Donegal’s Ardstewartpoll herd dominates Hereford action
THERE was a low turnout of Herefords for the opening sale of the year for the breed, which was hosted by the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society at the Showgrounds, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday.
The small entry of Hereford bulls and heifers was included in the mix breed sale of noncontinental beef breeds at the second sale of 2019 at the venue.
Donegal breeder Nelson McCrabbe dominated the entry, showing four animals from his Ardstewartpoll pedigree Hereford herd at Demense, Raphoe, Lifford with all four being adorned with rosettes in the judging ring, before each going on to find new homes under the hammer of auctioneer Francis McGowan in the salesring.
Roscommon breeder Michael J Conry showed the top Hereford bull at the show, after show judge, Joe Moran, Kilkenny awarded the red rosette to Rathnollag Harry 817 from the herd at Rathnallog, Ballinagare, Castlerea.
The September 2017born, Harry, was bred by the exhibitor from the dam, Kye Rina 711, and by the well-known and highly successful sire, Free Town Hotspur, to breed the three star Terminal Index prizewinner.
The only entry from the herd, the bull sold for €2,250, the third highest price recorded for the breed at the sale.
The top prizewinner in the Hereford heifers was Ardstewartpoll 1 Cathy from Nicholas McCrabbe’s herd, a February 2017-born from the herd dam and sire, Ardstewartpoll 1 Grace (d) and Ardstewartpoll 1 Walker (s).
The five star Replacement Index heifer within the breed and four star rating across all beef breeds, is laden with full five stars for carcass conformation and weight gain expected progeny performance sold for €1,800.
Second prizewinner in the class, Ardstewartpoll 1 Claire, from the same herd sold for €1,600.
Second and third placed bulls which came from the Ardstewartpoll 1 herd, Ardstewartpoll 1 Cavalier, and Ardstewartpoll 1 Chism, respectively sold for €2,350 and €2,000.
The price leading Hereford was Portanob Roy, a February 2017-born bull from the herd of John Canty at Pubblestown, Kildalkey, Co Meath which sold for €2,400.
The bull was bred by the dam, Ballymartin Karen, and the sire, Balleen Revival.
Hereford bulls recorded an average price of €2,140 while the heifers averaged €1,700.