Strong end of year demand for best of pedigree breeding
DRUMMIN LIMOUSINS have enjoyed one of their best ever years and the Co Clare herd, based in the shadow of Bunratty Castle, was one of the Irish Limousin Society host farms for the International Limousin congress.
Run by John and Paula McInerney, and their family Jean and Eoghan, the Drummin Limousins have an abundance of the best breed qualities. They have bred at least nine National Limousin Show All Ireland Calf Champions and in 2016 won a basket of championship and class rosettes on the agricultural show circuit.
The herd’s top result was taking home €26,700 for two homebred heifers from the elite breed sale at Kilkenny, held in conjunction with the international congress.
The multi award winning Drummin J-Lo ET topped the sale, when the September 2014-born daughter of Wilodge Vantastic and the legendary donor dam, Drummin Cliona ET, was purchased by Michael McNally, Cookstown, Co Tyrone for €16,200.
Meanwhile, demand for Irish Angus heifers peaked at the recent Elite Irish Angus Show and Sale at Carrick-onShannon where interest in quality lots exceeded expectations. John Appelbe, was rewarded for the long journey from Clonakilty when his September 2015-born heifer, Carrigroe Mrs Dunbar, topped the sale.
Auctioneer, Francis McGowan’s hammer fell at €8,300 on the bid of a Northern Irish breeder for the classy heifer, bred out of Carrigroe Fire Cracker and by the sire, Nightingale Dunbar.
The peak price of the year for Charolais females was achieved at the recent Christmas Cracker Show and Sale at Elphin where Brendan and Niall Canning, Rosses Point, Co Sligo received €8,200 for his October 2015 born Sagesse Lauren.
It rounded off a very successful year for her in the show ring as she won the reserve female championship at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore and also won her class at the National Charolais Show in September. The Farmleigh Ludovic daughter was purchased by a Co Cavan breeder.
Brisk demand was recorded for pedigree Hereford heifers at the Allowdale Herd Special Hereford Heifer sale on farm at Knocknacolan, Kanturk, Co Cork.
Allowdale Serena, a smashing yearling – by UK bull Haven Kingpin – went for €4,800 to the herd of Gerry and Ciara McNamara, Labasheeda, Ennis.
In the dairy sector, 2016 was a difficult year all round which affected both demand and prices. Unlike other pedigree breed societies, IHFA does not hold an ‘elite’ show/sale.
However quality sold well at pedigree herd draft sales.
Tom and James Kelly’s Monamore herd draft sale in October recorded €6,000 for Monamore Sevens Fame.
And €4,200 was realised for Windfield Katie 17, a two-year-old Bomaz Emerald daughter from the high protein home-bred Katie family at the sale in conjunction with the IHFA Open Day on the Windfield farm of Tommy and Orla Screene, at Menlough, Co Galway last Summer.