Angus achieve 3500gns top price at Dungannon

Aberdeen-Angus bulls led the way securing a top price of 3,500gns at the annual autumn native breeds show and sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart this week.

 

Trade was underpinned by commercial suckler producers and at the end of the day’s trading auctioneer Trevor Wylie reported that 14 bulls changed hands to average £2,040 – an increase of almost £170 on this time last year and with three more bulls sold.

Hitting the headlines in both the show and sale rings was the day’s male champion Drumhill Mr Amazone K154, brought out by first-time vendor Jonathan Doyle from Cookstown, County Tyrone.  Born in March 2010 this much admired entry is the result of an embryo imported from Canada. He boasts strong bloodlines having been sired by Vermilion Payweight J847, while his dam is Coldstream Miss Annie 58G.

After spirited bidding from the packed ringside audience he was knocked down to Scottish breeder Andrew Elliot from Galashiels who runs 100 commercial cows and the 100-cow Blackhaugh and Cape Wrath pedigree herds.

 

Dgn Angus 1.jpg Mr Elliot said:”As well as being long and nicely balanced this bull moves well. He also boasts super growth and calving ease figures (+3.1) and his overall Breedplan figures tick a lot of boxes.” Drumhill Mr Amazone  is +17 for milk, has an eye muscle area of +4.8, and a self replacing index of +53 – the highest in the sale catalogue.

Mr Doyle was delighted with his day’s achievements. The civil engineering contractor established his 15-cow herd just three years ago and also scooped the reserve female championship at this year’s Balmoral Show.

Judge, Kenneth Bready who runs the Kiltarriff herd based at Rathfriland, County Down, described the male champion as a stylish bull with a great top and good locomotion.

Next best at 2,700gns was the reserve male champion brought out by the father and son team of Adrian and Graeme Parke, Strabane, County Tyrone. The March 2010-born Coolermoney Rambler K025 is sired by the noted Nakkeg Nord 913 and is out of the Idvies Paris B102 daughter, Coolermoney Rosebud F686 – who also produced the champion at the February sale in Dungannon.

Dgn Angus 2.jpgRambler scooped the breed’s male championship at Omagh Show in July, and sold to John McKinley from Ballycastle, County Antrim.

Three lots sold for 2,100gns each. First at that money was the fourth prize winning Dubh Fred K003, an April 2010-born entry consigned by new breeders Raymond and Glenn Kilkey from Cross, County Londonderry. Sired by the home-bred Dubh Elvis G465, he is out of a dam by the popular Ankonian Elixir.  With a self replacing index of +40 and a milk value of +13, he sold to an undisclosed commercial and pedigree breeder.

Neville and Ivan Forsythe, Moneymore, County Londonderry, sold two entries from their long-established Coltrim prefix for 2,100gns each, the first of which being the first prize Coltrim Elevator K505 which was snapped up Eamon McKeating, Ballykilner, County Londonderry. Born in May 2010 he is by the herd’s jointly owned stock bull Wedderlie Net Profit E916 and is out of a home-bred dam by former herd sire Kiltariff Dynamic. This bull boasts an SRI of +50 and a milk value of +14.

Wedderlie Net Profit E916 was also behind the breeding of the other bull at the same money, Coltrim Eagle K542. Born in June 2010 he is out of the Kiltariff Dynamic daughter Coltrim Evana G363. He has an SRI of +46 and is +14 for milk and sold to Mr Kelly, Limavady, County Londonderry.

Following close behind at 2,000gns was Lana Eugene K662 consigned by the husband and wife team of Alan and Lana Cheney, Trillick, County Tyrone. Born in February 2010, he is by Blackhaugh Easy Papa G728 and is out of a Lana Performer B761-sired dam. This one is +8 for milk and has an SRI of +38.

Also selling at 2,000gns was Priestland Gino exhibited by Jack Smyth, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone.  Sired by Old Glenort Lamont, this March 2010 born bull is out of a Priestland Lad Z056 daughter carrying the Cleenish prefix.

Aberdeen-Angus females peaked at 2,900gns for a draft offering from Robin Lamb, Richhill, County Armagh. His sale leader was the four-year-old Richhill Blackbird G023 which was accompanied by twin heifer calves by Drumcrow Lord Hunter J354. Buyer was Anne McCune from Tynan in County Armagh.

The female champion sold for 2,400gns from James Porter, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn. Old Glenort Precious Polly J352 who is a half sister to the herd’s female champion at Stirling earlier this month, is sired by stock bull Netherton Fleur’s Legacy G390, she is out of the Bruno of Spittal Shore daughter, Old Glenort Precious Pollot A303. Scanned in-calf to Eastfield Fusilier, this one sold to Victoria Rea who is establishing the Drumslaggy herd at Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.

 

Dgn Angus 3.jpgJonathan Doyle realised 1,850gns for Drumhill Ina K187, an un-haltered heifer which caught the eye of Jim and May Jack who run the noted Strule herd based at Fivemiletown, County Tyrone. Born in April 2010 this ET heifer is by Millcreek Diversity and is out of Willabar Ina 61H. She sold in-calf to the noted Netherallen Peter Pershore E052.