There was a strong demand for pedigree Aberdeen Angus bulls at the annual Native Breeds sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Prices soared to a top of 5,200gns, and following a complete clearance, auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirmed that 12 bulls changed hands to level at £3,447 per head.

“Trade was buoyant from start to finish, with dairy herd owners and suckler farmers out in force to secure easy calving stock bulls for their enterprises,” he said.

Claiming the day’s highest bid of 5,200gns was Bessiebell Lord Thatcher V072 bred by Jack Smyth from Newtownstewart, County Tyrone.

Second highest price of the day 4,100gns was paid to Alan and Naomi Morrison, Maguiresbrige, County Fermanagh, for the June 2019 Drummeer Lord Thor V334 TSI+32 SRI+41. His sire Wedderlie Blackbox J935 won the AII-Ireland Championship in 2016 as a seven-year-old for Albert de Cogan, and shortly afterwards was purchased as the senior stock bull for the Morrison family’s 12-cow herd.

Lord Thor is out of the home-bred Nightingale Eldorado G381 daughter Drummeer Lady Tara N407. Buyers were Riddell and Timothy Murphy, who own a 175-cow dairy herd at Derrynoose near Keady in County Armagh. They have been using Aberdeen Angus herd sires for over six years, and selected this bull for his breed character, level topline and sound legs and feet.

”Aberdeen Angus bulls are easy calving, and their docile nature make them easy to work with,” commented Timothy, who sells the dairy-bred calves as stores, or finishes them off-farm through the certified producer scheme operated by Foyle Meats.

The Morrison partnership also realised 3,000gns for the April 2019 Drummeer Bateman V286 TSI+29 SRI+37. Another by Wedderlie Blackbox J935, his dam is the Blelack Evermore J231 daughter Drummeer Beauty P573.

The November 2019 Island Farm Edwardo V586 TSI+36 SRI+45 attracted a bid of 3,300gns for Kevin McOscar, Cookstown, County Tyrone. He was sired by the 13,000gns Blelack Prince Consort A286, and is bred from Cheeklaw Elana T601. The securing bid came from dairy herd owner, William Graham, Tamlaght, County Fermanagh.