Following the successful premier sale in Elphin last Saturday, which saw a clearance of 71% and an average of €4,243, the focus now moves to Tullamore this Saturday, March 20th.
What’s on offer in Tullamore this Saturday?
20 bulls and 3 heifers are catalogued for the online-only sale, which will take place under Covid-19 guidelines at 1 pm.
Prospective buyers will be able to view entries at the mart from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm by prior appointment only.
Contact Tullamore Mart on (057) 932 1196 to book your viewing slot.
Bidding will be online only with LSL Auctions – download the app today and register to bid at the Sale in Tullamore this Saturday 20th March.
Click here to view Tullamore sale catalogue
- All bulls vet inspected, fertility tested and sold under Fertility Insurance scheme
- All herds participating in CHeCS accredited Herd Health schemes
Sourcing a top-class terminal bull
18 of the bulls have a 5* terminal index; 11 of the 5* terminal bulls also have a 5* maternal index.
Sourcing a top-class maternal bull
13 of the bulls have a 5* maternal index, 11 of the 5* maternal index bulls also have a 5* terminal index.
Calving ease
One of the main reasons Limousin is the number 1 breed in Ireland is calving ease.
With such a high percentage of farmers having off-farm jobs, the calving ease figure is one of the first questions farmers ask when purchasing a bull.
Three of the bulls have a predicted calving ease of less than 3%. This is extremely low and would be perfect for suckler or dairy.
A further 6 bulls have a predicted calving ease figure of less than 4%, so again very suitable for suckler or dairy.
Furthermore, 5 bulls have a predicted calving ease figure of less than 4.5%.
Docility
12 of the bulls catalogued have a 5* docility Index. The focus on breeding docile Limousin cattle over the last 30 years has changed the breed’s reputation for all to see.
Sires represented in the catalogue – There are bulls from 18 different sires catalogued:
The bulls that will be at Tullamore are from 18 different sires. Hence, you have a great opportunity to source terminal, replacement, easy calving, or short gestation bulls, suitable for suckers and dairy herds.
| Lot | Sire |
| 1 | Castleview Gringo Et |
| 2 | Gstaad |
| 3 | Engy |
| 4 | Ronick Hawk |
| 5 | Hamac |
| 6 | Lodge Hamlet |
| 7 | Ampertaine Commander |
| 8 | Usse |
| 9 | Ampertaine Foreman |
| 10 | Tomschoice Lexicon |
| 11 | Keltic Handsome |
| 12 | Telfers Munster |
| 13 | Ampertaine Elgin |
| 14 | Telfers Munster |
| 15 | Doudou.Td |
| 16 | Doudou.Td |
| 17 | Indigo |
| 18 | Galbally John |
| 19 | Gerrygullinane Glen |
| 20 | Tomschoice Ironstone |
All bulls are:
- From herds that participate in CHeCS accredited Jones herd testing;
- Fertility tested from high health status herds.
Pedigree heifers
The 3 pedigree heifers on offer are by Ashbrook Johnny B Good, Corcamore Lorcan and Lodge Hamlet.
Limousin females have been shattering all records at both pedigree and commercial sales of late. This sale provides the opportunity to source a quality breeding female.
Why use Limousin?
Limousin, number 1 cross on all main breeds
This is the Limousin Society’s newest statistic and clearly shows that Limousin is the Number 1 cross on all the main breeds. 56% of calves born to Limousin mothers were Limousin-sired.
| Breed | % females that had a Limousin sired calf |
| Belgian Blue | 45% |
| Blonde D’Aquitaine | 34% |
| Hereford | 32% |
| Simmental | 31% |
| Charolais | 28% |
| Angus | 28% |
| Aubrac | 19% |
Number 1 beef Sire
The following table highlights Limousin is the number 1 beef sire across both beef and dairy cows.
| Breed | % calves registered to beef sires |
| LM | 26.24% |
| AA | 25.92% |
| CH | 19.75% |
| HE | 16.97% |
| SI | 4.72% |
| BB | 2.64% |
| SA | 1.12% |
| SH | 1.06% |
| AU | 1.04% |
| BA | 0.52% |
Maternal
Limousin is the number 1 Suckler dam, 35% (or over a third) of all suckler cows in Ireland are Limousin. The next highest breed is over 15% behind Limousin.
| Breed of Dam | No of calves registered | % of calves registered |
| LM | 298,901 | 34.66% |
| CH | 168,188 | 19.51% |
| AA | 117,617 | 13.64% |
| SI | 89,953 | 10.43% |
| HE | 86,237 | 10.00% |
| BB | 38,063 | 4.41% |
| SH | 30,224 | 3.51% |
| SA | 19,897 | 2.31% |
| BA | 7,375 | 0.86% |
| AU | 5,807 | 0.67% |
Gestation
With the huge growth in Limousin bulls being used in the dairy herd driven by the phenomenal prices Limousin suck calves are making, as well as the better kill-out of dairy-cross-Limousin compared to other breeds, easy calving and, in particular, the reducing gestation length are contributing to this trend.
Limousin is far and away the continental breed of choice for the dairy farmer.
Total % of Continental Sired calves out of the dairy herd
| Breed | % sired calves X dairy |
| LM | 48.24% |
| BB | 16.34% |
| SI | 15.60% |
| CH | 11.04% |
| AU | 5.42% |
| SA | 2.60% |
| BA | 0.76% |
*All data quoted above is from ICBF
