Following on from the success of the elite heifer sale last November, it was a great time for selling heifers at the Irish Charolais Premier sale in Elphin last Saturday (March 20).
This year’s premier sale average for heifers is ahead of last year by a whopping €1,225/head.
Also Read: Bulls average close to €4,500 at Charolais premier saleRoughan Pandora and Pippa
It was the Donegal-bred Roughan Pandora that topped the sale of heifers as she sold for a healthy sum of €8,000. Patrick McClean was the breeder of this two-year-old daughter of Roughan Dix De Coe.
Roughan Pandora / Image source: Irish Charolais Cattle Society
Pandora sold in-calf carrying a heifer to the herd’s stock bull Roughan Mourinho. She was purchased by the Croakaun Charolais herd based in Co. Kildare.
Her stablemate, Roughan Pippa, also sold for one of the top prices of €5,400. This daughter of Roughan London was also out of a home-bred dam by Roughan Divin. She sold in-calf to Roughan Mourinho and headed to new pastures in Co. Westmeath.
Glenree Olive
A daughter of Nelson sold for the second highest price of €7,400 for breeder John O’Grady from Glenamaddy, Co. Galway.
Glenree Olive / Image source: Irish Charolais Cattle Society
The December-2018 born Glenree Olive sold in-calf to Whitecliffe James and is ranked with a replacement index value of €77. She sold to the McGovern family of the Crossane Charolais herd in Co. Sligo.
Dalehill Ophelia
A popular sire for the purchasers of bulls last Saturday, Fiston, was also the father of one of the highest priced heifers, Dalehill Ophelia. She sold for €6,500 and was exhibited by Basil and Victoria Kells from Co. Cavan. Bulls such as Cottage Devon and Pirate can be found in this heifer’s maternal back pedigree.
Dalehill Ophelia / Image source: Irish Charolais Cattle Society
Ophelia also carries one copy of both the F94L and the Q204X myostatin gene. She sold in-calf to stock bull Tonnalaura Oh Man.
Macecrump Paulina (et)
Macecrump Paulina (et) / Image source: Irish Charolais Cattle Society
Michael Lally sold his October 2019-born heifer, Macecrump Paulina (et) for a sum of €6,000. This daughter of Major, carries one copy of the F94L myostatin gene. Oisin Cassidy from Co. Monaghan secured this young female.
Whinfort Phoebe
The Donegal breeders were back in action again as Geremy McGonigle sold Whinfort Phoebe for a figure of €6,000.
Whinfort Phoebe / Image source: Irish Charolais Cattle Society
By the French sire Bourgogne, she was also out of a home-bred dam that was sired by Nippur. Phoebe carried a replacement index value of €115, while also possessing one copy of the Q204X myostatin. She was purchased by a breeder from Carrick-on-Shannon.
Other leading prices included:
- €3,700 for Carrowkeel08 Peach sired by Bivouac and exhibited by Thomas Gormley from Elphin, Co. Roscommon;
- €3,700 for Carrowkeel08 Oceana sired by Carrowkeel08 Jerome (et) and exhibited by Thomas Gormley from Elphin, Co. Roscommon;
- €3,500 for Ballyfinnane Pearl sired by Cavelands Fenian and exhibited by Kenneth Clarke from Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare;
- €3,000 for Baurnafea Ocean Blue sired by Bivouac and exhibited by John Bambrick from Castlewarren, Co. Kilkenny.