Dungannon Sale 18th March 2016

Simmental heifers to 5,400gns and

bulls to 4,600gns at Dungannon

Pedigree Simmental heifers soared to 5,400gns while bulls reached a ceiling of 4,600gns at the Northern Ireland breed club’s spring show and sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Claiming the day’s top price was the female champion and reserve supreme champion Cleenagh Good Girl, a thirteen-month-old heifer bred by Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge. Sired by the Raceview King son Ashland Brandy, her dam is the Omorga Murray daughter Cleenagh Vikki. She won the Dale Cup at Fermanagh County Show last year, and was reserve junior champion at the inaugural Pedigree Calf Fair held at Balmoral in November.

After spirited bidding she came under the hammer of auctioneer Trevor Wylie at 5,400gns, selling to Oliver McGuinness from Eglinton, County Londonderry.

Topping bull trade at 4,600gns was the unshown Lakeside Fred TSI+73 SRI+85 consigned by Cecil Chartres and David Farrell, Lisbellaw. Born in June 2014, he was sired by the 10,000gns Perth champion Drumlone Anchor, and is out of a home-bred dam by Kilbride Farm Newry – one of six pedigree cows in the herd. In the breed’s top 5% for daughter calving ease +5.3, and top 25% for eye muscle area, he sold to Raymond Pedlow who runs an engineering business and a herd of 180 suckler cows at Lurgan, County Armagh.

Next best at 3,400gns was the reserve male champion Lisglass Fortress TSI+78 SRI+83 bred by the father and son team of Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare. This sixteen-month-old entry was sired by stock bull Dermotstown Delboy – Balmoral champion in 2014 and 2015; and is bred from Fole Vivian 59th – one of 35 cows in the herd.  Buyer was Nigel Kee from Douglas Bridge, Strabane.

The Weatherup duo also realised 2,500gns for the second placed maiden heifer Liglass Foxy. Born in August 2014, she is by Dermotstown Delboy, and is out of the Kilbride Farm Porter daughter Lisglass Danielle 3rd. This was the first Dermotstown Delboy to be offered for sale. She joined Chris Traynor’s Kilmore Herd based at Armagh.

Duncan McDowell, Newtownards, realised 2,350gns for the April 2013 born Castlemount Ruby ET. She was sired by Curaheen Vio, and is out of the Cleenagh Flasher daughter Slievenagh Ruby. Included in the price was her three-month-old Hockenhull Alibaba heifer calf. Buyer was Robert Duncan from Magherafelt.

Judge Shane McDonald, Tempo, awarded the male and supreme overall championships to Ashdale Flint, an October 2014 born bull bred by Jackson McCaw, Killinchy. Sired by the Hamlet son Hillcrest Valentine, he was bred from Ashdale Haley 12th.This one changed hands for 2,300gns, selling to pedigree herd owner and livestock haulier Malcolm Workman from Monaghan.

Also selling at 2,300gns was the August 2014 born Bridgewater Farm Fernando TSI+66 SRI+59 bred by Nigel Glasgow from Cookstown. Sired by the Omorga Volvo son Lisglass Colombus, he is out of a home-bred dam by Hockenhull Maverick. Buyer was W Black from Pomeroy.

Claiming the day’s reserve female championship was the two-year-old in-calf heifer Kilbride Farm Eunice 174F bred by the Robson family from Doagh. Sired by was sired by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, and is out of a home-bred dam by Kilbride Farm Warren. This one failed to meet her reserve and returned home unsold.

Commercial females attracted a ready market, with in-calf heifers selling to a top of £1,320, paid to Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea. Maiden heifers peaked at £1,350 and £1,250, realised by Tom Bogue from Brookeborough.

The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club is indebted to its sponsors, Animax and Millburn Concrete.

Averages: 12 bulls £2,450 (71%); 6 heifers £2,358 (55%); and 2 cows and calves £2,205 (100%).