By Julie Hazelton
THERE was a strong demand for pedigree Aberdeen Angus bulls at the Native Breeds spring show and sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.
Prices peaked at 5400gns and 5200gns, and following a complete clearance auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirmed that seven lots were traded to average £3,795 per head, representing an increase of £310 on the same period last year.
Sale leader at 5400gns was the reserve champion Drumhill Quidsinn X612 TSI+39 SRI+48 bred by Jonathan and Lisa Doyle, Cookstown. Sired by home-bred stock bull Drumhill Lord Hatfield R532 ET, his dam is Nightingale Queen Lois U946 – a privately purchased daughter of the 2016 Stirling senior champion Drumhill Lord Hampton R414 ET. Born in July 2021, he boasts a milk value of +19 in the breed’s top 10 per cent and was snapped up by Leo Devine from Strabane.
The 50-cow Drumhill herd has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, and also topped the breed society’s April 2022 sale in Dungannon at 5100gns and 5000gns with Drumhill Lord Hatfield R532 ET sons. In fact, four Lord Hatfield sons averaged £4,804 at last year’s sale.
Jonathan Doyle said: “Drumhill Lord Hatfield was intermediate and supreme overall champion at Stirling in 2016, and was purchased by Kevin McOscar, owner of the Island Farm Herd, for 11,000gns. Lord Hatfield has been a proven and consistent breeder, and I ended up buying him back two years ago.
“He was the winner of the trophy for the best stock bull in the NI Aberdeen Angus Club’s annual herds competition in 2022.”
Next best at 5200gns was the supreme champion Home Farm Lord Harry X647 bred by Fintan Keown, who runs a herd of 10 pedigree and 25 commercial cows at Belleek, County Fermanagh.
Sired by Haymount War Smith R578, this May 2021 born bull is bred from the Spangager Tommy Boy daughter Home Farm Lady Honey T161. He was placed second in his class at the NI club’s Summer Championship Show at Clogher last July. Highest bidder was W Bond, Eglinton, County Londonderry.
Judge Maddie Clarke described the champion as a very correct bull. “It’s been a great show, with quality to the fore, rather than quantity. Today’s champion really stood out. He is a very correct bull with tremendous power, good conformation and breed character.
“The reserve champion is another excellent bull. Slightly younger than the champion, but well put together, with good conformation and breed characteristics.”
The second placed Glen Cowie Royal Duke X951 bred by Iain Colville, Newtownards, came under the hammer at 3600gns, selling to dairy farmers Andrew and Mark Wilson, Templepatrick.
Born in March 2021, he was sired by the
22-cow herd’s 7500gns stock bull Stouphill Eligh U217 – male champion at Balmoral Show in 2021; and is out of the 3300gns Stirling female champion (2015) Ardoyne Royal Lavender N231.
Neville and Ivan Forsythe, Moneymore, sold their best at 3200gns. The first placed Coltrim Empire X736 TSI+34 SRI+40 was born in November 2021, and is by the herd’s former stock bull and popular AI sire Kiltariff Dynamic D711. His dam Coltrim Evana R336 is one of 30 cows in the long-established herd. Buyer was Cathal McGinnity from Keady, County Armagh.
Nightingale Quantas V002 was behind the breeding of the Doyle duo’s second placed Drumhill Edinson X597 TSI+34 SRI+40. This July 2021 entry sold at 3100gns to Messrs WJ and J Hanna, Rathfriland.
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