Dungannon Simmentals hit 4,200gns
Pedigree Simmental bulls reached a ceiling of 4,200gns at this week’s spring show and sale, hosted by the Northern Ireland Club at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.
Quality bulls met a ready market, and following a 92% clearance auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirmed that 22 bulls changed hands to average ÂŁ2,866 – an increase of ÂŁ270 on this time last year when 18 lots leveled at ÂŁ2,596.
The first bull into the sale ring, Ashland Bingo, attracted the second highest price of the day at 4,100gns for the father and son team of Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo,
His Breedplan figures include an eye muscle area of +3.8, placing in the top ten per cent of the breed, a TSI of +78 and an SRI of +70. This second prize winner caught the eye of James Savage from Portaferry,
Following close behind at 4,000gns was the day’s male and reserve supreme champion Kilbride Farm Blizzard brought out by Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman from Doagh,
Sired by the home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry son, Kilbride Farm Warren, this fourteen-month-old bull is out of a dam by Seaview Prince Charming. He was snapped up by Stephen Dunn from Killyleagh,
Next best at 3,600gns was the third prize winning Longbeach Barry bred by Sean Burns, Rathfriland,
Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare,
The day’s male and supreme overall champion Ashland Boomerang came under the hammer at 3,000gns for Pat and Frank Kelly. Sired by Omorga Volvo, this August 2010 born bull is bred from the Seighfried daughter, Ashland Terrific Lucy. He is in the breed’s top five per cent with an eye muscle area of +4.3, and in the top one per cent with a daughter calving ease score of +5.2, a TSI of +91 and an SRI of +115. Highest bidder was John Todd from Portadown,
The collective entry of Simmental females reached a peak of 3,700gns, with ten heifers achieving a complete clearance to average ÂŁ2,063 each.
A top call of 3,700gns was paid to the Robson family for their female champion, Kilbride Farm Eunice 115B. This October 2010 born heifer was sired by Kilbride Farm Newry, and is out of a home-bred Carnkern Titan daughter. Buyer was Mr J Fegan, Castlewellan,