Pedigree bulls peaked at 3,900gns at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s evening show and sale, held at Ballymena Livestock Mart recently with local exhibitors picking up reserve championship rosettes.

William Phair, from Lisbellaw took the second highest price of 2,800gns for the reserve male champion, Coolcrannel Echo. Almost fourteen-months-old, he was sired by the 10,000gns junior and supreme October 2010 Perth champion Drumlone Anchor. His dam is a home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry daughter – one of six cows in the herd which dates back to the mid 1970’s. Buyer was J McCloskey from Claudy, County Londonderry.

Selling at 2,500gns was Rehall Edward TSI+68 SRI+70, a third prize winner brought out by Willie Stubbs, and son Keith, from Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. Born in April 2013, he is by Drumlone Anchor, and out of a home-bred Hillcrest King daughter. He sold to Rainey Bros, Larne, County Antrim.

The collective entry of Simmental females peaked at 2,500gns, paid to Keith and Andrea Nelson, Rosslea, County Fermanagh, for their female and reserve supreme champion Scribby Farms Dora. Born in November 2012, she is a daughter of the herd’s jointly owned stock bull Drumlone Anchor, and is out of Drumacritten Wendy – one of 12 cows in the herd which is run alongside a 60-cow dairy enterprise. Buyer was Norman Farquhar from Ballymena, County Antrim.

Andrew Clarke from Tynan, County Armagh, realised 2,300gns for the reserve female champion Breaghey Elberta. Born in April 2013, she is by Drispey Super King, and is out of the 3,100gns Corrick Vida – female champion at the club’s spring show and sale at Dungannon in 2009. This one joins Wesley Abraham’s Magheracrigan herd at Irvinestown, County Fermanagh.