Farming Eye

John Smith-Jackson has picked up the championship in this evening’s pre-sale show of show potential calves at Carlisle under judge Tecwyn Jones.

The championship winner was the bullock champion and the winner of the haltered Limousin cross steer class.

Standing reserve overall was the Marston family, Millstone Moor, with a British Blue heifer sired by Bluegrass Cyclone, which had earlier been heifer champion.

Reserve steer champion was the second prize haltered Limousin cross bullock from the Powley family, Green Marsh, while reserve in the heifer section went to a Limousin cross heifer from Messrs Harrison, Grange Hall.

For full class results click the read more button below……

by Jonathan Long

The Jalex Production Sale held at Ballymena Mart on behalf of Nelson and James Alexander, Randalstown, saw a demand from producers across the country as well as interest from across the water.

Sale leader at £3500 was the Simmental bull Glenoak Charlie. This three year old bull was purchased by Victor Wilson, Derrylin.

Trade topped at £2600 for heifers on two occasions, the first of which was for a well made red heifer in calf to a Simmental bull. She sold to Matt and Robert Workman, Kilwaughter.

Nigel Matchett, Portadown, then went to £2600 to secure the best of the freshly calved heifers with this outfit selling with a week old Simmental heifer calf at foot.

In-calf heifers were eagerly bid for and met a total clearance with Andrew Ewing, Annan, snapping up 25 of these on behalf of two farmers based in the south of England. A number of top end heifers were also purchased by Alistair Ward, Cumbria. Maiden heifers topped at £1750 paid for a number of lots.

by Chrissie Long

Limousin calves sold to a top call of 1900gns at Ballymena on Saturday when Derek Frew offered his entire 2012-born calf crop from the Frewstown herd.

Leading the sale, which saw a near complete clearance, was the April 2012-born bull calf Frewstown Hullabaloo. Sired by Carmorn Cantona and out of the Mereside Topman daughter, Frewstown Csixteen, this smart calf went  under the hammer to Mr A & Mrs V Armstong, Seskin Rd, Straid, Ballyclare for their Sekingrove pedigree herd.

The same purchasers also took home the similarly bred top-priced heifer calf, Frewstown Harmony, at 1800gns. This one is also by Cantona and is out of another Topman daughter, Frewstown Cfive.

Staying with the females, W and M Martin, Knockan Rd, Broughshane purchased the next two leading lots at 1700gns and 1500gns respectively. Securing a final bid of 1700gns was the January 2012-born Frewstown Hilda, sired by Cantona again, and out of Frewstown Cone. At the 1500gns mark was Frewstown Hotstuff, again sired by Cantona, and this time out of Frewstown Bigbertha, another Topman daughter.

Second best of the bulls on offer was a 1500gns call for Frewstown Goodlooker. June 2011-born, Goodlooker is sired by Carmorn Cantona and is out of the Haltcliffe Premier daughter, Frewstown Uniform. He heads to D and R Mulholland , Ballymacombs Rd, Bellaghy.

Averages; 13 bull calves £1158.23, 14 heifer calves £1105.50 (J A McClelland and Son).

by Jonathan Long

Trade peaked at 5000gns for Simmentals in Dungannon with bulls achieving a 78% clearance and 18 lots averaging £3045 – an increase of £179 on the same period last year.

Sale leader at 5000gns Kilbride Farm Doagh

Sale leader at 5000gns was the first prize Kilbride Farm Doagh, brought out by Billy Robson and sons Michael and Norman, Ballyclare, County Antrim. This 14 month-old entry is by the home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry son, Kilbride Farm Warren and is out of a dam by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy. Carrying a terminal sire index of +68, a self replacing index of +77 and a top 5% eye muscle area of +4.4, the highest bidder was Norman Wilson from Templepatrick, County Antrim.

Next best at 4600gns was the day’s reserve male champion Hiltonstown Cyclone, a September 2011-born entry from the 35-cow herd of Robert Rodgers and son Richard, Portglenone, County Antrim. Sired by the herd’s stock bull Auroch Amos – purchased at Roscommon in November 2010 for €4000 – he is out of the Ballinlare Farm Rival daughter, Innerwick Valentine – bought privately from Scottish breeder Dorothy Moffat. He is in the breed’s top 15% for calving ease +3.4, has an eye muscle area of +4.4, a terminal sire index of +92 and a self replacing index of +98. Buyer was J Torrens from Garvagh, County Londonderry.

Breaghey Charlie, 4200gns

To see the rest of the trade news click read more below………….

by Chrissie Long

The last run of bulls are now being sold at Roscrea with Greenhill Harry (lot 151) going for €7000. This January 2012-born On-Dit son from John Greene is out of the Impatient daughter Natte and carries five star ratings for maternal and terminal indexes.

Next up was Elite Happy (lot 157) from Edward Tynan. Selling for €5000, this ET-bred Ampertaine Commander son is out of the Renard daughter Vorace. He is half brother to the 2011 National Limousin champion Ardlea Electra.

The next bull in the ring Roundhill Herdplus (lot 158) from Tim Corridan has traded at €4100. This Acajou son is out of the former Tullamore junior champion Roundhill Egiroflee, an ET-bred daughter by Mas Du Clo. He carries a four starrating for maternal index.  His full ET brother, Roundhill Hamlet (lot 160) then traded at €3900.

John and Stephen Lynch then sold Ballinascraw Hercules (lot 161) for €4000. By Wilodge Cerberus, he is out of a Hawk daughter, Ballinascraw Precious and carries five star indexes for both maternal and terminal and he’s int he top 1% for muscle in the breed.

Then wrapping up proceedings having failed to meet his reserve earlier in the day, the junior champion Ardglasson Highlander from Fiona Gilsenan, has sold to the judge Dougie McBeath for €8000. This Fieldson Alfy son is out of Ardglasson Daisy, a Pelletstown Newman daughter and carries five star ratings for both maternal and terminal traits.

Overall average for the sale was a healthy €4162, with a 76% clearance and 40 bulls selling at €4000 or more.

by Chrissie Long

A trio of Wilodge Tonka sons have fetched good money close after one another at Roscrea this afternoon, with the first of these being Carrowreagh Galeno (lot 122) selling at €5200. He is out of Milbrook Sheila, an Ideal 23 daughter and sold with a five star terminal index.

The second of this string was Castleboy Gaillimh from Peter Kelly when he sold at €3800. He’s out of the Faignant daughter Castleboy Tamara and had five star terminal and maternal indices.

And the third Tonka son in the line was Killcastle Golden Boy (lot 128). This one is from Alan Kelly and is out of Pelletstown Nickelle, a Genereux daughter and had a five star terminal index.

An Ampertaine Commander son from Seamus Cullen then sold at €3600, with this being Ballinahinch Harry (lot 140). He’s out of Ballanahinch Eva, a Tartuffe daughter and has a five star maternal ranking.

by Jonathan Long

Top price in the sale of show potential calves at Penrith has gone to the pre-sale champion, Limousin cross heifer Watabootie a June-born entry from the Richardson family, Ghyll House. She sold to Niel Slack and Julie Sedgewick.

Then selling at £5100 was the second prize British Blue cross heifer from the Richardsons, Win Dot Com, with this one selling to Blair Dufton.

A pair then traded at £4200, with the first being the third prize Limousin cross heifer Candy Coated, again from Ghyll House. She sold to Louise Todd, Nottinghamshire. The other at this money was Mako Wish, the second prize heifer from the same class. David May bought this one.

And making £3800 was British Blue steer class winner Crack a Tinny from the Richardsons. He was knocked down to Jimmy Wilkinson, Leyburn.

Two then made £3200, with the first being the reserve overall champion and first prize British Blue cross steer. This one, Cover Girl, sold to Phil and Sharon Sellers. Second to make this price was Cunning Stunt, the first prize Limousin cross bullock. He sold to Donald Morrison.

At £2500 was a Charolais cross heifer from the Ghyll House team, Such A Hoot, with this one also bought by the Sedgewick and Slack team.

(Penrith and District Farmers Mart).

by Jonathan Long

A bull considered by many at Roscrea today to have the makings of a breeder’s bull, Greenhill Gonzales (lot 99) from John Greene has sold at €5800. Sired by Ampertaine Commander he is out of Tombola, a Pirate daughter and sold with a five star maternal index and had been first placed male in the Co Donegal herd competition.

Then making €6500 was Rhyne Ginger (lot 100) from Mark Hagan. This Sympa son is out of Clonadrum Urselle, a Festin daughter  and sold with five star maternal and terminal indices.

Selling at €5000 was a Procters Cavalier son, Crillane Gilder (lot 104) from Patrick Kenny. This first prize winner is out of Clooney Quinn Arlene, a Grahams Samson daughter.

And a few lots earlier than that at €4000 was Roundhill Golden (lot 102). He’s by Attirant and out of Roundhill Ajoyeuse 922, an Otan daughter.

A bid of €6200 was enough to buy Baileys Gucci from Tom Bailey (lot 118). This is a son of Queenshead Altea and is out of Woodhouse Abbie, a Sympa daughter. He sold with five star maternal and terminal indices.

The next lot in the ring, Ballinahinch Gulliver (lot 119) then traded at €5400, with this being a Tonka son out of Ballanahinch Eliza, a Tartuffe daughter. He also carried two five star ratings. A little earlier came Maythorn Governor (lot 116), a first prize winner, at €4800. This one is also by Tonka and is out of Maythorn Amanda, an Interim daughter, he again sold with a brace of five star classifications.

by Jonathan Long

Stanley Richardson is having a great day’s trading at Roscrea, selling his first prize winning Newtown Gresham (lot 74) at €10,400. This one, by Cerberus and out of Newtown Trixie is a full ET brother to Newtown Godfather which sold a few lots earlier at €6500. He sold with maternal and terminal ratings of five stars and is, according to our spy, arguably the pick of the day. He sold to Messrs O’Brien, Doolin, Co Clare.

Newtown Gresham sold for €10,400

Following him at €4000 was Gerrygullinane Guinness 2 (lot 77). Sired by Procters Cavalier he is out of Anchonry Ultraviolet, a Ferry daughter.

And a €4800 bid secured Newtown Gman (lot 83) from Stanley Richardson. This Ampertaine Commander son is out of Newtown Abby, a Ferry daughter. Then at €4300 was Wood Road Gordon (lot 82), a Wood Road Empire son out of Ov Nadia B, a Horion daughter. Meanwhile selling for €3700 was Kilcara Geni (lot 81) from the O’Beirns. This Castleview Virulent son is out of Kilcara Ciara, a Mas Du Clo daughter.

Taking a €5400 bid was Shannon Goldie from Sarah Mcelligot (lot 89), a Cerberus son out of Shannon Verona, a Nimbus-Mn daughter which sold with five star terminal and maternal ratings. The next lot in the ring, Ruan Goa (lot 90) from Sean Lyons then sold at €3900, with this Mas Du Clo son being out of Ruan Cindy, a Honeylodge Admiral daughter.

by Jonathan Long

Killcastle Galileo (lot 51), a Sympa son out of the great breeding Milbrook Kathryn has just sold at the day’s best price so far of €7200. This bull, bred by Alan Kelly, is from one of the best breeding lines in Eire and is a maternal brother to Milbrook Dartagnan and had been highly anticipates ahead of the sale. He sold with five star ratings for both terminal and maternal traits. He sold to Craig Ridley for the Haltcliffe herd.

The day’s senior champion, Keltic Gobetween from Teleri Thomas (lot 63) then sold at €5300, with this being a Netherhall Epic son out of Cwmpedran Cassandra, a Homebyres Visitor daughter. Meanwhile, the reserve senior champion, Killmactransa Gordon (lot 44) from Jimmy McHugh sold at €5100. This Nenuphar son is out of Kilmactransa Tara, a Haltcliffe Hercules daughter.

A few lots earlier at €4500 was Galbally Gethin from Trevor Masteron (lot 50). He’s by Rockstar and out of Galbally Daydream, a Fieldson Alfy daughter.

Selling at €4100 was Clonagh Goliath from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan (lot 56). This Vantastic son is out of Ballymartle Sandy, a Heros daughter. Then at €4000 was Ballyquirke General (lot 53). He’s by Tistou and out of Ballyquirke Daisy, an Ocean daughter. At the same money was Tullinacurra Gusto (lot 57), a Vison son from Michael Oliver. He’s out of Tullinacurra Daisy, an Imperial daughter.

Trading after that at €6500 was Newtown Godfather (lot 70) from Stanley Richardson. This third prize winner is by Cerberus and out of Newtown Trixie, a Dauphin daughter. He sold with a five star terminal index.

Then at €4100 was Melwood Garfield (lot 72) from Michael Hickey. This one is by Bolide and out of Anfield Britney, a Lino daughter. And just shy of that at €4000 was Castleview Galileo (lot 66) another third prize winner. He is by Ampertaine Commander and out of Castleview Charmer, a Ramses daughter.

by Jonathan Long