A final bid of €8,600 from a young livestock breeder at the ringside secured the much-admired price topping bull at the Irish Angus Cattle Society Elite Sale at the Showgrounds, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday.
Fifteen-month-old Ernehill Samson, bred by Francis and Noel Fitzpatrick, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan received a flurry of bids from both the restricted ringside attendance and online breeders before auctioneer Francis McGowan knocked him down to his new home in the mid-west.
The bull was bred by the sire Ballymagrine Wonder, a son of Bohey Jasper, and out of the home bred dam Ernehill Niamh and carries five stars all the way for docility, carcase weight and conformation.
Ernehill Samson sold for €8,600
Pedigree Angus cattle proved to be in-demand last Saturday (December 12) as the Irish Angus Cattle Society hosted its annual ‘Elite Sale’ at the Showgrounds, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
There were a total of 57 Angus bulls and 34 Angus heifers on offer at the auction, with a fine display of Angus cattle all round. Under Covid-19 health and safety guidelines, the pre-sale viewing attracted great interest with potential buyers coming from a mix of pedigree, commercial beef and dairy herds.
In the male section, a total clearance rate of 80% was achieved alongside an average of €3,300. This saw a €400 rise from last year’s sale average for males which was €2,900.