A Charolais maiden heifer sold for an impressive €13,600 at the renowned annual 'Goldstar Charolais' production sale which took place in recent days.

The 'Goldstar Charolais Herd' is owned by Martin Ryan and family from Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and the annual sale was hosted by Mid Tipperary Co-Operative Livestock Mart, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on the MartEye platform.

The top priced lot was a March-2026-born heifer that has proven her exceptional class, securing the Junior Female Champion title at both the National Livestock Show in Tullamore and the Irish Charolais Society National Calf Show.

In 30 years of breeding Charolais, the Ryans said that "she is undoubtedly one of the most widely admired animals we have ever exhibited".

The aptly named calf is described as a "picture of quality".

Goldstar sale highlights

Other notable sales made at the auction include €10,800 for Goldstar Amaretto ET.

She is a powerful Neptune daughter out of the renowned Goldstar Unestar, a multiple rosette and championship winner in Ireland.

Before her arrival in Ireland, Goldstar Unestar was crowned Reserve National Champion at the French National Calf Show.

Amaretto herself claimed the Interbreed Calf Championship at this year’s Ossory Show.

She also secured Reserve Charolais Champion at Dualla Show, finishing behind Goldstar Sephora.

Unestar's first natural calf was awarded Interbreed Calf Champion at the recent Clogher Show.

Another heifer breached the €10,000 mark too at this year's sale - Goldstar Avocado ET.

Goldstar Avocado is a Reglisse daughter out of the renowned Goldstar Sephora.

Avocado is a full sister to this year’s National Livestock Show Charolais Champion and was herself awarded Reserve Senior Female Champion at the recent Irish Charolais National Calf Show.

This heifer is described as being functionally superb, combining quality and correctness.

Goldstar's pedigree bull, Goldstar Apache went at auction for €7,800.

Goldstar Apache is a Reglisse son out of Goldstar Scarlette.

Apache is fertility tested and ready for work. His dam, Scarlette was the Female Calf Champion at Charolles prior to joining the Goldstar herd.

In-calf cow, Goldstar Ombrelle sold at the auction for a €6,200

She was bred by Francois Lucand in France and was crowned Female Calf Champion at Semur-en-Auxois before joining the Goldstar herd.

Described as "a cow of outstanding conformation, excellent calving ability and an abundance of milk", Ombrelle has already produced some exceptional ET progeny.

Ombrelle was scanned in calf and was served to sexed female Orbi (CH6490) on June 24, 2026.

The sale included 22 Lots, with maiden heifers selling from €4,800 up to the tops of €13,600 for Goldstar Blossom.

Goldstar herd

The Goldstar herd near Thurles, Co. Tipperary, is well known in cattle breeding circles across Ireland and further afield as a herd that produces reputable, top-quality stock.

The herd has has enjoyed multiple championship successes at national level and has exported pedigree Charolais progeny to France, England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Czechia.

The Goldstar herd has bred multiple artificial insemination (AI) sires, and many pedigree Charolais breeders cite genetics from the herd as a key ingredient in the production of show champions.

The herd was started in 1996 and its core focus is on breeding females that will make excellent breeding cows.