‘King’ crowned at Hereford show

‘CASTLEDALY KING’ lived up to his name for his breeder, Michael Farrell, when he topped the prices at the final sale of the season for the Hereford Breed Society at Central Auctions Mart, Nenagh selling for €3,700.

The 18-month-old, double four star ‘King’, from the herd at Kilcleagh Castledaly, Moate, Co Westmeath was sired by ‘Cill Cormaic Kasper’, one of the most popular Hereford bulls at Dovea AI, and now joins the Ballyaville herd of Joe Deverell at Greasehill, Co Offaly.

Rory Farrell’s ‘Ballinveney Tiger’ from Toomevara secured the second highest price at €3,600 which was paid by Phil Smyth from the Ardmulchan herd in Navan, Co Meath for this fine 13-month-old bull containing bloodlines from ‘Yarram Star’ and ‘Bowmont Storm’ which are largely responsible for giving ‘Tiger’ a more traditional Hereford appearance, something that Rory Farrell would be well recognised for.

Next in line on the price league was Padraig McGrath’s 13-month-old ‘Kye Hotspur 783’ from the herd at Elphin, Co Roscommon which sold for €3,400 to the Kilsunny herd near Thurles. Having five stars for both indexes and an impressive calving difficulty of 2.8pc, he was sired by the well known ‘Free Town Hotspur’.

Champion of the show was awarded to ‘Cill Cormaic Padraig Pearse’ bred by David Larkin, Kilcormac, Birr. The 16-month-old bull sired by David’s stock bull ‘Cill Cormaic Lincoln’ sold for €2,800.

The sale achieved a clearance rate of 72pc with bulls selling for an average price of just under €2,550, which is slightly less than last year’s sale average under both headings, but was nevertheless a strong indication that Herefords continue to be in demand for crossbreeding.