Kilkenny annual Hereford bull sale off to a good start

The annual April bull sale which is held in Kilkenny mart each year was held yesterday, 6th April.

There were 36 Hereford bulls catalogued of which 25 bulls were presented for sale. Of the 25 bulls, 21 were rehomed – leaving an excellent clearance rate of 85%. Of those bulls sold – 65% sold for €3000 or over. The average price for the sale rested at €3000 also.

The top price of the day was earned by lot 175 – Ballinalick Braveheart. Bred by Willie Duff, Tipperary, Braveheart is sired by Ballinalick Galaxy and bred from a Trillick Hotspur dam. This September 2020 born bull is quite a traditional style bull and sold for €4000.

Top Priced bull: Ballinalick Braveheart sold for €4000

Mr. Albert De Cogen judged the pre-sale show where there were two classes of Herefords. Mr. De Cogen tapped out lot 164 as Champion; Balleen Document, bred by Tom Brennan, Kilkenny. Balleen Document, sired by Balleen Achiever and bred from a Cedar Liam granddaughter, he has five stars for the Replacement index and milk along with four stars for Terminal index. This May 2020 born bull sold for €3700.

Champion: Balleen Document sold for €3700, with exhibitor Eoin Sheehy & judge Albert De Cogen

Reserve Champion on the day was awarded to lot 180 – Boveen Upton, bred by Joe O’Connor, Offaly. This September 2020 born bull was sired by a Cill Cormaic Kasper son and bred from a home bred Boveen cow. Upton was purchased for €3000.

Reserve Champion: Boveen Upton sold for €3000 – with breeder Joe O’Connor, Offaly & the judge Albert De Cogen.

There was further success for Boveen Herefords when their second lot entered the sales ring. Boveen Uibh Fhaili was sold for €3400. This bull was sired by the same Cill Cormaic Kasper again – Ballyvlinngold Captain and bred from a Corran Hill Classic dam. This September 2020 bull has a four star Replacement index and carcase figure.

There was great success for fellow Kilkenny breeder; Christy Finn of Bawngarriff Herefords when he sold Bawngarriff Douglas Seven for €3500. This October 2020 born bull was sired by a Cill Cormaic Kasper son and bred from a Cavehill Storm granddaughter. Douglas Seven has five stars for both the Terminal index and carcase conformation along with having four stars for both the Replacement index and milk.

Mr. Finn’s next lot into the ring also sold well when he was purchased for €3400. Bawngarriff Douglas Eight was sired by Forestview Douglas also, a Cill Cormaic Kasper son and bred from a Kilsunny Goliath dam. This bull has a four star Terminal and Replacement index.

Lot 185 – Knockduffpoll 1 Dan 2 was also purchased for €3400 on the day. This October 2020 born bull was bred by Mairead Curtis and Michael Jones of Knockduff Herefords, Wexford. He is sired by Gageboro Morgan and bred from a Rathcor Ranger dam. Dan has four stars for milk.

There was further success for the Curtis and Jones family when their second lot was sold for €3100. Knockduffpoll 1 Kevin was also sired by Gageboro Morgan and bred from a Glaslough Esquire dam. Kevin has five stars for milk.

Second prize winner on the day; Galballypoll 1 Realspice 1600 was sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Gold Spice and bred from a Dorepoll 1 93n Transatlantic dam. Realspice, bred by Trevor Masterson, Wexford, has five stars across the board and was purchased for €3350.

Gallballypoll 1 Realspice sold for €3350 – with breeder Trevor Masteron, Wexford.

Lot 161 – Ballyraggan Understudy 1015th – bred by James Thompson, Carlow, sold for €3100. This April 2020 born bull was sired by Airhill Oisin and bred from a Border Rory dam.

Also selling for €3100 on the day was Listeolin Major – bred by Pat Rohan, Kilkenny. Major is sired by Conmelvin Ollie and bred from a Kilsunny Goliath Dam. Major has a four star Replacement rate.

The next top price of the sale was €3050 for Mount Shannon Rusty, bred by Nigel Cox, Roscommon. Sired by Trillick George and bred from a Woodview dam – this October 2020 born bull has four stars for Terminal index and carcase weight.

The final bull sold for €3000 on the day was lot 186 – Macmine Benny who was bred by Niall Jones, Wexford. This bull is a Gageboro Morgan son and bred from an Airhill dam. Benny has five stars for both carcase conformation and milk.