The Irish Aubrac Cattle Society hosted its premier show and sale at GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly, on Saturday, October 26.

The average price for bulls was €3,640, an increase of €840/head on last year’s sale average of €2,800.

Out of the 43 pre-selected lots presented for sale by 13 herds, just one animal returned unsold.

Maiden heifers averaged €2,225 – up €220/head on average from last year. Weanling heifers averaged €1,585 – up €485 on last year and in-calf heifers averaged €2,940 – up €25 on last year.

A new joint record price of €5,000 for an Irish Aubrac Cattle Society premier show and sale was set at the event.

Two bulls sold for €5,000, while the highest-priced maiden heifer fetched €4,100, the top-priced in-calf heifer sold for €4,000, and the top-priced weanling heifer changed hands for €1,750.

Selling for a joint top call of €5,000 were lot 1, Turloughmore Sensational ET, and lot 5, Johnstown Terminator 3530.

Turloughmore Sensational ET, from the herd of Kevin O’Brien, Co. Galway, set the tempo for a lively day’s trading under the direction of auctioneer, George Candler.

Born in August 2022, the third-prize winner is by the Artificial Insemination (AI) bull, DPZ – Despagnou (Bova AI), and a Garvanaugh dam.

He is a full-brother to the AI bull, Turloughmore Magnificent, available through Progressive Genetics.

Next to follow suit was lot 5, Johnstown Terminator 3530, the Reserve Overall Champion and Overall Champion bull, selected by pre-sale show judge, Seamus Nagle, suckler farmer and proprietor of Bull Bank.

A half-brother to the AI Aubrac sire, Johnstown Prince 3530 (Bo Sires), the bull was born in March 2023 and is a son of Nickel, an imported stock sire, and out of a French import dam.

The second-prize winner in the bull category was lot 6, Ashbrook Turner, from the fold of Michael Hanlon from Co. Longford. This bull fetched €4,500.

Born in March 2023, the second prize winner is sired by the AI Aubrac bull, Dauphin and a home-bred Bayon 2 daughter.

In-calf Aubrac heifers

The Donohoe’s first prize-winning in-calf heifer was lot 14, Johnstown Sexy 1947. This lot sold for €4,000.

The highest priced lot in her category, she is by Nickel and her dam is a home-bred Johnstown Ian 1039 (AI bull) daughter.

She is in-calf to Ballintra Shaw, a son of the All-Ireland Champion stock bull in the 2023 herd’s competition (Marquis). She is due to calve down in early February.

Her stable mate, a half-sister, lot 13, Johnstown Rosetta 1958, out of a home-bred Invincible daughter, sold at €3,100, scanned in-calf to the aforementioned Ballintra Shaw.

She picked up the second-prize winning rosette and is due to calve in early February 2025.

The third prize-winning in-calf heifer, lot 16, Farney Sarah, from Mary Johnston in Co. Tipperary, made €2,800.

Born in March 2022, by an Eros son and a Westfield dam, she is due to calve in late November to the AI bull, Johnstown Nelson.

Pre-sale judge, Seamus Nagle, divided female entries into two classes – 2022 and 2023-born.

In the 2023-born heifers, the highest-priced female on the day at €4,100 came in the form of the Overall Champion Aubrac and overall female, lot 28, Ballintra Tania, from John Walsh.

Born in February 2023, she is by a French imported stock sire, Marquis, and a French imported dam.

Her stablemate, the second prize winner, lot 37, Ballintra Tracey, found a new home at €2,550.

She was born in March 2023, and is by Delrieu Miami and a home-bred dam by Johnstown Harry 6014.

The third prize-winner, lot 42, came from the Co Galway-based herd of Sonny and Margaret Jennings and was by Turloughmore Master.

In the 2022-born heifers, €2,600 was paid for lot 22, Glenford Sara, from Kelly and PJ McGrath, Co Wicklow, the first in her class. September 2022 born, she is by the AI bull, Oxford, and a home-bred daughter of Whitestown Leyland ET (Eurogene).

The second prize winner, lot 26, Togherbeg Sharon, from Willie and Barry Cunningham, Co Galway, went under the hammer at €2,100.

Born in December 2022, she is by the AI Aubrac bull, Turloughmore Magnificent, and an Ardskeabeg-bred dam.

In the weanling heifer sales on the day, John and Shane Halton from Co Cavan sold three half-sisters – at the sale.

Starting with his maiden heifer, lot 46, Rockfield Tilly, at €1,500. She is a Turloughmore Nelson daughter, out of a home-bred dam.

The first prize-winning weanling heifer, lot 48, Rockfield Tessa was out of a Shrubbywood-bred dam, sold for the same price tag.

Lot 49, the second prize-winning Rockfield Trinity, out of a Laheen-bred dam, rounded off the day’s trading at €1,750.

The sale was described as “excellent” by the chairperson of the Irish Aubrac Cattle Society, James Donnellan who said there was “record prices for bulls and an almost 100% clearance rate.

“There was great demand from a range of buyers and some lovely Aubracs on display. Thanks to everybody who supported the sale and the best of luck to all who purchased.”