The Irish Charolais Cattle Society hosted its November sale of pedigree registered bulls on Saturday (November 7) in Tullamore Mart.

There were 103 bulls catalogued for the sale. However, through private on-farm sales, this number was reduced as a total of close to 60 bulls were brought forward for sale.

A clearance rate of 76% was recorded, as the sale achieved an average of €3,720. This figure was up €700 on last year’s sale average.

The number of customers at the pre-sale viewing throughout the morning indicated the trade was going to be strong. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there was no pre-sale show of bulls and only online bidding was permitted.

Speaking on the trade, Nevan McKiernan, breed secretary, explained:

We were delighted with the way the sale went, especially with the restrictions that were in place.

“It was clear from the outset that there was going to be a great demand for bulls, having over 100 registered bidders before the sale began.”

Fieldview Pat

Topping the trade at €7,500 was a 14-month-old bull, Fieldview Pat, exhibited by David Erskine from Crosses, Co. Monaghan. Pat is sired by Chic and out of a homebred dam sired by Ashleigh Admiral. This bull has a very impressive set of figures, claiming a value of €176 on the Terminal Index and €121 on the Replacement Index. This bull went on to sell for export.

Dalehill Pavlov

Dalehill Pavlov secured a price of €7,000 for breeders Basil and Victoria Kells from Killeshandra, Co. Cavan. This September 2019-born bull is a son of Fiston and boasts a calving figure of 4.8% on matings with beef cows. This bull also carries one copy of the Q204x myostatin gene. Pavlov found his new home on a farm in Co. Antrim.

Dalehill Pavlov – sold for €7,000

Inish Pogba

Louis Mc Gonagle, from Lifford in Co. Donegal, sold his Cloverfield Excellent son Inish Pogba for an impressive figure of €6,600. With sires such as Domino, Clonoulty Andremon and Doonally New in his back pedigree, he is ranked with a Terminal Index of €165. He sold to a buyer from Co. Galway.

Ballynabreen Pogba

Being the third bull into the ring didn’t seem to affect the price tag for Ballynabreen Pogba as he traded at €6,300. He was shown by John G Mc Dermott from Inishowen, Co. Donegal.

French breeding was highly present in this bull’s lineage; being sired by Hatenon and having a maternal pedigree including Meillard Rj, Major and the famous show-cow Merveille. He was purchased by a buyer from Co. Fermanagh.

Ballynabreen Pogba – sold for €6,300

Drumcullen Podge and President

John Fleury from Birr in Co. Offaly had a successful day selling his two lots, Drumcullen Podge and President, for €6,200 and €6,000, respectively.

Drumcullen Podge – sold for €6,200

Making €6,200 on the day was Drumcullen Podge who was sired by Whitecliffe James and out of a homebred dam sired by Vexour Granville. He sold with a Terminal Index of €153 and Replacement Index of €106. A buyer from Co. Cavan was top bidder for this bull.

Next up at €6,000 was Drumcullen President who was sired by Tonroe Eminem. This bull ranked even higher than his stablemate on the Terminal Index boasting a figure of €179, with a calving ease figure of 5.3% on matings with beef cows. He sold to a Galway-based farmer.

Tullyharnet Pablo

One of the last bulls into the ring claimed one of the highest prices on the day, selling for €5,100. Tullyharnet Pablo is a Cavelands Fenian son and was exhibited by Noel Laverty from Castleblayney in Co. Monaghan.

Pablo’s maternal grandsire is the famous Oldstone Egburt. He is accredited a calving figure of 6.8% on matings with cows and carries one copy of the Q204X myostatin. This bull was exported to a farmer from Co. Down.

Pottlereagh Prince

Cavelands Fenian sons continued to command the trade, as Pottlereagh Prince sold for €4,700 to a suckler farmer from Co. Kilkenny. Prince was shown by Martin Hughes from Cootehill in Co. Cavan and is a full brother to Pottlereagh Mark currently standing in Dovea Genetics.

This 19-month-old bull previously had been a numerous prizewinner at summer shows during 2019, and sold with a calving figure of only 4.5% on matings with cows.

Pottlereagh Prince

Pottlereagh Prince – sold for €4,700

Makief Peter

Another Cavan-based breeder Derek Woods achieved the next highest price of €4,500 for Makief Peter. This Fiston son sold with a Terminal Index value of €181 and Replacement Index value of €129 – alongside carrying one copy of both the Q204X and F94L myostatin gene. He was acquired by a buyer from Co. Offaly.

Yambo Pedroe

Another Fiston son shared the same price tag, as Yambo Pedroe also sold for €4,500. This May 2019-born son was shown by Michael Oats from Castlerea in Co. Roscommon.

Pedroe has a calving figure of 8.1% on matings with cows. Sires such as Eclair and Doonally New were included in this bull’s maternal back pedigree. He is returning to his native county having been purchased by a farmer from Co. Roscommon.

Other leading prices included:

  • €4,400 for Landleague Phoenix sired by Inverlochy Ferdie and exhibited by Francis Ryan from Rosscahill, Co. Galway;
  • €4,400 for Gallaway Paulo sired by Bivoauc and exhibited by Michael Kiernan from Carrigallen Co. Leitrim;
  • €4,300 for Williamstown Prince sired by Tinnegarney Nantes and exhibited by Aidan Farrell from Moate, Co. Westmeath;
  • €4,200 for Cornadrung Pearse sired by Cavelands Fenian and exhibited by Thomas and Karl Farrell from Cornadrung, Co. Longford;
  • €4,200 for Kilvilcorris Peader sired by Fiston and exhibited by Matt Ryan from Thurles, Co. Tipperary;
  • €4,100 for Kilvilcorris Paschal sired by Bunratty Mike Tyson and exhibited by Matt Ryan from Thurles, Co. Tipperary.