Trade was on fire in the Keltic Classy Lassies online timed auction held through Mid-Tipp Mart and MartEye on Monday 14 July.

It was evident from early on that demand was high for Teleri Thomas and Mac Murphy's Limousin females, as the bidding opened fast on Friday 11 July.

When the sale closed on Monday evening, all 14 females from the Meath-based herd had found new homes, averaging €7,192, with a number of well-established herds securing lots.

The leading lady came in the form of the September 2022-born heifer Keltic Te Kanawa, which traded at €13,200.

This much-admired heifer gave buyers an opportunity to secure a heifer from a line which has produced two top-priced bulls at society sales in Elphin and Athenry, while her sire is the 35,000gns Ampertaine Majestic.

A five-star terminal and four-star replacement heifer, she sold to a buyer from Northern Ireland and was scanned six months in-calf.

Nebbiolo daughter

Keltic Vitality was hot on her heels at €12,200. A daughter of Progressive Genetics' Nebbiolo and descending from the best line in the herd, this heifer caught the attention of many who attended the herd's viewing day on Saturday.

Born in January 2024, Vitality carries copies of the F94L and Q204X genes, as well as a nicely balanced set of indexes. Having the final call on her was the Ernevalley herd based in Co Cavan.

Keltic Vitality sold for €12,200. \ Sean McCarthy

A buyer from Co Limerick secured Keltic Ursinia at €9,400. A daughter of Lorenzo PP, this homozygous polled heifer sold scanned six months in-calf to Loyal. Although low on replacement, she displayed a five-star terminal index of €139 and is a double carrier of the F94L gene.

Keltic Ursinia sold for €9,400. \ Sean McCarthy

The Hector Gd daughter Keltic Uqueen was next best at €8,100, selling to Cloonanaff Limousins. Another double carrier of the F94L gene, this March 2023-born heifer goes back to a Bavardage-bred cow and sold in-calf to Tomschoice Scorpion.

Keltic Venetia was knocked down at €8,000, selling to a herd in Co Roscommon. Sired by the successful AI sire Keltic Rembrandt, this high-index young heifer goes back to Kaprico Eravelle and Ampertaine Commander.

Pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about it.