The Irish Charolais Cattle Society hosted a show and sale of bulls at GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly on Saturday, April 25.

There was "a strong trade recorded" for the entry of 57 Charolais bulls, according to the cattle breed society.

Buyers from both north and south of the border were active in the sale, with five bulls purchased for export to Northern Ireland on the day.

The society sale report said that demand remained firm throughout the sale, with seven bulls exceeding €8,000 and 21 lots selling for over €5,000.

The overall average price settled just under €5,800, "reflecting the continued appetite for well-bred Charolais stock".

Top price

The top price of the day was €10,400, achieved by Lot 83, Clonagh Absolute Echo ET bred by Garett Behan.

The bull is a son of Goldstar Echo bred out of a Lisnagre-bred dam.

Following fierce ringside bidding, this bull was secured by a buyer from Co. Roscommon.

Two bulls shared the next highest price of €9,800. Lot 22 Urlanbeg Verstappen, bred by Sean O’Connor from Co. Clare was first into the money.

The stylish Neptune-sired bull was a first-prize winner in his class, attracting significant interest in the ring.

Next to hit €9,800 was Lot 37 Drumcullen Vulcan, bred by John Fleury.

This bull is a son of Inverlochy Ferdie out of a Drumcullen JJ dam.

Carrying one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes, he was later sold to Northern Ireland.

Selling at €9,400 was Lot 36, Aughlin Victorious from Co. Leitrim breeder Brendan Flynn.

This CF52-bred bull, carrying one copy of the Q204X gene and out of a Pirate dam, also met strong demand.

A price of €8,800 was secured for Cuillmore Alan bred by the late Thomas Keane and sired by Pottlereagh Mark out of a Pirate dam, which later sold to a buyer in Co. Galway after attracting considerable attention.

The Senior Champion in the pre-sale show was Dhuish Voltage, a December-born bull bred by Gerard McIntyre from Co. Cavan, and sired by Lapon. This bull sold for €8,600 to a suckler farmer in Co. Tyrone.

A price of €8,000 went to the Reserve Junior Champion Rooskeynamona Apache bred by the Mulligan family, Co. Leitrim.

Sired by Clenagh Lyle and out of a Texan Gie dam, this bull carried one copy of the Q204X gene and was purchased by a Co. Tipperary-based farmer.

 Selling at €6,800 again for the Mulligan family was their Junior Champion bull Rooskeynamona Ace, a Cloonglasna Socks ET-sired bull.

Barry Quinn’s Reserve Senior Champion Clenagh Viscount ET, sired by Clenagh Lyle sold for €6,200.

Basil Bothwell secured €6,200 for his entry Dereskit Vegas, sired by Reglisse.

Other notable prices from the sale included:

€6,000 for BallyM Valetta 2 bred by Louise Quinn and sired by BallyM Saloup;
€6,000 for Kinnard Argenty bred by Adrian Morris and sired by Ocean;
€5,800 for Carrowkeel08 Vincent bred by Thomas Gormley and sired by Fiston;
€5,800 for Whitepark Val bred by Kieran Hillary and sired by Pottlereagh Mark;
€5,800 for Tullyvillage Adam bred by William Flynn and sired by Fiston;
€5,800 for Drumcullen Admiral bred by John Fleury and sired by Drumcullen Universal 2;
€5,400 for Ballyfinnane Van ET bred by Kenneth Clarke and sired by Neptune;
€5,200 for Nolagh Vito bred by Martin Shevlin and sired by Grangewood Royal Oak;
€5,000 for Summervilla Anthony bred by Ciaran and Tony O’Donnell and sired by Ocean;
€5,000 for Clonagh Vintage Boy bred by Gareth Behan and sired by Fiston.

The society expressed its thanks to the stewards on the day as well as the staff at Tullamore Mart and the pre-sale show judge on the day. Harry Herron from the Loughincourse Pedigree herd in Northern Ireland.

The next Irish Charolais Cattle Society bull sale will take place on Saturday, May 23, at GVM Tullamore Mart.