69% and the average price was €3,300, just shy of last year’s average of €3,581.

Judge Darragh McManus tapped out William Foster’s Berrymount Norman as his senior champion. This November born bull was a son of Pirate and out of a Major cow and had a five-star terminal index along with a low calving figure of +6.5%. He was sold for €5,100 to a Co Tyrone suckler farmer.

Junior Champion

The day’s junior champion came all the way from Kerry. Oliver Mason's January 2018-born bull was by Inverlochy Ferdie and out of a Williamstown Urban cow. He had a five-star terminal index and a calving figure of +8.9%. He was sold at €3,200 to a Galway suckler farmer.

Parkearagh Oisin, junior champion from Oliver Mason, Rathanny, Tralee, Co Kerry

The day’s top price of €5,700 went to Matt Ryan, Clonismullen, Drum, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co Tipperary for his December-born Goldstar Echo son, Kilvilcorris Noah. By Goldstar Echo and out of an Excellent dam, Noah had a five-star terminal index and a calving figure of +6.6%. He sold to a Co Westmeath-based suckler farmer.

The Blanchefield herd owned by Philip Leech was dispersed at the sale with a top call of €4,750 for a March 2013 Doonally Nicefor cow with and April-born calf at foot.

For a full sale report and analysis, see next week’s Irish Farmers Journal.

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