Buoyant trade as 48 heifers average £2,350 each
Black and white heifers were in strong demand at Holstein NI’s monthly show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.
Prices reached a ceiling of 4,500gns, and following a 96% clearance auctioneer Michael Taaffe reported that 48 heifers sold to average £2,350 per head.
Topping trade at 4,500gns was the November 2009 Inch Shottle Dellia 3, a potential seventh generation VG/EX heifer from the herd of Jim Morrison and Sons, Downpatrick, County Down. Sired by the noted Picston Shottle, she is bred from the VG88 Inch Chancer Dellia which gave almost 11,000kgs at 4.03%BF and 3.08%P in her second 305-day lactation. Calved three weeks and producing 32 litres daily she caught the eye of a County Tyrone bidder.
BELOW: The top priced heifer at 4,500gns was Inch Shottle Dellia 3 owned by Jim Morrison, Downpatrick. At the halter is James Johnston.
Next best at 3,800gns was the third prize winning Relough Shottle Vaakje brought out by the McLean Family - Ronald, Malcolm and Barry, from Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Born in January 2010, and also by Picston Shottle, this heifer is backed by ten generations of VG and EX dams. She is bred from the VG86 Relough Duplex Vaakje 3 ET which gave over 7,600kgs at 4.20%BF and 3.27%P in her first 305-day lactation. Calved three weeks and yielding 35 litres per day she joins Sam Wallace’s Craigdoo herd based at Broughshane, County Antrim.
BELOW: Malcolm McLean's Relough Shottle Vaakje came under the hammer at 3,800gns. Buyer was Sam Wallace, Broughshane.
A string of heifers from Sam and John McCormick’s noted Hilltara herd at Bangor, County Down, reached a ceiling of 3,300gns, with ten heifers selling to average £2,547 per head.
Leading the McCormick’s line-up was the third prize winning Denholme Bonair Ivory, a potential twelfth generation VG/EX heifer, sired by the Comestar Lheros son, Karona Bonair ET. Her dam, Denholme Gibson Ivory ET (EX) gave over 9,800kgs at 4.32%BF and 3.59%P in her third 305-day lactation. Calved eight weeks and producing 40 litres daily, this August 2009 born heifer joins a herd in Dromore, County Tyrone.
BELOW: Sam McCormick's Denholme Bonair Ivory sold for 3,330gns. At the halter is Eleanor O'Neill.
William Crawford, and son James, Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, realised 3,020gns for the September 2009 born Ardmore Shaquille Gail. Sired by the Picston Shottle son, Deslacs Shaquille, her dam is the Comestar Stormatic daughter, Croagh Gail 10 (GP84), which produced over 10,200kgs at 4.91%BF and 3.23%P in her third 305-day lactation. Buyer was David Lawder from Trillick, County Tyrone.
The Crawford’s also secured 2,950gns for the September 2009 born Ardmore Mr Sam Fiona by Regancrest Mr Drham Sam. Her dam is the GP83 Ardmore Ruben Fiona which gave over 9,900kgs at 3.82%BF and 3.28%P in her fourth 305-day lactation. This one was snapped up by a County Tyrone bidder.
Next best at 2,850gns was Hilltara Lheros Serena, an October 2009 born Comestar Lheros daughter from the McCormick family. This one is bred from the Be-Ware Juror Geno daughter, Hilltara Geno Serena 2 which gave over 10,900kgs at 4.63%BF and 3.22%P in her third 305-day lactation. Highest bidder was William Herron from Altnamackin, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
Judge John Berry from the Skybrook herd based at Armagh, County Armagh, awarded the supreme championship to Kilvergan Bolivia Dorcas, a potential fourth generation VG/EX heifer brought out by Stephen Haffey, and sons Timothy, David and Aaron from Lurgan, County Armagh.
Born in November 2009 she is by the Canyon Breeze Allen son, Magor Bolivia Allen, and is bred from the Weeton Jedi daughter, Kilvergan Jedi Dorcas VG87, whose third lactation recorded 11,200kgs at 4.32%BF and 3.40%P in 286 days. She sold for 2,180gns to Billy Morton from Armagh, County Armagh.
“It has been an impressive show of stock, with quality heifers throughout all of the classes from top to bottom. The champion is a well-balanced, milky heifer.” The prizes were handed over by sponsor Hugh McCluggage of Kilco.
Reserve champion was the August 2009 born Frocess Goldwonder Lisa 3 from Wallace Gregg’s herd at Cloughmills, County Antrim. Sired by the Ocean View Zenith son, Tir-an Zenith Goldwonder, she is bred from the Shoremar James daughter, Frocess James Lisa VG SP which gave over 10,600kgs at 4.38%BF and 3.46%P in her third 305-day lactation. This one came under the hammer at 2,080gns selling to a dairy farmer based at Tandragee, County Armagh.
Honourable mention award winner was Hilltara Maxlife Cherry, a December 2009 born Regancrest PJ Maxlife daughter from the McCormick’s Bangor-based herd. Calved four weeks and producing 35 litres daily she sold to a County Tyrone bidder for 2,120gns.
Cows topped at 2,020gns, paid to Sam and John McCormick for the September 2008 born Hilltara Zenith Edwina. Buyer was R Armstrong, Trillick, County Armagh.
Two in-calf heifers consigned by David Clarke, Gracehill, County Antrim, peaked at 2,400gns. The August 2010 born Clarkestown Fortune Ashley ET is backed by five generations of VG and EX dams. Her dam, MD Maple Dell J Ashley ET (EX93 2E USA) was three-times grand champion at Tennesse State Show and gave over 14,000kgs at 4.60%BF and 3.00%P in her second 305-day lactation. AI’d to Gillette Stanleycup she joins Wallace Gregg’s Frocess herd at Cloughmills, County Antrim.
The December 2010 born Clarkestown Jasper Luella ET came under the hammer at 2,120gns, selling to the Printshop herd of Gaston and John Wallace, Nutts Corner, County Antrim. Sired by Wilcoxview Jasper, she is bred from the Braedale Goldwyn daughter, Clarkestown Goldwyn Luella ET (VG88) which is projected to do over 10,600kgs at 3.75%BF and 3.45%P in her third lactation. This heifer is carrying an embryo – Gen-Mark Smatic Sanchez x Royridge Triumphant Giselle (EX94-3E-Can 2*). The resultant calf will be a maternal sister/brother to five VG cows in Canada, including Royridge Shottle Glory VG89 – nominated All-Canadian 4H Jnr yearling 2008.
Other leading prices include:
2,760gns - Sam and John McCormick, Hilltara Deuce Cherry to J Stevenson, Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh.
2,720gns – Jim and Nicholas McCann, Bangor, Simlahill Design Iris to William Herron, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
2,600gns – Sam and John McCormick, Hilltara Toystory November to David McClurg, Crossgar, County Down; and S Haffey and Sons, Lurgan, Kilvergan Bolivia Liza to Joe and John Berry, Armagh, County Armagh.
2,550gns – Jay Warden, Bangor, Ballygrainey Lawboy Marrie to David Johnston, Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh.
2,500gns – S Haffey and Sons, Kilvergan Co Dorcas to William Herron, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
2,450gns – S Haffey and Sons, Kilvergan Bolivia Vera to P J McVerry, Newry, County Down.
Results from the judging ring include:
Class 1, heifer born between 17/02/09 and 02/10/09 – 1, and reserve champion, Wallace Gregg, Cloughmills, Frocess Goldwonder Lisa 3 by Tir-an Zenith Goldwonder; 2, S Haffey and Sons, Lurgan, Kilvergan Bolivia Vera by Magor Bolivia Allen; 3, Sam and John McCormick, Bangor, Denholme Bonair Ivory by Karona Bonair ET.
Class 2, heifer born between 03/10/09 and 24/11/09 – 1, and champion, S Haffey and Sons, Kilvergan Bolivia Dorcas by Magor Bolivia Allen; 2, Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore Rock n Roll Avice by Carrowcroft Rock n Roll (Jenny Lou Marshall); 3, Sam and John McCormick, Hilltara Monsoon Rachel 2 by Hilltara Monsoon.
Class 3, heifer born between 25/11/09 and 20/02/10 – 1, and honourable mention, Sam and John McCormick, Hilltara Maxlife Cherry by Regancrest PJ Maxlife; 2, Sam and John McCormick, Hilltara Deuce Cherry by Scientific SS Deuce; 3, Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, Relough Shottle Vaakje by Picston Shottle.
Class 4, cow born in 2008 – 1, Sam and John McCormick, Hilltara Zenith Edwina by Ocean View Zenith; 2, Geoffrey Patton, Carrowcroft Riverdance Breeze by Carrowcroft Riverdance (Ards Revelation).
Averages: 48 in-milk heifers 2,238gns; 2 in-calf heifers 2,260gns; 2 cows 1,990gns.
Auctioneers: Taaffe Auctions
