Hereford bulls average €2,816

Buyers from the UK and from Donegal to Waterford were bidding for the many five star bulls on offer at Tullamore in the Hereford Society’s Premier Bull Sale.

The top price of €5,500 was paid for reserve champion Kye Rodge 553, shown by Padraig McGrath, Elphin, Co Roscommon, and bought by Coote Geelan, Carrick-on-Shannon.

McGrath averaged €3,200 for four bulls, one of which was sold to Richard O’Keeffe, Ballyvosing, Mallow, Co Cork.

Show champion Grianan King Kong ET was shown by Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald, Moate, and was purchased by Cathal Flynn, Tullyard, Co Monaghan for €3,800.

The Fitzgeralds’ Grianan King Maker went to the home of the breed, Herefordshire in the UK, for €4,000. The runner-up bidder on both bulls was an Irish dairy farmer.

The first bull into the ring, Balleen Scorcher exhibited by Tom Brennan, Freshford, set the pace, when selling to Patrick Baldwin, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Waterford for €3,000. Another Co Waterford farmer John Roche, Glencairn, purchased Balleen Oscar, a first prizewinner, at €3,000. The Balleen herd will offer its entire yearling heifer crop of 14 for sale next July.

Moyclare Jasper by Moyclare Tony was exhibited by Michael Molloy, Belmont, Co Offaly, and sold to Patrick Lynch, Ballymakeera, Co. Cork at €2,550.

The overall clearance was 65%, averaging €2,816 in a range from €1,800 to €5,500.