Aberdeen Angus bulls sell to 3,000gns at Dungannon mart

Auctioneer Trevor Wylie described trade as selective. “Stronger bulls with good conformation attracted a ready market from dairy and suckler herd owners, while the plainer lots were harder to sell.”

Sale leader at 3,000gns was Kiltariff Darius P687 TSI+29 SRI+41, a May 2014 born Haymount Willinger K992 son bred by Kenneth Bready, Rathfriland, Co Down. His dam is the Black Banner X1 of Idvies daughter Kiltariff Diana C604 – one of 12 cows in the herd. This fourth prize winner sold to dairy farmers Riddell Murphy, and son Timothy, from Derrynoose, Co Armagh.

Next best at 2,500gns was the third placed Coolermoney Rochester P434 TSI+22 SRI+31, a Coneyisland Legend E112 son bred by Adrian and Graeme Parke, Strabane, Co Tyrone. This May 2014 born entry is out of a home-bred Idvies Paris B102 daughter, and sold to Gary Young from Castlederg, Co Tyrone.

Freddie Davidson, Banbridge, Co Down, realised 2,200gns for the male champion Ember Lord Jack P956 TSI+28 SRI+37. Born in May 2014, he was sired by Blelack Duke J262, and is bred from a Lissard Mark daughter carrying the Drumcrow prefix. Buyers were Messrs WT and WA McKinney from Maghera, Co Londonderry.

Judge Alan Morrison from the 15-cow Drummeer Herd based at Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, described the male champion as a very correct, well balanced bull. “He oozes breed character, and has a good shoulder and nice spring of rib.”

Claiming the day’s reserve male championship was Drumlone Evermore P527 TSI+31 SRI+42 bred by Kenny Veitch, Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh. At fifteen-months-old he was the youngest bull in the catalogue, and was sired by Rawburn Black Hawk L261. This one failed to meet his reserve and was unsold.

Alan Morrison added: “The reserve male champion is a nice thick bull with a good top and great conformation.”

Females peaked at 2,500gns twice.

Leading the female line-up in the show and sale rings was the October 2014 born Drumlone Eldor P203 bred by Kenny Veitch. Sired by Rawburn Double OSeven J985, she is out of a home-bred dam by Penguin Enterprise J380. Buyer was J Ferguson, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone.

“The female champion is a powerful heifer, with tremendous scope and great bone. She should mature into a great breeding female,” said Alan Morrison.

Sharing the 2,500gns price tag was the reserve female champion Drumhill Eston Anne P296 bred by Jonathan and Lisa Doyle, Cookstown, Co Tyrone. Born in May 2104 she was sired by the herd’s 11,000gns stock bull Blelack Lord Handsome L739, and is out of a Hoffs Limited Edition SC 594 daughter carrying the Friarstown prefix. This one was snapped up by J Martin, Ballynahinch, Co Down.

Alan Morrison added: “The reserve winner is a thick heifer with super breed character. She is feminine and has a well-muscled top.”

Averages: 6 bulls £2,345 and 4 females £1,995.

Results from the judging ring include:

Bull, born between 22/02/14 and 18/04/14 – 1, Samuel and Timothy Scott’s Drumawhey Blackie P726 by Crerogue Vallis L354; 2, Sydney Cromie’s Prospect Black Hawk P935 by Prospect Ensign L316.

Bull, born between 18/05/14 and 27/06/14 – 1, and male champion, Freddie Davidson’s Ember Lord Jack P956 by Blelack Duke J262; 2, Alan Cheney’s Lana Lord Holiday P933 by Nightingale Playfair K527; 3, Adrian and Graeme Parke’s Coolermoney Rochester P434 by Coneyisland Legend E112.

Bull, born between 03/07/14 and 16/11/14 – 1, and reserve male champion, Kenny Veitch’s Drumlone Evermore P527 by Rawburn Black Hawk L261; 2, Michael Lagan’s Macknagh Mills Evergreat P462 by Blelack Evermore J231; 3, Neville and Ivan Forsythe’s Coltrim Ernie P115 by Wedderlie Ergo M574.

Female, born between 25/05/14 and 27/07/14 – 1, and reserve female champion, Jonathan and Lisa Doyle’s Drumhill Eston Anne P296 by Blelack Lord Handsome L739.

Female, born between 07/10/14 and 08/02/15 – 1, and female champion, Kenny Veitch’s Drumlone Eldor P203 by Rawburn Double OSeven J985; 2, Alan Cheney’s Lana Lady Rhea R036 by Nightingale Playfair K527; 3, Alan Cheney’s Lana Jocasta Erica R966 by Blackhaugh Easy Papa G728.