Holstein cows to 3,100gns and heifers to 2,720gns at Moira
Cows sold to a top of 3,100gns, while heifers peaked at 2,720gns at Holstein NI’s monthly show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.
Following a 94% clearance auctioneer Michael Taaffe confirmed that 34 lots changed hands to average £2,023 per head.
“It was a steady sale. We had a few high flyers, but in general today’s heifer trade represented real value-for-money. It’s been a buyers’ day, with commercial bidders taking advantage of an opportunity to secure some of the best value seen at Moira in the past twelve months,” said auctioneer Michael Taaffe.
Bidding kicked off shortly after 11.30am, and to highlight the sale’s new prompt starting time Holstein NI introduced a cash back promotion, paying a premium of £100 per head to the buyers of the first three lots sold. The recipients of the cheques were Graham Smith, Birches, Gordon Reid, Banbridge, and William and Stuart Holmes, Portadown.
Sale leader at 3,100gns was the January 2010 born second calver Hilltara Jeeves Maude consigned by club chairman Sam McCormick, and son John, from Bangor, County Down. Sired by the Comestar Outside son, Ked Outside Jeeves, she is backed by seven generations of VG and EX dams. Her third dam was the highly acclaimed Medway Supreme Maude EX97 8E 19*who produced in excess of 160,000 tonnes on milk in her lifetime, and won numerous accolades in NI and the UK, including reserve supreme champion at the Royal Show in 2000, and All-Britain mature cow in 2002.
Calved four weeks and producing 43 kilos daily, this super young cow caught the eye of several bidders around the salering. She joins a County Tyrone herd.
The McCormick’s also led heifer trade at 2,720gns, realised by the unshown Hilltara Jeeves Betsy which sold to Gordon Reid from Banbridge, County Down. This three-year-old heifer calved three weeks ago and is producing 36 kilos per day. Her dam, Hilltara Champion Betsy 2 EX LP50 averaged 10,625kgs at 3.90% butterfat and 3.07% protein in four 305-day lactations.
Pre-sale judge was Holstein Young Breeders’ Club member and Greenmount College student John McLean, whose family run the noted Priestland Herd based at Bushmills in County Antrim. He awarded the supreme championship, sponsored by Masons Animal Feeds, to the McCormick family’s Hilltara Fever Charlotte.
This potential 11th generation VG/EX heifer came under the hammer at 2,680gns, selling to Jason Pollock’s Garrick Herd near Portadown, County Armagh. Sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son, Crackholm Fever, she is bred from the VG88 Hilltara Racer Charlotte.
Jason Pollock also paid out 2,520gns to secure the fourth prize winning Relough Shottle Danna 13, a potential 10th generation VG/EX heifer bred by Ronald McLean, and sons Malcolm and Barry, from Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Sired by Picston Shottle, her dam is Relough Lee Danna 8 EX92 3E LP60. She is calved three weeks and yielding 33 kilos daily.
Also joining the Garrick Herd at 2,350gns is the reserve champion Hilltara Sanchez Maude 3 GP83 (2yr). She calved her second seven weeks ago and is currently giving 48 kilos of milk per day. Sired by Gen Mark Stmatic Sanchez, this one produced over 9,000kgs at 3.53% butterfat and 3.01% protein in her first 305-day lactation.
The April 2011 born Carrowcroft Jerzy Lou Ella from Geoffrey Patton’s herd at Carrowdore, County Down, changed hands at 2,120gns; while Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Dusk Echo 2 ET sold for 2,100gns.
Sponsors Colin Purdy and Mark Johnston from Masons Animal Feeds were on-hand to congratulate the winners and present the prizes.
