Super demand for Aberdeen Angus bulls in Kilkenny

Buyers were eager for good Aberdeen Angus bulls in Kilkenny with average jumping by €1,400

The Kilkenny Agricultural Society held their 106th Annual Show & Sale of bulls on Wednesday 22 March. The last March sale was held in 2021. Sixty-four Aberdeen Angus bulls were catalogued, and fifty 57 bulls were presented for sale. Out of the 57 bulls 45 bulls found new homes representing a 79% clearance.

An average price of €3,777 was achieved which was significantly higher than the March 2021 average of €2,340 with 13 more bulls traded. An impressive 93% of bulls sold for €3,000 or more.

The pre-sale show was judged by Ben and Elaine Ryall of the Fellfort Herd. Their choice for champion on the day was the July 2021 born Clooncarne Uncle Stephan from the Mulligan family Dromod Co. Leitrim. Stephan Boasted an excellent page of figures alongside a carcass weight figure of + 17.1kg which is over double the breed average. The champion sold for €4,000.

The reserve champion of the day came in the form of Carbery Venice the youngest bull in the catalogue born in February 2022. Bred by Keith Vickery, Roscarbery, Co. Cork, Venice was the reserve supreme champion at the IAAA Autumn Extravaganza in Thurles October 2022. Venice was sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg and boasted a high replacement value of €153. Venice met his reserve at €4,100.

The top price of the day was €4,800. This was achieved by Coolrain Underwood from Nigel Peavoy, Co. Laois. The August 2021 born bull was sired by Intelagri Matteo and boasted an appealing calving ease figure of just 1.5% and a whopping replacement index value of €163.

Continuing Peavoy’s success was Coolrain Ulyesse who sold for the second highest price of €4,600. This August 2021 born son of Intelagri Matteo again sold with an attractive 5-star replacement index.

Next into the money was Ballykeevican Uncle 962 for Luke Maye. This March 2021 bull carried a Dairy Beef Index of €103. Uncle changed hands at €4,500 to a Carlow based farmer. The first of two bulls to hit €4,400 was the September 2021 born Rawburn Jumbo Eric son Westellen Finn X912 ET. A third prize winner in his class from John & Kate Tait, Co. Cork, Finn boasted a Dairy Beef Index of a whopping €163. Hitting the €4,400 mark next was Brideswell Ulick from Karl Harrison, Co. Roscommon. Ulick took Second prize in his class. This November 2021 bull was sired by the Mogeely Joe son Ryans Ringo.

The Leitrim born third prize winner Ashtree Ulick changed hands at €4,150 for Gordon Richardson, Co. Leitrim. This December 2021 born bull was a son of Drumcarbin Price Mambo.

Limerick based breeder Dr Michael Sheahan was in the money with Luddenmore First Kiss X514. The hammer dropped at €4,100 for this July 2021 son of Friarstown Prairie Cloud and is from a Friarstown Evolver bred dam. First Kiss boasted five stars within the breed for terminal, carcass weight and daughter milk. It was Ivan Jones’s third prize winner Creagh Universal’s turn to hit the €4,100 next. This November 2021 bull was sired by the well-known Cornamuckla Lord Hardy.

Dr Michael Sheahan’s Luddenmore El Alamein X521 changed hands at €4,000. This August 2021 bull was sired by the homebred Luddenmore El Diablo T328 and is from a Friarstown Evolver bred dam. This time it was the McKiernan Family with Drumcrow Prime Time X877 who secured €4,000. The August 2021 bull is sired by the well-known Drumcrow Joker and is from a Coldstream Genetic Trend dam. John & Sean McEnroe’s September 2021 Liss Miylo X099 was the final bull to achieve €4,000. Miylo is sired by the home bred stockbull Liss Darl who is a son of Te Mania Berkley. Miylo boasted one of the highest dairy beef index values in the catalogue at a whopping €174.

Other Notable Prices:

€3,900 for Berry Usman from Patrick & Aaron Murphy Co. Westmeath
€3,900 for Newbridge Urban Boy from Edel & Brendan McCawley Co. Leitrim
€3,800 for Luddenmore Red Lord X505 from Dr Michael Sheahan Co. Limerick
€3,800 for Lisduff Danilo X934 from Leo McEnroe Co. Cavan
€3,800 for Newbridge Red Unlimited from Edel & Brendan McCawley Co. Leitrim
€3,800 for Drumcarbin Utter Magic from Shane McKiernan Co. Cavan
€3,800 for Liss Kruz X095 from J & S McEnroe Co. Meath
€3,750 for Luddenmore Torch Bearer X517 from Dr Michael Sheahan Co. Limerick
€3,750 for Lisduff Diego X926 from Leo McEnroe Co. Cavan
€3,750 for Masreagh Pat X292 from John McDermott Co. Sligo
€3,700 for Lisduff Dexter X915 from Leo McEnroe Co. Cavan
€3,700 for Riversdale Extra X702 from John W Smyth Co. Cork
€3,600 for Drumcrow Polostar X864 from McKiernan family Co. Cavan
€3,600 for Lavagh Unique from John & Paul McNulty Co. Leitrim
€3,600 for Coolrain Usain from Nigel Peavoy Co. Laois
€3,600 for Clooncarne Ultron from Mulligan Family Co. Leitrim