Records tumble at Dungannon Hereford sale

Nothern Irish Hereford breeders saw records broken at the Northern Ireland Hereford Breeders Association Premier Show and Sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart.

Setting a new centre record and selling at 5100gns was Lisrace Loyalist V from David Wilson, Magheraveely, Co Fermanagh. He found a new home with pedigree breeders John and Melanie Williams who run the Anhay herd in Cornwall. This April 2009-born bull by Lisrace Lionheart IV is out of Lisrace Lucy, a Lisrace Lifeliner daughter and was backed by impressive performance figures placing him in the top 5% of the breed.

The Reserve Champion Solpoll 1 Grand-Slam from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down, sold for the second top price of the day when he changed hands at 4200gns.

This one is an October 2009-born son of the McMordie’s stock bull Solpoll 1 Dynamite and is out of Solpoll 1 Starlet, a daughter of Knockmanta 1 Elan. With performance figures in the top 1% of the breed and also qualifying as a Superior Carcass Sire he sold to local pedigree breeder Des Kelly for the Mullin herd at Ballygawley, Co Tyrone.  

The youngest bull in the yard was December 2009-born Solitude 1 Gold Bar exhibited by Andrew McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down. This one sold at 3000gns to A and R Patterson who run the Cabra herd at Hillsborough, Co Down. Sired by the well known Solpoll 1 Dynamite he is out of Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 5.

Selling at 2900gns was the winner of the middle bull class, May 2009-born Graceland 1 Fonz from Robin Irvine, Whitecross, Co Armagh. He is backed by performance figures in the top 5% of the breed and is by Udel 1 R51 WWW Dot and sold to M Horner.

There was also a small selection of females on offer and setting another new record price for the Premier Sale was April 2009-born in calf heifer Christies 1 Best Spice. She was knocked down at 2500gns to breed newcomer Mark Patterson, Ayrshire. The show’s judge, Colin Christie, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, exhibited this daughter of Topgen 1 Supremo which is out of Seaconpoll 1 Nice Spice.

Following that 1 2000gns was the reserve female champion from the pre-sale show from Dessie Martin, Saintfield. This was paid for October 2008-born heifer Craigy Gerty 1. She sold in calf to Parkhill Pompeii due to calf in May and was purchased by Graeme Christie for 2000gns as a foundation female. She was sired by Kilmessan Ted.

Averages: 14 bulls £2618, 4 heifers £1916 (Dungannon Farmers Mart).