Strong demand from UK and Northern Ireland at Elphin as bulls hit top of €8,000

Pictured above: Keltic Seimon, bred by Teleri Thomas, sold for €8,000

All roads led to Elphin Mart on Saturday, March 11th, for the Irish Limousin Cattle Society’s first premier show and sale of 2023. The show – which kicked off at 9:00am – consisted of a Junior and Senior Male Championship.

The task of judging the show was left in the very capable hands of Colin Lewis of the Garyvaughen Herd in Wales, while George Candler got the sale underway promptly after the show which included some 51 bulls. Of these, 40 found new homes on the day accounting for a clearance rate of 78%.

Continuing on the success of the society’s 2022 sales campaigns, there was both domestic and UK demand for the beef bulls presented for sale, leading to an average price of €4,200. Looking back to the equivalent sale in 2022, both the clearance rate and the average price achieved have increased.

A total of 11 bulls were exported – including four to the UK and seven to Northern Ireland. Three of these were purchased by the well-known Jalex herd in the north.

In the south, bulls were purchased by buyers from Westmeath, Tipperary, Kildare, Donegal, Cork, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Meath.

Judge Chris Lewis in action on the day

And it was Co. Meath-based breeder Teleri Thomas who achieved the top price on the day. Her bull, Keltic Seimon – a Tomschoice Lexicon son out of Keltic Jacaranda – had a catalogue full of stars and conformation to match; he made €8,000.

Turning to the prize winners, it was Patrick Campbell’s Clonturk Sonic, a July-2021 born bull that took home the Senior Male Championship top spot. This bull is sired by Lodge Hamlet out of the dam, Clonturk Millodge. He carries 2-stars on the Replacement Index and 4-stars on the Terminal Index. Sonic failed to meet his reserve on the day.

The Reserve Senior Champion was awarded to lot number 19, Glenford Sam – an August-2021 born, Mereside Godolphin son. He was bred by Wicklow-based breeders Kelly Stephenson and PJ McGrath. Out of the dam Glenford Neveah, he carries 4-stars on the Replacement and 5-stars on the Terminal Index.

Later that day, Sam went under the hammer for €6,200 and was purchased by AI company, Dovea Genetics.

Senior Reserve Champion, Glenford Sam, sold for €6,200

Turning to the Junior Male Championship, the Connell Brothers secured the champion rosette with their bull Carrickmore Saint Ledger ET. The September-2021 born bull is sired by Sympa and carries 4-stars on the Replacement Index and 5-stars on the Terminal Index.

Bred from Baileys Iceprincess, he has a calving figure of 2.8% on beef cows. George Candler’s hammer fell at €5,600 in the sale ring.

Carrickmore Saint Ledger sold for €5,600

The Connell Brothers also took home Reserve Junior Champion with their bull, Carrickmore Sparticus ET. Born in September 2021, he carries 4-stars on the Replacement Index and 5-stars on the Terminal Index.

Again sired by Sympa out of the dam Baileys Iceprincess, he sold for €6,800 and was exported to the UK.

Carrickmore Sparticus ET went under the hammer for €6,800

Noel Ruttledge’s Rutland Shandy, a Ampertaine Metric son, sold for €4,700. Out of the dam Rutland Iona – a Queensland Altea daughter – he carries 5-stars on the Replacement Index and 5-stars on the Terminal Index.

Next up was Malachy Byrne and his bull, Lurgankeel Sterling. A son of Tomschoice Lexicom , Sterling sold for €4,600. This bull carries 5-stars on both the Replacement and Terminal Indexes and has a calving difficulty figure of 3.5% on beef cows.

Malachy Byrne’s Lurgankeel Sterling sold for €4,600

Ballyline Tommie, an Ampertaine Metric son, went under the hammer for €4,600 also. Bred by Bertie Mannion from Athlone, Co. Roscommon, Tommie boasts 5-stars on both indexes and is 2.9% calving difficulty on beef cows.

Ballyline Tommie made €4,600 on the day

Noel Ruttledge was back again with another bull, Rutland Shifty. This September-2021 born, Mullary Intrepid son, went under the hammer for €4,500. Carrying 5-stars on both the Replacement and Terminal Index again, his half brother is standing in Progressive Genetics.

Rutland Shifty bred by Noel Ruttledge sold for €4,500

Also selling for €4,500 was Michael McKeown’s bull, Currane Samson. Born in October 2021, he is sired by Plumtree Fantastic out of Currane Jane – an Emerson daughter. He too carried 5-stars on the Replacement and Terminal Index.

Currane Samson made €4,500

Finally, lot number 5, Ravanny Star – a son of Kingbull – bred by Joseph Butler from Co. Monaghan, made €4,100 on the day.

Ravanny Star sold €4,100

Other prices from the sale

The society would like congratulate all breeders and thank all under bidders and wish all successful purchasers the very best of luck with their new bulls. The society would also like to thank Elphin Mart and the Limousin council stewards for their help in making the first premier of the year a success.

The next society sale will take place in Athenry Mart on Thursday, April 13th.

Sale Highlights

• 78%: Clearance Rate
• €4,200: Ave. Bull Price
• €8,000: Top-priced Bull
• 2 Bulls €6,000 -7,000
• 1 Bulls €5,000-6,000
• 23 Bulls €4,000-5,000
• 9 Bulls €3,000-4,000
• 4 Bulls €2,000-3,000

Show results