Black and white calves reached a ceiling of 6,300gns at this week’s Causeway Classic IV, hosted by Holstein NI at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Sponsored by Genus ABS and United Feeds, the evening event attracted a huge crowd of spectators, but the lack lustre trade reflected the current down-beat mood of pedigree and commercial dairy farmers.

Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said: ”Buyers were selective and the sale lacked sparkle, but it is mainly due to the current economic climate facing dairy farmers. Wet weather, poor milk prices and rising overhead costs have led to a lack of morale amongst farmers, and with tighter budgets there is no surplus cash to invest in new genetics.”

Top price of the sale 6,300gns was paid to Holstein NI vice-chairman Sam McCormick, and son John, from Bangor, County Down. They offered a choice of four full ET sisters, one of which was present at the sale.

Sired by Gillette Windbrook ET, these December 2011 born heifers are bred from the noted Calbrett IHH Champion daughter, Hilltara Champion Maude (EX95 3E) SP which gave an average of 11,435kgs at 4.27% butterfat and 3.06% protein in four 305-day lactations.   

The sale topper is a maternal sister to Hilltara Goldwyn Maude which realised 8,000gns at last year’s Causeway Classic III; and  goes back four generations to the multi-award winning Medway Supreme Maude ET (EX97-8E-21*) which produced over 163,000kgs in her lifetime.

This lot is a potential ninth generation VG and EX female, and is the fifth Maude to be offered for sale by Hilltara. She attracted considerable attention from the packed salering, and joins a pedigree herd based at Newry, County Down.

One of the youngest lots in the catalogue, Lissue Seaver Faith 4 ET, came under the hammer at 2,650gns for Conor McAufield from Lisburn, County Antrim. This four-month-old calf was sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son, R E W Seaver ET, and is the number five GLPI (+1838) Seaver daughter in the world (CDN 7/12).

Bred from the USA Ralma Christmas Fudge family, her dam Castletru Socrates Candy ET (VG87-2yr, was purchased at the Causeway Classic in 2010 for 6,600gns and is ranked as the number two Socrates daughter in the world with a GTPI +2111 and PTAT +2.5.

This lot is a full sister to Lissue Adrian ET, sold to Genus ABS; and Lissue Seaver Faith 3 ET – the number one GLPI (+1950) Seaver daughter in the world. Successful bidder was Wayne Walker from Mountnorris, County Armagh.

Holstein NI chairman Jay Warden, Bangor, realised 1,880gns for the November 2011 born Ballygrainey Beacon Albany ET, which sold to Dan Mallon from Toomebridge. Sired by the Picston Shottle son, End Road Beacon ET, she is bred from the Wilcoxview Jasper daughter, Velthuis Jasper Albany ET (VG-2yr-CAN) – which gave over 10,600kgs at 4.90% butterfat and 3.40% protein in her first 305-day lactation.

This was the first member of the renowned Atlee family to sell in Northern Ireland. Her granddam is Allyndale-I Goldwyn Albany ET (VG-2yr-Can) – a full sister to the No:1 genomic type bull Atwood; while the third dam is the All-Amercian MD Delight Durham Atlee (EX92-USA-GDM).

The first lot into the salering, Inch Shottle Roxy 6 ET (PLI +£103), came under the hammer at 1,850gns for Jim Morrison from Downpatrick, County Down.  Born in September 2010 she is by Picston Shottle ET, and is bred from the Comestar Lee daughter, Willowfarm Roxy 15 ET (EX91-5*) LP50. P’d in-calf to O-Man End Story, she sold to David McGregor from Antrim.

The youngest calf in the catalogue, Ards Atwood B Lou Ella (PLI £183), sold at 1,720gns for Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, County Down.  This three-month-old entry was sired by Maple Downs I GW Atwood ET (EX-USA), and is out of the home-bred Ards Bolton Lou Ella ET (VG89-3yr) which gave over 9,900kgs at 4.26% butterfat and 3.54% protein in her heifer lactation. Buyer was John Hamilton from Bangor, County Down.

Next best 1,700gns was the February 2012 born Newry Windbrook Tiara ET, consigned by Jim and Charlotte Stevenson, Kilkeel, County Down.  Sired by Gilette Windbrook ET, she is bred from Newry Lou Tiara ET (VG-2yr) which produced almost 11,000kgs at 4.28% butterfat and 2.99% protein in her heifer lactation. Successful bidder was Richard Charles from Cookstown, County Tyrone.

Harry Patton and Sons realised 310gns each for two frozen embryos from Ards Outside M Danna (EX93-4E) by Lars-Acres Shot Trigger; and 350gns each for two frozen embryos from Ards Outside M Danna (EX93-4E) by End Road Beacon.

Michael Taaffe also auctioned three items which raised £400 for the Northern Ireland Holstein Young Breeders’ Club. These included a painting of the noted Scientific Debutante Rae donated by English artist Tony Pidsley; 12 bags of calf starter pellets donated by United Feeds; and five straws of Scientific Destry donated by Genus ABS.

Holstein NI chairman Jay Warden said:”Thanks to our sponsors Genus ABS and United Feeds, without whom this event would not have been possible. Thanks also to the trade stand exhibitors for supporting our event.”