The Irish Angus Cattle Society Elite Show & Sale took place at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday last and the bulls met with a solid trade especially for the junior section while the heifer trade was described as being on fire.
The main headlines in the sales ring included, €13200 for an 11-month-old heifer, bulls hitting €7100, French customer purchases heifer, strong N. Ireland market for bulls & Pedigree Breeders very active for bulls.
To start on a sad note, the day itself will always be remembered as the day of the untimely passing of the renowned Angus Breeder Frank McKiernan from Lacken Lower, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan. When news broke shortly after the completion of the judging a silence descended on the cattle lines as breeders absorbed the news. Described by many as one of the best breeders of Angus cattle in Ireland, Frank’s Drumcrow herd has left its mark across all corners of Ireland and Scotland alike. Fittingly, Franks last achievement was receiving the reserve Senior Champion at this sale when Drumcrow Twenty Twenty was tapped forward as reserve Senior Champion by Judge on the day John Farrell. When this stylish May 2020 born bull entered the sales ring, silence greeted a lovely tribute by auctioneer Francis McGowan. Following a minute’s silence and subsequent round of applause this Fordel Lockdown sired bull who is out of a Drumcrow Dora sold for €6100 to the Gigginstown Angus Herd in Co. Westmeath.
Franks other two animals catalogued on the day also sold exceptionally well with Drumcrow Tribesman, a September 2020 born bull selling for €6400 to the Certified Angus Beef Group where he will enter Dovea for semen collection. This bull was also sired by Fordel Lockdown and out of another homebred dam Drumcrow Naomi by Drumcrow Joker. Drumcrow Tara a September 2020 born heifer again by Fordel Lockdown sold for €3200. Out of another homebred dam Drumcrow Lotti by Drumcrow Partner Prefect this young heifer was purchased by Padraig O`Reilly, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan.
Highest Price
The top price of the day at €13200 was recorded in the heifer section for the third youngest heifer in the catalogue Mercury Red Unbeatable Kim ET. This stylish young Red Angus January 2021 born heifer was exhibited by Shane & John Murphy from Banteer, Co. Cork. Sired by Luddenmore Fionn and out of Friarstown Empire dam Gigginstown House Kestral N14, this well-bred heifer had lots of admirers and after brisk bidding the hammer finally fell at €13200 with the Haugh family from Lisseycasey, Co. Clare securing the lot.
Hitting the €9300 mark was the Senior Champion heifer Millbawn Twinkle exhibited by Amanda Bogan & Conor Craig, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford. This April 2020 born heifer is sired by Rawburn Jagger Eric and is out of a Cudlobe Millennium homebred dam Millbawn Nancy. Securing this maiden heifer was Thomas J. Duffy from Westport, Co. Mayo.
Top Priced Bull
The bull section recorded a top price of €7100 for Laheens Triumph, a September 2020 born bull sired by Stouphill Bomber and out of a homebred Bohey Jasper dam Laheens Daisy N365. Exhibited by Cormac Duignan from Eslin Bridge, Co. Leitrim this well-bred bull was purchased by Robert Robinson, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
Kilkenny Pedigree Breeder secures both Senior & Junior Bull Champion.
Joe Moran from the Powerstown Herd in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny made it a shopping day to remember with the purchase of both male champions. First up at €4000 was the Senior Bull Champion Liscolvin T Son of Cathy exhibited by Martin Garvey, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon. Born in May `20 this HW Farghal sired bull is out of a Lawsons Ford Bagatelle bred cow Logboy Cathy.
€6000 was the finishing price for the Junior Bull Champion Clooncarne Thunder sired by HF Rebel. Thomas Mulligan from Dromod, Co. Leitrim exhibited this December `20 born bull who is out of the dam Currycramp Polly by Clooncarne Frank.
Reserve Junior Bull
The Duignan Family from Eslin Bridge continued their great day when exhibiting the Reserve Junior Bull Champion Laheens Tasty ET. Sire by the renowned Bohey Jasper and out of a Luddenmore Fionn dam Laheens Daisy this September `20 born joins the Coolcran Pedigree Herd of Michael & Grainne Horan from Knockmore, Co. Mayo selling for €6700.
Hitting the €6300 mark was Corry Thunder exhibited by Hugh Joseph McCawley, Drumkeerin, Co. Leitrim. This September `20 born bull is sired by Newbridge Pluto and out of homebred dam Corry Peggie by Corry Gerry was purchased by Alex Fleming Kingscourt, Co. Cavan.
Other notable bull prices included:
- €4150 for Steil Topgun sired by Fordel Lockdown and exhibited by Cathal & JJ McCormack
- €3350 for Tubridmore T-Off exhibited by Denis Twomey and sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg
- €3300 for Garryedmond Trevor sired by HF Rebel and exhibited by Patrick Noonan.
- €3300 for Carrigroe The Game Changer sired by Coonamble Elevator and exhibited by J & F Appelbe
- €3100 for Ernehill Thor sired by Drumcrow Lord Jim and exhibited by Francis & Noel Fitzpatrick
- €3000 for Corlismore Tomohawk exhibited by Sean & Garry McKiernan and sired by HW Farghal
- €3000 for Corlismore Trademark exhibited by Sean & Garry McKiernan and sired by Rawburn Boss Hog
- €3000 for Drumcarbin Touch of Class exhibited by Shane McKiernan and sired by Drumcarbin Rito Fromsallowglen
- €3000 for Dungimmon Terence exhibited by Adam Woods and sired by Carrigroe Kian
- €3000 for Mercury Touchy King ET exhibited by Shane & John Murphy and sired by Mercury Royal Tinge
Overall, in the bull section there was a 62% clearance with the older bulls proving harder to sell. The 42 bulls sold averaged €3192. On another positive note 16 bulls sold for €3000 or more with the same number of bulls selling as 2020.
Junior Heifer Champion
Exhibiting the Junior Heifer Champion was Keith & Caroline Vickery from Roscarbery, Co. Cork with Carbery Taelynn. Sired by HF Rebel and out of a Hallington Endeavor dam Carbery Lady this September `20 born maiden heifer was purchased by Liam Maher, Co. Tipperary at €6400.
Also securing the Reserve Senior Champion Loughglass Thumbelina was Liam Maher at €5600. Exhibiting this February `20 Keirsbeath Karma sired maiden heifer who was out of Mayo Meave by Newpark Hugo was Noel & Lisa Dowd from Creggs, Co. Roscommon.
The reserve Junior Heifer Champion Mount Tabitha Et was exhibited by Joe Kelly, Ballynacally, Co. Clare. Again, sired by Keirsbeath Karma and out of a Young Dale Touch Down dam Luddenmore Flora this September `20 born heifer was purchased by Sean & Paul Morton, Co. Leitrim for €3700
Heifer Exported to France
Another highlight of the day was the purchase of Lot 106 Carrigroe the Angie by French customer Emmanuel Spinnewga for €5000. Sired by Carrigroe Real Mccoy and out of a Rathosheen Hugo dam Carrigroe Patsy this July `20 born heifer was exhibited by J & F Appelbe, Clonakilty, Co. Cork and is in-calf to Kealkil Prime Lad.
Other notable heifer prices included:
- €5000 for Carbery T Ideal exhibited by Keith & Caroline Vickery and sired by Roscarbery Lord Henry
- €4300 for Carrigroe Show Girl sired by Rathosheen Hugo and exhibited by J & F Appelbe.
- €4200 for Steil S Gearldine exhibited by Cathal & JJ McCormack and sired by Early Sunset High Time
- €4100 for Steil T Helene sired by Knockarlow P0665 and exhibited by Cathal & JJ McCormack
- €4100 for Currycramp Tenerife sired by Knockmontagh Robert and exhibited by Thomas Mulligan.
- €4000 for Coolrain Tessa exhibited by Nigel Peavoy and sired by Friarstown Ideal Pete.
- €3700 for Portanes T Junction exhibited by John & Michael Lynch and sired by Portanes Nigel
- €3600 for Rathosheen Tess sired by Keirsbeath Karma and exhibited by Liam McEvoy
- €3200 for Luddenmore T467 Frances sired by Young Dale Touch Down and exhibited by Michael Sheahan
- €3000 to Anthony Dockery for Rockville S Hazel sired by Borrow Tiger
- €3000 for Clooncolligan Toyah sired by Drumsna Pat and exhibited by Kevin Diffley
- €3000 to Brenda & Niall Faughnan for Callowhill Tabby sired by Liss Brendan
- €3000 for Newbridge Thunder sired by Ardnaree Notoriously and exhibited by Brendan & Edel McCawley
To summerise the heifer section, there was an 86% clearance resulting in a very steady trade throughout the sale with an average price of €3567. With 19 heifers exchanging hand at €3000 or over, this sale clearly reflected the confidence presently experienced in Angus cattle both within pedigree and commercial herds.