Hot Demand at Ballymena

• Wednesday, 07 May 2008 17:13

Charolais bulls sold hot and fast at the NI Charolais club’s show and sale in Ballymena this week with four animals selling to 4000 gns and over and the 21 bulls sold averaging £2560.

Topping the sale was an April 07 bull from Brian and William McAllister’s herd at Kells which sold to James McCurdy Broughsahe for 4100gns.. Burnside Cedric commanded keen interest as he is the first son of Balmyle Vagabond to be offered for sale.

Vagabond was purchased at Perth in October 2005 where he was reserve junior champion and made 16,000gns. Due to his breeding and quality he was chosen to participate in the British Charolais Society’s Young Bull proving scheme and has been producing some very promising calves. Cedric’s dam is a Moorlough Palo daughter and is a full sister of Burnside Taz which sold at Perth for 11,000gns.

Three animals sold for 4000gns and one of these was the bull which, judge, John Currie, chose as his supreme champion of the show –Altnaveigh Beeforsalmon exhibited by Samuel Thompson, Newry. This Doonally New son out of a Maerdy Impeccable daughter sold to Kelly Farms, Londonderry.

Another Doonally New son Kiltrom Bosco, which carried the red rosette in the December 2006 class for John Quinn, Pomeroy sold to John McGarry, Glarryford while the third 4000gn bull, exhibited by Stuart and David Bothwell, Ballinamallard went home to Ivan Loughery’s farm at Limavady. Killadeas Cain is an Oscar son out of an Oldstone Egbert dam.

John McHenry, Ballymoney received 3,500gns for his Doonally New son, Kilmahamogue Brazil when it was knocked down to M. Dowdall, Newry. Next in the price stakes was the reserve supreme champion, Killadeas Comber, a Dunlon Ulick son from a Harestone Nighthawk dam which sold to W.Rogers, Newry for 3000gns.

John Parkinson, Marketing Manager with Moore Concrete, sponsor of the event, presented the awards and said that his company was delighted to be associated with such a high profile sale which commanded leading prices.