The trade was on fire for the Irish Salers Cattle Society breeding heifer Sale at Gort Mart, Co Galway, Sat 14th October. Two exceptional roan Salers x incalf heifers topped the sale at €4150 and €4000 respectively. The heifers were first and second prize winners and were exhibited by Seamus Nagle, Doolin, Co Clare. The heifers are sired by Salers bull Carrentubber Samurai, their dams are Shorthorn x Simmental. After heated bidding both heifers were knocked down to Harrington Farms Ltd, Co Mayo.
Video of two top priced heifers
There was strong demand for incalf and maiden heifers throughout the day. Pure bred incalf heifers averaged €3,050. Brendan Murray, Crookstown, Co Cork received €3,500 for first prize winner Belmount Anto. David McNamara, Craughwell, Co Galway was next best with €3,350 for Ganty Ava, a daughter of UK imported cow Parkfield Polled Clarrie.
Templeboy Bronagh a Nevers maiden heifer sold for €3,450, she was bred by Niall Hunt, Templeboy, Co Sligo. Overall Champion Wallstown Angel a stylish maiden heifer by Powerstown Pedro sold for €3,300, bred by Jerry McNamara, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Hot on her heels at €3,100 was 19 mth old Glengowla Belle, this Montesqieu daughter was bred by Ryan Gibbons, Rosscahill, Co Galway. Reserve Champion 13 month old Sligo Brella sold for €3,000, bred by Bernard Hunt, Gurteen, Co Sligo. 10 month old Ashbury Baby Spice sold for €3,050, bred by Alfie & Conor Melvin, Co Dublin. Pedigree maiden and weanling heifers averaged €2,756 and €2,533 respectively. There was 100% clearance of 22 pedigree heifers.
Templeboy Bronagh
Ganty Ava
Glengowla Belle
Demand was strong for incalf commercial heifers, the top eight commercial incalf heifers sold from €3,000 to €4,150 (Average €3,375) Tom McGreal, Westport, Co Mayo sold an incalf commercial heifer for €3,300. Michael O Sullivan, Inchiquin, Co Clare had three incalf heifers ranging from €3,000 – 3,300. Eddie Brennan Co Kilkenny sold two incalf commercial heifers for €3,000 and €3,200 respectively. The top twenty two commercial maiden heifers ranged in price from €1,800 to €2,600 with an average price of €1,984. More average lots were €300 less.
There were a number of choice pens of maiden heifers making from €4/kg to €4.70/kg. Anne McNamara, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, Alfie & Conor Melvin, Co Dublin, Ian Molan, Kilmallock Co Limerick, Stephen Kirwan, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford and Billy Small, Co Westmeath all had standout pens of heifers. There was a 97% clearance rate on 170 lots of cattle.
