Hilltara heifer leads
Moira Holstein trade at 3,000gns
A smaller entry of heifers at Holstein NI’s
monthly show and sale saw prices range from 1,520gns to a top of 3,000gns, with
14 lots averaging £2,284 in a 75% clearance.
Leading trade at 3,000gns was Hilltara
Seaver Charlotte, a potential tenth generation VG/EX heifer bred by club
chairman Sam McCormick, and son John, Bangor, County Down. Sired by R-E-W
Seaver, she is bred from Hilltara Talent Charlotte 6 ET EX91-2E LP60, who has
completed five 305-day lactations. Calved two weeks and producing 34kgs daily,
she joins David McClurg’s Fortvale herd based at Crossgar, County Down.
Two lots came under the hammer of
auctioneer Michael Taaffe at 2,650gns each. They included he day’s reserve
champion Ards Zenith Jingle which also sold to David McClurg. Bred by Harry
Patton and Sons, Newtownards, this Ocean View Zenith daughter is backed by four
generations of VG and EX dams. She is four weeks into her second lactation and
yielding 42kgs per day.
Also selling at 2,650gns was the second
prize winning heifer Carrowcroft Manifold Heather bred by Geoffrey Patton,
Carrowdore, County Down. Sired by the O-Bee Manfred Justice son Mainstream
Manifold, she is bred from four generations of VG and EX cows. Her dam
Carrowcroft Jeeves Heather VG gave over 11,400kgs at 3.72% butterfat and 3.60%
protein in her second 305-day lactation. Buyer was Gordon Reid from Banbridge,
County Down.
Honourable mention award winner Relough
Danter Indigo sold at 2,450gns for Ronald McLean, and sons Malcolm and Barry,
Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Sired by the home-bred Picston Shottle son Relough
Danter, she is bred from eight generations of VG and EX dams. This one joins
William Herron’s herd at Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
Mr Herron also paid out 2,400gns to secure
a heifer from Stephen Robinson’s Clutagh herd based at Crossgar.
Holstein Young Breeders’ Club member Mark
Henry from Stranocum, County Antrim, judged the February show and sale. He
awarded the supreme championship honours, sponsored by Kilco, to Sam and John
McCormick’s Hilltara Bolton Clare. Sired by Sandy Valley Bolton, she is five
weeks into her second lactation and producing 50kgs daily. Buyers at 2,350gns were
Freddie and Richard Mackey, Dromore, County Down.
Sponsor Hugh McCluggage from Kilco
congratulated the winners and presented the awards.
Results from the judging ring:
Heifer in-milk – 1, and honourable mention,
Ronald McLean and Sons, Relough Danter Indigo by Relough Danter; 2, Geoffrey
Patton, Carrowcroft Manifold Heather by Mainstream Manifold; 3, Ronald McLean
and Sons, Relough Danter Danna 7 by Relough Danter.
Cow in-milk – 1, and supreme champion, Sam
and John McCormick, Hilltara Bolton Clare by Sandy Valley Bolton; 2, and
reserve champion, Harry Patton and Sons, Ards Zenith Jingle by Ocean View
Zenith.
