Champion leads Moira Holstein trade at 2,950gns

There was a complete clearance for freshly calved heifers at Holstein NI’s January show and sale, held at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Prices ranged from 1,100gns to a top of 2,950gns, and 20 lots came under the hammer of auctioneer Michael Taaffe to level at £1,686 per head.

Sale leader was the day’s supreme champion Ardmore Windbrook Snowdrop consigned by Willliam and James Crawford, Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. Born in October 2012, she was sired by Gillette Windbrook ET, and is out of a home-bred dam by the noted Picston Shottle.

This potential sixth generation VG/EX heifer joins Paul Flanagan’s noted Tubbertoby Herd based at Termonfeckin, County Louth.

Sponsored by Cogent, the pre-sale show was judged by the company’s WMS evaluator Dennis Torrens. “The champion is a super heifer with real dairy character, and tremendous rear udder ligament. She stood out from the moment I saw her.”

The Crawford duo also secured the reserve championship with Ardmore Loader Freda. Sired by the Stouder Morty son Cogent Loader, she is bred from a VG86 dam by Magor Bolivia Allen, and sold for 1,800gns to John Stewart.

Sam McCormick, Bangor, claimed the honourable mention award with the two-year-old heifer Hilltara Mistral Dawn. She was sired by the Gen Mark Stmatic Sanchez son Hilltara Mistral, and is out of a home-bred Comestar Lee daughter. Highest bidder at 2,550gns was William Herron from Newtownhamilton.

The fifth placed Ards Alchemy Coreena sold at 2,120gns for Harry Patton, and sons Wilson and Wallace, Newtownards. Sired by the Scientific Destry son Hunsberger Alchemy, she is bred from Fiddlersgreen Pericles Coreena Red VG86 who averaged over 9,660kgs at 4.89% fat and 3.53% protein in five 305-day lactations. This one joins a County Tyrone herd.

The same bidder paid out 2,120gns to secure the Patton family’s unshown Ards Trigger O Princess. She is by the Picston Shottle son Lars-Acres Shot Trigger ET, and is out of a home-bred dam by O-Bee Manfred Justice.

David and Alan Wallace, Antrim, realised 1,980gns for the fourth prize winning Abercorn R Ranchero Elegance. Sired by the Picston Shottle son Relough Ranchero, she is bred from a VG86 dam by Ladino Park Talent. Buyer was William Herron.