Average price of €4,170 at successful premier sale in Elphin Mart

Pictured above: Faughill Ranger; the hammer fell at €7,000 on Saturday afternoon.

The first Irish Limousin Society sale of the year – the Premier Bull Show and Sale – took place on Saturday, March 12th in Elphin Mart in Co. Roscommon.

A packed sale ring led to a clearance rate of 75% of the 61 bulls that were presented for sale on the day, in what can be described as a strong trade for Limousin males.

The average price for the sale amounted to €4,170, with 11 bulls purchased by Northern Irish buyers – including five bulls by James Alexander from Co. Antrim.

However, the top price of the day was secured by Faughill Ranger – awarded top of his class – with the hammer falling at €7,000 on Saturday afternoon. This bull was bred by Co. Leitrim breeder Charlie Clancy and purchased by Mountbellew Agricultural College.

The high prices continued with another two bulls hitting €6,000. First up was senior male champion Bostonia Rocky – bred Brendan, Greg Feeney, Scurmore, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. Additionally, lot number 53 – Milbrook Raul – also sold for €6,000; this bull was bred by William Smith, Oldcastle, Co. Meath.

The top 10 priced bulls averaged €5,380 – selling from €4,700 up to €7,000. Furthermore, €5,000 or higher was paid for seven bulls, while over 20 made between €4,000 and €5,000; €4,600 was secured by eight more bulls.

Commenting on the sale, Ronan Murphy, CEO of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society said: “We’re delighted with how the sale went on Saturday with a strong trade for the Limousin breed.

“There was definitely a lot of confidence around the ring, with purchasers from suckler and dairy farming circles, which ultimately led to the high clearance rate of 75%.”