€8,600 leads the trade for Angus bulls at ‘Elite Sale’

Pedigree Angus cattle proved to be in-demand last Saturday (December 12) as the Irish Angus Cattle Society hosted its annual ‘Elite Sale’ at the Showgrounds, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.

There were a total of 57 Angus bulls and 34 Angus heifers on offer at the auction, with a fine display of Angus cattle all round. Under Covid-19 health and safety guidelines, the pre-sale viewing attracted great interest with potential buyers coming from a mix of pedigree, commercial beef and dairy herds.

To accommodate customers who couldn’t attend the sale, a pre-sale parade of animals was videoed and displayed on the society’s social media platform.

An attraction for customers this year was a €400 premium offered back to the purchaser of the highest priced male and female. The purchaser of the second-highest priced male and female also received a €200 premium.

Ernehill Samson

A 15-month-old, Ernehill Samson (pictured above), topped the sale of males at €8,600 after a mix of lively bidding from both online and ringside buyers. Shown by Francis and Noel Fitzpatrick from Belturbet in Co. Cavan – Samson will now take residence in a pedigree Angus herd in Co. Clare.

Both a mixture of bloodlines and figures aided the sale of this stylish son of Ballymagrine Wonder – with the famous HF Rebel being his maternal grandsire. This bull also boasted a replacement index value of €138 and a calving figure of +0.8% on matings with beef cows.

Speaking briefly after the sale, his breeder Noel Fitzpatrick explained:

I always knew he was going to be a good bull from the day he was born; he had everything we look for – great length, style and growth rate to match.

“We have collected some semen from Samson just to use on-farm because he comes from an exceptional maternal line and we just wanted to retain his bloodline.”

Drumcrow Savoy and Spectacular

Long-established breeder Frank McKiernan from Ballinagh in Co. Cavan had a very successful day selling his two lots Drumcrow Savoy and Drumcrow Spectacular for a total of €12,200.

First into the ring was the Cashelane Lord Jeremy-sired Drumcrow Savoy, who sold for €6,200. This May-2019 born male had an impressive history to his pedigree. He is a full brother to Drumcrow Gabby, who was the dam of the well-known Drumcrow Joker. Savoy is also ranked with a calving ease of only +0.9% on matings with beef cows. This bull’s bloodline will soon be available to breeders as he now takes up residence in the AI stud of Coney Island Genetics.

Drumcrow Spectacular

Drumcrow Spectacular certainly lived up to his name claiming a price of €6,000. Being sired by the aforementioned Drumcrow Joker, sires such as Blelack Prince Consort and Lissard Mark were present in his maternal back pedigree. The replacement index of this bull is also highly valued at €119.

Clara Swanky E.T (et)

Being one of the first bulls into the ring didn’t stop Clara Swanky E.T (et) from achieving €5,100 – even after some technical difficulties in the online bidding occurred midway through his auction.

Clara Swanky E.T (et)

This embryo son of Netherallan Peter Pershore was out of a genetic homebred dam Clara Fifi. Shown by Dan and Rose Murphy from Millstreet in Co. Cork, this bull was awarded a replacement index value of €150 and a terminal index value of €97.

Mercury Saucy Tinge (et)

Mercury Saucy Tinge (et)

Mercury Saucy Tinge (et) sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg secured a price of €5,000 for Shane and John Murphy from Banteer in Co. Cork. Having one of the highest replacement index out of the bulls catalogued of valued at €164, Saucy Tinge also had a calving figure of +2.5% on matings with beef cows.

Drumcarbin Sombrero

Shane McKiernan from Ballinagh in Co. Cavan sold Drumcarbin Sombrero for €4,800. Out of a home-bred dam, Drumcarbin Bell, this September-2019 born male was sired by Dillion New Holland. Sombrero was also tested as a carrier of the NT821 myostatin.

Clooncarne Simon

Clooncarne Simon

Thomas Mulligan from Dromad in Co. Leitrim received a final bid of €4,700 for Clooncarne Simon. A son of Baronagh Producer, he was ranked with a calving value of +3.2% on matings with beef cows. Bulls such as Clooncarne Frank and Knockeranny Rambo were found in this 15-month-old’s maternal back pedigree.

Note: A full report from the female section of the sale will follow later in the week.