Quality milking heifers attracted a buoyant trade selling to a top 2,520gns at Holstein NI’s first show and sale of the autumn season.
Taaffe Auctions reported a complete clearance with 16 heifers selling to level at £2,009 per head.
Claiming the supreme championship award and the day’s top price was Newry Dotman Mayflower, a potential sixth generation VG/EX heifer exhibited by Jim Stevenson, and son James, from Kilkeel, County Down.
Born in March 2011, and sired by the Regancrest Mr Samuelo son, Newry Dotman, she is out of the 2011 Castlewellan Show interbreed champion, Newry Goldwyn Mayflower EX93-2E, which gave over 13,700kgs at 4.51% butterfat and 3.12% protein in her third 305-day lactation. Calved four weeks and yielding 36kgs daily, she was snapped up by Robert McKnight, Templepatrick, County Antrim.
Judge William Bolton from the 150-cow Carrickfarm Herd, based at Maghera, County Londonderry, described the champion as a sound heifer with excellent udder attachment.
The Stevenson’s noted Newry Herd also scooped the reserve championship honours and a bid of 2,420gns from Gordon Breen, Tempo, County Fermanagh. The February 2011 born Newry Sam G Amy is by Regancrest Mr Drham Sam, and bred from Newry Goldrun E Amy VG which gave over 13,700kgs at 4.11% butterfat and 3.30% protein in her second 305-day lactation. Her third dam, Newry Formation Amy EX94-7E, is still milking in the Newry Herd and has 145 tonnes of milk to her credit.
The Newry Herd sold five heifers to average £2,140 each.
The pre-sale show was generously sponsored by Irwins Feed based at Stilloga Mills, Eglish, Dungannon. Company representatives Ian Cummins and Andrew West presented the championship awards and congratulated the prize winners.
Next best at 2,340gns was the unshown Ards Revelation RR Ruth consigned by Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, County Down. Born in April 2011, and sired by the home-bred Comestar Outside son, Ards Revelation, she is bred from Ards Riddle Ruth which gave over 7,106kgs at 4.09% butterfat and 3.19% protein in her first 305-day lactation. Buyer was Thomas Shanks, Tandragee, County Armagh.
The Patton family also secured a bid of 2,320gns for the March 2011 born Ards Reverly Trish which caught the eye of Gordon Breen. She was sired by the Mesland Duplex son, Ards Revelry ET.
David Millar, Claudy, County Londonderry, paid out 2,180gns to secure the March 2011 born Ards Gerard Nanette. She was sired by Schillview Oman Gerard, and is bred from the GP84 Ards Zenith Nanette.
The Patton’s noted Ards prefix traded six heifers to average £2,030 per head.
Also selling at 2,180gns was the unshown Relough Dollarman Monogram exhibited by Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Born in April 2011, she is by the home-bred Braedale Goldwyn son, Relough Dollarman, and is out of the VG88 Relough Tugolo Monogram. This potential eighth generation VG/EX heifer caught the eye of Sam Gilmore from Tandragee, County Londonderry.
Holstein NI’s next monthly show and sale at Moira takes place on Wednesday, October 16. Judge is Holstein Young Breeders’ Club member John McLean from the Priestland Herd based at Bushmills, County Antrim. Watch press for further details.