Bridgemount Leo sold for €3,100. \ Alfie Shaw
Following a recent trend in bull sales across the country, numbers forward for the Irish Simmental cattle society bull sale in Tullamore were well back.
With a number of heavy-hitting bulls absent, quality was described by many as average at best. The average sale price of €2,410 with clearance at 65% reflected this.
That said, €3,000 or more was hit on four occasions, with the top price of €3,100 hit twice.
First at the money was the first lot through the ring, Bridgemount Leo. Bred and exhibited by William O’Riordan from Rathcormac, Co Cork, this October 2019-born bull is a son of Lis-Na-Ri Gucci.
April 1, 2021, 5:15 pm
There has been a “huge increase” in demand for Fleckvieh cows over the last 12 months, according to dairy farmer and director of Celtic Sires Gerard Brickley.
Speaking to
AgriLand, Gerard – who runs a dairy farm with his wife Angela in Coolrain, Co. Laois – explained: “It’s mainly driven by the calf value.
“We see people this year who have both Friesian and Fleckvieh calves, crossbreds, going into the mart and what we’re hearing back broadly, at two weeks old.
“They’re getting €40 for the Friesian calves – and €250 for the Fleckvieh crosses out of the same farms. Up to €350 at a month old, with surplus heifer calves going for €350 to €400 at a month old.
Cattle can no longer be exported directly to the UK from marts.
The mart managers of Ireland and a number of Irish cattle breed societies have joined forces to seek change for the new export rules from Ireland to Britain.
As of 1 January, animals can no longer be exported straight to Britain following a sale in Ireland, without returning from the mart and completing a 40-day residence in an Irish herd number.
This week, the Mart Managers Association of Ireland penned a letter to Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue stating the matter needed urgent attention.
In the letter, association chairperson Eimear McGuinness tells of the serious concern mart mangers and breed societies have in relation to their UK-based customers and the important role they play in the trade of livestock throughout Ireland.