The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) held its 51st annual bull show and sale at Kilmallock Mart in County Limerick during the week.
John DeLeon was given the difficult task of judging on this day, with fine margins separating champion bull from reserve champion and honorable mention.
After the viewing, the ring at Kilmallock Market filled up quickly before the sale as auctioneer Denis Barrett took to the stage.
The average sale was €4,680, with a top price of €6,600 per day.
displays
Laurelelm Perseus Bro born in September 2024 was crowned Champion Bull on the day.
The bull, bred by Ricky Barrett of Cork, boasted an Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €44.
It had a milk sub-index of €49, broken down into traits of 401 kg of milk, 10.6 kg of proteins and 9.65 kg of fat, and it also had a fertility sub-index of €12.
The champion bull went on to earn €5,000 from the sale.
Bull Champion – Laurel Perseus Bro
On his way down from Co. Monaghan, Greenlea Clash was named reserve champion of the show.
The bull, born in November 2024, was bred by the Greenan family and received an EBI of €144.
With a milk sub-index of €47, it had strong traits for milk production, with 50 kg of milk containing 8.45 kg of fat and 4.94 kg of protein.
In addition, it had a fertility subindex of €65 combined with a health subindex of €14.
The reserve bull went on to collect €4,500 from the sale.
Reserve Champion – Greenlea Clash
The 100% Holstein Mountvarna Monster was the honorable mention of the day.
The October 2024-bred bull was bred by John O’Callaghan from Co. Cork and boasted an EBI of €79.
It had a milk sub-index of €83 divided into traits of 221 kg milk, 15.15 kg fat and 10.95 kg protein, as well as a fertility sub-index of €18.
The respected bull earned €5,500 in the ring.
Honorable Mention – The Monster of Mountvarna
sale
Mountfarna Zeus was the top seller on the day, bringing in €6,600 on the track.
The Holstein purebred was born in October of 2024 and boasted a milk sub-index of €96, with a milk sub-index of €65, a fertility sub-index of €23, and a health sub-index of €15.
Meanwhile, the Mountvarna Dogman received €5,200, with a bull born in September 2024 receiving an EBI of €80, a milk sub-index of €45, a fertility sub-index of €32, and a health sub-index of €23.
The Mountfarna flock also sold Mountfarna Birdman for €5,800. It had an EBI of €1, with a milk sub-index of €76, broken down into attributes of 514kg milk, 20.06kg fat and 12.97kg protein.
Radni Polly Boy, born in January 2025, received €5,000, with an additional income of €242, a milk sub-index of €76 and a fertility sub-index of €112.
The Mountain Martini 24 ET also brought in €5,000 in the ring. The January 2025 bull had an EBI of €158.
Monamor Frank Zappa earned €4,900, with the October 2024-born bull receiving an EBI of €149, with a milk sub-index of €87 and a fertility sub-index of €76.
