While Harrison and Hetherington’s first May sale of pedigree cattle kicks off next weekend with Limousins, the following Friday/Saturday will see sales of Charolais, British Blues and Blondes.

The native breeds will be sold on Saturday, May 22.

Potential customers are reminded that only registered purchasers are allowed due to Covid restrictions, with all having to wear facemasks. Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to any of the sales.

Continental breed sale

dates and entries

Limousins, May 7 and 8,

179 bulls and 93 females

Charolais, May 14 and 15,

86 bulls and 15 females

British Blues, May 14 and 15,

87 bulls and 44 females

Blondes, May 15,

Six bulls and two females

Salers, May 15,

Four bulls

Simmentals, May 15,

12 bulls and six females

Native breed sale

dates and entries

Beef Shorthorns, May 22,

18 bulls and 53 females

Belted Galloways and White Galloways, May 22,

Four bulls and seven females

Aberdeen-Angus, May 22,

89 bulls and 20 females

South Devons, May 22,

Herefords, May 22,

Eight bulls and 11 females

Lincoln Reds, May 22,

Four bulls

Also coming under the hammer is the first-ever dedicated spring sale of Irish Moiled pedigree bulls and a selection of females as a virtual online sale as part of Harrison and Hetherington’s annual spring pedigree bull sales.

Conducted on behalf of the Irish Moiled Cattle Society, the online timed auction sees 16 bulls and nine females of this native breed put forward for auction.

All of the livestock entered for this sale have been DNA tested, and will be available to view online from Saturday May 1. Bidding will take place between 12 noon on the Thursday May 6, until 12 noon on Saturday May 8, 2021.

Brian O’Kane, chairman of the society comments on the sale: “We are delighted to be working with Harrison and Hetherington again this year, to showcase some of the very best Irish Moiled bulls in the world. We are seeing that breeders are increasingly keen to introduce these bulls to their commercial herds, because they cover the cows in a short time frame and the cows very rarely need support with calving”.

“Another benefit of the breed is that it supports the increasing demand for sustainability and reducing the farm’s carbon footprint. With more and more butchers looking for Irish Moiled beef because of its traceability and flavours, in recent years, those breeders who have started their own herds are now capitalising on this.”

Commenting on the sale, Heather Pritchard, pedigree sales manager for Harrison and Hetherington said: “Last summer we were delighted to hold our first ever female sales of Moiled cattle which saw the breed records broken for a female. Holding this sale as part of our annual pedigree bull sales is a huge step for the Irish Moiled Cattle Society, but in doing so they are maximising potential interest from buyers”.