Read a report from the Irish Simmental Cattle Society’s premier sale of bulls and heifers held at Roscommon Mart on Saturday, March 20th, 2021.
Topping the Irish Simmental Cattle Society’s first premier sale of 2021 at €12,500 was Lissadell Mr Mullarkey VIP.
Kieran and Paul Mullarkey, Ballinfull, County Sligo, presented the 12-month-old bull by Dermotstown Delboy and out of a Milnafua Graduate dam, Corbally Eires VIP, for sale.
The next best at €7,200 was Fearna Legend P ET selling for Gerry Neenan, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo. Curaheen Gunshot sires this September-2019-born bull, out of Fearna Vienna, a home-bred dam by Raceview King.
Thirdly at €5,100 was lot 29, Treen Mark, for Myles McHale, Castlebar, County Mayo. This 14-month-old Curaheen Gunshot-sired bull is out of a Cloondroon Calling home-bred dam, Treen Heather Seepa.
€5,000 or under
Climbing to the €5,000 mark was Clonagh Lucky Hansome Lad for Garrett Behan, Portlaoise, County Laois.
Manor Park Hansome sires this December-2019, bull out of Clonagh Hazel Eyes ET, a home-bred Kilbride Farm Dragoon dam.
Barry Fleming from Athy, Co. Laois received a call of €4,100 for his September-2019-born bull, Theswan Levi. Keeldrum Capone sires Levi and he is out of a home-bred dam, Theswan Fantasis, by Curaheen Vio.
Under €4,000
Furthermore, Donal Byrne, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo took home €3,700 for Big-Red Lollipop. The August-2019-born Curaheen Gunshot son is out of a Clonagh Diamond Rock-sired dam, Pollacossaun Holly.
Furthermore, entries reached €3,500 on three occasions. First up was Fohera Michaelangelo ET for Francis Maguire, Ballinamore, County Leitrim.
Sired by Curaheen Wakeman, this 13-month-old bull was out of a Ballingar Trendsetter dam, Fanerange Avril.
Next at €3,500 was lot 36 for Garrett Behan Portlaoise, County Laois. Again at 13-months, Clonagh Mighty Hansome ET is out of Manor Park Hansome and out of a Kilbride Farm Newry dam, Cloneygowan Temptress Posh.
Finally, Denis O’ Halloran Tulla, County Clare fetched €3,500 for Tulla Max P. The 13-month-old Auroch Deuter PP-sired bull is out of Tulla Hilltop, a home-bred Keeldrum Capone sired dam.
Simmental heifer prices
A society spokesperson reported that a “smaller than usual female section again suffered the same fate as the bulls, with a number of lots sold before the sale”.
A brisk trade resulted in a top price of €2,950, with an average of €2,390, which was down €60/head on the 2019 figure. The clearance rate was of the females was 74%.
Topping the female section at €2,950 was the youngest heifer in the catalogue, Dungimmon Maizy, at under 12 months of age. Martin Sheridan, Mountnugent, County Cavan sold this entry, a Clonagh Just A Dream daughter and out of a Sacombe Wishful Thinking dam, Hillcrest Jewel.
Three heifers reached €2,600 and first up at €2,600 for Barry & John Duffy Ballybay, County Monaghan was their November-2019-born heifer, Duff Lone Star. This Glebefarm Tyson-sired heifer is out of a home-bred Islavale Cracker dam, Duff Fabia.
Next, up at €2,600 was Mainview Lady Honey, exhibited by Stephen Treanor, Scotstown, County Monaghan. Curaheen Earp sires the 15-month-old entry out of a Dermotstown Delboy dam, Scribby Farms Honey.
Finally, reaching €2,600 was Bridgemount Luna for William O`Riordan, Rathcormac, County Cork.
Again at 15 months, this Kilbride Farm Delboy-sired heifer is out of a Samark Superman-sired home-bred dam, Bridgemount Ebony.
Simmental March premier sale report – summary
In a brief statement following the sale, a spokesperson for the Irish Simmental Cattle Society said:
“With the corresponding sale last spring cancelled, it was great that this sale went ahead with both exhibitors and customers observing strict Covid guidelines.”
“A lot of uncertainty regarding sales from both a sellers and buyers perspective led to a lot of pre-sale activity, which resulted in a lot of animals catalogued not appearing. This is a common trend across all pedigree sales over the last few weeks.”
“In summary, bulls recorded a clearance rate of 66% with an average price of €4,000, which was up over €1,200 on the 2019 sale average.” the spokesperson concluded.
