Roscommon breeder secures top price at Hereford show

IT may have been a long trip south from Elphin, but well worth it for pedigree Hereford breeder Padraig McGrath.

He was rewarded with a €2,000 ‘bonus’ for Kyle Knight 750 when he topped the prices at the Irish Hereford Breeders Show and Sale at GVM Mart, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, six days after he had turned down the lesser offer.

Oliver Cullinan, Tuber, Co Clare paid €4,200 when he purchased the Free Town Hotspur-sired bull which has great shape and length and the figures to match, scoring 5 and 4 stars on the terminal and replacement indexes.

The next highest price at the sale was €2,850, which was achieved by two breeders.

First in to the ring was Timothy Minogue, Curraghmore, Ballina, Co Tipperary, with his bull Ryle Glen Deed, born Jan 2016.

He was followed shortly by David Larkin, Kilcormac, Birr with his bull, Cill Cormaic Octavia, a home-bred bull born April 2016 and sired by Cill Cormaic Lincoln.

Champion of the Show went to Ballen Merlin, a 20-month old bull exhibited by Thomas Brennan, Balleen, Freshford, which failed to reach his reserve. The rosette for Reserve Champion went to Cullaun Popeye, sired by Kye Storm 508, and exhibited by Henry Stanley, Erril, Portlaoise, which sold for €2,800.

An average price of €2,420 was recorded with a 93pc clearance, which equated to just two bulls being unsold.

Michael O’Keffee from Newmarket Co Cork had his Hereford Bull Calf Champion from this year’s Nenagh Show on exhibition. With a star rating 4 and 5 stars for terminal and replacement indices and sired by Trillick Best, Michael’s bull Gurteragh Rossa 699 ET sold for €2,800 to Donal Curtin Temple from West Limerick.