Sale season opens strong

Average prices were up by 19pc at the first Charolais Society sale of the season, reports

THERE WAS a good start to the season for pedigree Charolais breeders with the average price up by over 18pc at the first Irish Charolais Society bull show and sale for 2017 at GVM Mart, Tullamore on Saturday.

Lively bidding from the large attendance resulted in auctioneer,Tom Cox recording both the average and top price up on the same sale last year, while his hammer knocked down two out of every three bulls on offer at the sale.

Cream of the sale were two price toppers from the herd of John Murphy, Crane, Ferns, Co Wexford. These sold for a total of €11,600.

September 2015 born, Garryphelim Lar was purchased for €6,100 by Edmund Burns, Lattin, Co Tipperary. The price topper is the progeny of Galbally Debbie and by the sire, Doonally New.

The second highest price was paid for September 2015 born, Garryphelim Leader by the same sire, out of Galbally Gracefull. He was bought by Michael O’Sullivan, Caherciveen, Co Kerry at €5,500.

Crossmolina’s Alan Wood showed Crossmolina Marcus to win the Champion of the Show.

The January 2016 born bull out of Crossmolina Grainne and by the sire, Alwent Goldbar, was purchased by Martin Gilroy, Kilcon, Ballina, Co Mayo for €4,800.

Reserve Champion

The Reserve Champion was Gallaway Lanzac, exhibited by Michael Kiernan, Carrigallen, Co Cavan and purchased for €3,000 by James Nagle, Ennistymon, Co Clare. He is bred out of Lyonsdemesne Uma and by the sire, Cloverfield Excelent.

There was an overall clearance of 66pc at an average of €3,666, compared to €3,100 recorded at the same sale in 2016. But the hallmark of the sale was the consistency of the trade with the bulk of the sales between €3,000 and €4,000 throughout the afternoon.

The third highest price was €5,100 paid to Brendan Feeney, Enniscrone, Co Sligo for Bostonia Littlejohn, while Sliabhbloom Lucky Lad from the herd of Daniel Weston, Rosenalis, Co Laois sold for €5,000. Indeed, the top of three bulls from the herd sold for a total in excess of €11,000.

A further six bulls topped €4,000 from the herds of Michael Daniel Daly, Tullaghan, Co Leitrim (€4,700), Willie Flynn, Ballinasloe (€4,600), Michaell Grant, Buncrana (€4,400), Christopher McCarthy, Mullingar (€4,200), Michael Kiernan, Carrigallen (€4,000), and Basil Rothwell, Killeshandra (€4,000).