Prices reached a ceiling of 5,800gns at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s evening show and sale, held at Ballymena Livestock Mart.
Hitting the headlines in the show and sale rings was Gleneagle Trex, the intermediate, male and supreme overall champion bred and exhibited by John O’Kane and Sons, Garvagh.
This eighteen-month-old bull was described by judge William McAllister, Kells, County Antrim, as a very correct, stylish and powerful young bull. He is the result of an embryo from the home-bred Gleneagle Madonna by Gerrygullinane Glen, and the 22,000gns sire Gunnerfleet Lion.
Carrying two copies of the F94L myostatin gene, the champion attracted strong interest from ringside and online buyers. The successful bidder was JH McArthur from Limavady.
Second highest bid of the night, 5,200gns was paid to Trevor Shields, Kilkeel, for the reserve senior champion Glenmarshal Tonka. Born in February 2022 this ET bull is a son of the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, and is bred from Trueman Pixie, one of the first daughters of the 20,000gns Telfers Munster.
Trueman Pixie was purchased for 17,100gns as an eleven-month-old maiden heifer at the Savage family’s online production sale in 2020. Carrying F94L and Q204X genes, this bull was snapped up by David Thompson from Dungiven.
Following close behind at 5,000gns was the senior male champion Rahoney Titus bred by Howard McFarland, Trillick. Sired by the 35,000gns Carlisle (May 2018) intermediate and supreme champion Ampertaine Majestic, he is out of a home-bred dam by Moloskey Ger. This twenty-month-old bull has F94L and Q204X myostatin genes. He sold to P McGurk from Plumbridge.
Brian Quinn from Dungannon realised 4,800gns for the reserve junior champion Gallcross Theo. Born in July 2022, he is a son of the £40,000 Plumtree Fantastic, while his dam Begsrieve Petunia is a daughter of Montclare Lopez. He has double Q204X genes, and sold to K Quigg from Limavady.
The junior, reserve male and reserve overall champion Aghadolgan Tomriddle came under the hammer of auctioneer Graham Loughrey at 4,200gns. Bred by Raymond Savage, Drumahoe, he was sired by the 30,000gns Carlisle (October 2010) champion Lowerffyrdd Empire. His dam Aghadolgan Oopsi is by Elite Ice Cream. This sixteen-month-old bull has F94L and Q204X myostatin genes, and was purchased by R Shaw from Rasharkin.
Marty and Ronan McGurk, Cookstown, scooped the female championship with Birchwood Tara. This eighteen-month-old heifer was sired by Ampertaine Progressive, and is out of Kilclass Lullaby by Ampertaine Elgin. She sold to J Quinn from Kilrea for 2,500gns.
Judge William McAllister added: The female champion is a nice heifer,
and will mature into a good brood cow. There has been a good turnout of cattle, with a very good top end in every class.”
Also selling at 2,500gns was the fourth placed Rathkeeland Ursula bred by Crawford Bros, Maguiresbridge. This nine-month-old heifer was sired by Gunnerfleet Lion, and is out of the Sauvignon daughter, Erne Gaga. Buyer was Paul Turner from Swatragh.
JA McClelland and Sons Ltd confirmed that 11 bulls changed hands to average £4,143 per head, representing an increase of over £1,300 on this time last year. Six females were sold to average £1,977 each.
Results from the showring….
Class 1, senior bull – 1, and reserve senior champion, Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Tonka by Ampertaine Elgin; 2, Trevor Shields, Glenmarshal Sexbomb by Gleneagle Pascal; 3, MacParlim Genetics, McParlands Super by Ampertaine Gigolo.
Class 2, senior bull – 1, and senior champion, Howard McFarland, Rahoney Titus by Ampertaine Majestic; 2, Paul O’Hare, Valleyfarm Tiktok by Telfers Munster; 3, Glenmarshal Topgun by Ampertaine Elgin.
Class 3, intermediate bull – 1, intermediate and supreme overall champion, John O’Kane and Sons, Gleneagle Trex by Gunnerfleet Lion; 2, and reserve intermediate champion, Messrs J and J Aiken, Carnew Ted by Mereside Godolphin; 3, Paul Campbell, Spage Tyson by Gleneagle Icon.
Class 4, intermediate bull – 1, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Todd by Westpit Omaha; 2, Johnston Bros, Knockroe Titus by Plumtree Fantastic; 3, Johnston Bros, Knockroe Titan by Wilodge Cerberus.
Class 5, junior bull – 1, RAG Savage, Aghadolgan Topper by Scotchtown Express; 2, K Magee, Bobbys Tiesto by Loyal; 3, C and F McAuley, Carmorn Topgun by Claddagh McCabe.
Class 6, junior bull – 1, junior champion and reserve supreme champion, RAG Savage, Aghadolgan Tomriddle by Lowerffrydd Empire; 2, and reserve junior champion, Brian Quinn, Gallcross Theo by Plumtree Fantastic; 3, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Thunderbolt by Ironstone Gandi.
Class 7, female – 1, and female champion, M and R McGurk, Birchwood Tara by Ampertaine Progressive; 2, M and R McGurk, Birchwood Tina by Ampertaine Progressive; 3, GM McCague, Bridgeview Twilight by Ballinahinch Noah.
Class 8, female – 1, and reserve female champion, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Tigeress by Gunnerfleet Lion; 2, M and J McPolin, Newhillfarm Tiffany by Lynderg Rembrant; 3, Crawford Bros, Rathkeeland Troy by Gunnerfleet Lion.
Report by Julie Hazelton
