Cracking trade for Charolais bulls in Elphin Mart

In what is the highlight sale for pedigree Charolais breeders every year, the Irish Charolais Cattle Society hosted its annual ‘Christmas Cracker Sale’ in Elphin Mart on Saturday (December 5).

In total there were 107 bulls presented for auction – which would be a higher number than previous years for the cracker sale. This impacted the trade somewhat, as some periods through the sale experienced lower levels of bidding.

Commenting on the trade, the president of the Irish Charolais Cattle Society Noel McGoldrick stated:

Given the current climate, I think it was a very good sale. The clearance rate may have been slightly affected due to the high entry of bulls catalogued, but overall it was a very successful day.

Unfortunately, this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, breeders were unable to showcase their quality bulls in a pre-sale show – although this didn’t prevent top prices being produced in the sales ring.

Lisnagre Peder

Topping the sale with a staggering price tag of €16,600 was a pre-sale favourite, Lisnagre Peder (pictured above). This 14-month-old bull was sired by pirate and out of Jupiter-bred dam. His was shown by Jim Geoghegan from Streamstown in Co. Westmeath. Speaking about topping the sale, Jim explained:

Prior to the sale, I was expecting between €10,000 to €15,000 for him, because there was just such a high interest in Peder.

“His bloodlines were very good and he is very closely related to Lisnagre Elite [LGL] [previously standing in Progressive Genetics]. I really wish his new owner the best of luck with him.”

Peder carries one copy of the F94L and Q204X myostatin and was sold, after some tough bidding, to a breeder from Northern Ireland.

Garracloon Phil (et)

Pirate also sired the second highest priced bull on the day in the form of Garracloon Phil (et). This stylish bull sold for €9,600 and had sires such as Domino and Doonally New in his maternal back pedigree. Mayo-based breeder Aidan Mac Hale from Ballina was the exhibiter this time.

Garracloon Phil

Phil boasts a Terminal Index value of €174 and found his new home on a suckler farm in Co. Tyrone.

Bostonia Prettyboy (et)

Selling for €9,250 was the September 2019-born Bostonia Prettyboy (et) – exhibited by Brendan Feeney from Enniscrone in Co. Sligo. This Newhouse Bigal son carries one copy of the F94L myostatin – alongside having an impressive Terminal and Replacement Index value of €144 and €193, respectively.

Bostonia Prettyboy (et)

Prettyboy’s dam was the Doonally New sired Doon Benedetta. After making the long trip from the Co. Sligo coastline, he has found his new home on a suckler farm in Co. Kerry.

Goldstar Pianoman (et)

Martin Ryan from Thurles in Co. Tipperary sold his Goldstar Echo son Goldstar Pianoman (et) for a handsome figure of €8,750 to a farmer from Northern Ireland. This bull was a full brother to Martin’s heifers which he sold for €8,000 and €7,400, respectively, at the ‘Elite Heifer Sale’ back in mid-November.

Pianoman carries a calving figure of just 6.1% on matings with beef cows, along with one copy of the Q204x myostatin.

Liscally Pied Piper 4

Although being one of the last lots to enter the ring, this did not stop Liscally Pied Pier 4 selling for a figure of €8,400 for breeder Jon Regan from Castlerea in Co. Leitrim. This November 2019-born bull was a son of Domino and out of a Kelton Trident sired dam.

Again, this bull is highly ranked on the Terminal Index having a figure of €161. Pied Pier 4 will now graze new pastures on a suckler farm in Co. Cavan.

Kilvilcorris Prince

Kilvilcorris Prince set sail for his new home in Wales after Saturday’s auction – having sold for €7,000 for Matt Ryan from Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Prince was sired by the popular Charolais sire Fiston and was a awarded a calving figure of just 5.3% on matings with beef cows.

Old Charolais legends were present in this bull’s maternal back pedigree, including Enfield Plexus and Dovea Gin Tonic. This was the first bull of Matt’s three lots which sold at an average of €6,316.

Carrowquill Pirate

A Doonally New son also sold for €7,000 for Co. Roscommon based breeder Dermot Foley. Carrowquill Pirate was out of a Gerard-sired dam, Kilmore Jasmene.

Carrowquill Pirate

Carrying one copy of the F94L myostatin gene, this September 2019-born bull was also boasting a Terminal Index value of €152. He sold to a suckler farmer from Redhills, in Co. Cavan.

Aquanchoua Pinto (et)

The Aquanchoua herd owned by Peter McLaughlin had a very successful day on Saturday – selling his three bulls for an average price of €6,000 each. Peter’s top priced lot selling at €6,900 was Aquanchoua Pinto (et) – who was sired by Doonally New.

This male carries one copy each of the F94L and the Q204X myostatin gene and was exported to a farmer in Northern Ireland.

Roughan Picasso and Pete

Patrick McClean from Lifford in Co. Donegal had a successful day selling both Roughan Picasso and Roughan Pete for €6,750 each. Both of these males were sired by a French imported stock bull, Roughan Gibraltar and out of home-bred dams. These bulls also carried just one copy of the F94L myostatin gene.

Kilvilcorris Phoenix

Matt Ryan was back achieving top prices again when he sold Kilvilcorris Phoenix for €6,750. This 19-month-old bull was sired by the herd’s stockbull, Bunratty Mike Tyson, and out of a Sesame-bred dam. He was awarded a calving figure of just 6% on matings with beef cows and sold to Co. Westmeath based suckler farmer.