Debut bull is twice a winner
Debut bull is twice a winner
CHAROLAIS breeder Joe Kelly took just one bull to his debut at Portadown, but he not only scooped the supreme championship, but also clinched the top price of 4100gns at the Northern Ireland Charolais breed clubs spring fixture.
Mr Kelly, who runs Clogher Valley Cattle Breeding Services, runs his herd as a part-time venture but his first foray into the sale ring took the Ulster crowd by storm.
His Clogher Royboy is by the Hermes son Doonally New and out of a cow by the French import Hadfield Cyrano. He was awarded the championship under judge Mervyn Currie and after a spate of fierce bidding was finally knocked down to Peter Larkin who will use him on suckler cows at Crossmaglen.
Derrygill Mills has done a great job as stock bull in the Coolnaslee herd of Gilbert Crawford at Maghera, Co Londonderry. This time he produced an impressive son bred out of a cow by popular sire, Simpsons Gregg.
Coolnaslee Revolution has a 400-day weight of 862kg and a beef value of CH29 ranking him in the breeds top 5%. He realised 3900gns to John Magowan, Newry.
A strong team of three bulls from the Rockmount herd of the Bryson family at Loughbrickland produced a best of 2700gns for Rockmount Roley. He is by Bassett Judge and out of a cow by Cockerington Baron.
The partnership of Stuartand David Bothwell from Ballinamallard is no stranger to high prices for bulls sold on both sides of the Irish Sea. This time they were first in the ring with Killadeas Rocco, a son of Brampton Embark and out of a Shamrock Ambassadeur dam.
There is some remarkable breeding behind this bull. Sons of his grand-dam, Killadeas Beryl, have averaged 10,000gns. Rocco has a beef value of CH23 – within the breeds top 10%.
No sale at Portadown would be complete without the leading prices featuring a son of the great Killadeas Jack. This time the honour fell to S and A Bellew of Newry with an entry from their Kiltybane herd selling at 2350gns.
A single entry by the French bull Napoleon from the Drumconnis herd of John McGrath at Omagh earned him 2300gns (Automart). *