There was a ready demand for Charolais pedigrees at Dungannon earlier this month which saw bull prices top at 5,800gns with an of average of £3,335 for the 34 sold – eight more than last year’s corresponding sale.

Two herd reductions added to the female tally with 15 heifers selling to a top of 6,500gns and averaging £3,269, while the three cow and calves on offer averaged £4,900.

Leading the bull lots at 5,800gns was the junior and reserve supreme champion Kiltybane Norman from Seamus and Aidan Bellew, Cullyhanna, Co Down. Norman who was purchased by Kevin O’Neill, Dromore, Co Tyrone.

Hillviewfarm Nougat, a blue ticket winner from Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, was the next highest priced bull at 5,200gns. The 17 month old Nougat is sired by the popular, easy calving and short gestation Blelack Digger, while his dam is the French-bred Harestone Tyrol-sired and Scottish-born Elgin Elisha. He goes on to work in Donegal, for new owner Dessie Graham.

The reserve junior champion Brogher Nevada from Trevor Phair, Bellanaleck, Co Fermanagh, sold at 4,800gns. The breeding here includes Vexour Freddy on to the home-bred Brogher Gemma, who goes back to the 10,000gns Perth supreme champion Thrunton Bonjovi, and this October 2017 born lad was purchased by RW Robertson, Newtownards, Co Down.

Matching the 4,000gns price tag was another blue ticket winner, the 16 month old Killadeas New. His dam Killadeas Dawn is a home-bred daughter of the Dungannon supreme champion Glencoe Victor and he is sired by the 8,000gns Blelack Blackberet. Bred and exhibited by Stuart and David Bothwell, Ballina Mallard, Co Fermanagh, he heads on to Castlewellan, Co Down, to work for M and E Rice.

Selling at 3,400gns was another Digger son, Drumconnis Necleus who had been awarded the reserve intermediate championship title earlier in the day. The 30,000gns Balmyle Bollinger-sired Drumconnis Ida is the dam of this 15 month old from John McGrath, Dromore, Co Tyrone, who stayed local when purchased by Kevin O’Neill, also from Dromore.

There have not been many Charolais females on offer at Society sales this year and the purchasers were keen to grab one while they had the chance. The drafts from the Hillviewfarm and Glencoe herds fuelled the interest and Adrian Richardson and Son’s heifers topped the lots.

Heading up the prices at 6,500gns for the Richardson family was the two year old Hillviewfarm Millie. Sired by the aforementioned Blelack Digger, and out of the 25,000gns Perth supreme champion Mowbraypark Orlando-sired Hillviewfarm Iona, she was snapped up by Colin Todd, Lisburn, Co Antrim. With another three heifers selling to new homes, the Richardson’s enjoyed a great trade and sold the four to average £5,486.

The next at 6,200gns was another of their lots, with the same sire behind her. Hillviewfarm Margaret, who is out of Hillviewfarm Dawn, a daughter of the 15,000gns Carlisle supreme champion Burradon Talisman, heads over the water to Roebuck, Yorkshire, with new Charolais breeder David Timm, who went on to purchase two out of the three Hillviewfarm cow and calves on offer.

The highest priced at 4,800gns was the mother and daughter pair Hillviewfarm Dawn – the dam of the previous mentioned lot – and her eight month old heifer calf Hillviewfarm Olive who is sired by Mowbraypark Orlando.

The sponsor was Natural Nutrition and the judge was Mark Ross, Gorebridge, Midlothian.

Earlier in October, The Nelson family from Rosslea led the Northern Ireland Simmental line-up at 11,000gns with Drumacritten Ian TSI+£83 SRI+£98. Born in May 2017, he caught the eye of judge Norman Robson, Doagh, Ballyclare, to secure the junior and supreme overall championship ribbons. Sired by the twice Balmoral Show champion Dermotstown Delboy, this one is out of a home-bred Dripsey Super King daughter. Buyers were C and M Bruce from Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

Brothers Shane and Paul McDonald from Tempo sold two bulls to average £3,675 each. Topping their entry at 4,500gns was Coolcran Instagram TSI+73 SRI+84. Sired by Dermotstown Delboy, he is bred from the Raceview Nigel daughter Ashland Lady Wendy. This April 2017 entry sold to AD Sutherland from Elgin in Morayshire.

The third placed Scribby Farms Ivor TSI+72 SRI+86 came under the hammer at 4,200gns for Keith and Andrea Nelson, Rosslea. Born in April 2017, he is by Dermotstown Delboy, and out of a home-bred dam by the 10,000gns Drumlone Anchor.