Given current cash-flow pressures on dairy and beef farmers following a very difficult year with prices and ground conditions demand, clearance and prices were well above expectations at the Irish Hereford Society’s final autumn bull sale held at GVM Kilmallock. Numbers on offer at Kilmallock were reduced given the volume of bulls double entered and already sold at a very good sale at Tullamore.

The top price of €3,400 was paid for a 17 month old bull Coisceim Hector exhibited by Timmy Breen of Kiskeam, Mallow, Co Cork. This young bull was purchased in utero when Timmy purchased his dam Tullaha Raindrop which had previously been exhibited on the Society’s stand at the NPC by owner John Neenan, Tullaha, Broadford, Co Limerick. The bull is sired by the Neenan stockbull Clondrina 1069^th bred by Gerry Donnelly, Lissycasey, Co Clare. The purchaser is winter milk producer Niall Power, Newcastle, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

The Deverell Family, Geashill Co Offaly provide the Reserve Champion Ballyaville Imprint a son of stock bull Ballinvenna Frankie out of the homebred Ballyaville Fleur by Tasmanian sire Hollow Point Broker. Pat Ryan O’Brien, Currely, Thurles was pleased to secure him on a bid of €3,200.

S & N Heatrick, Glaslough, Co Monaghan regular and successful exhibitors at this event had Glaslough Rocky catalogue. Sired by Ballyaville Ger out of a Cill Cormaic Playboy dam he sold at €3,000 to Hereford breeder Pat Hayes, Kildrummin, Kiltealy, Co Limerick whose brother John had paid the top price of €5,600 at Tullamore the previous week.

Ballinveney Repose by Ballinveney Nigel a Yarram Star General son out of a BB Power 0270 dam was exhibited by Rory Farrell, Balinveney, Toomevara. This young bull was purchased by a syndicate including John Canty, Kildalkey, Trim and Tom Brennan, Balleen, Freshford at €2,850 which was less than anticipated given that Mr Farrell had sold a herd sibling of very similar breeding the previous week at Tullamore for €3,400.

The Champion Cill Cormaic Nevada exhibited by David Larkin, Kilcormac, Co Offaly a half- brother to the €4,500 Cill Cormaic Napoleon at the Tullamore sale failed to reach his reserve. A second entry from Mr Larkin Cill Cormaic Nicholas sired by Cill Cormaic Lance sold at €2,800 to Sean Culligan, Kilrush, Co Clare.

Overall there was a very good clearance with averages similar to last year at the same venue.

National Hereford Calf Show- Saturday November 19th

at the GVM  Show Arena