Dungannon February sale average jumps £646

Aberdeen-Angus bulls attracted a ready market at the society’s show and sale hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Prices peaked at 5,000gns, with auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirming an almost complete clearance resulting in 11 bulls selling to average £3,646 – an increase of £646 on this time last year when 14 lots were traded to level at £3,000.

NI breed club chairman Alan Cheney from Trillick was delighted to welcome the society’s newly appointed chief executive Barrie Turner, and society president Angela McGregor, to the Dungannon venue.

“It’s been a good day, and probably one of the best sales we’ve witnessed at Dungannon for some time. Dairy and suckler herd owners were out in force to buy bulls, and the buoyant trade reflected the quality of the animals on offer. “

Topping the sale at 5,000gns was Kiltariff Deacon S875 bred and exhibited by Kenneth Bready, and son Steven, from Rathfriland. Born in May 2016 he was sired by Netherton Americano M703 ET, and is bred from the Ardrossan Admiral A2 daughter Kiltariff Darlene M492. Ranked in Breedplan’s top 1% for eye muscle +7.9, terminal sire index +50, and self replacing index +64, he is in the top 5% for calving ease at +3.7.

Sale topper Kiltariff Deacon S875 at 5,000gns. 

Placed fourth in his class, he attracted a number of admirers around the packed salering, and after intense bidding was secured by Ballymoney suckler herd owner Desmond Fulton.

Kenneth Bready, who also produced the joint sale leader at the society’s April 2017 sale, was pleased with the end result.  “I’ve always thought a lot of this bull, he stood out from early age.”

The Bready duo also sold the Tonley Pele M841 son Kiltariff Dante S864 for 3,400gns.

Judge Michael Smith from the 25-cow Lawsons Ford Herd in Cootehill, County Cavan, awarded the male championship to Drumhill Lord Handsom S963 bred by Jonathan and Lisa Doyle, Cookstown. This April 2016 bull was sired by the herd’s 11,000gns stock bull Hallington Jack Eric N398 – purchased at Stirling in February 2015. His dam is the Netherallan Peter Pershore E052 daughter Blelack Lady Heather J169.

Male champion was Drumhill Lord Handsom S963 which realised 4,600gns. 

Michael Smith praised the champion: “The quality has been good throughout, but the champion really caught my eye. He has length, a great top, excellent breed character and super ring presence.”

The Doyle’s also produced the male champion at last year’s February sale. This year’s winner is in the top 1% for milk +22, and top 10% for terminal sire index +44. Buyer at 4,600gns was Hamilton Cleland from Downpatrick.

Sam McCollum, who established his Priestland Herd at Bushmills in 1954, realised 4,000gns for the third prize winner Priestland Dan S766. This May 2016 entry is a son of the herd’s stock bull Tonley Palacios K715, and is bred from a dam carrying the Ballyheather prefix. This one sold to L Mathers from Strabane.

Third placed Priestland Dan S766 sold at 4,000gns. 

Another Tonley Palacios K715 son from the sale vendor attracted a bid of 3,000gns from William Henry, Garvagh.

James Porter from the Gillhall Estate based at Dromore, County Down, secured the reserve male championship ribbons with Old Glenort Piper S537 TSI+34 SRI+41. Born in July 2016, and sired by stock bull Cardona Fergus N892, he is bred from Old Glenort Precious Pollot M714 – one of 60 cows in the herd. This one came under the hammer at 3,600gns, selling to Brian Begley from Carrickmore.

Reserve champion Old Glenort Piper S537 which attracted a bid of 3,600gns.

Templepatrick dairy farmer James Watt paid out 3,500gns to secure James Porter’s second placed Old Glenort Ernie S541 TSI+29 SRI+37. Sired by the 14,000gns herd sire The Moss Quebec K027 – purchased at Perth six years ago – he is out of a home-bred dam by Haymount Wessuro B198.

A small entry of females peaked at 1,900gns, paid to Richard and Fiona McKeown, Templepatrick, for the female champion Ashvale Lady Jane T167. This yearling heifer is a daughter of Netherton Mr Brazilian E377, and is out of Woodvale Lady Jane J896 – one of 20 cows in the herd. She was snapped up by Robert Anderson from Richhill.

The 1,900gns female champion Ashvale Lady Jane T167. 

Mr Anderson also paid out 1,500gns to secure the reserve female champion Ballyvaston Lady Tina T052 bred by Jackie Strain from Downpatrick. Born in January 2017, she is by Thrunton Picador N567, and is out of Drumawhey Lady Tilly J901 – one of five cows in the herd founded ten years ago.

Reserve female champion Ballyvaston Lady Tina T052. 

Results from the judging ring:

Bull, born between 06/03/16 and 30/05/16 – 1, and male champion, Jonathan and Lisa Doyle, Cookstown, Drumhill Lord Handsom S963 by Hallington Jack Eric N398; 2, Samuel and Timothy Scott, Newtownards, Drumawhey Piper S091 by Clooncarne Frank; 3, Sam McCollum, Bushmills, Priestland Dan S766 by Tonley Palacios K715.

Bull, born between 05/06/18 and 13/12/16 – 1, and reserve male champion, James Porter, Dromore, Old Glenort Piper S537 by Cardona Fergus N892; 2, James Porter, Old Glenort Ernie S541 by the Moss Quebec K027; 3, Paul and Hugo Hanna, Dunadry, Rockvale Pablo S553 by Lana Demetri P701.

Female, born between 10/02/16 and 09/02/17- 1, and female champion, Richard and Fiona McKeown, Templepatrick, Ashvale Lady jane T167 by Netherton Mr Brazilian E337; 2, and reserve female champion, Jackie Strain, Downpatrick, Ballyvaston Lady Tina T052 by Thrunton Picador N567.

Some photography:

Caroline McKeown, Templepatrick, pictured at the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s Dungannon show and sale. 

Eighteen-month-old Ben Mullan from Stewartstown, was the youngest spectator at the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s show and sale in Dungannon Farmers’ Mart. 

Dungannon Aberdeen-Angus judge Michael Smith from Cootehill. 

NI Aberdeen-Angus Club chairman Alan Cheney is pictured at the society’s Dungannon show and sale with judge Michael Smith from Cootehill.