Simmental bulls top at 3,900gns at Ballymena
Pedigree bulls reached a top of 3,900gns at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s show and sale, Ballymena.
Hitting the headlines in both the show and sale rings was the supreme champion Lisglass Domino TSI+60 SRI+59, an eighteen-month-old entry consigned by Leslie Weatherup, and son Christopher, from Ballyclare, County Antrim. After some brisk bidding he was finally secured by Nick and Nadia Gwynne, who travelled from Whithorn in Scotland to secure a new stock bull for their Chestermann herd.
Sired by the 13,000gns Woodhall Premier – reserve junior champion at Perth in October 2004; he is bred from the Omorga Prince daughter Lisglass Treasure – one of 35-cows in the herd.
Next best at 2,800gns was the reserve male champion Coolcrannel Echo bred by Willie Phair, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh. Almost fourteen-months-old, he was sired by the 10,000gns junior and supreme October 2010 Perth champion Drumlone Anchor. His dam is a home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry daughter. Buyer was J McCloskey from Claudy, County Londonderry.
Following close behind at 2,700gns was the third prize winning Corrick Dominator TSI+85 SRI+90, a November 2012 born entry from Cecil McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Sired by stock bull Omorga Tarbuck, he is out of a home-bred Corrick Nebraska daughter. Highest bidder was Andrew McBride from Ligoniel, Belfast.
The first prize winning Ranfurly Esquire TSI+66 SRI+67 came under the hammer at 2,500gns for David Hazelton, Dungannon, County Tyrone. This fourteen-month-old bull was sired by Whitemire King Kong, and is bred from the Raceview King daughter Raceview Melisa Stella. He was snapped up by George Barr, who runs 350 suckler cows at farms in Larne and Drumfries.
Also selling at 2,500gns was Rehall Edward TSI+68 SRI+70, a third prize winner brought out by Willie Stubbs, and son Keith, from Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. Born in April 2013, he is by Drumlone Anchor, and out of a homebred Hillcrest King daughter. He sold to Rainey Bros, Larne, County Antrim.
Females
The collective entry of Simmental females peaked at 2,500gns, paid to Keith and Andrea Nelson, Rosslea, County Fermanagh, for their female and reserve supreme champion Scribby Farms Dora.
Born in November 2012, she is a daughter of the herd’s jointly owned stock bull Drumlone Anchor, and is out of Drumacritten Wendy – one of 12 cows in the herd which is run alongside a 60-cow dairy enterprise. Buyer was Norman Farquhar from Ballymena, County Antrim.
Averages: 11 bulls (73%) £2,548; six heifers (60%) £1,951; 13 commercial heifers £975; Inishrush dispersal: 16 lots £1,973.
Auctioneers: JA McClelland and Sons Ltd.