Fresh calved heifers and cows met a buoyant trade at this week’s Holstein NI show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Meanwhile bulls soared to a top of 3,250gns, and 13 lots sold to average 2,141gns per head.

Leading the female line-up at 2,750gns was Carrowcroft Jango Bleuky brought out by Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore, County Down. Calved four weeks and giving 43.5 kilos daily, she sold to Will Herron from Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. Sired by the Jocko Besne son, Jango, she is bred from five generations of VG dams, and is out of a home-bred cow which gave over 11,500 kilos in her fifth lactation.

Second highest price of 2,420gns was paid to Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, for the third prize winning Ards Marq I Red. Sired by Baileys Red Rock Red ET, and bred from Ards Redmarker Marq I ET, she is backed by 12 generations of VG and EX cows. Buyer was D Troughton, Portadown, County Armagh.

Judge, Ashley Fleming, Seaforde, awarded the female championship ribbons to Ards Airraid Magic, a fresh calved Sildahl Airraid daughter also consigned by the Patton family, Harry, Wilson and Wallace, from Newtownards. Calved ten days and giving 35 kilos daily she caught the eye of William Ferguson from Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh at 2,400gns.

“The female champion is very well put together and correct throughout. Although fresh she is displaying great promise of udder, and should develop into a nice young cow,” explained the judge.

Next best at 2,280gns was the fourth prize winning Relough Zenith Blackrose brought out by Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Sired by Ocean View Zenith, she is bred from the VG Relough Stormatic Blackrose 2. This heifer is backed by six generations of VG and EX cows and sold to Robert Shaw from Carryduff, County Down.

Messrs McLean also realised 2,250gns for the third prize winning Relough Shottle Roxie 16. Sired by Picston Shottle, she is a potential tenth generation of VG or EX, and sold to D Troughton from Portadown.

The fourth prize winning Carrowcroft Jewel Darlene realised 2,220gns for Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore. Sired by the home-bred Woodmarsh Conformer son, Carrowcroft Jewel, she is bred from seven generations of VG and EX dams. The buyer was Will Herron, Newtownhamilton.

Also coming under the hammer at 2,220gns was the December 2007 born cow, Ards Zenith Nanette GP84 from Harry Patton and Sons. Sired by Ocean View Zenith, she produced over 8,000 kilos at 4.13% butterfat and 3.30% protein in her first 305-day lactation. Calved almost four weeks she is giving 40 kilos daily and was snapped up by William Ferguson, Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh.

The reserve female champion was exhibited by Sam McCormick from Bangor, County Down. Hilltara Carisma Liz was sired by the Silky Gibson son, Dupasquier Carisma, and is bred from a VG88 dam who gave in excess of 9,600 kilos in her sixth 305 day lactation. This one sold to Robert Shaw, Carryduff, at 2,180gns.

“The reserve champion was slightly bigger, taller and longer than the champion,” said Ashley Fleming. “She has a nicely proportioned, well-attached udder, and sound legs and feet.”

Pedigree Holstein bulls reached a ceiling of 3,250gns, paid to Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, for the January 2010 born Relough Rotate ET. Sired by Sandy Valley Bolton ET, he is bred from the EX91 2E Relough Durham Rachel ET, which gave over 10,000 kilos at 4.49% butterfat and 3.36% protein in her fourth 305 day lactation. Buyer was James Bloomer, Dungannon, County Tyrone.

The reserve male champion, Millars Mister Mac ET, came under the hammer at 2,900gns for Martin Millar, Coleraine, County Londonderry. This February 2010 born Regancrest HHF Mac ET son was bred from GBM Best Elegant ET (EX92-USA) which gave almost 13,000 kilos at 5.60% butterfat and 3.60% protein in her second 305 day lactation. Buyer was Stanley Burns, Hillsborough, County Down.

Following close behind at 2,800gns was the male champion, Kilvergan Lance ET, shown by Stephen Haffey and Sons, Timothy and David from Lurgan, County Armagh. This January 2010 born Golden Oaks ST Alexander ET son was bred from a VG (2yr) Goldwyn daughter which gave over 13,500 kilos at 3.93% butterfat and 3.6% protein in her second 305 day lactation. The securing bid came from John Shanks, Ballynahinch, County Down.

“The champion bull is a real quality calf. He has a lovely hard top, wide rump, and moved freely on good legs and feet,” added the judge. “The reserve champion was a similar bull. He is slightly older, and showed more growth and maturity.”

Also selling at 2,800gns was the McLean family’s second prize winning Relough Raptor ET. He was sired by England Ammon Million ET, and bred from Relough Durham Rachel ET (EX91 2E) SP. This one also joins James Bloomer’s herd at Dungannon, County Tyrone.

Michael O’Brien paid out 2,400gns to secure Millar’s Giant Mac ET. This second prize winner was born in February 2010 and is by Regancrest HHF Mac. His dam, GBM Best Elegant ET (EX92 USA) gave over 12,800 kilos at 5.60% butterfat and 3.60% protein in her second 305 day lactation.

A Gen Mark Stmatic Sanchez son came under the hammer at 2,350gns for the Haffey family, Lurgan. Kilvergan Ezra ET was bred from the EX Smiddiehill Progress Erle, which gave over 14,000 kilos at 4.95% butterfat and 3.19% protein in her second 305 day lactation. This one joins J and E Stevenson’s Aughnahoory herd based at Kilkeel, County Down.

Holstein NI is indebted to FarmWizard for its generous sponsorship of the April show and sale. Company representative, Mark Elliott, was on hand to congratulate the winners and present the awards.

Results from the judging ring include:

Heifer, born in 2008 – 1, and reserve female champion, Sam McCormick, Bangor, Hilltara Carisma Liz by Dupasquier Carisma; 2, T J Morrison and Sons, Downpatrick, Mossbawn Elto Toyah by Holbra Prudent Elto; 3, Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, Relough Shottle Roxie 16 by Picston Shottle.

Heifer, born in 2009 – 1, and female champion, Harry Patton and Sons, Newtowards, Ards Airraid Magic by Sildahl Airraid; 2, Beattie Lilburn, Dromore, Hycrest Clarion Arnhilda by Croagh Clarion ET; 3, Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Redrock Marq I Red by Baileys Red Rock Red.

 Cow – 1, and honourable mention, Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Zenith Nanette by Ocean View Zenith; 2, Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Kaiser Nine by Ards Kaiser; 3, T J Morrison and Sons, Mossbaw Intro Daphne 3 by Inch Intro ET.

Bull, born between 18/10/09 and 03/10/10 – 1, and male champion, Thomas Haffey and Sons, Lurgan, Kilvergan Lance ET by Golden Oaks St Alexander ET; 2, Martin Millar, Coleraine, Millars Giant Mac ET by Regancrest HHF Mac ET; 3, Austin and David Perry, Ahoghill, Killane Driver by England Ammon Million ET.

 Bull, born between 06/02/10 and 05/04/10 – 1, and reserve male champion, Martin Millar, Millars Mister Mac ET by Regancrest HFF Mac ET; 2, and honourable mention, Ronald McLean and Sons, Relough Raptor ET by England Ammon Million ET; 3,  Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Kojac by Ked Outside Jeeves ET.

·         Holstein NI’s next show and sales takes place at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira on Wednesday, May 18. Further details from Taaffe Auctions on tel: 00353 41 9881288.

ENDS