The Irish Limousin Cattle Society (ILCS) started its society sales on a high note on Saturday (March 13).
It was new territory for the society auction, with the ILCS decision to host this year’s premier sale at Elphin Mart, rather than the more familiar sale rings of Roscrea Mart.
Customers were allocated viewing times prior to the sale and had to judge what bull to buy during a limited time-slot, as they had to vacate the mart prior to the sale beginning.
Looking at the figures, approximately 52 bulls out of the 92 catalogued turned up for the sale – which ultimately helped the auction prices. A strong average of €4,243 was recorded, up by €277 from the March premier sale held in 2019.
A total clearance rate of 72% was also achieved on Saturday.
Aughalion Prince (et)
Claiming the top price of €14,000 on Saturday was the Co. Cavan-bred Aughalion Prince (et) exhibited by Paddy Clerkin of Ballyjamesduff.
Aughalion Prince (et) sold for €14,000
This embryo-born bull is Telfers Munster’s son and out of the well-known dam Whitehall Iris. Being a pre-sale favourite, Prince boasted a staggering value of €204 on the terminal index, along with €141 on the replacement index. This bull was secured by the Haltcliffe Limousin herd based in the UK.
Milbrook Promoter and Priority (et)
Milbrook Promoter
The second highest price of €7,200 was achieved by Milbrook Promoter – shown by William Smith from Oldcastle in Co. Meath. This October 2019-born was sired by Mereside Godolphin and out of home-bred dam, Milbrook Lepetal. Again, the terminal index was strong for this young bull, as he was awarded a value of €161. He was knocked down to a farmer from Northern Ireland.
His stablemate, Milbrook Priority (et), also sold for one of the top prices on the day, at €5,000. Priority’s dam, Milbrook Ester, was one of the Milbrook herd’s most successful breeding cows.
This 18-month-old Lodge Hamlet son has a calving ease value of +3.4% on matings with beef cows, and also headed to a farmer in Northern Ireland after the sale.
Templequain Perry
Being one of the first bulls into the sales ring on Saturday did not stop Templequain Perry selling for the third highest price of €7,050.
Templequain Perry / Image credit: Shanon Kinahan
A son of the popular Derrygullinane Kingbull, he was shown by Thomas O’Shea from Rathdowney in Co. Laois. He was also out of a home-bred dam sired by Loosebeare Fantastic. Perry followed a number of bulls in heading to a new home in Northern Ireland after the sale.
Ernevalley Phenomenal (et)
Another Derrygullinane Kingbull son, Ernevalley Phenomenal (et), sold for the next highest price of €6,400. Eddie Lynch from Loughduff in Co. Cavan was the exhibitor this time. Sires such as Wilodge Cerberus and Mas Du Clo could be found in this bull’s maternal back pedigree. This December 2019-born bull will now graze new pastures in Co. Wexford.
Overall, the Ernevalley herd sold five bulls on Saturday, for a respectable average of €4,380/head.
Derra Perfect
Derra Perfect
Gerry Shaughnessy from Gort in Co. Galway secured €5,200 for his bull, Derra Perfect. The sire this time was Lodge Hamlet and out of a home-bred dam sired by Ampertaine Elgin. Carrying one copy of both the NT821 and F94L myostatin gene, Perfect was also awarded a terminal index of €140. This bull was purchased by a customer from Wales.
Other leading prices included:
- €5,100 for Keltic Pader sired by Keltic Handsome and exhibited by Teleri Thomas, Longwood, Co. Meath;
- €5,100 for Big Red Persistence sired by Bavardage and exhibited by Donal Byrne, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo;
- €5,100 for Wood Road Prosper sired by Wood Road Malachy (et) and exhibited by Noel Fennessy from Castleconnell, Co. Limerick;
- €5,000 for Newtown Poker Boy (et) sired by Bavardage and exhibited by Stanley Richardson from Newtowngore, Co. Leitrim;
- €4,700 for Maybe Plantation sired by Lowflan Lee and exhibited by Michael Gunn from Elphin, Co. Roscommon;
- €4,500 for Wood Road Philip sired by Bavardage and exhibited by Noel Fennessy from Castleconnell, Co. Limerick;
- €4,500 for Redbawn Phenomenal sired by Grangeford Jojo (et) and exhibited by Ian Kilgallon from Ballina, Co. Mayo;
- €4,500 for Carrowreagh Patrice 2 sired by Plumtree Fantastic and exhibited by Pat Bruen from Elphin, Co. Roscommon.