The Hereford bull sale Spring season kicked off with the Annual Kilkenny bull sale on 20th March 2024. The sale was 25 Hereford bulls auctioned for sale – of which 50% were sold to an average price of €3,100.
Ballyfrunk Bob 3326 was sold for €4,800 to Pedigree Hereford breeder Tom Ryan. Born in June 2022, sired by Allowdale Rory 1019 and bred from a Free Town Hotspur dam. Bob has five stars for the Replacement and Terminal Index, five stars for Carcass Weight (+12.6kgs) and an easy calving figure of 2.4%.
The Champion on the day, as chosen by Padraig Murphy, was Grianan Aone by T&A Fitzgerald, Westmeath, sold for €4,100. Born in August 2022, Aone was sired by Rorardstown Captain and bred from Grianan Orange R 809. Aone has Four stars for the Replacement Index, five stars for the Terminal Index and an easy calving figure of 2.4%.
The next best price of the sale went to Christy Finn, Kilkenny, who sold Bawngarriff Rory Three for €3,500. This July 2022 bull was sired by Arnagross Rory and bred from a Chatsworth Hector dam.
Edwin & Robert Jones from Longford had a successful day at the sale also when they sold their two lots for €3,400. Keenagh Tarzan was crowned Reserve Champion on the day. This July 2022 born bull was sired by Kilsunny Goliath and bred from a Black Water Lad dam. Tarzan has five stars for the Terminal Index and Carcass weight (+13.2kgs).
Keenagh Teddy, also born in July 2022, was sired by home bred Keenagh L-Jay, a Hollow Point Broker son, who has been bred well for the herd. Teddy has four stars for the Replacement Index and is -4.07 days for gestation. He has a DBI of €103 and a dairy cow calving figure of 2.9%.
The Thompson family from Ballyraggan Herefords, Carlow, sold three of their four bulls on the day. Their third bull into the ring: Ballyraggan Andy 1098TH – sold for €3,300. This March 2022 born bull was sired by Ballyraggan Isaac 862nd and bred from a Ballinveney Pedlar dam. He has four stars for milk and carcass weight and an easy calving figure of 2.5%.
The next best priced bull on the day was by Christy Finn, Kilkenny, Bawngarriff Rory Four. This August 2022 born bull was sired by Arnagross Rory and bred from a Chatsworth Hector – a half brother to Bawngarriff Rory Three.