Trade for Herefords continues to push out the boundaries with a top price of €4,600 and an overall average of €3,277 for Herefords at the annual April bull sale at Kilkenny this week.

Champion Balleen Budget owned by Tom Brennan (in background) & shown by Owen Sheehy sold at the top price of €4,600

Regular exhibitor and Championship winner Tom Brennan, Freshford was in the winner’s enclosure once again this time with Balleen Budget a Gageboro Eugenic son out of Balleen Miss Perfect 5^th. A long bull with plenty of growth he sold to Pat Fogarty, Rathcormack, Waterford for a top bid of €4,600.

This result immediately followed by a final bid of €4,000 for Reserve Champion Coolnacritta Conor set the pace for the remainder of the sale. This very useful bull was shown by a local breeder Sean Shiel, Coolnacritta, Rathdowney and was sired by his herd sire Glaslough King a Rathregan Napoleon son out of a Breaney Sam daughter Coolnacritta Rose. The purchaser was Dick Lonergan, Ahenny, Carrick on Suir.

€3,500 was the final bid by Michael Kelly, Gowran, Co Kilkenny to secure Balleen Doc a Lisnaean Donal 1^st son out of Balleen Vallrey which was the second of two bulls exhibited by Tom Brennan giving him an average of over €4,000 for the two of his four entries forward. He had two absentees which he had already sold direct from his yard in the days leading up to the sale at similar prices.

Another local breeder who had a very good result at this venue just a month ago is Rathdowney breeder Francis Scott. His offering on this occasion included four bulls Knockfin Noble, Dunmore, Unite and Lewis all by his herd sire Rathregan Upgrader. These sold for an average of €3,000 netting him a neat €12,000 for the days endeavour.

Co Offaly breeder Michael Molloy exhibited Moyclare Lusty a son of Moyclare Rose 17^th by Kilronan Hosea and was pleased with his price of €3,000

The overall average of €3,277 was generally agreed as a very satisfactory outcome for the range of bulls on offer. The supply of Hereford bulls on offer is tightening early in the season with many bulls already purchased. Hereford cross calves are currently selling at premium prices while stores and finishing cattle are also in very keen demand. Strong competition between meat plants is driving prices for quality assured stock as they strive to grow supply to meet the expanding demand for Hereford quality beef at retail outlets at home and in export markets.

Purchasers snapped up the full complement of Hereford Bulls exhibited at the Kilkenny Bull Sale this week.

Prices averaged a very satisfactory €3,180 with the top price of €4,500 paid for Chatsworth Hector the Reserve Champion out of the homebred dam Chatsworth Helical 9^th by Trillick Winner  and was exhibited by local Hereford breeder Tom Hennessy, of Chatsworth, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. The impressive Allowdale Valour son was purchased by another local man Christy Finn, Bawngarriff, Ballycallan, Co Kilkenny for use as a stock bull in his dairy herd and Bawngarriff Hereford herd. Mr Hennessey was delighted with winning the Reserve Championship and topping the sale a feat he had not succeeded in previously.

The show Champion was exhibited by a local breeder Tom Brennan, Balleen, Freshford a regular and oft time winner at Kilkenny. This was a well grown bull by his successful herd sire Lisnaean Donal and out of Balleen Pansy 31^st a Gageboro Eugenic daughter he sold to dairy farmer Kevin Rafferty of Passage East, Co Waterford at €3,500.

Other useful prices included Knockfin Exotic a Rathregan Upgrader son at €3,200 and Knockfin Garfield by Corraback Fulgent at €3,000 from the herd of Francis Scott, Knockfin, Rathdowney, Co Laois.

Wexford breeder John Jones of Pallas, Gorey, Co Wexford also realised €3,000 for his Glaslough Esquire son Clonroe Joe. His dam Clonroe Josie is a Castledaly Victor daughter.

Overall it was a successful day out for Hereford breeders. The indications are that many Hereford breeders are meeting very strong on farm demand at the moment and that purchasers are buying their bulls earlier this year that previously. Prices ranged from €4,500 to €2,500.

Prices for 2 to 3 week old Hereford cross calves are very high this spring with last year’s prices easily surpassed. Demand for quality assured stock ready for slaughter and indeed those suitable for further feeding is very strong at the moment all of which is influencing the demand for Hereford bulls. The Society holds its Show & Sale at Tullamore next Tuesday March 24^th where 45 bulls and 7 heifers are catalogued.

The Hereford breed had a fantastic turn out at the Kilkenny Bull Show and Sale yesterday , with a number of high quality bulls on offer. The show commenced at 10:30am with Mr. Michael Molloy judging what can only be described as a tough competition. After much deliberation the anticipated result was announced with local well known breeder and show committee member Mr. Christy Finn placed 1^stand later Champion with his Bull Bawngarriff Miracle. This is a five star bull with a calving index well below average. Sired by Mr Finn’s stock bull Ballydowel Glynn and out of a homebred dam Bawngarriff Anne he sold for €3,450 putting him in top position in both the show and sale. Mr Finn also exhibited Bawngarriff Performer by the same sire with similar indexes out of the homebred Bawngarriff Deluxe. He sold at a very satisfactory €3,200 to average €3,325 for his day.

The Reserve Championship was awarded to Mr, Sean McKiernan with his Bull Corlismorepoll 1 Nation 699. Again a five star bull by Grianan Firecracker out of Corlismorepoll I Sydney he failed to reach his reserve on the day.

Local man Joe Maher Ballydowel, Rathmoyle who bred the sire of Mr Finn’s bulls exhibited Ballydowel Jack. Sired by stock bull Balleen Frost which has bred very well for him to date and out of BallydowelDinna he sold at €3,250.

Tom Brennan, Balleen, Freshford a regular exhibitor at this event and never far from the top honours exhibited Balleen Everest a five star bull on all traits sired by his very successful stock bull Gageboro Eugenic. Out of BalleenPrettymaid 17^th he sold at €3,100.

A huge crowd gathered for the auction to see these fine Hereford Bulls on offer. There was an overall average just short of €3,000 with a top price €3,450 for Mr. Christy Finns Champion Bull Bawngarriff Miracle. The sale was deemed a success and given current demand for Hereford suck calves and quality assured steers and heifers spirits were high as everyone headed for home. We would like to congratulate Kilkenny Agricultural Society on hosting a great atmospheric event, with everything being completed in an efficient and punctual manner.

Champion Bull & Top sale price– Mr. Christy Finn’s Champion Bull, ‘Bawngarriff Miracle’ sold at €3,450 at Kilkenny’s Show and Sale.

Mr. Sean Kiernan’s Champion Reserve Bull ‘Corlismorepoll 1 Nation 699’