Crowds flocked to north Dublin on Saturday for the clearance sale of the Skidoo Charolais herd, which was held on the farm in Ballyboughal.

One of the oldest and largest pedigree Charolais herds in the country meant there was a strong interest throughout.

The sale started particularly well, with the majority of cows with spring calves finding new homes.

Highlight

However, the highlight of the day came when lot 25, the dry cow Skidoo 96 Highlight 2 ET, hit the market at €9,800.

This six-year-old cow sold in-calf, calving in February to Jumper.

Sired herself by Major, she goes back on a Doonally New-bred dam, which goes back to a French import.

Auctioneer Eamonn Gaffney had back and forth bidding on the high-seller before dropping his hammer to a Meath-based breeder.

Overall, all 34 in-calf cows calving in autumn sold to average over €3,700.

Top of the cows with spring calves at foot was the fourth lot into the ring, Skidoo 96 Isoldo ET, which sold for €6,500.

This five-year-old Inverlochy Ferdie daughter was sold alongside her February-born bull calf by Nelson.

Overall, 82% of the cow and calf lots sold to average just shy of €4,000.

Spring calves sold separately to the cows reached a top of €3,400 for Skidoo 96 Pipa 2.

This March 2019-born heifer is a daughter of Roundhill Rocky and goes back on a Necessaire-bred dam.

The in-calf heifer section saw a total of 26 forward, with 22 finding new homes.

These ranged from €1,800 to €4,700, with an average price of €2,890.

Topping this section was lot 86, Skidoo96 Nollaig.

Born April 2017, this Goldstar Echo daughter carried five stars on the replacement index and sold in-calf to Nippur.

Despite a very large number of lots (122), buyers remained ringside throughout the sale.

Last through the ring were the maiden heifers, where 27 lots sold to average €2,360.

Topping these was a bid of €4,000 for lot 119, Skidoo96 Pamela.

This January 2019-born daughter of Jumper goes back on a Fury Action-bred cow.