Brisk demand was expected at the Allowdale Herd Special Hereford Heifer sale on farm at Knocknacolan, Kanturk on Saturday last. The sale conducted by the IHBS Ltd and its auctioneer Hugh P Mulvihill more than exceeded expectations from the off.

Lot one Allowdale Hester 402 born August 2013 sired by Smithston Darby an Australian whose semen was imported by the Society and a first calver with a bull calf at foot sold at 4,100 to E & J Shanahan. Not indeed the top price of the day but what a start for a two year old heifer with calf at foot demonstrating the ability of the breed to deliver a calf safely and on  time in her youth.

Allowdale Curly Charlotte a daughter to GH Adams 1S Bulge 138W at just 20 months old also had a calf at foot a heifer by Carhuefree Prince she was amongst the purchases of Kieran Marigan of Youghal, Co Cork when the hammer dropped at 4,200. The same purchaser secured the 21 month old in-calf Allowdale Pansy 526 by Allowdale Rambo ET at 4,500, Allowdalepoll 1 Bolly a Wirruna Daffy daughter at 3,300 and Allowdalepoll 1 Wily Elaine 462 born 21^st March 14 and again a daughter to the same sire  at a cost of 3,000.

The top priced heifer Allowdale Serena a smashing yearling by UK bull Haven Kingpin in spirited bidding quickly went to 4,800 at which price she was purchased by Gerry & Ciara McNamara, Labasheeda, Ennis who also purchased the top price cow at the Gurteragh sale in 2015.

Bob Lanigan, Fethard secured two new females for his Tullamaine herd purchasing the in-calf Allowdale Curly Katarina at 4,000 and Allowdale Dancer 511 at 3,400. Both are two years old, in calf to Trillick Hotspur and sired by Allowdale Phantom a Bishophill General son.

Allowdale Curly Chatelaine at 3,500 a two year old heifer in calf had only a short distance to travel to her new home in Newmarket when purchased by Paddy O’Connor.

Keen Hereford enthusiast Christine Drumm, Crowenstown, Delvin fancied Allowdale Prettymaid 557 a 14 month old Border Rory D35 daughter purchasing her on a bid of 3,450.

The eleven month old Allowdale Ophelia 620 out of a Badlingham Boxer dam and sired by Carhuefree Prince was the choice of Longford breeder JJ Farrell who secured her at 3,400.

Dublin man Derek McGrath was the purchaser at 3,350 of Allowdale Rambo ET daughter Allowdale Edel 524 whose dam Breaney Finola was bred by the late Henry and Kathleen Tynan of Ardagh, Co Longford.

Rathvilly, Co Carlow breeder James Thompson was pleased with his purchase at 3,250 of Allowdale Curly Rory Anna by Border Rory D35.

The 5,750 top price bull Allowdale Rambo 475 a GH Rambo grandson tracing back to the famous Lisnabin and Stameen herds of the Purdon Family at Killucan Co Westmeath was purchased for export by Gordon Buchanan of Northern Ireland. Rumour has it that the bull is possibly going to AI stud to have semen drawn.  The dam Allowdale Prettymaid 275 is by the very successful Bowmont Storm A584 whose semen was imported by the Irish Hereford Society from Australia. Unfortunately such imports are now nigh impossible given the penalties suffered by imported bloodlines when assessed via the performance program at the ICBF.

Overall it was a most successful sale with an average of 3,001 for heifers and an average of 3,916 for bulls.

The Society’s autumn sales take place at Tullamore on Saturday October 15^th and at Kilmallock on Friday October 21^st.