Report (with prices and photos) from Irish Limousin Cattle Society sale held at Elphin Mart.
There was strong interest from the UK and Northern Ireland at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society’s final sale of 2021 last weekend.
The society’s premier show and sale took place at Elphin Mart in a change of format on Friday, November 12th, and Saturday, November
According to the society, the top ten bulls achieved an average of €5,280. They reported that entries hit €7,800, while five bulls changed hands for €5,000 or more.
A total of 34 bulls sold to an average of €3,722, up on the 2019 pre-Covid sale by an impressive €500/head, respectively.
Chief executive & breed secretary, Ronan Murphy said:
“Overall, the average sale price remains strong with solid interest from NI and the UK. There was strong demand for high-quality bulls with the top 10 sold averaging €5,280 per head.”
“On-farm sales of Limousin remain strong, with only 60% of catalogued bulls being presented for sale. We want to thank our judge, Mark Phillips, for presiding over our show and wish all buyers every success with their new purchases.
Limousin prices
Headlining at €7,800 was the junior male champion, lot 69, Cartronfree Rodger Et, from Martina Browne, Carragh, Granard, Co Longford.
He is a young Kilcor Iceman son out of Ampertaine Odell, a UK imported cow going back to Ampertaine Elgin. Rodger is the first calf off Odell, purchased in Carlisle for £13,000gns.
Roger also came with a five-star replacement index value of €141 and made his way across the Irish sea to Andrew Ewing, Dumberton Farms, Annnan, Scotland.
Hot on his heels at €7,000 was the weekend’s senior male champion, Lot 40, Ernevalley Rolex ET, from Eddie Lynch, Grouse Hall, Loughduff, Co Cavan.
Philips described his champion as “a very showy upstanding bull with length and power”.
Rolex is off a home-bred bull, Ernevalley Madison, an Ampertaine Forman son and it out of a home-bred dam Ernevalley Mississippi Et. by Sympa.
The May-2020-born bull has a terminal index of €161 and a replacement index of €117. Rolex’s new home is with the purchaser, David Meegan, Lisnamack, Broomfield, Co Monaghan.
€5,700 and under
Next best at €5,700 was lot 53, Stragheglin Ralph, from Ciaran Brogue, Coragh, Belturbet, Co Cavan, who came fourth in his class.
This June 2020-born heifer’s calf is a Mereside Godolphin son. Ralph is out of a home-bred dam, Stragheglin Margaret, and comes with a terminal index figure of €134 and an easy calving figure of just 3.3%. Mervyn Moore, Clareview, Kesh, Co Fermanagh snapped up this lot.
At €5,200 was the reserve senior champion, Lot 43 Ernevalley Rambo, again from Eddie Lynch, who came away with an impressive stash of rosettes from the presale show.
Stablemate to the senior champion, Rambo is a May-2020-born bull by Kaprico Eravelle and out of a homebred dam, Ernevalley Malificent ET.
He boasts a star-studded set of figures with a terminal index value of €153, a replacement index value of €154 and a short gestational value of just 1.15 days. Rambo makes his way to Kells, Co Meath to Conor Govern’s home.
€5,000 and under
Not far behind was Lot 5, Carrowclogher Rambler from Sean Vahey, Ballyheane, Castlebar, Co Mayo. One of the oldest bulls in the sale, he came fourth in his class before climbing to €5,000.
Rambler is a Bavardage son out of home-bred dam Carrowclogher Madonna. This double five-star bull has a terminal index value of €173 and a replacement index value of €159.
In addition, he has an easy calving figure of just 2.9% and a short gestational value of 1.45 days. He heads to Katie & Philip Brennan, Cordevlish, Co Monaghan.
Selling for €4,600 was Lot 41 Milbrook Regal, a third-prize-winner from William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath. The May-2020-born bull is by Milbrook Nobel ET out of a home-bred dam, Milbrook Lenya. Regal carries the myostatin traits of F94L and NT821 as well as a terminal value of €179. He caught Noel Kenny’s eye.
At €4,600 was Lot 65 Townleyhall Royalty from Derek Russell, Drogheda, Co Louth. The young August-born bull is sired by Mullary Interpid and out of a home-bred cow Townleyhall Laurel. Purchased by Mr Owain Llyr, he makes his way to Tyn Y -Wern, Ruthin, Wales
Again at €4,600, Mr Llyr snapped up Lot 73, Brickhall Regista, from Michael McInerney, Cartloe, Co Clare. The September-2020 bull is by Plumtree Fantastic out of home-bred dam Brickhill Leah. Regista has a terminal index value of €163, a replacement index value of €142 and a short gestational value of -1.02 days.
Under €4,500
- €4,200: Reserve Junior Champion Lot 71 Milbrook Rocker Et from William Smith, Oldcastle Co Meath. A September-2020 born son out of Lodge Hamlet and home-bred dam, Milbrook Easter, comes with a terminal index value of €168. Rocker travels North to Mr Patrick Donnolly, Ballygawley, Dungannon, Co Tyrone;
- €4,100: Lot 17 Clooncara Limousins Raider from David Coogan. An April 2020 born bull by Craigatoke Jack and out of a Thomastown Harriet dam, carrying F94L and NT821 genes and a terminal index value of €138. Purchaser: Mr Gordan Burleigh, Derrylester, Co Fermanagh.
- €4,000 for September-2020 born Lot 75, Brickhill Redford, another bull, a Mereside Goldolphin son, Michael McInerney, Cratloe, Co Clare put forward. Purchaser: Mr Patrick J Keane, Lismactigue, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare;
- Also, at this price tag: Lot 49 Ernevalley Redrum. The June-20200born bull is a Kaprico Eravelle, son out of a Ronic Hawlk dam. He is also a double five star, with a terminal index value of €157 and a replacement index value of €153. Purchaser: Donal Byrne, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.
- Sharing this price tag was Lot 24 Keltic Royalwelsh from Ms Teleri Thomas, Longwood, Co Meath. The April-born son is a Keltic Handsome son out of home bred-dam, Keltic Katie. Buyer: Anthony McVeigh, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Other Limousin bull prices
| Lot No. | Animal Name | Price (€) | Exhibitor | Sire | Show placing |
| 29 | Ammaghmore Rodeo Man | 3,600.00 | Sean Garrett | Kaprico Eravelle | 1st |
| 50 | Brookland Rolex | 3,600.00 | John Hickey | Tomschoice Lexicon | 3rd |
| 56 | Cavelands Ripon | 3,600.00 | Paul Sykes | Ampertaine Foreman | 3rd |
| 61 | Ernevalley Realdeal | 3,500.00 | Eddie Lynch | Lodge Hamlet | 1st |
| 13 | Townleyhall Rusty | 3,400.00 | Derek Russell | Tomschoice Lexicon | |
| 46 | Newtown Romeo | 3,300.00 | Stanley Richardson | Loyal | 2nd |
| 11 | Roundhill Rover 2Et | 3,200.00 | Timothy Corridan | Gamin | 3rd |
| 8 | Currane Rory | 3,000.00 | Michael McKeown | Mereside Godolphin | 2nd |
| 21 | Corlea Romeo | 3,000.00 | Thomas Connor | Derrygullinane Glen | 2nd |
| 42 | Sheemore Rocky | 3,000.00 | Paddy Farrell | Elderberry Galahad | |
| 45 | Claddagh Rimmer Et | 3,000.00 | Adrian McCabe | Lodge Hamlet | |
| 2 | Ammaghmore Red Rocket | 2,950.00 | Sean Garrett | Derrygullinane Glen | |
| 6 | Kilnamaddy Reginald Dwight | 2,800.00 | Anthony Brennan | Ewdenvale Ivor | |
| 31 | Derra Royalty | 2,700.00 | Gerry Shaughnessy | Cavelands Jolly | 3rd |
| 18 | Carrowneden Rooney | 2,600.00 | Liam P Lyons | Grangeford Jojo Et | 4th |
| 38 | Coolfern Ruben | 2,600.00 | Thomas M O’Leary | Usse | |
| 80 | Ovaun Rooney | 2,600.00 | Michael Gunn | Cameos | |
| 30 | Trueman Rover | 2,500.00 | David Cogan | Telfers Munster | |
| 81 | Brookland Rover | 2,400.00 | John Hickey | Haltcliffe Dancer | |
| 66 | Cloonduane Rocky | 2,200.00 | Ben Cunningham | Tomschoice Lexicon | |
| 72 | Carbery Ringleader | 2,200.00 | Keith Vickery | Wilodge Cerberus |
Limousin heifer prices
The judge awarded the champion female silverware to Lot 107, Brookland Razzle Dazzle, from John Hickey, Kilcommon, Thurles, Co Tipperary, which later sold for €6,000.
The judge remarked: “The more I saw her, the more I liked her. [She is] a real nice, sweet female champion, a real flashy heifer. One of the youngest heifers put forward for sale on the day.”
The heifer is Bavardage out of an Ampertaine Foreman dam and has a maternal value of €153.
Reserve champion female was lot 102, Meenross Roxy, from James O Grady, Scariff, Co Clare. The July-2020-born heifer made €4,200.
She is by Lodge Hamlet and out of a home-bred dam, Meenross June Et. Charlie Collison, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, UK, snapped up this lot.
| Lot No. | Animal Name | Price (€) | Exhibitor | Sire | Show placing |
| 89 | Ammaghmore Primrose | 3,300.00 | Sean Garrett | Derrygullinane Kingbull | 1st |
| 103 | Corranhill Rosey | 3,200.00 | Ivor Anderson | Mereside Godolphin | |
| 94 | Liscran Rosie | 3,100.00 | Philip Dunne | Cameos | 1st |
| 105 | Meenross Rapunzel Et | 3,000.00 | James O Grady | Plumtree Fantastic | 2nd |
| 87 | Ballyline P716 | 2,300.00 | Bertie Mannion | Moondharrig Knell | 4th |
| 88 | Ballyline Patricia | 2,300.00 | Bertie Mannion | Moondharrig Knell | |
| 90 | Ballyline Philomena | 2,300.00 | Bertie Mannion | Cavelands Kieran | |
| 91 | Ballyline Paula | 2,200.00 | Bertie Mannion | Cavelands Kieran | |
| 99 | Iniseoghan Rebecca | 2,200.00 | Bernard Lynch | Elderberry Galahad | |
| 100 | Ohill Rebella | 2,200.00 | Patrick Beirne | Ampertaine Gigolo | |
| 108 | Brookland Ruby | 2,200.00 | John Hickey | Baverdage | 4th |
 from Irish Limousin Cattle Society sale (bulls and heifers) held at Elphin Mart in November 2021.){kind=link}