The Hereford Spring Show & Sale was held last Saturday in GVM Kilmallock.

Out of 55 bulls catalogued 32 bulls were presented for sale given that home trade has been very strong with many bulls moving off farms early this season. The average price on the day was €2750.

Mr. Albert DeCogan joined the sale to judge the show in the morning. Mr. DeCogan made no mistake when tapping forward the Champion of the day. Ballinveney Diego, bred by the Farrell family from Tipperary, was crowned champion before topping the sale when he sold for €3400 to a fellow Tipperary herd. This December 2020 born bull was sired by a Yarram star General son and bred from a Glaslough Esquire dam. Diego has five stars for the terminal index, carcase weight and carcase conformation along with a four-star replacement index figure and is easy calving.

Mr. Albert De Cogan made no error in choosing his reserve champion in Gageboro Vermont. Bred by John Holloway & Niall and Lisa Daly of Gageboro Herefords, Westmeath, this August 2020 born bull is sired by Haven Jackal and bred from a Gurteragh Maximus 593 dam. Gageboro Vermont sold for €3100 to a Cork farmer.

There was great success for new breeders; Eamonn & Edmund Sheehan, Limerick, on their first day out with their first bull to sell. Lot 8 – Rathcannon Rocky, born May 2020, was sired by Pulham Powerhouse and bred from a Tullaha dam. Rocky has a five-star rating across both the Replacement and the Terminal index and low figures for calving. Rocky was purchased by a neighbouring herd for €3200.

There was great success for JJ Farrell of Trillick Herefords, Longford, on the day. Their first lot into the ring; Trillick Tim 2 sold to a Cavan dairy farmer for €3200. Tim was sired by Free Town Nevada and bred from a Grianan Firecracker dam. This September 2020 born bull was bred from one of the best breeding cows in the herd and has low calving figures.

Trillick Buddy was the second and final lot for the herd presented for sale on the day. Another son of Freetown Nevada and bred from a Steil Gerard cow – Buddy has a five-star rating for the Terminal index and carcase conformation along with easy calving figures. Buddy was purchased by a local Limerick herd for €3000.

Congratulations to all exhibitors and the best of luck to all purchasers.

Many thanks to judged; Mr. Albert De Cogan, the auctioneer; Mr. Eamonn Gaffney, In-take inspector; Mr. Clive Jennings, Steward on the day; Mr. Paddy O’Connor and all the staff at GVM Kilmallock for all their help during the sale.

Many thanks are extended to Irish Hereford Prime for their continued support of Hereford sales this Spring as they have sponsored €200 to the purchaser of each bull sold for over €2800 along with donating the value of the full sales commission from this sale towards the Irish Red Cross/ Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Upcoming Hereford Sales

• Nenagh: Thursday April 21st – 53 Bulls – CATALOGUE
• North Leinster Hereford Branch Bull Sale – Friday May 6th – entries online – ENTER HERE!
• Munster Branch Hereford Bull Sale – Saturday May 14th
• Nenagh: Saturday May 28th – Entry Form