IHFA Premier Bull & Heifer Sale Report 2025

The 50^th Annual IHFA Premier Bull Show & Sale, held on March 27th, 2025, at Kilmallock Mart, Co. Limerick, witnessed record-breaking prices and great crowds around the ring.

Bull Sale Highlights:

• Champion Bull: Greenlea Cassy was tapped out as Champion Bull at the pre-sale show, judged by Jack Walsh (Scartaglen). Greenlea Cassy was bred by the Greenan Family, who had made the trip down from Monaghan for the sale.

• Top Priced Bull: Mountfarna Frankie achieved a remarkable €10,000, a price that will go down in the history books of the sales 50 years. Exhibited by John and Timmy O’Callaghan, Bandon, Co. Cork, this bull was also Reserve Champion in the Bull Show.
• Other Notable Sales:
  • Radney Rubble fetched €7,500.​
  • Monamore Earlymarch secured €7,000.​

The bulls presented in the ring averaged €6,608, while two bulls sold from home averaged €2,450, culminating in an impressive overall clearance rate of 88%.​

Heifer Sale Highlights:

• Top Priced Heifers:
  • Emerald Homecoming Rhapsody led at €4,800.​ (Sold by Laurence Feeney, Co. Offaly)
  • Rosstemple Robin Evelyn Red VG85 (from John Curtin, Co. Limerick) and Ballytique Rubicon Fini (From Aidan Frawley, Co. Limerick) each realised €3,500.​
  • Rosstemple Reliever Promis GP84 (from John Curtin, Co. Limerick) achieved €3,400.​

• Prize Winners:
  • 1^st Placed Heifer: Rosstemple Robin Evelyn Red VG85
  • 2^nd Placed Heifer: Ballytigue Rubicon Fini
  • 3^rd Placed Heifer: Ballytigue Marcello Alliance

Heifers sold post-bull sale averaged €2,972, with a clearance rate of 70%, indicating a healthy interest in quality female stock.​

Donegal Club sale of calved heifers tops €3,860

Full Clearance as 41 heifers average €2,841 writes Donal Carey

The Donegal Holstein Friesian Breeders club annual sale of fresh calved heifers on Wednesday March 5^th witnessed a very brisk trade as 41 heifers sold for an average price of €2,841. The catalogue offering was once again to a high standard with a quality offering of top merit heifers assembled for the annual show and sale event organised by the club.

Heifers to €3,750 at the Beechland & Coolnagree Production sale 2025

100% clearance as 60 fresh calved heifers average €2,941 writes Donal Carey

The Coolnagree herd of Seamus O’ Leary, Adamstown Co. Wexford and the Beechlands herd of Walter Crean, Enniscorthy Co. Wexford combined for a production sale of 60 fresh calved heifers at Waterford Ross Marts Ltd, New Ross, last Friday February 21^st.  This year marks the 3^rd edition of this joined production sale and the offering on the day again included numerous Red & Whites. A large crowd was in attendance and the bidding activity was very brisk from beginning to end.

Heifers top 6,800 gns at Eedy herd Youngstock Sale 2024

2,576 gns average, 95 % clearance as 6 heifers exceed prices over 4,000 gns

Report by Donal Carey

The Eedy herd of Robert, Sylvia, Jason & Laura Helen enjoyed a highly successful on-farm sale of youngstock on Saturday August 31^st last. The sale was conducted by Taaffe Auction with forty-eight top quality youngstock lots catalogued on offer. The Eedy herd has enjoyed some tremendous success at National level in recent times with key cow families to the fore in this success and the performance of these families was recognised in a trade that was consistantly brisk and sharp throughout the sale.

Leagh & Lynbrook “Promise of Protein” Sale 2024

Tremendous successful sale – full clearance of 32 female Lots, averaging 3,550 guineas

The Leagh & Lynbrook “Promise of Protein” sale on Wednesday, June 19th witnessed a tremendously positive trade where youngstock lots from choice cow families of International repute were offered at auction. The sale is one of the most highly anticipated annual breeder sales of the year, organised by Tim, Maureen & Lauren Fitzmaurice “Leagh” herd, Ballyduff, Co. Kerry and John Cunnane “Lynbrook” herd, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. The sale was conducted by Taaffe Auctions and took place at Carnaross Mart, Co. Meath. Other vendors who consigned select lots included Ardhill (Frank White, Clonakilty, Co. Cork), Boroside (Melvin Masterson, Rathnure, Co. Wexford, Clonpaddin (Hurley family, Arklow, Co. Wicklow).

Leagh Along Came Polly ET claims top price selling for € 6,500.

31 lots sold at auction, averaging €2,412.

Cow families, backed by generations of production and conformation performance command the top prices at Dalevalley Sky-High Protein Sale

Roy & Heather Cromie and guest vendors achieve €4,175 average price from 36 lots sold

Top price of €4,672 and 100% clearance at Swiftsheath Youngstock Sale

Cow families and generations of breeding performance command the top prices for Tom and Maura Murphy & family

Top price of €4,357 with 12 animals selling for €3,000 or more.

157 lots sell for an average price of €2,183.