Dungannon Charolais lead trade at 4900gns

Charolais met a strong trade peaking at 4900gns in Dungannon on Saturday at the Northern Ireland Club’s official spring fixture. The event attracted one of the largest ever entries and a near total clearance with 54 lots selling to average £2468.

Leading trade at Dungannon for Charolais bulls over the weekend was Rowandale Burbon, selling for 4900gns. Burbon is an 18 month old Anneskeagh Sandman son out of a homebred cow going back to the 10,000gns Harestone Nighthawk. Bred and exhibited by Darren McKay, Ballymena, this first class prize winner sold to Martin O’Kane, Dungiven.

Next to go at 4400gns was the 20 month old Crannon Bebo from Martin Donaghy, Dungannon to James McKeagney, Upperlands.

An Oldstone Egbert son and out of a Balnuith bred cow by Lochend Pirate, Bebo was awarded the overall reserve male championship by judge, Neil Caul, Tealing, Dundee.

A bid of 4100gns secured Ballyreagh Blaze, a 22 month old second class prize winner for K Martin, Newcastle. Bred and exhibited by Stephen Sommerville, Ballygawley.

Blaze was by Doonally New and out of an Egbert sired homebred cow that had bred both supreme female and male champions at the NI National Charolais Show, Fintona.

The Bothwells were among the money with two more entries, both by Doonally New. Their Killadeas Brando, a 19 month old who earlier on had claimed the senior male, male and the overall supreme championships, was also out of a Nighthawk sired cow.

He was knocked down sold for 3700gns to James Kane, Doagh. Minutes later the Bothwells 18 month old Killadeas Benny, out of a Brampton Embark sired homebred cow made 3600gns to Coyle Brothers, Omagh.

Females were also in strong demand with two, three year old heifer entries from John Currie, Ballymena leading the trade and scooping the silverware. Leader at 4000gns was the female and day’s overall reserve champion, Tullygarley Anita, a Tullygarley Rollerball daughter and out of homebred dam by Bowerhouses Topper. She was sold in calf to the 25,000gns Perth champion, Goldies Unbeatable. The buyer was D Herron, Broughshane.

A bid of 3500gns secured Tullygarley Annette for William Harron, Glenavy. This Goldies Unbeatable daughter was out of a homebred cow by Derrygiff Mills and awarded the reserve female title.

Averages: 54 bulls £2,468.47; 14 females £1,914.28