Spirited bidding brings good year for sales to close
Top price of the day hits €4,600 for a Charolais bull as firm trading continues in Carrick-on-Shannon for final bull sale of the season, reports
A GOOD year for pedigree livestock sales has ended with a continuation of the firm trading for most of the animals on offer at the final sale for the season, a mixed breeds event at the Showgrounds, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday.
Under the auspices of the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society, the sale attracted a turnout of just over 80 bulls and heifers, Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn, Simmental, Limousin and Charolais to the Showgrounds on the Boyle Road, with the spirited bidding for the quality lots easing the task of auctioneer Francis McGowan, from Mohill, throughout the afternoon.
The top price of the day was €4,600 which Thomas Monaghan, from Loughrea paid for the Charolais bull, Makief Major from the herd of Derek Woods of Makief, Killeshandra, Co Cavan.
The 15-month-old is a half twin to a female out of the dam Dereskit Gabrielle by the highly rated sire Major, with Pirate genes on the dam side, and is a four star for both Terminal and Replacement indices within the breed. Makief Major attracted very lively bidding from the ringside before being knocked down to the new owner.
Strength in demand
The second highest price of €4,400 was also paid for a Charolais bull, 13-month-old Rambo Mark, from the herd of Michael Oates from Kilvoy, Mantua, Castlerea, Co Roscommon while another Charolais left the sales ring at a bid of €4,400 with the owner deeming that the reserve had not been met.
The breed also commanded the third highest price when Jerry O’Keeffe of Woodlawn, Grange, Knocklong, Co Limerick received €3,600 for his 13-month-old son of the sire, Pirate, Grangewood Magic 2 out of his home-bred dam Grangewood Imp ET.
Auctioneer Francis McGowan described the trade a “good for the quality bulls” considering it is the end of the season, and most of the breeders requiring bulls for the current season having already made their purchases.
Overall quality in the Angus bulls on offer was not on par with previous sales, but nevertheless the strength in demand was reflected in the 80pc clearance. The top price for the breed was €3,000 paid by O Jennings of Hollymount, Claremorris for Drumcrow Nero from the herd of Margaret McKiernan from Drumcrow, Corlismore, Co Cavan, who also collected the third highest price for the breed at €2,500 for Drumcrowe Plush.
The March 2016-born Nero was bred out of the home-bred dam Drumcrowe Pom Pom and by the sire Friarstown Ideal Pete, with five stars for Terminal and four stars for Replacement indices.
The second highest price for an Angus bull was €2,550 paid for 13-month-old Lakeshore Lord Jock from the herd of Patsy Smith from Tullyinchin Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, Co Cavan.
Donal Kenny from Mullingar paid the highest price for a Limousin bull, when he purchased David Abbott’s Woodview Leo from the herd at Woodview House, Drumcrow, Killeshandra, Co Cavan for €3,050.
The April 2016-born is by the sire Ampertaine Foreman and out of the dam Portnason Gertie with a full book of five stars on both Terminal and Replacement indexes for the breed and across all breeds.