The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) held its 50th annual Premier Bull Show and Sale this week at the Kilmallock Mart in Co. Limerick.

This year's sale on Wednesday, March 26, also saw a premier heifer sale take place with 19 heifers catalogued, and 16 put forward on the day for sale.

There was strong demand for both bulls and heifers on the day, with farmers justifying high prices paid as a result of high factory prices and steady milk price.

The mood in the ring was positive, as the good weather is allowing farmers to get cows out to grass, which is accompanied by more decent prices being paid from all angles of dairy farming at the moment.

The top price of the premier bull sale and Reserve champion at the pre-sale show went to Lot 4: Mountfarna Frankie, who is sired by Tobermartin Francis and was sold by John O'Callaghan - he sold for €10,000.

The bull had an economic breeding index (EBI) of €188, with a milk sub-index of €97 and a fertility sub-index of €63.

Within the milk sub-index, he is +456kg of milk, +14.8kg of fat, and +18.2kg of protein.

The second highest price of the sale went to Lot 7: Radney Rubble, he is sired by Glenaboy Special One and was sold by Henry O’Keeffe – he sold for €7,500.

He has an EBI of €208, with a milk sub-index of €69 and a fertility sub-index of €97.

Within the milk sub-index, he is +143kg of milk, +13.41kg (0.13%) of fat, + 9.26kg (0.08%) of protein.

The third price bull went to Lot 14: Radney Brady, he is sired by Veldar Starmaker, sold by Henry O'Keefe – he sold for €7,200. 

He has an EBI of €249, with a milk sub-index of €98 and a fertility sub-index of €95.

Within the milk sub-index, he is +292kg of milk, +14.77kg (0.06%) of fat, +15.92kg (0.10%) of protein.

The fourth price bull went to Lot 8: Monamore Earlymarch, he is sired by Westcoast Midmarch, sold by James and Thomas Kelly from the Monamore herd – he sold for €7,000.

He has an EBI of €195, with a milk sub-index of €94 and a fertility sub-index of €64.

Within the milk sub-index, he is +265kg of milk, +17.33kg (0.12%) of fat, +13.91kg (0.08%) of protein.

The pre-sale Champion bull selected by judge Jack Walsh at the IHFA 50th Annual Show and Sale was Greenlea Cassy from Padraic Greenan's Greenlea herd – he sold for €5,500.

He is sired by Co-Op Bosside Massey-Et and is backed by six generations of VG cows. The bull has an EBI of €154, with a milk sub-index of €41 and a fertility sub-index of €91.

Within the milk sub-index, he is +137kg of milk, +4.93kg (-0.01%) of fat, +7.38kg (0.05%) of protein.

Honourable mention went to Radney Ring, who sold for €5,800 on the day and was sold by Henry O'Keefe.

He is sired by Mylawn Fintan and is backed by six generations of EX/VG cows. The bull has an EBI of €203, with a milk sub-index of €64 and a fertility sub-index of €85.

Within the milk sub-index, he is +187kg of milk, +10.41kg (0.05%) of fat, +10.07kg (0.06%) of protein.

Some more sample prices of bulls that sold on the day are as follows:

Topping the trade at the IHFA’s heifer sale was Lot 30: Emerald Mooi Twizzle, sired by Mr Aija Mirand Mooi-Et and was sold by Paul Feeney – she sold for €4,800.

This heifer has six generations of EX cows, and her dam Emerald Jordy-Red Twizzle EX90 produced 7,337kg of milk in 2024 with 4.50% butterfat and 3.25% protein.

Rosetemple Robin Evelyn Red VG85 was the winning heifer at the pre-sale heifer show, and was also the second highest selling heifer as she sold for €3,500.

This heifer is sired by Koepon Oh Robin Red and her dam, Rosetemple Diamond Exquisite VG88 produced 8,579kg of milk with 4.31% fat and 3.39% protein and was sold by John Curtin.

Lot 27, Ballytigue Rubicon Fini came second in the premier heifer show and lot 28, Ballytigue Marcello Alliance came third at the show.

Sample prices of other heifers that sold on the day are as follows: