LOCAL breeders realised some good prices at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club sale in Dungannon Mart, with a top price of 6,200gns.

The number of buyers present was restricted because of Covid-19, but two bulls secured the top price of 6,200gns; Glencoe Phoenix, bred by P. and V. McDonald, of 73 Seavers Road, Ballinliss, Killeavy, Newry, and the July, 2019-born Fymore Prince, bred by S. McCaughey, of 3A Derryclooney Road, Augher, Co. Tyrone. A son of Killimor In Time, his dam, Fymore Jewel, is a daughter of 18,000gns bull, Fury Action. This bull sold to R. Ward, of 11 Slievebane Road, Omagh.

Will Short, of Wood Park, Omagh received the third top price of the day with Woodpark Pistol. This 15-month-old bull is fully parent-verified to Blelack Marmaduke and Woodpark Jessie J, a daughter of Deeside Gulliver, who is in the top 1 per cent for calving ease direct.

Woodpark Pistol went under the hammer at 4,300gns, selling to A. Semple, of 67 Magheramore Road, Co. Londonderry.

Selling at 4,000gns was Killadeas Paul, bred by S. and D. Bothwell, St Angelo, Ballinamallard; an April, 2019-born bull, sired by the 11,000gns bull, Battleford Laser.

His dam, Killadeas Ginny, is by the 16,000gns bull, Blackford Dynamite. He was purchased by C. Clarke, of 16 Chapel Road, Co. Armagh.

Topping the day's trade for the females was Bessiebell Olympic, bred by J. Smyth, of 12 Milltown Road, Magheracolton, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone.

Sired by Goldies Eddy, and out of Bessiebell Incredible, a Goldies Unbeatable daughter, this March, 2018-born, in-calf heifer peaked at 4,600gns and was purchased by Dreamteam Charolais, Co. Donegal.

Two animals then followed, at 4,300gns. Killadeas Ouch was the first female to go under the hammer at 4,300gns.

Born in September, 2018, this in-calf heifer was bred by S. and D. Bothwell, St Angelo, Ballinamallard.

Her sire is the 11,000gns bull, Battleford Laser, out of Killadeas Imogen, a daughter of the 16,000gns bull, Blackford Dynamite. This heifer sold to S. Kingham, of Cullaville, Co. Monaghan.

Brogher Oelly was next to sell at 4,300gns. PD’d in calf, this November, 2018-born heifer was bred by T. Phair, 35 Killybracken Road, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh; sired by Balbithan Vespasian, and out of Brogher Elly, a daughter of Private.

This heifer was purchased by B. Baxter of Keel Park, Co. Fermanagh.

Bidding peaked for the bulls at 6,200gns, with 15 bulls selling to average £3,647, up £370.24 on the previous year.

The females went on to peak at 4,600gns, with six heifers selling to an average of £3,867.50, up by £1,727.35 on the previous year, with a 67 per cent clearance.