Top Price BullSells to World Renowned Haven & Boycefield Hereford herds in the UK

Herefords hit the ground running at the Society’s show and sale at Tullamore on Tuesday last. The huge crowdin attendance one of the largest seen at a Hereford Society sale saw purchasers from across the country and the UK battle it out to secure a suitable bull for their dairy and beef herds. Demand for Hereford cross steers and heifers to fill the Hereford Branded Beef schemes are deemed important factors in driving prices while Hereford cross calf and store cattle prices at the countries marts in recent weeks are also believed to be a factor.

The January 2013 born Corlismore General 700 from the herd of well-known county Cavan breeder Sean McKiernan early in the day caught the eye of visiting buyers James and Edward Lewis, Dilwyn, Hereford, UK. A five star bull for terminal traits, carcass weight, carcass conformation and docility he according to the brothers fits perfectly the current requirements of the world renowned Haven and Boycefield herds which include in excess of 200 breeding females. With a final bid of €5,000 they secured this son of Grianan Firecracker a former National Hereford Supreme Champion and RDS Champion of Champions sired by Churchill Storm V583 and out of a homebred dam Corlismore Violet 526 by the five star sire Corlismore Pompeii. The McKiernan’s also exhibited Corlismore Cormaic 704 again a five star bull by the same sire also born in January 2013 out of Corlismore Pompeii daughter Corlismore Shannon which sold to Tom Roycroft, West Green, Dunmanway, Co Cork at €3,400 to achieve an excellent average of €4,200.

Co Monaghan breeders Sam & Nigel Heatrick had a tremendous outing with bulls from their Glaslough herd. The September born Glaslough Monarch a five star son of herd sire Cill Cormaic Isaacout of Glaslough June sold at €4,300 to Malcolm Johnston, Virginia, Co Cavan while his stable mate the June born Glaslough Levi out of Glaslough Flower a Ballyaville Nelson daughter sold at €4,250 to Ivor Anderson, Corran, Derrylane, Co Cavan. Roger Woods, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare paid €3,600 for Glaslough Mattie sired by Rathregan Napoleon out of Cill Cormaic Playboy daughter Glaslough Jewel to average €4,050 for the three bulls exhibited.

No stranger to success Padraig McGrath, Kye, Elphin, Co Roscommon exhibited three bulls to average €3,350. Breeder of the 2013 National Hereford Champion McGrath was very pleased with the result on the day. His top price bull Kye Sonic 610 sired by new Australian semen import Smithston Darby sold to Leslie Hopkins, Nurney, Co Carlow at €3,700.This July born son of Darby is out of Kye Patty 2^nd a daughter of Cloonbracken Performer. Kye Sonic 616 by Steil Gerard sire of Mr McGrath’s Tullamore and National Champion is out of Kye Robin 2^nd ET imported originally as an embryo from Canada by the sire Dunrobin 603 87J. He found a new home in Firies, Killarney when sold at €3,500 to Tom Murphy. A third bull Cloonshannagh 1 Storm 624once again by Steil Gerard sold to Norman Richardson, Newtowngore to average €3,350 for the McGrath family.

€4,050 was the final bid by Ger Fitzsimons, Baileboro to secure Ardnagross Barry 2^nd from Co Westmeath breeder Thomas Plunkett from Castletown Finea. A son of Trillick Ranger he is out of Ardnagross Rosie by Knockmountagh Nelson. Mr Plunkett also exhibited Ardnagross George by the same sire out of Ardnagross Lucy by Kye Harry 22^ndwhich sold to Liam Tierney, Castlepollard to average €3,275 for his two bulls offered.

Other principal prices included well known Offaly breeder Michael Molloy’s Moyclare Lieutenant, son of stock bull Brocca Saviour and Skehanore Henry daughter Moyclare Ursula 4th. He sold at €3,500 to a purchaser who has no wish to be named at this time.

Co Louth breeder Eamon McKiernan exhibited Knockmantagh 1 Hustler and sold toEddie Mulcahy, Doon, Co Limerick when the hammer dropped at €3,200. This Gouldingpoll 1 Captain son is out of Trillick Joy and a Knockmountagh Cosmo daughter.

Drumgoon Hill Hercules a son of successful Dovea AI bull Kilsunny Goliath and out of Bowmont Storm A584 daughter Drumgoon Hill Eve sold at €3,000. Exhibited by Aidan McCabe, Cootehill, he sold to Michael Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford.

Breeders were very happy with the outcome. It was clear that this early in the season purchasers were out to buy a stronger more mature bull. A small number of younger bulls towards the end of the sale failed to reach their reserve while a number of potential purchasers went home without a bull. The overall average at €3,110 was back on last year’s €3,400 at the same venue while the number entered for the event this year was 61 as compared with last year’s 35, an increase of 75%. An unusually high top price of €7,100 last year also influenced the average.Clearance at the event was 61.5% with a range of €1,950 to €5,000.

The Society has upcoming sales at Bandon on Wednesday April 2^nd and Nenagh on Saturday April 19^th.