By Ann Curtin, South-West Limousin Club PRO 

Pictured above: First prize winner presented for sale by Seamus O’Brien. This heifer weighed 468kg and sold for €1,440 or €3.08/kg.

The South West Limousin Club held it’s Breeding Heifer Show and Sale on Wednesday, April 27th in Castleisland Mart. A large entry of exceptional-quality heifers were on offer – with a top price of €1,790 achieved for a 26-month-old heifer. This heifer weighed 574kg equating to a price of €3.12/kg.

Prices were notably stronger for older and heavier heifers, with buyers willing to pay in excess of €3.00/kg. Demand for Limousin was strong with the sale having an excellent clearance rate. The heifers were purchased by buyers from all over Ireland, including a number acquired for Northern Ireland and a consignment destined for the UK.

Following close behind was the first prize winner, an outstanding 23-month-old daughter of Bova AI’s Gamin (ZGM); this heifer was presented for sale by Seamus O’Brien from Killarney. She weighed 468kg and sold for €1,440 or €3.08/kg.

LMX Breeding Heifers Sample Prices: 

Age Number in Lot Weight (Kg) Selling price (€) € / Kg
26 months 1 574 1,790 €3.12
23 months 1 468 1,440 €3.08
23 months 1 502 1,510 €3.01
26 months 1 524 1,560 €2.98
23 months 1 506 1,500 €2.96**
29 months 1 574 1,700 €2.96**
23 months 1 520 1,540 €2.96
23 months 1 494 1,460 €2.96
20 months 1 536 1,580 €2.95
23 months 1 470 1,380 €2.94**
23 months 1 494 1,450 €2.94
25 months 1 494 1,440 €2.91**
22 months 3 504 1,460 €2.90
11 months 2 147 1,420 €2.86
25 months 1 518 1,470 €2.84
26 months 1 648 1,830 €2.82
23 months 3 500 1,390 €2.78
27 months 1 644 1,790 €2.78
22 months 1 494 1,370 €2.77
23 months 1 480 1,310 €2.73
23 months 1 454 1,230 €2.71

Local pedigree and commercial breeder, John O’Connor, had a very successful day trading with a number of commercial heifers – all daughters of his current stock bull Corcamore Lennox (Roundhill Saturn X Ramses). John’s heifers are highlighted with ** in the table above. Incidentally John, also presented a three and a half year old heifer; this heifer weighed 714kg and sold for €2,250 or €3.15/kg.

The second prize winning heifer was presented by a Beara-based farmer. This eye-catching 11-month-old daughter of Elite Ice Cream weighed in at 444kg and sold for €1,180.

In the cull cow ring, well-fleshed cows were in great demand with strong prices achieved.

LMX Cull Cows Sample Prices:

Age Selling price (€) Weight (Kg) €/Kg
37 months 2,250 714 €3.15
126 months 1,800 624 €2.88
35 months 1,750 624 €2.80
59 months 1,870 688 €2.72
29 months 1,860 688 €2.70
87 months 1,950 728 €2.68

The South West club would like to thank the management and staff of Castleisland Mart for hosting this sale and for all the help on the day. Many thanks to Neilus McAuliffe, manager at Castleisland Mart for his continued support of the South West Limousin Club events.

Many thanks to Padraig McCarthy for judging, an unenviable task given the volume and quality of heifers on offer. After judging, Padraig commented: “We had a great entry of heifers on offer. Those at the top end were exceptional, I’m sure they will go on to produce super calves in the future.”

Many thanks to Sarah McElligott for co-ordinating this sale and the Calf Show and Sale. Well done to the sellers in Castleisland and best wishes to all purchasers.

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