Prices maxed out at €9,500 at Gerrygullinane Limousin’s inaugural virtual timed production sale, which featured on MartEye, in conjunction with Mid-Tipp (Thurles) Mart and drew to a close on Monday evening (May 29th, 2023).
Serenity
Top of the town from the Ballina, Co. Mayo-based herd was lot 6 (main image), Gerrygullinane Serenity, an April-2021-born in-calf heifer by the famed Derrygullinane Kingbull and Derrygullinane Jazzylady.
Described in the catalogue as “this one is special to expand a herd or flush”, she was AI’d to Carrickmore Pocket Rocket and is scanned in-calf, circa 39 days.
Snowdrop
On her heels at €8,250 was lot 4, Gerrygullinane Snowdrop, a May-2021-born Derrygullinane Kingbull daughter, out of Gerryguillinane Missy, the dam of Gerrygullinane Phoenix, who stands in AI with Elite Pedigree Genetics.
She was AI’d on March 30th, 2023, to Carrickmore Pocket Rocket, is scanned in-calf circa 39 days and is “a herd builder and animal to flush”, according to the herd owners.
Teacup
Next on the price table at €8,000 was lot 12, Gerrygullinane Teacup, which “combines the king and queen of the show rings”.
The November-2022-born female – which carries a single copy of the F94L and NT821 genes – is by the aforementioned Gerrygullinane Missy and Carrickmore Pocket Rocket.
Ahead of the sale, she was described “as a special one with serious potential as a show calf this year”.
“We do not think she will let you down. This is one we thought long and hard about selling.”
“Her dam is by Kingbull, her sire is Pocket Rocket, and her grand-dam is Baileys Ice Princess. She is a chance of a lifetime,” they remarked.
Thor
Meanwhile, Lot 14, one of the sale’s only males, Gerrygullinane Thor, a February-2022-born son of Gerrygullinane Phoneix and Derrygullinane Heather ET, came under the hammer at €7,750.
He is the very first son of Phoenix and is a single carrier of the F94L and Q204X genes.
Gerrygullinane Serendipity ET
At €7,000 was lot 5, Gerrygullinane Serendipity ET, Kingbull’s full sister, who “offered a chance in a lifetime to make a purchase”.
She was born in July 2021, carries two copies of the ‘profit’ gene and is by Gerrygullinane Glen and Derrygullinane Elisa ET.
Summary
The sale from the 15-cow pedigree herd included:
- 6 2022-born females;
- 5 in-calf females;
- 2 2021-born maiden heifers;
- 2 2022-born LM Gerrygullinane Phoenix – both fertility tested;
- 3 lots of embryos.
Cattle prices ranged from €4,000 upwards at the sale, while embryos varied from €900-€1,000, respectively.
That’s Farming editor, Catherina Cunnane, spoke to Gerry Walsh, who runs the herd, with his father, John, and Anne-Marie Clarke, ahead of the production sale, and you can read that interview via this link.
All imagery – Tricia Kennedy