Pictured above: Ernevalley Simon went under the hammer for €6,400 for Cavan breeder, Eddie Lynch
It was a day to remember for the Irish Limousin Cattle Society in Roscrea Mart on bank holiday Monday, May 2nd. The society’s second premier show and sale of 2022 kicked off at 9:30am at the Tipperary-based venue, where a large crowd gathered to watch Gerry Walshe judge the Senior Male, Junior Male and Female Championships. However, in the sale ring, it was lot number 31 – Ernevalley Simon – who took home the top price of €6,400. Simon was bred by Co. Cavan breeder, Eddie Lynch.
While this was the standout top price, it was closely followed on numerous occasions – leading to an average sale price for the bulls of €4,564 – a new record for the Irish Limousin Society. Furthermore, 93% of the bulls presented for sale found new homes on the day, with many onlookers noting that they have not seen the Roscrea sales ring as packed for some time, while the online bids also rolled in through Martbids.
Bull highlights:
- Top-priced bull: €6,400;
- Bull clearance rate: 93%;
- Average bull price: €4,564;
- 4 bulls sold for €6,000 or over;
- 5 bulls sold for €5,000 or over;
- 15 bulls sold for €4,000 or over.
Starting with the show winners, the senior champion was awarded to lot number 15, Kiltoal Red Hot ET. Bred by Patrick Pearse McName, Red Hot is a 19-month-old son of Kaprico Eravelle and a Wilodge Cerberus-bred dam. He carries a 5-star terminal index of €171 and a calving figure of 5.2% on beef cows. Carrying one copy of the F94L gene, he made €5,700.
The reserve senior champion was bred by Co. Roscommon breeder, Kevin Graham, with his bull, Liverpool Roscoe. A son of Cloughhead Ernie and Liverpool Nadia, Roscoe has a Terminal Index value of €163 and is 4.5% calving difficulty on beef cows; the hammer fell at €6,000.
Taking top spot in Junior Male Championship was lot number 22, Carrefour Ringo. Exhibited by John Kenny from Co. Offaly, Ringo is sired by Derrygullinane Kingbull going back to a Wilodge Cerberus-bred dam. He impresses with 5-stars on the Replacement and Terminal Indexes, while also carrying 5-stars for carcass and conformation; he is 4.7% for calving difficulty on beef cows. In the sale ring, Ringo went under the hammer for €4,800.
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- Kiltoal Red Hot ET sold for €5,700
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- Liverpool Roscoe sold for €6,000
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- Carrefour Ringo went under the hammer for €4,800
Reserve Champion in the Junior Male Championship was awarded to Lot 39 – Mullary Slim Shady ET. Exibited by Michael Molloy from Co. Louth, Slim Shady sold for €4,800. Sired by Sympa, he carries 5-stars on the Terminal Index with a value of €136.
Moving on to the sale, €6,000 was achieved by two more bulls on the day. First to hit that price was lot number 9, Grangeford Rhapsody ET. Bred by Carlow breeder Gary Morrisey and sired by Grangeford Jojo ET, Rhapsody boasts 5 stars on the Terminal Index and for carcass and conformation; he is 5.9% calving difficulty on beef cows. Additionally, lot number 29 – Ballybrown Superduper ET – made €6,000 and was exhibited by Bobby O’Connell.
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- Mullary Slim Shady ET sold for €4,800
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- Grangeford Rhapsody ET made €6,000
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- Ballybrown Suerduper ET made €6,000
Selling for €5,100, Grangeford Roy Keane ET was bred by Gary Morrisey from Co. Carlow. A Cameos son going back to a Wilodge Cerberus-bred dam, this bull is 5.2% calving difficulty on beef cows and carries an impressive set of indexes, including 5-stars for terminal, carcass weight and conformation.
Lot number 2, Kilcastle Rhys ET was sold for €5,000. Bred by Westmeath-based breeders, Alan and Paul Kelly, this bull was sired by Ronick Hawk going back to an Ampertaine Commander-bred dam. Hitting €4,800 was lot number 8, Brookland Rambo. Born in October 2020, Rambo carries 4-stars on the Replacement and Terminal Index and 5-stars for carcass weight and conformation; he was bred by John Hickey from Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
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- Grangeford Roy Keane ET was sold for €5,100
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- Kilcastle Rhys ET sold for €5,000
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- Brookland Rambo went under the hammer for €4,800
Other bull prices on the day:
Topping the trade in the heifer section was the reserve female champion, Mullary Roxanne. Roxanne was bred by Co. Louth breeder, Michael Molloy and she went under the hammer for €4,500. A daughter of Ampertaine Foreman and an Ulm-bred dam, she was sold scanned in calf to Tomschoice Lexicon.
Heifer highlights:
- Top-priced heifer: €4,500;
- Heifer clearance rate: 80%;
- Average heifer price: €3,225;
- 2 heifers sold for over €4,000;
- 2 heifers sold for €3,000 or over.
The Female Championship was awarded to lot 49, Clontown Rudy, bred by Stephen, Kieran and Kevin Treanor. Born in September 2020 and sired by Ampertaine Gigolo, Rudy was bid to €7,800, but this was not enough to secure the champion.
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- Mullary Roxanne made €4,500
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- Clontown Rudy failed to meet her reserve
Roscommon breeder, Kevin Graham, was back in the ring with his heifer – Liverpool Ruby. Born in May 2020, Ruby is a daughter Tomschoice Lexicon and Liverpool Leah; she sold for €3,500.
Other heifer prices:
Speaking after the sale, Ronan Murphy, CEO of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, said: “This was a very positive sale for Irish Limousin, with strong home demand and buyers from 16 different counties. This sale illustrates the versatility and suitability of the Irish Limousin for suckler, beef and dairy-beef producers across the country.
“On behalf of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, I would like to thank the team at Roscrea Mart for hosting our premier sale, and to everyone who helped organise the weekend – the staff at the ILCS; our PRO, auctioneer, judge, stewards, inspector, council and breeders who presented an excellent yard of Limousin cattle.”
The society would like thank all under bidders and wish all successful purchasers the very best of luck with their new bulls and heifers. The next society sale will take place in Roscommon Mart on Saturday, May 21st.
