Steady trade for Holstein heifers at Moira

97% clearance with a top price of 2,800gns

Quality dairy heifers met a ready market achieving a 97% clearance at Holstein NI’s November show and sale, held at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

“It has been a solid trade with heifers ranging in price from 1,200gns up to a top of 2,800gns,” said auctioneer Michael Taaffe. “The catalogue included a selection of heifers to suit a variety of requirements - pedigree, components and milk, and at prices to suit all pockets. It was also good to see a number of new bidders at this month’s sale. “

Sale leader at 2,800gns was the honourable mention award winner Carrowcroft Jango Collona bred by Geoffrey Patton who runs 150 cows at Carrowdore in County Down. Born in April 2011, she was sired by Jango, and is bred from the EX91 2E Kilwarlin Companion Collona who gave over 12,400kgs at 3.64% butterfat and 3.02% protein in her fifth 305-day lactation. This one joins Will Herron’s herd at Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

Judge James Cleland from the 150-cow Lecale Herd in Downpatrick praised the turnout of heifers at the pre-sale show which was generously sponsored by Danske Bank.

Claiming the overall championship was the June 2011 born Hilltara Lauthority Meggie bred by Holstein NI chairman Sam McCormick, and son John, Bangor, County Down. “This is an excellent milky heifer with a superb udder, a good body and sound feet and legs,” said the judge.

Calved four weeks and producing 39 kilos per day, she was snapped up at 2,700gns by Alan Brennan from Larne, County Antrim. Sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son Comestar Lauthority ET, she is bred from six successive generations of EX. Her dam, Hilltara Duplex Meggie 3 ET EX92-SP gave over 10,500kgs at 4.22% butterfat and 3.40% protein in her third 305-day lactation.

Danske Bank’s head of agricultural relations, John Henning, was on-hand to congratulate the winners and present the awards.

The Hilltara herd also secured the reserve championship award with a September 2011 born Glenn Ann Palermo ET daughter, which sold at 2,450gns to J Stevenson from Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh.  

Hilltara Palermo Echo calved three weeks ago and is producing 33 kilos daily. She is bred from a Comestar Lheros daughter who gave over 8,800kgs at 4.34% butterfat and 3.29% protein in her first 305-day lactation.

The Hilltara stable sold 11 heifers ranging in price from 1,480gns upwards.

Ards Secure Trish Red, one of the first Crackholm Secure Red daughters to sell in Northern Ireland, attracted a bid of 2,450gns from Freddie and Richard Mackey, Dromore, County Down.  This third prize winner was bred by Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, County Down. She calved four weeks ago and is giving 39 kilos of milk daily.

The Patton family sold seven heifers to level at £1,760 per head.

The March 2011 born Simlahill Design Dora came under the hammer at 2,320gns for Jim and Nicholas McCann, Bangor, County Down. Sired by Regancrest Design, she is bred from Simlahill Danube Dora 4 EX92 SP who gave over 11,600kgs at 4.14% butterfat and 3.06% protein in her fifth 305-day lactation. This one also joins Will Herron’s herd.

The recipients of this month’s ‘Earlybird’ Cashback offer included: Will Herron, Newtownhamilton, Robert McKnight, Templepatrick, and Fred and David Liggett, Stewartstown.

The cashback promotion continues at Holstein NI’s December 18 show and sale.

Results from the judging ring:

Class 1 – 1, and champion, Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Lauthority Meggie; 2, and honourable mention, Geoffrey Patton’s Carrowcroft Jango Collona; 3, Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Damion Rachel.

Class 2 – 1, and reserve champion, Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Pallermo Echo; 2, Jim and Charlotte Stevenson’s Newry Supraman G Bunty; 3, Harry Patton and Sons’ Ards Secure Trish Red.

Average: 29 heifers £1,966.

Auctioneers: Taaffe Auctions