Champion leads Moira Holstein
sale at 2,650gns
There was a strong demand for dairy heifers
at Holstein NI’s first monthly show and sale of the New Year, held at the
Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.
Prices reached a ceiling of 2,650gns, and
following a 100% clearance auctioneer Michael Taaffe confirmed that 22 lots
were traded to level at £2,304 each. “The entire catalogue attracted a buoyant
trade with prices ranging from 1,800gns to a peak of 2,650gns.”
Sale leader was the day’s supreme champion
Hilltara Milton Bobby Joe, a potential ninth generation VG or EX heifer
consigned by club chairman Sam McCormick, and son John, from Bangor, County
Down.
Born in November 2011, she was sired by the
home-bred Magor Bolivia Allen son Hilltara Milton, and is out of a VG88
Donnandale Skychief daughter who gave over 9,500kgs at 3.62% butterfat and
3.27% protein in her seventh 305-day lactation. Calved two weeks and yielding
32kgs daily, she joins Stephen Robinson’s Cluntagh herd based at Crossgar,
County Down.
Judge Timothy Haffey from the Kilvergan herd,
Lurgan, County Armagh, awarded the reserve championship ribbons to Killane
Jordan Flora bred by David and Austin Perry, Ahoghill, County Antrim. This
August 2011 born heifer was sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son Gillette Jordan,
and is out of Killane Tennyson Flora 101 who gave over 8,000kgs at 3.75%
butterfat and 3.26% protein in her first lactation. Calved four weeks and
producing 34kgs daily, this heifer came under the hammer at 2,620gns, selling
to Ivan Williamson from Scarva, County Armagh.
The day’s honourable mention award went to
Edenordinary Bonanza Sharon 2 from George Mitchell’s herd at Banbridge, County
Down. This March 2011 born heifer was sired by Karona Bonanza, and is out of a home-bred
VG89 Picston Shaker daughter who gave over 9,700kgs at 4.07% butterfat and
3.30% protein in her third 305-day lactation. This one changed hands at
2,600gns, selling to Will Herron from Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. She
calved three weeks ago and is producing 36kgs daily.
The pre-sale show was generously sponsored
by Cogent, represented by breeding adviser Bryan Graham who was on-hand to
congratulate the winners.
The first lot into the salering Hilltara
Talent Reann attracted a bid of 2,620gns from John Forsythe, Moneymore, County
Londonderry. Born in February 2011 she was sired by Ladino Park Talent ET, and
is a potential seventh generation VG or EX heifer. Her dam Hilltara Sam Reann
averaged over 9,100kgs at 4.74% butterfat and 3.48% protein in two 305-day
lactations.
Three lots came under the hammer at
2,500gns each. They included Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Sid Meggie; Kilvergan
Capri Lillian from Stephen Haffey and Sons, Lurgan; and Ards Beacon Durene from
Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards.
Other leading prices include:
2,300gns - Owen Martin, Forkhill, County
Armagh, Garaba Angie 4 to Will Herron, Newtownhamilton.
2,280gns – Harry Patton and Sons, Ards
Palermo Lilac to David McClurg, Crossgar, County Down.
2,220gns – David and Alan Wallace, Antrim,
County Antrim, Abercorn Ballot Julie to John Forsythe.
