Towerhill herd hits the heights in Tullamore
Limerick breeder Seamus Aherne enjoyed a double success at the Simmnental Society Show and Sale, reports Martin Ryan RESULTS
IT WAS A day to remember for for the Towerhill Simmental herd when the home-bred, Rubyjen Harry’s Fox was named class winner and Male Champion and also secured the highest price at the Irish Simmental Cattle Society Show and Sale at Tullamore.
Bred and exhibited by Seamus Aherne, Towerhill, Cappamore, Co Limerick, the champion sold for €6,600 to the Simmental herd of Harte Peat Ltd in Clones.
Out of the dam, Rubyjen Foxy Zoe, the 12-month old bull, is by the sire, Curaheen Dickens, which also bred the €8,000 top price bull at the recent Roscommon sale for the Co Limerick herd.
A second bull from the herd, Rubyjen Here’s Harry, sold for €4,000 on Friday.
The Reserve Male Champion rosette was handed by show judge Frank Kelly fromFermanagh to Gordon Salter, Dunmanway, Co Cork for Mohona Ganster, a November-2015 born bull, by the sire, Clonagh Direct Debit, and out of Mahona Edwina.
The bull sold for €4,700, next in line on the bidding scale to the champion to become the joint holder of the second highest price with Sean McKiernan’s Corlesmore Hank, an April 2016-born bull from his farm at Corlismore, Co Cavan.
There was good demand for the top quality bulls, with a clearance rate of 60pc, but the turnout for the sale was well down on the catalogue entry.
While the top bulls sold well, trade overall was fairly tough.
Auctioneer, Denis Barrett was left with no choice but to direct a few animals out of the sales ring without the minimum opening bid of €1,800.
Nonetheless a number of the bulls sold well. John Tuohy, Coose, Whitegate, Co Clare received €4,300 for Coose Harold out of a Curraheen dam and by Promi sire.
Derek Costello, Killineer, Drogheda received €4,200 for Barnattin Hitower with the Kilbride bloodline on the sire side.
Joseph Kelly, Ballynacally, Ennis received €3,600 for Mount Hugo from a Curaheen dam and Glebefarm dam.
William Connell, Baylin, Athlone was paid €3,300 for Glynwood Harry, another Curraheen progeny on the sire side.
John Finnegan, Coachford, Co Cork received €3,000 for Leeherd Harry 286 by the sire, Anatrim Dubai.
In the female section, the Champion of the show was Clonagh Henrietta Murphy, exhibited by Garreth Behan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise who made it a double for the herd with Jennalyn Hilary Desire awarded the reserve rosette.
The February 2016-born champion is out of Knockane Trish and by the sire, Clonagh Direct Debit, while the reserve is by the sire, Kilbride Farm Dragoon out of the dam, Jennalyn Ebony Desire. Neither reached their reserve in the salesring.
Top price was paid for Mahona Georgina from the herd of Gordon and Susan Salter, Dunmanway, which sold for €2,700. She is a Kilbride Farm Farm Delboy progeny on the sire side and out of the dam, Corbally Dolly.
Other heifers from the herd, Mahona Glenda 2, sold for €1,900 and they received €1,825 for Mahona Happy.
The second highest price was paid for Mahona Hettie, a Clonagh Direct Debit progeny on the sire side and by the dam, Mahona Endora Babe, from the same herd, which sold for €2,300.
There was a clearance of 58pc among the females from a small turnout. Among the higher prices paid were Garrett Behan’s Clonagh Holly Fabby sold for €1,900. Bulls born between November 1, 2015 and January 13, 2016 1 Gordan and Susan Salter , Mohona, Dunmanway, Co. Cork 2 Liam Martin , Millbrook, Templederry, Nenagh, Co Tipperary 3 John & Barry Duffy, Laragh, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan
Bulls born between February 1, 2016 and March 21, 2016 1 Stephen Saunders, Ross, Culohill, Portlaoise, Co Laois 2 William Connell , Glynwood, Baylin, Athlone, Co Westmeath 3 Christopher Storey , Debbicot, Mountmellick, Co Laois
Bulls born between March 31, 2016 and May 31, 2016 1 Seamus Aherne , Towerhill, Cappamore, Co Limerick 2 Joseph Kelly , Mount, Ballynacally, Co Clare 3 Derek Costello , Barnattin, Killineer, Drogheda, Co Louth
Heifers born between February 28, 2015 and January 18, 2016 1 & 2 Gordan and Susan Salter , Mohona, Dunmanway, Co. Cork 3 John and Barry Duffy , Laragh, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan
Heifers born between January 29, 2016 and March 31, 2016 1, 2 & 3 Garreth T Behan , Clonagowan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, Co Laois