Speakers on the night included Jonathan Forbes, Group Procurement Manager, Kepak Group; Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor, Irish Farmers Journal; Joe Gilfillan, Suckler/Beef Farmer;. Henry Burns; National Livestock Chairman, IFA; Darren Carty Livestock Specialist, Irish Farmers Journal.

Joe Gilfillan, Chairman of the local Charolais club and passionate cattle breeder got the meeting under way and outlined his frustrations at the lack of a plan to keep suckler farmers farming in the west of Ireland.  He outlined his system from when he started out 50 years ago.  At that time there was no free trade (Ireland had not yet joined the EU) very little continental bloodlines and suckler farmers were mainly depending on cattle being exported on the hoof to England. The current situation with price cuts resulting from weight limits being imposed by the factories will mean that the typical suckler farmer with continental cross weanlings will lose out and beef finishers will have no chance of making a profit under the imposition of these weight penalties. He queried if beef and suckeler farmers were being pushed back to where they were 50 years ago and wondered if in 50 years time the west of Ireland would all be in forestry and the farmily farm gone forever?

Henry Burns, National Chairman of the IFA Livestock Committee welcomed the opening of the Egyptian market to the live cattle trade and stated that there are on-going discussions with exporters about the resumption of live exports to Libya.  He condemned the EU labelling issues which processors and retailers in the U.K and N. I. are using to impede live trade access to their markets.  He was also critical of the recent moves by meat factories to impose carcase weight cuts and impose penalties adding that the best quality stock  being produced by the most productive farmers were being hurt most.

●Top price of the sale went to Co. Kerry breeder, Oliver Mason, Rathanny, Tralee for 15 months old PARKEARAGH JEFFERY.  Out of a home bred dam by Nelson he is by Inverlochy Ferdie (S1381) and has the top 5-star rating in both the Terminal and Replacement indexes. He was purchased by Martin Merlehan, Clonkill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

●Reserve championship and second highest price of the sale €5,500 went to James Duke, Caggle, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. SLIABHBAWN JESSEJAMES is by Thrunton Voldemort (TVO) and out of a home bred dam by Pompon. He was purchased by Chris Connon, Dunmore, Crumlin, Co. Antrim.

●€5,100 was received by local breeder Wayne Mulligan, Rathfeston, Geashill, Co. Offaly for his first prize winner RATHFESTON JAMES.   By Balthazar (CG85) and out of a home bred dam whose pedigree goes back to the great Ballydownan Simone he was purchased by Lyndon McHugh, Oakhill, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan.

●Next highest price €4,800 went to Michael Daly, Wardhouse, Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim for TULLAGHAN JUAN PABLO by Doonally New and out of a Padirac bred dam.   Second in his class he was purchased by Seamus Ryan, Ballybeg, Toomevara, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

●€4,400 went to Brendan Feeney, Scurmore, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo for his first prize winner BOSTONIA JOHN.  By Kelton Trident (S1125) and out of a Padirac bred dam he was purchased by Stuart Ramsey, Falsidehill Farm, Kelso.

●Close behind at €4,300 was the champion CLONAMONA JACK bred by John Byrne, Clonamona, Craanford, Gorey, Co. Wexford.   By Liscally Eti he is out of a home bred dam by Balmyle Vagabond and was purchased by PJ Gillespie, Wardtown, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.

●The second prize winner from the same class as the champion BALLINVALLEY JEFF sold for €4,250.    Bred by Michael Kavanagh, Ballinvalley, Oldcastle, Co. Meath he is by Pirate and out of a home bred dam by Doonally New.   Purchaser was Daniel Lynch, Kiltormer, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

●€4,150 was received by Peter Spollen, Geashill, Tullamore for his 16-month s old son of Indurain, out of a home bred dam by Padirac.   He was purchased by Michael Berkery, Farnane, Cappamore, Co. Limerick.

●€4,000 secured LISNAGRE JUMBO by Jupiter and out of a Hermes bred dam for Caroline Smiddy, D’Loughtane House, Youghal, Co. Cork.   He was bred by Jim Geoghegan, Lisnagre, Streamstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Eight bulls were exported to N.I. and one to Scotland.

The next Charolais Society show/sale is the Premier in Elphin on the first Saturday in March.  There are 89 males and 20 females catalogued.   All pre-inspected and DNA verified to their sire.   In addition all bulls are fertility tested (within one month of the sale) and fertility insured.