Western Club's 30th anniversary celebrated in style at Ballymote

The Western Simmental club hosted their 30th Anniversary Simmental X Heifer sale at Aurivo Ballymote Mart on Saturday October 4th.

An outstanding trade for heifers with buyers from North and South very active and keen for Simmental heifers.

The Highest price of the day was lot, an in calf heifer lot 2611 by Drumcooley Leo sold by Gerard O'Brien, Belclare Co. Galway to Mark Neenan Loughrea Co. Galway. This heifer weighed 750kgs & sold for €5,500 scanned in calf to Sexed Derreen Jack.

The second highest priced in calf heifer was lot 2646 by Lisnacrann fifty cents sold by Paul Cryan. This heifer weighed 770kgs and hit the €5100 mark & sold to Bernie McGabe.

In the Maiden section the top price was lot 1518 by Ballinalare Farm Galaxy. She sold for €4450 (€7.12/kg). This heifer weighed 625kgs & was owned by David Dillon and sold to Paul Cryan.

The second highest priced maiden lot 1547 sired by Fergus Kevin was sold by Padraic Burns for €4200 to A Alexander. This heifer weighed 525kgs (€8/kg) In the Weanling section the top price was given for a Derreen Jack heifer lot 728 owned by Paul Cryan from Keash Ballymote. This heifer weighed 445kgs & sold for a whopping €5,000 (€11.23/kg)to Herbie Griffiths.

The second highest priced Weanling was lot 708 owned by Jamie Reape from Bonniconlon Co. Mayo. This Seafort Gill heifer weighed 440kgs & sold for €4500 (€10.23/kg) to Ray Martin from Co. Monaghan.

The Average price for an in calf heifers was up €1700 on last year.

Maiden heifers were up €1600 with Maidens over 600kg up €2200 on last year.

Weanling heifers 200 to 300kg were up €1300, Weanlings 300 to 400kg up €1200 And Weanlings over 400kg €1900 dearer than 2024.

Jamie Reape WSC said "A total of 80 heifers were exported to the North with 59 of these heifers being purchased by a single buyer! The sales export eligibility on sale day provides a top Service for our loyal customer base in the North and this would not be possible without the great service provided by our department vets & of course the mart officials."

After this years sale we spoke with Gerard O'Brien from Belclare outside Tuam who owned the highest priced heifer of the day. He had 14 incalf heifers at the sale. “I was very happy and surprised when one of my incalf heifers got the top prize at the sale she was sold for €5500 , she was a great heifer and very quite, she weighed 750kg and she was incalf to Derreen Jack, female sexed. It was a great opportunity for the buyer to get a great heifer and the bonus of her carrying a heifer calf. I got on very well with the other 7 that l sold my average price was €4,500 so over all l was very pleased with the sale, and l hope all my heifers will be very lucky for the people that bought them. There was great stock presented this year and as always it's a sale that's very well run. We'll done to all the committee involved” David Dillon from Collooney Co. Sligo owner of the highest priced maiden heifer and a supported of the sale for the last 30 years had the following to add “I sold 26 maiden heifers. These heifers weighed an average of 482 kgs and realised an average price of €2,960 or €6.14 per kg. My top 10 heifers tipped the scales at 513.5kgs and made an average price of €3465 or €6.75 per kg.

I had the top priced maiden heifer on the day; a February 2024 born three quarter SiM X heifer weighing 625 kgs which sold to local man Paul Cryan for €4450. I also sold an April 24 born Sim X animal weighing 510 kgs for €3,800.” David commented that his heifers at this year's sale were on average 5kgs heavier than his stock last year but the average price increased by over €1,200. This he felt is indicative of the current buoyant trade for all types of livestock but he said there is a huge demand for good quality Simmental heifers today. The specialist incalf producers are keen for the heavier more powerful heifers while farmers are interested and great customers for the lighter quality ones and are willing to pay a premium price.

Paul Cryan from Keash Ballymote was delighted to be the owner of the top priced weanling heifer on the day. “It was a great pleasure to prepare and present a heifer of such quality she had everything confirmation, great bloodlines, temperament and docility which left her a dream heifer to work with I hope she is very lucky for the purchaser. I would like to thank Jamie, Jimmie and all the team members for the enormous work they put in to make the 30th sale such a success.

Finally I would to compliment Paddy Hennelly for attending on the day; a founder member who kickstarted this sale way back in 1995. This man and his fellow club members did trojan work for the Simmental breed and I wish them good health in the years ahead."

Finally, The western Simmental Club would like to sincerely thank David Faughnan Manager of Aurivo Mart Ballymote and his team for their support at this sale and over the years.

The Club want to thank all exhibitors for a brilliant display of stock and their continued support of this event, it was great to see such a delighted group of sellers going home with some top end prices.

"As we conclude on a very successful 30th Anniversary Sale, we’d like to remind those wishing to purchase a Simmental bull to breed heifers like these can look no further then the Irish Simmental Premier Sale on October 25th in Roscommon Mart!"