Pedigree Holstein heifers and cows continued to attract a strong demand at Dungannon’s February sale.

 

Prices reached a ceiling of 3,120gns and 3,000gns, with auctioneer Michael Taaffe confirming a 95% clearance resulting in 96 milking females selling to average £1,796 per head.

 

Topping trade at 3,120gns was Ards Colt Sara Red VG 2yr, a potential eighth generation VG/EX second calver bred by Harry Patton and Sons. This second prize winner was sired by Sandy Valley Colt P Red, and is bred from Ards Shottle Sara ET EX93-5E. She produced almost 10,500kgs at 3.75% fat and 3.47% protein in her first 305-day lactation. 

 

Next best at 3,000gns was Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Bookem  Reann. She was awarded the honourable mention prize by pre-sale judge Jim McCann.  Sired by De Su 521 Bookem, this one is out of the home-bred Hilltara Lauthority Reann 2 VG87 who gave over 7,700kgs at 3.64% fat and 3.07% protein in her second 305-day lactation. 

 

Sam and John McCormick also realised 2,850gns for the fourth placed Hilltara Iota Susan 2. This Regancrest Altaiota daughter is bred from Hilltara Jordette Susan VG88 who gave 10,807kgs at 4.06% fat and 3.20% protein in her second 305-day lactation. 

 

A potential eighth generation VG/EX Seagull Bay MVP daughter came under the hammer at 2,750gns for Harry Patton and Sons. 

 

The Patton family claimed the Kilco-sponsored supreme championship with Ards Grafeeti Kathy VG86-2yr. Calved four weeks and yielding 45 litres daily, she sold 2,700gns. 

 

Three lots sold for 2,300gns each. They included the reserve champion Hilltara Razor Charlotte, a potential eleventh generation VG/EX heifer from Sam and John McCormick. 

 

Heifer calves reached a ceiling of 650gns, realised by the four-month-old Redhouse 1180 Altaiota Kim.