Laurelhill heifers lead
Moira Holstein trade at 4,100gns
Heifers
sold to a top of 4,100gns twice, while bulls reached a ceiling of 3,000gns, at
Holstein NI’s April show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree
Sales Arena, Moira.
Sharing the day’s top price were two
entries from Brian and Ann Mawhinney’s noted Laurelhill herd based at Doagh,
County Antrim. Having dispersed the milking portion of the herd last year, the
Mawhinney’s offered 11 freshly calved heifers to average £2,760 per head.
First to go at 4,100gns was Laurelhill Dob
Fay, an October 2011 born Coppertop Doberman ET daughter, bred from Laurelhill
Shaker A Fay EX94 4E LP80. Buyer was William Houston from Glarryford, County
Antrim.
Laurelhill Jerrick C Fay attracted a bid of
4,100gns from Brian O’Connor, Bawnmore House, Kanturk, County Cork. Born in
November 2011, she is by the Braedale Goldwyn son Gillette Jerrick, and is out
of the 3,400gns Laurelhill Spooky Fay VG88 which gave over 8,300kgs at 5.22%
butterfat and 4.15% protein in her second 305-day lactation.
Brian O’Connor also paid out 3,800gns to
secure the January 2012 born Laurelhill Doberman Lou Ella. Sired by the Picston
Shottle son Coppertop Doberman ET, she is bred by Castletru Goldwyn Lou Ella ET
EX91 2E, and is backed by nine generations of VG and EX dams.
Next best at 3,700gns was Relough Iota
Danna 3, who secured the female championship ribbons sponsored by Fane Valley.
Consigned by Ronald McLean and sons, Malcolm and Barry, Donaghmore, County Tyrone,
she is bred from Regancrest Altaiota, and is a daughter of the VG86 Relough
Million Danna 2. This potential tenth generation VG and EX heifer is four weeks
calved and doing 25 litres daily. She caught the eye of Stephen McAllister from
Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Jim and Nicholas McCann, Bangor, County
Down, realised 2,850gns for the December 2011 born Simlahill Fever Quality.
Sired by Crackholm Fever, she is bred from the VG88 Simlahill Outside Quality
who produced over 10,700kgs at 4.18% butterfat and 3.16% protein in her third
305-day lactation. Buyer was William Herron, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
Mr Herron also secured the third prize
winning Relough Dambuster Roxie for 2,850gns. Sired by the home-bred Wal-Del
Hayden son Relough Dambuster, she is backed by eight generations of VG and EX
dams.
The December 2011 born Laurelhill Sycamore
Fay came under the hammer at 2,750gns, selling to Stephen McAllister,
Dungannon. Sired by the home-bred Sandy Valley Talent son Laurelhill Sycamore,
she is out of the 8,200gns Laurelhill Maestro Fay ET EX. This heifer is a
maternal sister to the 8,200gns Laurelhill Sultan – top priced bull at Holstein
NI’s premier sale a few months ago.
The pre-sale show’s reserve female champion
was Glasson Fever T Tina from the father and son team of Philip and Simon
Haffey, Portadown, County Armagh. Sired by Crackholm Fever, she is bred from
Glasson Talent Tina. Almost three weeks calved and producing 32 litres daily,
this one sold to Irish breeder Paul Flanagan from Termonfeckin, County Louth.
Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said:”The Laurelhill
offering attracted strong interest from throughout the country. Across the
catalogue we had heifers to suit both pedigree and commercial herd owners, with
prices ranging from 1,350gns upwards. On the whole heifers met buoyant trade
with 27 lots averaging £2,441 per head in a 97% clearance.”
Bull trade was selective with prices
peaking at 3,000gns for the male champion Mullagher Alexander ET (PLI £95),
from Norman McNaugher, and son David, Aghadowey, County Londonderry. Born in
November 2012, he is by Pine Tree Sid ET, and is bred from one of the most
consistent families in Canada. His dam Smithden Bolton Alexandra VG86-Can 9*
sold for $23,000 at the Vanhaven dispersal in 2013. This eye-catching entry
sold to Paul Brown from Clough, County Antrim.
The second prize winning Inch Starter ET
(PLI £84) sold at 2,750gns for Jim Morrison, Downpatrick, County Down. Born in
November 2012, he is by Regancrest Mr Drham Sam, and is out of Inch Shottle
Daphne 4 ET (VG86-2yr). Backed by seven generations of VG and EX dams, he sold
to George Kenneway from Cullybackey, County Antrim.
Next best at 2,500gns was the fourth prize
winning Relough Definitive ET from the McLean family. This January 2013 born
Gran J Oman McCormick son, was bred from the 2009 Balmoral Show champion
Relough Goldwyn Danna ET EX92 SP, who gave over 12,300kgs at 5.13% butterfat
and 3.34% protein in her third 305-day lactation. Buyer was Robert Shaw from
Carryduff, County Down.
Judge Cyril Millar, Coleraine, awarded the
reserve male championship to the thirteen-month-old Relough Joel (PLI £163).
Sired by Regancrest Altaiota ET, his dam is the EX91-3E Relough September
Jessica ET. This one failed to meet his reserve and was unsold.
Averages: 27 females £2,441; and 8 bulls
£2,297.
Auctioneers: Taaffe Auctions.
