The Munster Angus Breeders club held its premier sale on Saturday, April 5, at GVM Kilmallock Mart, Co. Limerick, where bulls "met with a very strong trade", according to the sale organisers.

The sale saw record selling prices and record average prices achieved, Out of the 35 bulls catalogued, 30 were offered for sale.

The event attracted a large crowd and had very active bidding, which the sale organisers said: "reflects buyers' continued trust in breeders to deliver quality cattle".

All bulls presented were breeder-bred, genomic tested, inspected, and weighed upon entry to the mart, and all were fertility tested.

Auctioneer Denis Barrett was in the rostrum for the sale, which had a 94% clearance rate, with an average price of €4,430, up €1,100 from 2024.

Seven bulls in the sale achieved prices of €5,000 or more, attracting a broad customer base, including dairy, suckler, and pedigree herds.

Robert Shannon, from the well-known Gabriel Angus herd in Ballydehob, Co. Cork was the show judge on the day.

The judge selected Ryans Wanna Be Red from the herd of Ger Ryan, Ballyhooly, Co. Cork as the show champion.

Wanna Be Red is a September 2023 born 5-star son of Lisduff Red Pepper. Wanna Be Red went on to sell for highest price of the day and a sale record of €6,600.

Reserve champion went to Ardglass Will Smith, who was from the herd of Aidan Crowley from Charleville, Co. Cork.

Will Smith is a August 2023 son of Rosemead Karona and he went on to sell for €4,600.

The second entry from the Ardglass prefix was class winner October-2023-born Ardglass William, who was also a Karona son. This bull sold for €5,200.

Second-highest price of the day went to Lot 26 Luddenmore Lord Hackett from the herd of Michael Sheehan from Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary. The first-prize winner in the first class sold for €5,800. Lord Hackett was a January-2024-born 5-star son of Drumhill Exeter V105.

The third-highest price of the day was €5,600 and went to Thomas Prendiville from Tarbert, Co. Kerry for his entry Swanky W594 Nebo. Nebo is a December-2023-born son of Te Mania Nebo.

Next highest was €5,200 for Conicard Winston from the herd of Patrick and Kieran Kelly from Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick.

Winston is a 5-star September-2023-born son of Prohurst Eoghan. The Kelly family's other entry, Conicard Weston, is also a 5-star son of Prohurst Eoghan and sold for €5,100

Other top prices in the sale went to Kilsarlaught Massini Z638 from the herd of Patrick Houlihan from Skibereen, Co. Cork. This bull sold for €5,000.

The Munster Angus Breeders committee expressed its thanks to all the buyers; exhibitors; judge Robert Shannon; stewards Gerard Coughlan, Ray Cronin, Jerry O Sullivan and Sean Cronin, Denis Kirby; and all the team at Kilmallock Mart; as well as Fergal O Gorman, photographer; and Denis Barrett, the auctioneer.