Just over 40 Charolais bulls were presented for sale at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club's elite show and sale in Swatragh Livestock Mart on Friday 2 October.

Although there were some eye-catching prices for the top lots, trade was sluggish overall, as just 54% of bulls exchanged hands.

The sale was held at an earlier date than previous years, which may have affected trade on the night. However, those that did sell sold well, averaging 7,062gns (€8,741).

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Coming out on top and commanding the highest price of 14,000gns (€17,330) was one of the pre-sale favorites Stranagone Victorious, brought out by Robert McWilliams from Co Derry.

A son of the French-bred Stranagone Saphir going back to a Stranagone Jones-bred cow, Victorious also impressed judge John McGregor in the show ring, taking the reserve senior champion title.

Used within the Stranagone herd this summer, the rising two-year-old displayed a fabulous set of figures, ranking in the top 5% of the breed for calving ease, gestation, terminal and self-replacing indices.

Successful bidders on the night were the well-known Balmyle and Bombax pedigree herds in Scotland.

Orbi son

Having trumped the sale leader for the overall senior championship earlier in the evening, Tanhill Alfie, bred by Andrew Armstrong from Co Tyrone, sold for the second-highest price of 11,500gns (€14,235).

A son of NCBC's AI bull Orbi, this February 2025-born bull's mother Maerdy Sassy is a daughter of the French sire Hercule. A carrier of the Q204X gene and possessing a calving ease figure of +7.2, he was the pick of breeder John McBride in Co Tyrone.

Tanhill Alfie, shown by Allen Shortt, was senior champion and sold for 11,500gns. \ Willie McElroy

Up next at 10,500gns (€12,997) was the intermediate champion Brogher Armour, brought out by Trevor Phair, Co Fermanagh.

This May 2025-born son of Grinshill Roger and Brogher Nadine, a Goldies Icon-bred cow, carries one copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes.

Although below average on calving, he packed some massive 200-, 400- and 600-day weights along with an intramuscular fat (IMF) figure in the top 10% of the breed.

Snapping up this heavy terminal hitter was W J Frazer and sons.

Brogher Armour, intermediate champion, which sold for 10,500gns. \ Willie McElroy

Supreme champion

A bid of 9,500gns (€11,759) secured the junior and supreme champion Gorteade Apache for James and Stewart McDowell.

Bred by James McKeagney, this 14-month-old son of Mornity Nero is out of the Newhouse Bigal daughter Gorteade Ona, which descends from the Irish import Lisnalurg03 Jillian.

Around breed average on most traits, he came with one copy of the Q204X gene and a calving ease figure of +1.7.