Dungannon Sale

Tuesday 6th April 2021

British Blue bulls reach 4,000gns at Dungannon

A small entry of British Blue bulls attracted a ready market with prices reaching a top of 4,000gns at the NI Club’s spring sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Sale leader was the February 2019 Chatham Oskar bred by Jack and Anne Morrison, and son David from Armoy, County Antrim. He was sired by the home-bred Kersey Geronimo ET son, Chatham Magnus – sold at Dungannon in October 2018 for 3,000gns. His dam is the Auchenlay Eli daughter Chatham Lola – one of 25 cows in the long-established herd.

Ranked in the breed’s top 15% for Breedplan carcase profitability index +18, top 20% for pedigree breeding index +13, and calving ease +0.8, he was snapped up by suckler herd owner R McNeill, Glenarm, County Antrim.

Chatham Magnus was also behind the breeding of Chatham Othneil sold for 2,700gns. This February 2019 entry was bred from Chatham Lou, another daughter of the herd’s former stock bull Auchenlay Eli. Selling to Geoffrey Stinson, Dungannon, this one is in the top 10% for eye muscle area +2.1, carcase profitability index +19, and top 20% for pedigree breeding index +13.

Rounding off the sale at 2,700gns was the Morrison family’s June 2019 Chatham Oreo. He was sired by home-bred stock bull Chatham Karl, and is the fifth bull bred from the Paulern Verdi daughter Chatham Grace. Boasting a carcase profitability index of +27 in the top 1%, and pedigree breeding index of +20 in the top 5%, he sold to James Booth from Lisbane, Comber.

Average: 3 bulls £3,290 (75% clearance).

Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.