Collinstown Aubrac herd hits high notes in Tullamore
A renowned prize-winning County Westmeath-based herd set a new joint record price of €5,000 for an Irish Aubrac Cattle Society premier show and sale last week.
Johnstown Aubracs, property of Francis, Bernie and Jennifer Donohoe of Johnstown, Collinstown, made history with their bull at GVM Tullamore Mart on Saturday October 26).
The joint sale topper, lot 5, Johnstown Terminator 3530, was selected as the reserve overall champion and overall champion bull in a hotly contested pre-sale show judged by Seamus Nagle, a County Clare-based suckler farmer and proprietor of Bull Bank.
A half-brother to the AI Aubrac sire, Johnstown Prince 3530 (Bo Sires), he was born in March 2023 and is a son of Nickel, an imported stock sire, and out of a French import dam.
He set the tempo for a phenomenal day of trading for the prize-winning herd, which offered four home-bred lots with champion-packed pedigrees, for sale.
Their second bull, catalogued as number 7, Johnstown Tate 5179, sold for €2,800. Born in March 2023, he is a half-brother to the aforementioned Nickel and is out of another imported French dam.
When Francis’s daughter, Jennifer, was just 13 years old, she purchased Tate’s mother, Alexis 5179, a Heritier daughter, in France. Alexis and her calf at the time were the overall Aubrac champion of Tullamore Show in 2019.
In-calf heifers
The Donohoes also offered two in-calf heifers for sale and secured highs of €4,000 – the highest price for this category.
The first-prize winner, again by Nickel, and a home-bred Johnstown Ian 1039 (AI bull) daughter, she is in-calf to Ballintra Shaw. Shaw is a son of the All-Ireland champion stock bull in the society’s 2023 herd’s competition (Marquis). She is due to calve down in early February 2025.
Her stable mate, a half-sister, lot 13, Johnstown Rosetta 1958, out of a home-bred Invincible daughter, sold at €3,100, scanned in-calf to the aforementioned Ballintra Shaw. She picked up the second-prize winning rosette and is due to calve in early February 2025.
The Donohoes averaged €3,725/head for their four Nickel-bred half siblings.
Established in 2004, the Johnstown herd is renowned internationally and has and continues to play an instrumental role in the development of the Aubrac breed in Ireland.
Over the last two decades, the herd has continually imported hand-selected superior breeding stock from the breed’s home in France and has had numerous successes at society show and sales and agricultural shows throughout the country, claiming numerous champion titles.
Summary
At Saturday’s sale, bulls sold for €5,000, while the highest-priced maiden heifer fetched €4,100, the top-priced in-calf heifer sold for €4,000, and the top-priced weanling heifer changed hands for €1,750.
Compared to 2023 returns, the average for bulls was up a notable €840/head, while the average weanling heifer price rose by €485/head, and maiden heifers levelled at €220/hd, more, on average.
Out of the 43 pre-selected lots presented for sale by thirteen herds, just one animal returned unsold.
Speaking following the sale, James Donnellan, chairperson of the Irish Aubrac Cattle Society, said: “We had an excellent sale, with record prices for bulls, and an almost 100% clearance overall. There was great demand from a range of buyers.
“There were some lovely Aubracs on display, and thanks to everybody who supported the sale. The best of luck to all who purchased.”