Demand for Hereford continued at the IHBS April Show & Sale at Nenagh with demand well ahead of last year’s sale at the same venue.

Local breeder Rory Farrell Ballinveney, Toomevara parted with his Ballinveney United 2 at the day’s top price of €3,000 to Roscommon breeder Tom Mc Dermott. This was a very smooth easily fleshed son of Ballinveney Nigel a Yarram Star General son showing tremendous promise. Mr Farrell’s Champion Ballinveney Utube by Steil Gerard while bid to €2,900 failed to reach his reserve.

Cavan breeder Ivor Anderson with two bulls exhibited took home €5,200 to average €2,600 for his Corran Hill Email and Corran Hill Empire both by stock bull Glaslough Levi.

Long-time Hereford breeder Philip Smyth, Ardmulchan, Navan had the first bull into the sale ring his first prizewinning Ardmulchan Native by his UK bred stockbull Church Preen Galileo. He sold at €2,500.

Rathkenny Quercus a Rathkenny Okavango son shown by Clonmel men Richard & John Lawlor sold to Broadford, Co Clare at €2,500.

Padraig McGrath a regular exhibitor from Roscommon totaled €5,000 for his two bulls exhibited to average €2,500. Kye George 810 by Trillick George and Kye Harry 812 by Free Town Hotspur sold to separate purchasers from Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

Average for the sale was €2,350. Calf prices while not as high as last year still show a marked advantage for Hereford stock at the various marts throughout the country.

There were some 13 bulls absent from the sale with all but two of those sold at home in advance of this sale. Breeders report good demand on farm with a request from some purchasers that breeders hold on to bulls for a couple of weeks until the breeding season begins.

Next week’s Hereford sale at GVM Kilmallock takes place on Thursday as it is Easter week. There are 55 very useful bulls on offer.