By Julie Hazelton

Aberdeen Angus bulls sold to a top of 5,200gns at the annual Native Breeds Show and Sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirmed that nine bulls were sold (75% clearance) to average £4,363 per head – down £1,412 from last year’s record average of £5,775, but with three more bulls finding new homes.

County Down breeder Jackie Strain won the male and female championship ribbons at the pre-sale show, judged by Robin Lamb from Richhill. Mr Strain’s 5-cow herd at Downpatrick also produced the male champion, Ballyvaston Eden Z262, as last year’s show and sale.

Leading the sale at 5,200gns was the male champion, Ballyvaston Edwin B306 TSI+42 and SRI+59. This fifteen-month-old bull was sired by Rawburn E Type W176, and is out of the home-bred Lintons Gilbertines Dubliner R970 daughter, Ballyvaston Emma Y214. He sold to Alex Lowe from Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

Judge Robin Lamb said: “The champion was a very worthy winner. He is an eye-catching bull with good conformation, breed character, and sound feet and legs.”

The reserve champion, Home Farm Euro B207 TSI+34 and SRI+46, sold at 4,800gns for Fintan Keown from Belleek, County Fermanagh. Sired by Dillon New Holland, this thirteen-month-old bull was bred from Home Farm Ruby W511 – one of 10 pedigree cows in the herd. Buyer was John Ramsey from Londonderry.

“This is another well-made young bull with very good legs and feet,” commented the judge.

Fintan Keown, who has been breeding pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle for over 15 years, also secured the third highest price of the sale, selling Home Farm Lord Henry B163 TSI+39 SRI49, for 4,600gns to David Graham from Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh.

Born in February 2025, this fourth prize winner was sired by Rawburn Fast Ball P844. His dam is the Haymount War Smith R578 daughter, Home Farm Lady Helen W522 – reserve senior female champion as a two-year-old at the NI Aberdeen Angus Club’s Summer Championship at Clogher in 2022.

The second placed Coolermoney Fletcher B495 TSI+45 SRI+68 realised 4,400gns for Adrian Parke and family, Strabane.. This fifteen-month-old by Rawburn E Type W176 was bred from HW Fleur S059 – one of eight cows in the herd.

This young bull was shown successfully last year, winning the bull calf championship at the NI club’s annual Calf Show at Dungannon in November. Ranked in the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle +7.7, and top 10% for self-replacing index +68, he also boasts good Breedplan figures of calving ease and milk. Buyer was W Speers from Killylea, County Armagh.

Fintan Keown also realised 4,200gns for the second placed Home Farm Lord Hey B196 TSI+37 SRI+42. A thirteen-month-old Haymount War Smith R578 son, he was bred from the Netherton Americano M703 daughter, Home Farm Lady Holly W577. This bull was snapped up by John Wauchob from Newtownstewart, County Tyrone.

First lot into the salering was Magherally Delta A412 TSI+44 SRI+60 consigned by Iain and William MacRoberts from Banbridge. A third prize winner sired by Kiltariff Lord Taurus Y572, he was bred from the Cheeklaw Edgar daughter, Ember Delia W741. This sixteen-month-old bull sold for 4,000gns to E Hamilton from Strabane, County Tyrone.

The female champion was Jackie Strain’s sixteen-month-old heifer Ballyvaston Ellie A284. A Drumawhey Perfect T183 daughter, she is out of the home-bred Ballyvaston Elsie W133.

“This is a lovely sweet heifer with a really nice head. She really caught my eye in the showring,” commented the judge.

The reserve female award went to Graeme Donaghy’s eleven-month-old heifer Lisnavaragh Erin B303. Sired by Kiltariff Lord Tucker Y435, she is out of the Shadwell Jafar Eric N658 daughter, Loughans Elvira U633.

Both heifers failed to meet their reserve and returned home unsold.

Results from the showring:

Bull, born between 06/12/24 and 28/02/25 – 1, and male champion, CJ Strain, Ballyvaston Edwin B306 by Rawburn E Type W176; 2, Adrian Parke, Coolermoney Fletcher B495 by Rawburn E Type W176; 3, Iain and William McRoberts, Magherally Delta A412 by Kiltariff Lord Taurus Y572; 5, Fintan Keown, Home Farm Lord Henry B163 by Rawburn Fast Ball P844.

Bull, born between 02/03/25 and 10/04/25 – 1, and reserve male champion, Fintan Keown, Home Farm Euro B207 by Dillon New Holland; 2, Fintan Keown, Home Farm Lord Hey B196 by Haymount War Smith R578; 3, Adrian Parke, Island Farm Manson B985 by Blelack Dean Martin W063; 4, Adrian Parke, Coolermoney Master Piece B521 by Rawburn E Type W176.

Heifer, born between 20/12/24 and 07/05/’25 – 1, and female champion, CJ Strain, Ballyvaston Ellie A284 by Drumawhey Perfect T183; 2, and reserve female champion, Graeme Donaghy, Lisnavaragh Erin B303 by Kiltariff Lord Tucker Y435.