The Irish Parthenaise Cattle Society is running an online sale this weekend in conjunction with MartEye and Denis Barrett Auctions.

The timed auction went live on MartEye under Denis Barrett Auctions at 12:00 midday today (Friday, May 16) and the lots in the timed auction will draw to a close on Monday, (May 19) at 8:00p.m.

Speaking to Agriland ahead of the sale, Ronan Carroll - who is a Parthenaise Society council member and one of the sale organisers as well as the owner of the Co. Westmeath-based Moyvoughley Parthenaise herd - said the sale will feature a total of "11 top-class pedigree registered Parthenaise heifers, two of which are in-calf and are due to calve later this year".

The sale will also feature seven pedigree-registered Parthenaise bulls, "all of which are eligible for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP)" , according to Carroll.

Cattle from Parthenaise breeders located in counties Westmeath, Wexford, Offaly, Galway and Clare are on offer in the sale.

Carroll said he encouraged interested buyers to submit a request to bid through the MartEye platform.

"This is a great opportunity to buy some super Parthenaise cattle," he added.

According to the Co. Westmeath-based breed enthusiast, Parthenaise cattle "offer super confirmation, high kill out, easy-calving, and are a great choice for either pedigree or commercial options".

The cattle breed society's website stated: "Those already using Parthenaise bulls are seeing the improvement in their herds with easier calving, more live, healthy animals with good growth and conformation achieving top prices for export or in the factories.

"The experience in Ireland of finishing crossbred cattle is that they kill out extremely well, with over 80% grading U or better with high kill-out % and high yield of saleable meat."

According to the society, Parthenaise Cattle are distinguished by the following traits:

Double muscle;
High fertility;
Ease of calving;
Excellent growth;
Efficient conversion;
High kill-out %;
High dressing %;
Tender lean meat;
Attractive cattle.

The website goes on to claim that the "major advantage of breeding heavily-muscled Parthenaise is to produce expensive cuts of high-quality meat with very little fat and high meat to bone ratio."

The association says that crossbreds sell at a premium with excellent conformation in the high-value carcass areas.

"The Parthenaise are an attractive breed with pronounced pigmentation and hard black feet," the association said.

"Carcasses produce high yields of excellent quality meat, the result of good conformation and fine bone. Since killing out percentages can be over 66%, with saleable meat yield in excess of 80%, cattle offered make very-high prices.

"Cows and bulls sold in Ireland have achieved premium prices and a large percentage have achieved E grades."