The Northern Ireland Aberdeen Angus Club hosted its annual Calf Show at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart, Co. Tyrone, on Saturday, November 2.
A sale report by Julie Hazleton noted that the event proved to be a red letter day for the Doyle family from Cookstown, who claimed no less than four championship sashes.
The judge for the event was Ewen Campbell who runs the 20-cow Kilmallie Herd, and is farm manager at SRUC’s estate near Crainlarich in Scotland.
Claiming the supreme overall championship and the JB Lamb Memorial Cup was the bull calf champion, Drumhill Express Root A883 from Jonathan, Lisa, Jack and Jessica Doyle’s 60-cow herd.
This six-month-old calf is by the herd’s 15,000gns stock bull Galcantray Jedi Eric V287, and bred from Drumhill Evora V116 which is the dam of Drumhill Explorer X354 – a well-known bull standing at Artificial Insemination (AI) Services’ beef stud.
The Doyle family topped the Stirling sales in February and October at 16,000gns and 13,000gns, with sons of Galcantray Jedi Eric V287 bred from the Evora cow family.
Commenting on the overall champion judge, Campbell said: ”The overall champion is a very eye-catching bull. He is well-fleshed, displays great length, breed character and lovely hair. He is one to watch for the future.”
Standing in reserve overall position was the Doyle’s heifer calf champion, Drumhill Princess Chartreuse A023.
This five-month-old calf was sired by the home-bred stock bull Drumhill Lord Hatfield R532, her dam is Weeton Princess Chartreuse W125.
The judge said: “The reserve is a similar type to the champion and was brought out to perfection. She is very correct and sweet and has great locomotion. I couldn’t go past her.”
William, Jane, Jamie and Lewis Dodd from Saintfield secured the yearling championship, sponsored by Energia Renewables, with their July 2023-born bull Glenbrae Red Mario Z177.
This bull is a son of Mosshall Red Forrest V018, and is out of the home-bred Glenbrae Red Mouse U173.
Red Mario has won numerous rosettes throughout the show season, including reserve overall breed champion at Lurgan and Saintfield, male and supreme Aberdeen Angus champion at Antrim, first prize at Castlewellan and Junior Male Champion a Clogher Valley.
Campbell said:”This is another well-fleshed young bull. He is very correct, thick and powerful, with great breed character. This one will go on and do a great job.”
James Porter’s 60-cow herd based at the Gill Hall Estate near Dromore claimed the Reserve Yearling Championship with the February 2023-born heifer, Old Glenort Ermiss Z044.
Sired by the 7,000gns stock bull Blelack Dakota U898 which stood senior Stirling Champion in October 2019, she is bred from Schivas Ermiss T520.
This one was described by Campbell as “a fantastic cow maker”.
“She is stretchy, very feminine with lovely big ears and great breed character,” he added.
The Reserve Bull Calf Championship, sponsored by Alexander Mills (Benburb), went to the six-month-old Bluebell Bank Black Bently A612 from Hugh Dickson and family, Moneyreagh.
Sired by Whinney Knowe Jumbo V005, her dam is the home-bred Bluebell Bank Black Bianca X527 – one of two cows in the herd, founded in 1973.
In the judges comments, he said: “Another nice young bull, very correct, with a lovely frame, good bone and great locomotion. He will grow on and make an excellent stock bull.”
John Blackburn from Clogher, won the reserve heifer calf championship, sponsored by Boyd Haulage (Swatragh), with Killaney Lady Elizabeth A072.
This three-month-old heifer was sired by Windy Gowl Red Laddie W292, and is out of the home-bred Killaney Lady Elizabeth U635.
Ewen Campbell said: ”This baby heifer is one for another day. She is very correct, well put together, and oozes breed character with a lovely head and big ears. Another fantastic cow maker.”
Moses Irwin Jnr. from Fintona won the pairs championship and the David Dickson Trophy. His winning duo were the first-placed Denamona Primer A416 by the 7,500gns Drumhill Prime Cut X155, and the second-prize winning Denamona Black Benson A674, a son of the 8,000gns Shadwell Bravado X283.
The judge commented: ”These March and May-born bull calves are almost identical. They are very well-matched, have great ring presence and are full of breed character.”
Runner-up for the pairs championship were James Porter’s first-placed Old Glenort Euro A656, and the second-placed Old Glenort Eagle A645.
These eight-month-old bull calves are both sons of the home-bred Old Glenort Victorious Y514 – male champion at Balmoral and first-prize senior bull at Clogher Show this year.
“Again, two very similar bull calves with lovely heads and super breed character,” said the judge.
Campbell said: “The pairs competition was a tremendous spectacle with 16 pairs competing for the prizes. There was an impressive line-up and the animals on parade were a credit to the exhibitors.”
The NI Aberdeen Angus Club chairman Peter Lamb congratulated the exhibitors and prize winners. He also thanked the judge, stewards, and the sponsors for their financial support as well as Dungannon Farmers’ Mart for the use of its facilities.
