Tyrone bulls top the trade at breed show

TWO Tyrone bulls topped the trade at the Limousin bull breed society’s regional April show and sale.

Hosted by JA McClelland and Sons at Ballymena Livestock Mart, auctioneer Graham Loughery confirmed that 30 bulls sold to level at £5,225 per head following a complete clearance – an increase of £1,186 on last year. Two heifers averaged £4,935 each.

Topping trade at 8,200gns was the 18-month-old Bernish Uriah bred by NI Limousin Cattle Breeders’ Club chairman, Kieran McCrory from Sixmilecross.

Sired by the 25,000gns Glenrock Redemption, the animal, who took second prize in the show, comes from one of the herd’s leading cow families.

His dam, Bernish Libbyfortune, is a daughter of the 32,000gns Millgate Fame. The sale leader carries two copies of the F94L myostatin gene and was snapped up by suckler herd owner Desmond Fulton from Ballymoney, County Antrim.

The day’s second highest bid of 7,500gns was paid to Howard McFarland, Trillick for the senior champion Rahoney Umpire.

A 20-month-old Gunnerfleet Lion son, his dam is the home-bred Rahoney Melissa, a daughter of the 29,000gns Ampertaine Abracadabra. Carrying a mix of F94L and Q204X genes, he sold to PL McKeag from Millisle, County Down.

Selling for 6,400gns was Kieran McCrory’s Bernish Umberto, which claimed fourth prize in the show. Another Glenrock Redempton son, his dam is the Foxhillfarm Ourbest daughter, Bernish Superbabe.

This 18-month-old bull has F94L and Q204X genes, and sold to A Harley from Plumbridge.

Meanwhile, Howard McFarland’s reserve female champion Rahoney Unique sold for 5,000gns, while McFarland’s female champion Rahoney Ulicia sold at 4,400gns.