At the milking dispersal sale of the Moree Herd of Pedigree Holsteins for RJV Kelso & Sons, Andrew and Jonathan, it was very much a “family affair”.  Not only because of the family nature of the sale but also as it was animals from strong cow families that hit the headlines. One of those strong families was the ‘Marq I’ family. Tracing back through a Leadmaster and a Skychief to the Hanoverhill Marq I’s it has already started to break records for the Moree herd. Top price of the day was paid for Moree Bolton Marq I VG87-3yr. Almost perfectly uddered this 2^nd calver sold carrying a Numero Uno pregnancy sold for £5,100 to D Lawder, Trillick.

Next top was for Moree Goldwyn Sweet VG making £5,000 to a Co.Down buyer. Already a bull mother and giving 60 litres per day, her Iota son was last year sold to Masterrind AI stud in Germany. Tracing back through an EX Dynasty and an EX91 Mtoto she descends from the great Conant-Acres Sweet family in USA.

Again at 5,000gns and representing the “Belle” family, originally purchased from the Southland herd in Holland, was Moree Shottle Belle VG89-3yr. This Shottle 2^nd calver, classified 1 point off maximum score had the perfect rear udder and was backed by an EX91 Freelance then the original Patron Sabre cow purchased in Holland as a youngster. Fighting off much opposition it was Trevor Keatleys bid that secured her for his Aghyaran herd in Castlederg.

4800gns was obtained for the 3^rd calver Moree Shottle Marq I EX. From the same family as the top priced seller, she sold in-calf to Wyman. Classified EX in her 3^rd lactation her dam was the Jojoba Marq I, then the Leadmaster. She sold to Gerry O’Donnell for his Rossigh herd.

Also heralding from the Marq I family was Moree Mascol Marq I EX93. Making the news a few weeks prior she was the worlds highest classified Mascol daughter, with protein to 3.92% she had a recent service date to the popular German Goldwyn son “Gunnar”. One of the bargains of the day she sold for 3,500 to Mr Steven McCammond, Randalstown.

4,000 gns was paid for both the Moree Shottle Penny VG87-3yr and Moree Shottle Sheena VG88-3yr. Both sired by Shottle who has worked a treat in the Moree Herd they are from the homebred Penny and Sheena families respectively. Shottle Penny is the 5^th generation down from the old EX92 Jolt cow who has produced 118Tonnes to-date and is still fit and healthy and working on another record. She sold to Messrs Moore, Fintona while the Sheena sold along with her young Lauthority show-calf to 2 different purchasers from Wales.

Great demand was present for Moree bulls on the day with the top price being 3,200. This was paid by F McVerry, Newry for a well-made Jango son from a 16,000 litre homebred EX from the Rose family. This was followed up by 2400gns for a Cricket son of the Weeton Ignitor Balise EX91 cow that had been purchased some years ago from the renowned Weeton herd in Lancashire. He sold to Mr Whelan from Galway Ireland.

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