Carrowcroft heifer leads Moira Holstein entry at 3,020 guineas

A smaller than usual entry of heifers met a steady trade at Holstein NI’s monthly show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Prices ranged from 1,720gns to a top of 3,020gns, with 17 lots selling to average £2,428 in an 89% clearance.

Sale leader at 3,020gns was the unshown Carrowcroft Durable Empress, a potential fourth generation VG or EX Ronelee SS Durable daughter from Geoffrey Patton’s 150-cow herd at Carrowdore, County Down. Her dam Carrowcroft Dynamo Empress 2 (VG87) gave over 9,000kgs at 4.51% butterfat and 3.44% protein in her second 305-day lactation.  Calved four weeks and producing 39kgs daily, this October 2011 born heifer joins Will Herron’s herd at Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

Two lots came under the hammer of auctioneer Michael Taaffe at 2,720gns. First to sell was the July 2011 born Matfield Julianne 11, brought out by Lewis McMurray, and sons Alan and Ian, from Banbridge, County Down. Sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son Smiddiehill Saratoga, she is bred from Matfield Julieanne 9 who gave over 11,800kgs at 5.48% butterfat and 3.26% protein in her second 305-day lactation. This one also caught the eye of Will Herron.

Geoffrey Patton enjoyed a good day’s trading at Moira, selling three heifers to average £2,877 per head. The December 2011 born Carrowcroft Beacon L Primrose attracted a bid of 2,720gns from a County Tyrone herd owner. Sired by the Picston Shottle son End Road Beacon, she is out of a home-bred Aquila Patron Lucente daughter.

The first heifer into the salering was the April 2011 born Matfield Lannie 23, a potential ninth generation VG/EX heifer from the McMurray family. She is by the home-bred Picston Shottle son Matfield Ben, and is out of a Hartline Titanic daughter. Highest bidder at 2,700gns was Will Herron.

Holstein NI chairman Sam McCormick, and son John, Bangor, County Down, realised 2,650gns for the February 2012 born Hilltara Mistral Charlotte 2. She was sired by the Gen Mark Stmatic Sanchez son Hilltara Mistral, and is out of a home-bred dam by Regancrest Design. This potential twelfth generation VG and EX heifer joins a County Tyrone herd.

Judge Martin Millar, Coleraine, awarded the supreme championship, sponsored by Teemore Engineering, to the youngest heifer in the catalogue Relough Danter Primrose 2. Born in February 2012, she is by the home-bred Picston Shottle son Relough Danter. Calved two weeks and producing 30kgs daily, she joins Stephen McAllister’s herd at Dungannon, County Tyrone.

The McLean family also claimed the reserve championship with Relough End Story Roxie 2, a potential twelfth generation VG and EX heifer, which sold at 2,300gns to Sam Gilmore, Tandragee, County Armagh.

Honourable mention award winner was Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Mistral Charlotte which sold at 2,200gns to Will Herron.