Aberdeen Angus bulls peak at 4,400gns at Dungannon

Aberdeen Angus bulls sold to a top of 4,400gns at this week’s native breeds show and sale at Dungannon Farmer’s Mart (22 April).

Overall 10 lots levelled at £2,793 – up by £308 on the year, with four more bulls sold.

Sale leader was the male champion Taugh Blane Black Knight M166, a 20-month-old Hallington Endeavour G136 son, bred by William Wallace from Dromore, County Down.

This bull is out of one the herd’s foundation cows, Croftburn Blackbird H331 – purchased from Bernard Mairs for 9,000gns at the Croftburn dispersal in 2009. She won the female and reserve supreme breed championship at Balmoral Show in 2010. Setting a new record for the Taugh Blane herd, he sold to dairy farmer George Hazlett from Dungannon, County Tyrone.

Next best at 3,500gns was Drummeer Blackblaze N127 from Alan and Naomi Morrison, who run a 15-cow herd at Maguirebridge, County Fermanagh. The second prize-winning bull carries a TSI of +30 and an SRI of +41 and is also sired by the Netherton Figo C244 son Hallington Endeavour G136.

This 13-month-old bull, which is out of the Gigginstown House Drew E300 daughter Knockadrinan Blackbird G400, was purchased by David Dunn, Donemana, County Tyrone.

Ulster and Ireland rugby star Rory Best from Gilford, County Armagh, realised 2,800gns for the second prize-winning Loughans Mark M404. Sired by the Nakkeg Nord 913 son Ballycaher Faithfull, he is out of a Corridan-bred dam. This one is in the breed’s top 40% for calving ease at +2.1, and sold to N Cunningham, Kilkeel, County Down.

At the same money was Leggygowan Ernie N737, bred by Danny Ward, Saintfield, County Down. This 13-month-old bull is sired by Netherton Mr Brazilian E337 and is out of a homebred dam by Woodvale Roscoe Y054. Buyer was Eric Walker, Keady, County Armagh.

A third and final call of 2,800gns was paid to Alwyn and Carol Armour and Sons, Dromore, County Down, for the third placed Woodford Turbo N526. This March 2013-born Ankonian Elixir 100 son is out of a homebred dam by Cudlobe Millennium 12M. This one found a new home with Glenn Cuddy, Donaghmore, County Tyrone.

The reserve male champion Camus Eminent n131 bred by Joe Campbell, Strabane, County Tyrone, made 2,500gns when selling to S Patton, Doagh, County Antrim. This January 2013-born is sired by Goulding Jumbo King K436 and is out of Camus Eliza J685.

Female trade peaked at 1,600gns for the four-year-old cow Crieve Parisbuns Pop K834 from Frank Moore, Newtownabbey, County Antrim. By Old Glenort Popeye H777, she is out of a homebred dam by the former Balmoral Show champion Bruno of Spittal Shore. She sold with her five-week-old heifer calf, by Old Glenort Evolution L296, at foot, to Alan Clarke from Randalstown.

(Dungannon Farmers Mart).