Limousin bull tops €16,000 at premier Irish sale

Last Monday’s Irish Limousin Cattle Society Premier Bull sale at Roscrea mart saw the average price of bulls sold at €3,819 up €400 on the 2010 sale. The capacity crowd witnessed a continual run of strong prices culminating in a top price of €16,000. Prices ranged from €1,800 to €16,000 with eight bulls being exported.

Breed secretary Paul Sykes commenting on the sale said: “Apart from the fact that we had such a good average with 21 animals selling in excess of €4,000 the most satisfying aspect of todays sale is our clearance rate of 93%. It had been quite evident in the presale show that customers were acknowledging the consistence of quality of the cattle entered and this carried through to the sale. Irish Limousin breeders have spent a lot of time and money using the best genetics available in the world and this has been rewarded today. Likewise Limousin cattle are commanding a premium at commercial markets throughout the country and farmers are becoming aware of this fact along with being conscious of their easy calving abilities”

Top price of the day went to the Junior Champion Newtown Freeman from the well-known Newtown Herd of Mr Stanley Richardson Newtowngore Co. Leitrim, having already stood Overall Male Champion at this year’s National Limousin show in Tullamore there was no doubt that this animal was going to create plenty of interest in the sales ring. Freeman who is by the highly influential UK sire Wilodge Vantastic and Newtown Trixie who herself is by the renowned French sire Dauphin and came to the ring with a five star Suckler Beef Value of 117.

 Having won his class in the presale show he then went on to be tapped forward as Junior Male Champion by the judge Mr Ian Nimmo of the Nimmo herd North Lanarkshire, Scotland. When Freeman came to the sales ring he met a flurry of bids with customers from both at home and abroad anxious to acquire this powerful animal however when the bidding finished at €16,000 Freeman was heading to a new home in East Yorkshire where he will be joining the Elderberry herd of Messers E Blenkhorn, Goole East Yorkshire.

Speaking after the sale Mr Blenkhorn said: “We bought a bull here a number of years past incidentally at the same price which we were delighted with, we are really pleased with the quality of animals on offer and excited with our purchase today. Freeman has both style and conformation coupled with a great pedigree we expect him to do a great job in our herd”.

The next highest price of the day at €8,000 went to Noel Kenny Roundwood, Co Wicklow for Tomriland Frankie ET, by another very sought after sire Objat and a French dam Voyelle. Frankie had a 5 star SBV of €127 and came to the ring displaying a muscle score of the 137. Once again bidding was brisk and prolonged but eventually Frankie was snapped up by Co Tipperary suckler farmer Keith Donovan.

 

Selling at €7,400 was the Reserve Junior Champion Drummin Franz ET from Mr John McInerney, Bunratty Co Clare. Having stood Reserve Junior Male Champion at the Irish Limousin National show in Tullamore and by another influential sire Fieldson Alfy and Drummin Cliona the dam of the €10600 2010 Roscrea Junior Champion there was considerable interest again in this lot. Franz with a 5 star SBV of €148 was purchased by Co Kildare farmer John Culbert.

Anthony Donnelly Claremorris Co Mayo saw his 2nd prize winning entry Donnelly Fantastic ET selling for €7,000 to Mr L Thomas for his well known Nebo herd Conwy, North Wales. This Ampertaine Commander son from a French dam 0126 Neline had a string of summer show prizes won including male Champion at Tinahely show and North West Reserve calf Champion.

Carrowreagh Festin from Mr Pat Bruen Elphin Co Roscommon sold to Co Galway weanling producer Mr Gearoid Nolan, Tuam for €6,800. This much admired Wilodge Vantastic son from a Cloughhead Lord dam Carrowreagh Birdie had been placed second in his class sold with a high SBV of €183.

The Senior Male Champion Ardlea Faro from Mr Daniel Tynan, Mountrath Co Laois sold for €6,100 to Co Roscommon pedigree breeder Mr Padraic Fallon, Curraghroe for his Ballinwooley herd. By one of the Ardlea herd sires Vision and the French dam Times B herself by Ramses this smart bull came with a 5 star SBV of €114 and top ratings in Beef Weanling & Milk traits.

Mr Noel Fennessy Castleconnell, Co Limerick sold his Sympa sired entry Wood Road Fergus to Gurteen Agricultural College Co Tipperary for €5,500. By a French dam Claque Fergus had been Reserve Champion at Charleville and Corofin shows and an impressive SBV of €124 with top ratings in Weanling, Beef, Daughter Fertility, Calving & Docility.

Mr Noel Kenny was back in again to continue a memorable day selling Tomriland Fuller ET at €5300 Fuller who combined a very interesting pedigree, by the easy calving sire Queenshead Altea who bred the top price animal at the previous autumn Premier sale and from the prolific dam Milbrook Ulla who both herself and her daughter have won a long list of top awards including National Limousin Champions. Coming to the ring with a 5 star SBV of €110 Fuller was quickly snapped up at €5300 by Co Clare farmer Mr Matt Corry, Tulla.

Selling again at €5300 was Ashleigh Farouk from Tony & Bridget O Grady Julianstown Co Meath. This stylish Sympa son by a Nadalou dam Ashleigh Una had a 4 star SBV of €79 and heads to well respected quality calf producer & commercial showman Mr R Gubbins, Kilfinane, Co Limerick.

Mr Stanley Richardson saw another of his entries Newtown Foster selling at €5,100 to Mr Michael Ryan Craughwell Co Galway, by the top sire Cloughhead Lord and an Ideal 23 sired dam Castleview Top Girl Et Foster sold with a 5 star SBV of 122 and had top ratings in many traits.

Also selling at €5,100 was Derrygullinane Fantastic from Mr John Joe Walsh Derrygullinane Co Mayo, once again by Wilodge Vantastic and Kilmore Alana a dam with back breeding to both Otan & Ideal 23 Fantastic came to the ring with a 5 star SBV of €175 and heads to Portarlington farmer Mr David Scott.

Selling at €5,000 was Killonan Falcon from Mr Noel Cunneen, Ballysimon Co limerick had earlier in the day been awarded Reserve Senior Male Champion, another son of Queenshead Altea his full brother sold at last year’s October Premier Roscrea sale for €17000.The dam of Falcon is Baileys Aubergine another high profile female by Grahams Samson & Pelletstown Perfume.With a 5 star SBV of €95 Falcon was purchased by Ian Davidson Larne Co Antrim for his Ballyrickard pedigree herd.

Mr John Joe Walsh saw another of his entries Derrygullinane Freddy changing hands at €4,900 to Ms Caroline Kavanagh, Garryhill, Co Carlow. Sired by the ever influential Sympa and by a Lino sired dam Derrygullinane Cassie Freddy boasted a 5 star SBV of €115.

Two bulls changed hands at €4,700, the first Carwin Fox from Mr Raymond Carolan Co Cavan, by the top new sire Roundhill Saturn ET who himself is by Ideal 23 and Fox’s dam is the Espoir sired Carwin Sniffer, Carwin Fox came with a 5 star SBV of €143. After some brisk bidding Fox headed home with Mr Noel Daniels, Rockcorry, Co Monaghan to run with suckler heifers.

The second bull at €4,700 was Woodview Fidele from Mr David Abbott, Killeshandra, Co Cavan, having won his class earlier in the show this Ampertaine Abracadbra son by the dam Goldbourne Viola with back breeding to Mereside Crackerjack displayed a 4 star SBV of €84 with top ratings for Weanling, Beef & Daughter Fertility heads to the herd of Mr J & M Fitzpatrick, Kilkeel, Co Down.

Mr Tom O’Shea saw his Fieldson Alfy sired entry Templequain Foley changing hands at €4,600 to Mr Frank Byrne Naas Co Kildare. By the dam Templequain Carrie ET who is sired by Otan and also has Moero back breeding Foley had a very impressive star rating with top ratings in nearly every trait and a 5 star SBV of €132.

Selling at €4,500 was first time exhibitor Mr Derek Daly New Quay Co Clare with Millvalley Flame yet another son of Sympa and by Roundhill Bdalida 988 ET who combines Otan & Geannt breeding and came with a 5 star SBV of €148.Flame heads to Mr Michael Sammon Eyrecourt Co Galway.

Also selling at €4,500 from Mr Richard O Beirne, Kilconly, Co Galway was the Sympa sired Millburn Fortune. By a Dauphin sired dam Sydney Rome Fortune boasted a 5star SBV of €134 and was purchased by M/S Jane Kehoe, New Ross. Co Wexford.

The final bull at €4,500 saw Mr Tom O’Shea back in again with his Mas Du Clo sired Templequain Fudge. By the dam Ardlea Verdict and with a 5 star SBV of €106 Fudge sold to well known Co Sligo farmer and exporter of breeding heifers Mr Michael McMorrow .

Two bulls sold at €4,400, the first Elegante Fred from Mr Michael Kinnane, Ballyglass, Co Tipperary , by Wilodge Tonka and Drummin Bette ET who is a daughter of another high profile dam Drummin Peach. With a 5 star SBV of €108 Fred was purchased by Scottish farmer Mr James Innes, Aberdeenshire.

The second bull to sell at €4,400 was Cavelands Flan from Mr Paul Sykes, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, by Grahams Apache who is a son of the top UK dam Lisette and Cavelands Reba ET who has back breeding to Ulla. Flan came with a 5 star SBV of €109 and heads to Co Tipperary weanling producer Mrs Mary Harrington, Dolla, Nenagh.

In to sell at €4,200 was another first time exhibitor Mr Ger Fenlon, Newtown, Borris, Co Carlow with his Sympa sired entry Barracks Floyd. Floyd who is by a Malibu dam sold with a 5 star SBV of €103 and had top ratings in many traits heads home with Mr Brendan Forde, Kinvara, Co Galway.

Also changing homes at €4,200 was Roundhill Fexceptional from Mr Timothy Corridan, Fedamore, Co Limerick. By the Imperial son Tistou and a Domino sired dam Roundhill Teamhair Exceptional came to the ring with a 5 star SBV of €115 and will be joining Mr John Mullaney’s herd in Bansha, Co Tipperary.

Three bulls shared a selling price of €4,000, the first Castleboy Franko from Mr Peter Kelly, Kilchreest Co Galway. Franko, again by Sympa and Castleboy Clodagh a dam with breeding including Mas Du Clo and Faignant. With a 5 star SBV of €111 Franko was purchased by Mr Michael Cregan, Clarina, Co Limerick.

The next bull at €4,000 came from Mr Gerard Davis, Ballinalee, Co Longford for his Ampertaine Abracadbra sired Glenvista Fantastic who is by a Grahams Unbeatable dam Glenvista Charlotte. Selling with a 5 star SBV of 115 Fantastic joins the herd of Mr John Sugrue, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry

The final bull selling at €4,000 came from Patricia & Joe Waldron, Tuam, Co Galway. Kilcara Fred a son of the popular Irish AI sire Milbrook Tanko and by Kilcara Una who is a daughter of Highlander Selling with a 5 star SBV of €152 and top ratings in many traits Fred was purchased by Co Kilkenny farmer Mr Seamus Dunne, Tullaroan

Other leading prices

Mr Michael Hickey, Kilcommon €3,800 to Mr Gerard Keane, Kinvara, Co Galway

Mr JohnMcInerney, Bunratty €3,700 to Mr Trevor Power, Co Waterford

Mr Sean Garrett, Ballycastle €3600 to Mr Roy Mitten, Co Cavan

Mr John O Reilly, Kilkenny €3500 to Mr Michael McMorrow, Co Sligo

Mr Dan O Connor Ennis €3500 to Mr Robert Kenny, Co Tipperary

Mr Sean O Sullivan, Castleisland €3500 to Mr Garrett Dunne, Co Cavan

Mr Paul Marsh, Broadford €3500 to Mr Francis Ryan, Co Limerick