The annual high health status sale of Aberdeen Angus bulls took place at Bandon Mart, Co. Cork at the beginning of the month and was organised by the Munster Aberdeen-Angus Club in conjunction with Cork Marts. It has grown steadily in recent years and is now one of the premier sales for Aberdeen-Angus bulls in the region. The rigorous pre-sale health requirements attracted a lot of interest from buyers and there was a brisk trade for all bulls on the day.

The top price of €3700 went to the overall champion bull Mogeely Lord Hickery N262 from the renowned Mogeely herd of Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, Killamuckey, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork. This 18-month-old bull is by the popular AI bull Mogeely Joe. Lord Hickery N262 had previously won the senior bull class in the pre-sale show and judge Clive Jennings had no hesitation awarding him the overall supreme championship later in the day.

The pre-sale show reserve champion was the first prize winner from the junior class of bulls Westellen Mr Banks P761 from the herd of John and Kate Tait, Westwood, Rostellan, Midleton, Co. Cork. This powerful young bull is a full ET brother to Westellen Mr Bandit N755 who excelled on the show circuit last summer. Sadly this bull failed to meet his reserve in the show ring and was unsold on the day.

The joint second highest price was a call of €3000, the first of which was paid to Denis O’ Riordan, Inchisine, Toames, Macroom, Co. Cork for Inchisine Leader. This bull had previously been awarded second prize in the pre-sale show and attracted a flurry of bids in the sales ring before being knocked down at €3000. Mr. O’ Riordan sold a further three bulls at the sale including Inchisine Kool, a third prize winner on the day, who sold for €2850.

Patrick Houlihan, Kilsarlaught, Church Cross, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, also received €3000 with the homebred Kilsarlaght Ernest P369. This 14-month-old bull is by the AI sire Cormamuckla Lord Hardy and boasted five stars for both terminal and replacement suckler beef index. Mr. Houlihan also sold Kilsarlaught Mike N368 for €2850 earlier in the sale.

Other notable prices included Kealkil Lord Jride N426 from Ciaran Kelleher, Maughanaclea, Kealkil, Bantry, Co. Cork who went for €2800. The youngest bulls in the sale, 13 month old Cashelane Fintan P809 and 12 month old Cashelane Buster P811, both exhibited by Robert Putz, Cashelfean, Bantry, Co. Cork sold for €2500 and €2300, respectively.

Overall the sale averaged an extremely healthy €2750 – which was up a massive €500 from an average of €2250 last year, with a clearance of 86%.