The concluding Irish Limousin Cattle Society spring sale for 2014 took place in Roscommon Mart on Saturday 24th May. George Candler returned to his native county to perform the auctioneering duties. Judge for this sale was Padraig Cotter of the Lissalohorig herd based at Moulnagirra, Leap, Co. Cork.
Speaking after the sale Paul Sykes, Breed Secretary of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society commented: “While the ideal at any sale is a 100% clearance rate, the clearance rate here today was up on last years at 63%, the top price was higher than that recorded for the same venue last year.
The cattle here today are demonstrative of what the Limousin breed has to offer. Limousin cattle continue to perform extremely well at sales all over the country. From young calves out of the dairy herd right through to cull suckler cows and bulls, Limousin are in demand and are very regularly the top performer.
As the Spring Society sale season has reached its conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the purchasers of Limousin genetics (both pedigree and commercial) for choosing Limousin.
Summer show season is now underway and we greatly appreciate the breeders who showcase our breed at these shows the length and breadth of the country.”
Proceedings commenced with the show, at which “Baileys Hark” the bull that went on to achieve the top price of the day was awarded the Reserve Senior Male Champion title. Bred by Tom Bailey, Batterstown, Co. Meath, Hark is an eye-catching son of the 2007 Carlisle Champion – Queenshead Altea and the Redpaths Pelican daughter Redpaths Unity. Queenshead Altea is a stock sire in the Baileys herd and has seen many of his offspring do very well at both Society shows and sales. Hark carries a 5-star Terminal Index rating of €134 and a Replacement Index value of €155. The securing bid of €4,300 was paid by an undisclosed bidder.
The first prize winner “Shannon Heineken” changed hands at €3,400. Born in August 2012, Heineken is a Fieldson Alfy son, with back-breeding to Mas Du Clo and Haricot. He carries five star ratings in Terminal Index, Carcass Weight and Carcass Conformation. Bred by Sarah McElligott, Asdee, Listowel, Co. Kerry he was acquired by John Ryan, Tuam, Co. Galway.
Pat Kenny, Mullaghmore, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway sold his February 2013 born bull for €3,200. “Groe Inka” is a son of Towthorpe Dubai and Newtown Dora. He holds a Muscle score of 126 and a Skeletal score of 119. Inka was placed second in his class and was sold for €3,200, to an undisclosed purchaser.
Padraig Cotter awarded the Senior Male Champion to “Ryehill Hero”. Hero was bred in Athenry, Co. Galway by Michael Fox. This 17 month old bull is a son of the highly regarded Sympa and out of a home-bred Rocky dam Ryehill Flower. Selling with a Terminal Index of €142 and a Replacement index of €132, Hero was purchased by Martin Flaherty, Kinvara, Co. Galway for €2,750.
David Cogan, Ballyglass, Kilmovee, Co. Mayo saw his Junior Male Champion – “Clooncara Limousins Indiana Jo” change hands for €2,500. Indiana Jo has a sire stack that includes Milbrook Dartangan Et, Litron, Jeu and Wilodge Vantastic. Born in March 2013 he has a Muscle score of 113 and a Skeletal score of 116. His buyer was undisclosed.
Suckler farmer Martin Conneely, Williamstown, Co. Galway purchased the Sympa son “Thomstown Harry” for €2,450. Harry has five star ratings in Terminal Index, Replacement Index and Carcass conformation. He was bred by John Finan, Clooncagh, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.
“Cross Iceman” from the herd of Thomas Feehan, Kilmeena, Westport, Co. Mayo was sold for €2,450. Iceman is a 15-month old son of Grahams Apache and out of the home-bred Ronick Hawk daughter Cross Bridget. He has a five star Terminal Index of €135 and a Replacement Index value of €206. Edward Dowd, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry purchased Iceman to run with his suckler herd.
Third prize winner “Coolrain Hendrix” realized €2,450 for his breeders Gearoid & Padraic Kennedy, Coolrain, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Hendrix was born in September 2012 and carries five star ratings in almost all traits. He is by Ballyfin Engine Et (a stock bull in the Coolrain herd) and out of Coolrain Elle Mchawk. Maurice Brady, Cootehill, Co. Cavan was his purchaser.
Top-call for the Haltcliffe Dancer son “Drominanou Ian” was €2,400. Ian was bred by Mark Clune, Drominanov, Feakle, Co. Clare. He has a Muscle score of 120 and a Skeletal score of 111. He was born in January 2013 to a homebred Louxor dam Drominanou Aine. Paul Maher, Clonaheen, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, purchased this first prize winner.
Pedigree breeder Bernard Donlon, Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway snapped up “Doon West Hero Et” for €2,300. Hero carries a sire stack which includes Casimir, Grahams Poncho and Hortensia. This fourth prize winner was bred by Michael Phillips, Doon West, Gurteen, Co. Sligo.
Four bulls realised €2,200. First at this price was “Shannon Handyman” from the herd of Sarah McElligott, Asdee, Listowel, Co. Kerry. Handyman is a fourth prize winning Vison son out of the French bred dam Topaze. Patrick Farrington, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare acquired Handyman.
Also at €2.200 was “Bockagh Hill Herman” from local breeder James Towey, Bockagh, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. Herman is a Milbrook Dartangan Et son out of a Nenuphar dam – Clegghill Vickie. County Westmeath based suckler farmer Robert L’Estrange, Killucan, was his purchaser.
The Reserve Junior Male Champion “Gerrygullinane Ike” was the third bull secured for €2,200. Ike is a January 2013 born Procters Cavalier son. He has a Muscle score of 118 and a Skeletal score of 120. Ike was bred by Gerry Walsh, Ballina, Co. Mayo. His new owner is Adrian Reynolds, Weekfield, Co. Roscommon.
Thirteen month old “Derrygullinane Iverk” was the final bull to sell at €2,200. Iverk carries five star ratings in almost all traits. His sire stack includes Wilodge Cerberus, Cloughhead Lord and Genial. Joe Lyons, Swinford, Co. Mayo purchased Iverk from John Joseph Walsh, Knockmore, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Heifers
In the small entry of heifers the Female Champion “Crocan Holly” sold for €2,550. This January 2012 born Casimir daughter was bred by Henry Barrett, Corclough West, Belmullet, Co. Mayo. She sold in calf to Cloughhead Umpire. Pedigree breeder Patrick McKeown acquired Holly for his Currane herd based in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Gerard Greenan, Castleshane, Co. Monaghan sold “Castleshane Hulda” for €1,850. Hulda is a July 2012 born Soprano-Mn daughter. She sold in calf to Fieldson Alfy. She was placed third in her class in the pre-sale show. Her purchaser was Mervyn Kinnear, Virginia, Co. Cavan.
The thirteen month old Fieldson Alfy daughter “Gerrygullinane Inez” was purchased by Michael Shally, Dunmore, Co. Galway for his Flaskagh herd. Inez has a back pedigree that includes Nimbus-Mn and Noe. €1,775 was her final selling price for her breeder Gerry Walsh, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Reserve Female Champion was awarded to “Gorvagh Hanna 2” from the herd of Vincent Flynn, Breandrum, Gorvagh, Co. Leitrim. Hanna 2 is a Haltcliffe Dancer daughter. She failed to meet her reserve price and left the ring unsold.
Up-coming events
Limousin cattle, both pedigree and commercial will be well represented at the local shows throughout the country during the summer months.
Tullamore Show on Sunday 10th August, 2014 will once again play host to The National Limousin Livestock Show. Along with the usual classes we have introduced two new commercial calf classes for the best commercial Limousin bull calf weighing less than 400kg and the best commercial Limousin heifer calf weighing less than 360kg. These new classes have a prize fund of €2,000.
The next society sale is the Premier Bull sale in Roscrea mart on 27th October 2014.
For more information please visit www.irishlimousin.com or call the Society Office at 025-85036.
Here at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society we would like to wish all purchasers the very best of luck with their acquisitions.
