Quality heifers and young cows sold to a top of 2,750gns at Holstein NI’s first show and sale of the new season.

A spokesman for Holstein NI said: ”There was great value for money with quality heifers selling from 1,350gns to a ceiling of 2,750gns. We were delighted to welcome a substantial number of new bidders, as well as repeat customers.

“The Pedigree Sales Arena is firmly established as the province’s leading venue for pedigree dairy stock. The monthly entry includes a strong line-up of milking heifers and young cows, all bred from proven genetics, and backed by generations of VG and EX dams.

“The quality is consistent, with regular buyers returning month-after-month, to secure high yielding, well-bred cows and heifers.”

Sale leader at 2,750gns was the honourable mention award winner Clongowes Windbrook Beatrice, a March 2012 born heifer consigned by David Buchanan from the Happy Holsteins herd based at Newry, County Down. Bred from a VG88 Picston Shottle daughter she was purchased as a maiden heifer at the Clongowes dispersal. Calved three weeks and producing 33 litres daily, the sale leader was snapped up by Kyle Henry from the Crankey herd based at Jerrettspass, County Down.

Harry Patton and Sons, Wilson and Wallace, Newtownards, claimed the day’s supreme and reserve championship ribbons sponsored by Irwins Feed based at Stilloga Mills, Eglish, County Tyrone.

They sold six females from their noted Ards herd to average £1,934 per head. Leading the Patton family’s line-up at 2,310gns was the reserve champion Ards Dylan Jessica. Sired by 528 New World Empire ET, she calved her second four weeks ago and is currently yielding 41 litres daily. Buyer was Gordon Davis from Dromore, County Tyrone.

Supreme champion was the red and white second calver Ards Skipper Trudy which sold at 2,040gns to Martin King, Ballymena, County Antrim. Calved four weeks, this polled cow is producing 37 litres of milk per day. She was sired by the home-bred Aggravation Lawn Boy P Red son, Ards Skipper Red, and is out of a VG dam by Markwell Kite.

Next best at 1,920gns was the Carrowcroft Rock Heather bred by Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore, County Down. Sired by the Braedale Pagewire son, Carrowcroft Rock, she is out of a home-bred VG7 daughter of Netherside Dynamo. Buyer was Stuart Law from Oatlands Farm, Hillsborough, County Down.

Also selling at 1,920gns was the Lynncrest Zebra daughter Carrowcroft Zebra Elsa. Her dam Carrowcroft Rock N Roll Elsa VG gave over 10,271kgs at 4.50% butterfat and 3.27% protein in her second 305-day lactation. This one also joins Stuart Law’s dairy herd.

Carrowcroft Rock was also behind the breeding of Carrowcroft Rock Jolee which attracted bid of 1,860gns from Gordon Davis. She is out of a home-bred Cogent Loader daughter .

Judge for the event was Holstein Young Breeders’ Club member Robert Stewart from the 350-cow Quinton herd based at Portaferry, County Down. He was impressed with the quality of the animals on show.

“The champion is a good dairy cow, very feminine, with super veination in her udder. The reserve champion is another long, clean dairy cow with a very snug udder.”

Sponsors Ian Cummins and Andrew West from Irwins Feeds congratulated the winners and presented the awards.

Results from the judging ring:

Heifer in-milk, born on or before 17/03/12 – 1, and honourable mention, David Buchanan, Newry, Clongowes WIndbrook Beatrice by Gillette Windbrook; 2, Iain McLean, Bushmills, Priestland 5239 Secure Dream Red ET by Crackholm Secure Red; 3, TJ Morrison and Sons, Downpatrick, Inch Gerard Dolly by Schillview Oman Gerard ET.

Heifer in-milk, born between 18/03/12 and 01/06/12 – 1, H Patton and Sons, Newtownards, Ards Ramone Lenora by Ards Ramone; 2, T J Morrison and Sons, Inch Dempsey Avice by URR Drew Dempsey; 3, Philip and Simon Haffey, Portadown, Glasson Duplex J Precious by Mesland Duplex.

Cow in-milk – 1, and supreme champion,  H Patton and Sons, Ards Skipper Trudy by Ards Skipper Red; 2, and reserve champion, H Patton and Sons, Ards Dylan Jessica by 528 New World Empire ET; 3, TJ Morrison and Sons, Inch Shottle Nina by Picston Shottle.

Averages: 22 lots £1,726

Auctioneers: Taaffe Auctions