The Western Simmental Club’s annual sale of commercial breeding heifers has built up a strong reputation through the years of having top-quality heifers and attracts buyers from north and south of the border. This year’s sale had 88 in-calf heifers, 75 maiden yearling heifers and 32 weanlings on offer, the majority of which were four- and five-star heifers.
In general, this year’s sale met with an easier trade for most categories of stock when compared with last year’s. The overall clearance rate was 85%.
While there were some headline prices and good individual seller averages, the average for the 67 in-calf heifers sold was €1,860, which is back €140 on the 2015 average of €2,000.
The trade for the 68 maiden heifers sold followed a similar pattern, with the average sale price of €1,245 back €179 on the 2015 average. Again, quality really counted in this section of the sale and there were some standout prices, as listed below. The final section of saw the 30 weanling heifers that were sold enter the ring and this group sold for an average of €1,364, up €142 on last year’s average, with a few exceptional prices.
Auctioneer Eamon Gaffney said: “Quality lots met a very good trade, with the plainer heifer back on price compared to last year’s sale. We have a lot of repeat customers who come to this sale and are willing to go the distance when it comes to quality and that showed here today with some exceptional prices being paid, especially in the young maiden heifer section.”
Some top prices
In-calf females
76% clearance rate.Lot 13: A May 2014-born five-star heifer (€96) from Frank Mulligan, Keelogues. She was in calf to QCD, due on 2/01/17 and sold for the top price of €2,420.Lot 14: A September 2013-born four-star heifer (€86) also from Frank Mulligan, Keelogues. She was in-calf to APZ, due on 17/12/16 and sold for €2,220.Lot 46: A March 2014-born three-star heifer (€72) by Seaview Tommy (SEV) from Colin Callan, Reaghstown. She was in-calf to AYX, due on 10/12/16 and sold for €2,220.Lot 70: A January 2014-born five-star heifer (€113) from William Cunningham, Curramore. She was in-calf to SXZ, due on 13/10/2016 and sold for €2,200.Lot 31: A September 2013-born five-star heifer (€138) from Geraldine Callan, Carricklane. She was in-calf to KEZ, due on 08/11/16 and sold for €2,170.Maiden/yearling heifers
91% clearance rate.Lot 142: A December 2014-born five-star heifer (€117) by Curaheen Apostle (APZ) and out of a Hurtig (HRG) cow from Liam Kelly, Upper Kilcastle. She weighed 580kg and sold for €1,620.Lot 122: A February 2015-born five-star heifer (€133) by a stock bull, Cregane Alex, and out of a DPY cow from Padraig Burns, Knockalough. She weighed 545kg and sold for €1,600.Lot 138: A March 2015-born five-star heifer (€135) by a stock bull, Ballingar Donald, and out of a Ballingar Topper cow from Liam Kelly, Upper Kilcastle. She weighed 560kg and sold for €1,600.Lot 156: An October 2014-born five-star heifer (€94) by a stock bull, Moatepark Art, and out of a SI/BB dam from Paul Cryan, Tonraponra. She weighed 605kg and sold for €1,570.Weaning
heifers
94% clearance rate.Lot 207: An October 2015-born five-star heifer (€113) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 525kg and sold for €6,750.Lot 205: An October 2015-born five-star heifer (€103) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/LM dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 455kg and sold for €3,000.Lot 208: An October 2015-born five-star heifer (€100) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/LM dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 500kg and sold for €2,600.Lot 209: An October 2015-born four-star heifer (€88) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/LM dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 470kg and sold for €2,500.Lot 210: An October 2015-born four-star heifer (€82) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/CH dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 475kg and sold for €1,800.
The Western Simmental Club’s annual sale of commercial breeding heifers has built up a strong reputation through the years of having top-quality heifers and attracts buyers from north and south of the border. This year’s sale had 88 in-calf heifers, 75 maiden yearling heifers and 32 weanlings on offer, the majority of which were four- and five-star heifers.
In general, this year’s sale met with an easier trade for most categories of stock when compared with last year’s. The overall clearance rate was 85%.
While there were some headline prices and good individual seller averages, the average for the 67 in-calf heifers sold was €1,860, which is back €140 on the 2015 average of €2,000.
The trade for the 68 maiden heifers sold followed a similar pattern, with the average sale price of €1,245 back €179 on the 2015 average. Again, quality really counted in this section of the sale and there were some standout prices, as listed below. The final section of saw the 30 weanling heifers that were sold enter the ring and this group sold for an average of €1,364, up €142 on last year’s average, with a few exceptional prices.
Auctioneer Eamon Gaffney said: “Quality lots met a very good trade, with the plainer heifer back on price compared to last year’s sale. We have a lot of repeat customers who come to this sale and are willing to go the distance when it comes to quality and that showed here today with some exceptional prices being paid, especially in the young maiden heifer section.”
Some top prices
In-calf females
76% clearance rate.Lot 13: A May 2014-born five-star heifer (€96) from Frank Mulligan, Keelogues. She was in calf to QCD, due on 2/01/17 and sold for the top price of €2,420.Lot 14: A September 2013-born four-star heifer (€86) also from Frank Mulligan, Keelogues. She was in-calf to APZ, due on 17/12/16 and sold for €2,220.Lot 46: A March 2014-born three-star heifer (€72) by Seaview Tommy (SEV) from Colin Callan, Reaghstown. She was in-calf to AYX, due on 10/12/16 and sold for €2,220.Lot 70: A January 2014-born five-star heifer (€113) from William Cunningham, Curramore. She was in-calf to SXZ, due on 13/10/2016 and sold for €2,200.Lot 31: A September 2013-born five-star heifer (€138) from Geraldine Callan, Carricklane. She was in-calf to KEZ, due on 08/11/16 and sold for €2,170.Maiden/yearling heifers
91% clearance rate.Lot 142: A December 2014-born five-star heifer (€117) by Curaheen Apostle (APZ) and out of a Hurtig (HRG) cow from Liam Kelly, Upper Kilcastle. She weighed 580kg and sold for €1,620.Lot 122: A February 2015-born five-star heifer (€133) by a stock bull, Cregane Alex, and out of a DPY cow from Padraig Burns, Knockalough. She weighed 545kg and sold for €1,600.Lot 138: A March 2015-born five-star heifer (€135) by a stock bull, Ballingar Donald, and out of a Ballingar Topper cow from Liam Kelly, Upper Kilcastle. She weighed 560kg and sold for €1,600.Lot 156: An October 2014-born five-star heifer (€94) by a stock bull, Moatepark Art, and out of a SI/BB dam from Paul Cryan, Tonraponra. She weighed 605kg and sold for €1,570.Weaning
heifers
94% clearance rate.Lot 207: An October 2015-born five-star heifer (€113) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 525kg and sold for €6,750.Lot 205: An October 2015-born five-star heifer (€103) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/LM dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 455kg and sold for €3,000.Lot 208: An October 2015-born five-star heifer (€100) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/LM dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 500kg and sold for €2,600.Lot 209: An October 2015-born four-star heifer (€88) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/LM dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 470kg and sold for €2,500.Lot 210: An October 2015-born four-star heifer (€82) by a stock bull, Monaduff Snorter, and out of a BB/CH dam from Declan Oates, Tawley. She weighed 475kg and sold for €1,800. 
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: