Prices reached a ceiling of 4,960gns at this week’s Holstein NI show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Auctioneer, Michael Taaffe reported a complete clearance with 34 lots selling to average 2,140gns each. “There was a buoyant trade for quality dairy heifers. The top heifers attracted huge interest which resulted in competitive bidding.”

Topping the sale, and setting a record for an in-milk heifer at a Holstein NI show and sale at Moira was the honourable mention award winner, Relough Shottle Blackrose 3, brought out by Ronald McLean and sons, Malcolm and Barry from Donaghmore, County Tyrone.

This two-year-old heifer is almost three weeks calved and giving 32 litres daily. She was sired by the noted Picston Shottle, and is bred Relough Titanic Blackrose 2 EX91, which traces back to the world-renown Stookey Elm Park Blackrose ET EX96 2E GMD – All-American and All-Canadian 2yr in 1992, and 3yr in 1993; and grand champion at the Royal Winter Fair in 1995.

This super uddered heifer attracted a lot of interest from breeders around the salering. The successful bidders were Cyril and Martin Millar, who run the Millars herd based Coleraine, County Londonderry.

Second highest price of the day, 3,300gns was paid to William Crawford, and son, James, Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, for the second prize winning Ardmore Shottle Monica. This September 2008 born heifer is a potential ninth generation of VG or Excellent. She was bred from Ardmore S Matic Monica ET – who gave over 11,500 kilos at 4.36% butterfat and 3.13% protein in her fourth 305 day lactation. Calved one month, she caught the eye of David McClurg who runs the Fortvale herd based at Crossgar, County Down.

Judge, Richard Graham from Moira, awarded the supreme overall championship ribbons to William and James Crawford’s Ardmore Leman Pippen. This twenty-five-month-old heifer was sired by the home-bred Comestar Lee son, Ardmore Leeman, and is bred from an EX92-2E Comestar Outside daughter.  She came under the hammer at 3,200gns, selling to Cyril and Martin Millar.

Messrs Millar also paid out 3,020gns to secure Ardmore Baxter Pamela, a potential fifth generation VG or EX heifer bred by William and James Crawford. She is by Emerald Acres SA T Baxter, and is bred from a dam which gave over 11,200 kilos at 3.92% butterfat and 3.02% protein in her fifth 305 day lactation.

Claiming the reserve championship honours was Hycrest Baxter Melody, a twenty-five-month-old heifer brought out by the father and son team of Beattie and Reggie Lilburn, Dromore, County Down. Sired by Emerald Acres SA T Baxter, her dam is the EX91-2E Pinebreck Roy Melody EX91-2E which gave over 11,600 kilos at 3.45% butterfat and 3.13% protein in her second 305 day lactation. This one was snapped up by the Millars herd for 2,850gns.

Following close behind at 2,820gns was the first prize winning Ards Serenade Lenora from the herd of Harry Patton and sons, Wallace and Wilson, from Newtownards, County  Down.  This September 2007 born cow was sired by Picston Serenade ET, and is out of a home-bred Comestar Outside dam. She gave almost 8,500 kilos at 3.65% butterfat and 3.01% protein in her first 305 day lactation.  Calved just over three weeks she sold to David McClurg.

James Walker, Randalstown, County Antrim, paid out 2,750gns to secure Ardmore Dictator Vixan ET, a potential sixth generation EX heifer brought out by Willilam and James Crawford. Sired by Overside Dictator ET, she is bred from Ardmore Lee Vixan ET EX91, who gave over 13,000 kilos at 5.21% butterfat and 3.29% protein in her fourth 305 day lactation.

Heifers from the Crawford’s noted Ardmore herd met a ready market, with five heifers selling to level at 2,914gns per head.

Other leading prices include:

2,500gns – Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Rockabilly Ruth to David McClurg, Crossgar.

2,460gns – Jim and Charlotte Stevenson, Kilkeel, Newry Minister Begonia to a County Tyrone bidder.

2,420gns – Jim and Charlotte Stevenson, Newry Minister Bunty to Richard Mackey, Dromore, County Down.

2,320gns – Jay Warden, Bangor, Ballygrainey Flo to William Herron, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

2,300gns – William and James Crawford Ardmore Empire Elaine to Robert Shaw, Carryduff;  and T S Haffey and Sons, Lurgan, Kilvergan Shottle Hazel 2 to Robert Shaw.

2,280gns – T S Haffey and Sons, Kilvergan Aspen Blossom to Willliam Herron, Newtownhamilton; and Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Ravenhill Ruth to David McClurg.

2,220gns – Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Jango Serena to Francis Oliver, Armagh.

2,000gns – Robert Martin, Carryduff, Clonmount Joy 109 to Robert McKnight, Templepatrick.

The pre-sale show was sponsored by Kilco (International) Ltd, and the company’s area sales manager, George Henderson, and product support manager, Hugh McCluggage, were on hand to present the rosettes and congratulate the class winners. 

“It has been a great show with excellent heifers forward for the championship line-up,” explained judge, Richard Graham. “The top three animals are all cracking well balanced heifers. The champion is a big tall open dairy heifer.”

Results from the judging ring include:

 Class 1 – 1, and supreme champion, William and James Crawford, Brookeborough, Ardmore Leman Pippin by Ardmore Leeman; 2, William and James Crawford, Ardmore Shottle Monica by Picston Shottle; 3, Jim and Charlotte Stevenson, Newry Minister Bunty by Mr Minister.

Class 2 – 1, and reserve champion, Beattie Lilburn, Dromore, Hycrest Baxter Melody by Emerald Acres SA T Baxter; 2, and honourable mention, Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, Relough Shottle Blackrose 3 by Picston Shottle ET; 3, Jim and Charlotte Stevenson, Newry Minister Begonia by Mr Minister.

Class 3 (Cow) – 1, Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Serenade Lenora by Picston Serenade ET; 2, Ronald McLean and Sons, Relough Stormatic Monogram by Comestar Stormatic.

• Next month’s Holstein NI show and sale, sponsored by Teemore Engineering, takes place at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira on Wednesday, March 30. Judging commences at 10.30am and is in the capable hands of Kenny Scott from Armagh. The sale will start at 11.30am. The closing date for entries is Wednesday, March 9. For further information contact Michael Taaffe on tel: 00353 41 9881288.