It has been a great year for Charolais bull sales, with strong averages and high clearances. Once again, the trade was buoyant in Tullamore on Saturday, with 80% of the bulls on offer selling to an average of just over €4,100. Most of the trading was done within Southern Ireland, indicating once again that Charolais usage as a terminal sire is on the rise.
Rooskeynamona Theodore
Topping the trade was the Reserve Male Champion Rooskeynamona Theodore, who sold for €6,600. Exhibited by Gerard Mulligan from County Leitrim, this powerful young bull is a son of Bullbank’s Sportmans Neptune, and a homebred Pirate dam. Born in January 2022, Theodore carries two copies of the F94L profit gene. Although low on indexes, this classy bull attracted bids from several pedigree and commercial farmers. A stark reminder that indexes are just a tool, and not everything when selecting cattle. Something everyone involved in cattle breeding in Ireland should keep in mind, especially with the various schemes being introduced at present.
Next best at €5,500 was Ballytrain Tom, a son of First and a Blelack Digger bred dam. Bred and exhibited by Brendan Mc Connell from County Monaghan, this 13 month old bull attracted significant interest in the sales ring. As his breeding would suggest, indexes were in abundance, with stars displayed right down the page. Tom also carries one copy of the Q204X myostatin gene. He sold to a suckler farmer from County Clare.
Dereskit Tanko 1125
Selling at €5,400 was Dereskit Tanko, the property of Basil Bothwell from County Cavan. This 15 month old bull is a son of the NCBC AI sire Lapon, and a homebred dam by Alwent Goldbar. Tanko offered a terminal index of €156, along with a calving figure of just 4% on beef cows. He also carries one copy of the F94L gene. Snapping this one up was a suckler farmer from County Galway.
Francis Ryan from Rosscahill in County Galway was one of the first high sellers through the ring with Landleague Spud at €5,300. This November 2021 born bull is a son of the easy calving specialist Chic and a Texan gie bred dam. The Galway bred bull offered one of the easiest calving figures in the catalogue at 2.8% on beef cows. He sold to a suckler farmer from Tuam in County Galway.
Corney Theo
Up next at €5,000 was the first prize winner Corney Theo from David Magee in County Cavan. This 14 month old son of Fiston catalogued with a massive range of indexes, including a five star terminal and replacement index. This was accompanied by a calving figure of 4.9% on beef cows and a carcass weight figure of +42.4 kgs. He also went west to a suckler farmer in County Galway.
Gerard Farrell from Newtowncashel in County Longford received a call of €4,900 for his rising 15 month old bull Portanure Trump. This young bull is a son of Dovea’s Bud Orpheus and a Baltazhar bred dam. Having the last call on this one was a suckler farmer from County Sligo.
Dereskit Topper 1126
Basil Bothwell from County Cavan was back in the money once again when he traded his second offering Dereskit Topper 1126 for €4,800. This 15 month old son of Roughan Nutella carries two copies of the profit gene, and displayed a carcass weight figure of +41.9kgs. He went south to a suckler farmer in County Kerry.
Two more bulls would hit the €4,800 mark. The first to do so was Clonaltra Topper for Terry Bradley from County Westmeath. A son of Fleetwood and a Pirate bred dam, Topper carries a five star terminal index of €158 and a calving figure of just 4.8% on beef cows. He also possess one copy of the Q gene. The last and final bull to trade at €4,800 was Sliabhbloom Tom, exhibited by Danny Weston from County Laois. This high index young bull is a son of Voimo and a homebred dam by Nelson. As well as offering a page full stars, he also carries a calving figure of just 4.8% on beef cows.
Larahill Titus ET
Judges John Searson and his daughter Megan selected Larahill Titus ET as their Male Champion. This 15 month old son of Pirate was exhibited by John O’Connor from County Westmeath. Unfortunatley he failed to meet his reserve in the sales ring.
Dalehill Serena
Topping the small offering of females was the Champion heifer Dalehill Serena, exhibited by Basil and Victoria Kells from County Cavan. This two year old heifer is a Fiston daughter and sold in calf. She went to sale with an eye catching replacement index of €114 and was knocked down at €4,500 to a breeder from County Cork.
This wrapped up the Spring 2023 sales for the Society. We would like to thank the marts, exhibitors, stewards, officials, and of course the buyers for choosing Charolais. Autumn sale dates will be available in the coming weeks.