Holstein bulls to 8,200gns
at Moira
Pedigree black and white bulls reached a
ceiling of 8,200gns at Holstein NI’s 24th annual spring show and
sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.
“There was a fast trade for quality bulls,
especially those which combined conformation with good components,” explained
auctioneer Michael Taaffe.
The forward entry achieved a 73% clearance,
with 19 lots selling to level at £3,545 per head – an increase of more than
£1,500 on this time last year when 21 lots were traded to average £2,029 each.
Sale leader was the Milk Quality Award
winner Laurelhill Sultan (PLI £199) bred by Brian Mawhinney from Doagh, County
Antrim. One of the youngest bulls in the catalogue, he was sired by
Va-Early-Dawn Sudan CRI ET and is bred from the 8,500gns Laurelhill Maestro Fay
ET VG88 who produced over 9,900kgs at 5.50% butterfat and 3.83% protein in her
second 305-day lactation.
Offering an outcross pedigree, this bull
attracted attention from numerous admirers, and is a maternal brother to
Cogent’s high genomic sire Laurelhill Regent ET. After a bidding frenzy, which
included a number of telephone bids, he was secured by Robert Anderson from
Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Second highest price of the day 5,300gns
was paid to Ronald McLean, and sons Malcolm and Barry, who run a 250-cow herd at
Donaghmore, County Tyrone. The fourteen-month-old Relough Ruffle (PLI £175) is
by Regancrest Altaiota ET, and is out of a home-bred Shottle dam. Backed by seven
successive generations of EX dams, he sold to Charles Caldwell from Killeter,
County Tyrone.
Next best at 5,200gns was the runner-up for
the Milk Quality Trophy, Newry Gold Twist (PLI £188) from the 100-cow herd of
Jim and Charlotte Stevenson based at Kilkeel, County Down. Born in September
2012, he was sired by the Picston Shottle son Cogent Twist, and is bred from Newry
Goldwyn Barbie EX94-2E SP. Backed by six generations of VG and EX dams he was
snapped up by John Stewart from Portaferry, County Down.
The McLean family were in the money again,
this time realising 4,800gns for the fourteen-month-old Relough Fernando (PLI
£122). Sired by the Ensenada Taboo Planet son Currajugle Gonzo, he was bred
from Relough Legend Frances VG88-SP who produced over 10,000kgs at 4.75%
butterfat and 3.63% protein in her first 305-day lactation. Buyer was Alan
Liggett from Corbo, Clogher, County Tyrone.
Next best from the McLean family at
4,550gns was the November 2012 born Relough Dumero ET (PLI £224). Sired by
Amighetti Numero Uno, he is backed by nine generations of VG and EX dams, and has
five full brothers in AI at Genus ABS and Cogent. His dam, Relough Legend Danna
3 VG86-2yr gave 40.3kgs at 5.08% butterfat and 3.83% protein during her last
milk recording. Highest bidder was William Bond from Eglinton, County
Londonderry.
The Relough offering attracted a steady
trade with seven bulls changing hands to average £3,690 each.
The father and son team of William and
Andrew McCollum, Coleraine, County Londonderry, sold their best at 4,100gns.
The fourteen-month-old Ballycairn Sudan Galahad ET (PLI £157) was sired by
Va-Early-Dawn Sudan CRI ET, and is bred from Ballycairn Boliver Georgia ET
VG-2yr SP who gave over 10,200kgs at 4.22% butterfat and 3.32% protein in her
first lactation. This one sold to Leslie Glenn and Sons from Carryduff,
Belfast.
Following close behind at 4,050gns was the
pre-sale show’s honourable mention winner Killane Regent (PLI £113), brought
out by brothers Austin and David Perry, Ahoghill, County Antrim. This
sixteen-month-old bull was sired by the Veazland Marion son Bomaz Marion
Emerald 648 EX-USA, and is bred from Killane Boliver Roberta 15 EX-SP who
produced in excess of 10,800kgs at 4.28% butterfat and 3.24% protein in her
third 305-day lactation. Her sons have sold to Genus ABS and Diamond Genetics.
This one joins William Johnston’s herd based at Newtownbutler, County
Fermanagh.
Judge Dessie Dunlevy from Drogheda awarded
the Danske Bank supreme championship award to the Guarini son Ards Camelot ET (PLI
£198). Bred by Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, County Down, this
fourteen-month-old bull came under the hammer at 3,000gns, selling to John
O’Brien from Poyntzpass, County Down. His dam is the 26,000 Euro Anderstrup
Ramos Camil EX-DK who has sons in AI in five different countries.
Claiming the reserve championship was
Glasson Garrison (PLI £191), a De Su 521 Bookem ET VG86-USA son, bred by Philip
Haffey, and son Simon, Portadown, County Armagh. He was bred from Glasson
Shottle JG Gail VG88-3yr EX-MS, who produced over 8,500kgs at 4.59% butterfat
and 3.50% protein in her first lactation. This one failed to meet his reserve
and was withdrawn unsold.
Danske Bank’s head of agricultural
relations, John Henning, was on-hand to congratulate the winners and present
the awards.
