Limousin ladies shine at Granard

The Republic of Ireland’s final Limousin pedigree sale of the season proved to be a flying trade for the females on offer.

The majority of the heifers on offer were young maiden heifers which sold to an average price of €2421 (£1646) each, down €210 (£142) on corresponding sale last year, at an 82% clearance rate.

Commenting on the sale, Irish Limousin Cattle Society secretary, Ger Ryan, said: “Another terrific sale for females with numerous new breeders snapping up the heifers on offer. The overall quality of bulls on offer was down on other society sales which were reflected in the prices achieved.”

The sale topper, at €4600 (£3128), was Curraghree Butterfly, from Pat Phelan, Drumree, County Meath. Pat had an excellent evening in Granard also achieving the third highest heifer price.

This stylish young heifer was crowned female champion after winning her class. A mid-April 2006 daughter of Espoir, she is out of Lisnacrann Sasha, a Domino daughter.

The final bidder was the well-known pedigree father and son duo of Stanley and Mark Richardson, Newtowngore, County Leitrim, to join their pedigree herd.

Next highest, at €3500 (£2380), was Ohill Blossom, from Patrick Beirne, Mohill, County Leitrim, with his late March 2006 heifer. A daughter of Nenuphar, she was out of a homebred dam, Ohill Teresa, a Mount Scott PJ son. A fourth prize winner in the show she now heads to the herd of Gerry Ryan, Aughrim, County Wicklow, who is purchasing some nice heifers for a new pedigree herd for son, Luke.

The third highest price of €3000 (£2040) went to Curraghree Amour from Pat Phelan to complete an excellent day’s trading for him. An October 2005-born heifer, she is out of Lino and a homebred cow, Curraghree Matilda, a Jongleur daughter. A first prize-winner in the pre-sale show, she was sold to Sean Brady, Aughavas, County Leitrim.

Other leading prices were:
€2700 (£1836), to Philip Dunne, Bailieboro, for a daughter of Ionesco.
€2500 (£1700), to Stephen O’Grady, for a daughter of Louxor.
€2400 (£1632), to Joseph Lynch, for a daughter of Lino.
€2400, to Philip Dunne, for a daughter of Cornamundy Tino.Trade for the bulls on offer can only be described as poor after a tremendous sales season for the Limousin breed, resulting in an average price of €2035 (£1383) each, down €230 (£156) on the corresponding sale last year).

Leading the prices, at €3100 (£2108), was the late April 2006-born Newtown Berty 1, from Stanley and Mark Richardson, Newtowngore, County Leitrim. In the pre-sale show, he was a first prize winner and male champion on the day. Impeccably bred, being a Mas du Clo son from Castleview Rub, an Ideal 23 daughter, he had figures to match being in the top 1% of the breed for muscle and a five star bull for suckler beef value, weanling export and calf quality.

His full brother had already sold to €6000 (£4080) at the Roscrea May premier sale and a full sister sold for €12,500 (£8500) in 2005. He was bought by Patrick Downes, Doonbeg, County Clare.

The next highest price of €2900 (£1972) went to Baltray Asthur from P J McDonnell, Gormanstown, County Meath. A December 2005-born son of PJ’s stock bull, Pelletstown Ulex, he is out of a homebred dam, Baltray Tara, a Towneyhall Pete daughter. He now heads to the large commercial herd of John Downes, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, for crossing on his Belgian Blue cows.