Read a report (with prices and photos) from the Irish Moiled Cattle Society’s Magnificent Moilies spring sale held between Thursday, May 5th, 2021 and Saturday, May 8th, 2021.
Topping the society’s sale was Ballyreagh Lily 6737, a 1-year-old heifer owned by William Edwards, Tempo, Co. Fermanagh, which changed hands at £3,200.
She is the third female animal to exceed the £3,000 barrier from the well-established and highly regarded Lily cow family.
Garrett O’ Donnell of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh snapped up this entry, but this was not the only animal to catch the pedigree breeder’s eye.
He went on to secure the top-priced bull, (third-highest price of the sale), Curraghnakeely Gypsy King, at £2,600 consigned by N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards & Michelle McCauley) bred by Nigel Edwards of Tempo Co. Fermanagh.
Gypsy King was described as a “promising young bull” with a pedigree “saturated with high excellent classified animals”. His dam is the highest (joint equal with one other cow) classified in the breed – Glassdrummond Cherry 58 EX95. Furthermore, his sire, Castledale Maurice 2 EX94, is one of the highest classified bulls.
£3,000 and under
The second-highest price of the day was £3,000 for another entry from N & M Moiles. First-time purchaser, Richard Ferguson from Downpatrick, Co. Down, acquired Curraghnakeely Bluebell 0542.
She has been described as a “powerful, stylish 1-year-old heifer, which has all the potential to become a real cow maker with a bright future in the show ring”.
The third-highest priced female animal selling at £2,500 came in the form of Ravelglen Maisie. Brian O’Kane of Martinstown, Co. Antrim owned the 1-year-old “well-balanced heifer” with a back pedigree of excellent classified animals”.
Dermot Gardiner of Ballymena, Co. Antrim acquired this entry and acquired Ravelglen Davos from the same vendor for his recently formed Irish Moiled herd.
£2,000 and under
The fifth highest overall price of the sale and the second-highest priced bull was £2,000, went to Derek Steen of Mofffat, Scotland. This “well-bred, stylish young” bull, Ballylinney Superman, ventured to Raymond Steen of Hillsborough, Co. Down.
Steen, as well as vending, proceeded to invest in three new females to add more lines to his Ballylinney herd.
Firstly, he purchased the fourth-highest priced female, Curraghnakeely Daisy 0450, put forward by Nigel Edwards of Tempo Co. Fermanagh. This young female had collected some red ribbons in the show ring when she was a 1-year-old heifer.
Derek’s second purchase was Trory Bluebell, a 2-year-old heifer owned by Robert Boyle of Millisle, Co. Down, bred by John Mc Elroy of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh selling at £2000.
Derek’s final purchase was the last sale entry, a 10-month-old heifer calf, Lisnolan Mary Lou, owned by Sean Hyland of Castlebar Co. Mayo, for £1,800.
Males at Magnificent Moilies spring sale
In the bull section, Derrynagarra Galahad, bred by Christopher and Helen Kelly, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath, consigned by N & M Moilies, was the next highest price fetching £1,700.
Aged just eleven months, this young bull is heading to the Inis Fraoigh herd of Denis O’Boyle, Burtonport, Co. Donegal.
Another junior bull, Lisnolan Croaghaun Mountain, aged 11-months-old, property of Sean Hyland of Castlebar, Co. Mayo, sold for £1600. He will be making the journey across the water to Phillipa Milligan in Lancashire, England.
Robert Boyle’s Beechmount Big Mac, an 18-month-old bull sired by the highest classified bull in the breed, Tyrone Firecracker (EX96) reached the same price tag. He will be making his way to Alan Campbell of Finvoy, Co. Antrim.
Summary: Magnificent Moilies spring sale
The recent Irish Moiled Cattle Society online sale conducted by Harrison & Hetherington Auctioneers, Carlisle, consisting of both pedigree Irish Moiled bulls and females was once again heralded a “resounding success for the breed”.
Breeders from across all the Irish Moiled Cattle Society’s three constituencies, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain came together to offer what the society described as “some of the absolute best Irish Moiled genetics in the world”.
- Bulls: 70% clearance averaging £1,500;
- Females: 100% clearance averaging £2,200.
Future ‘full of opportunities’ for Irish Moiled cattle
Brian O’Kane, chairperson, of the Irish Moiled Cattle Society, congratulated the breeders who entered the sale.
He said: “They are all to be commended on the standard of the stock put forward. When selling through an online sale, it really does pay off to take time to take good photos and videos of well-presented animals.”
Also, on behalf of the society, he went on to thank Harrison & Hetherington Auctioneers, Carlisle, for their assistance and support in providing an online platform, “which opens to a wider marketplace and makes it possible for breeders from all three constituencies to be able to sell or purchase cattle”.
He commented that success is only possible with the inclusion of all the sellers, buyers and not forgetting to mention the underbidders.
“For those who missed out this time, we hope they will be successful in purchasing at our next online sale in September.”
“The Irish Moiled Cattle Society’s future is certainly looking healthy and full of opportunities. Keep an eye on the Irish Moiled Cattle Society website and Facebook page to find out about the upcoming photographic competition of AI-sired progeny, online virtual farm tours and the International Irish Moiled Cattle Society online show.”
