There was standing room only at the dispersal of the Ahoghill-based Killane Holstein Herd which saw prices reach a ceiling of 4,400gns and 4,000gns.

The sale attracted considerable interest from pedigree and commercial herd owners from throughout the UK and Ireland, and marked the end of an era for brothers Austin and David Perry who are retiring from dairy farming.

Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said:”It was one of the largest crowds seen at dispersal in many years, and reflected the very high regard with which the Perry family and their herd are held. Breeders travelled from Cork and Scotland, and telephone bids came from as far afield as Cardiff.”

“Trade was very good despite the economic downturn in the dairy industry. Farmers were keen to buy into the great cow families that have been built up over the years; while the demand for young stock was extremely strong with the top lots attracting intense competition.”

Topping the sale at 4,400gns was the ten-month-old heifer Killane La Bron Roberta 56 PLI £306, a potential seventh generation EX sired by Ladys Manor Graf La Bron, and bred from the legendary Killane Outside Roberta 4 EX95-8E 7*. This much admired heifer attracted spirited bidding selling in a two-way split to pedigree breeders Arnold Boyce and Dennis Torrens from Garvagh, County Londonderry.

Next best at 4,000gns was Killane Galaxy Roberta 50 PLI £251 by De Su Freddie Galaxy ET. She was also bred from the 100 tonne Killane Outside Roberta 4 EX95 8E 7*, and is a potential seventh generation EX. P’d in-calf and due in the New Year to Seagull Bay Silver, she sold to John Barkley’s Maineside herd at Ballymena, County Antrim.

Killane Outside Roberta 4 is thirteen-years-old, and projected to produce in excess of 9,800kilos in her tenth lactation. She is backed by twelve generations of VG and EX dams, and has bred five EX daughters. In-calf to Sandy Valley Pacific, she attracted a bid of 2,350gns and sold for export to pedigree breeder John Greenop from Wigton, Cumbria.

Selling to Robin Orr’s Ballymena-based Ballyportery herd at 3,700gns was Killane Jango Petula ET EX92 SP PLI £204. Sired by the Jocko Besne son Jango, she is bred from the O Bee Manfred Justice daughter DT Petricia ET VG86 2yr. Backed by seven generations of VG and EX dams, she sold in-calf to Sandy Valley Pacific.

Maiden heifer Killane La Bron Saber Pansey 3 PLI £336 came under the hammer of auctioneer Michael Taaffe at 3,050gns, selling to John and Robert Stewart’s Quinton herd based at Portaferry, County Down. This potential seventh generation VG or EX heifer was bred from Killane Shottle Philo ET EX92 2E.

Following close behind at 3,000gns was the Co-op Bosside Massey daughter Killane Massey Neblina 2. Bred from eight generations of VG and EX dams, she comes from the same family as the top AI sire VH Grafit, and sold to Mountain View Farm Ltd based at Augher, County Tyrone.

Also commanding a 3,000gns bid was Killane Massey Dellia 22 PLI £183. This Massey daughter is bred from Killane Goldwyn Dellia 7 ET EX94-5E who averaged 9,644kgs at 4.19% butterfat and 3.35% protein in six 305-day lactations. In-calf to Seagull Bay Silver, this potential sixth generation EX joins the Ards herd owned by Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, County Down.

The Picston Shottle daughter Killane Shottle Edie 18 VG89 (EX92-MS) PLI £139 also caught the eye of John and Robert Stewart at 2,950gns. She calved her third in September and is currently giving 44kgs daily.

In-calf heifers peaked at 2,120gns, realised by Killane Uno Flora 117 PLI £232. Sired by Amighetti Numero Uno, she is bred from Killane Dictator Flora 92 EX93-2E. This potential seventh generation VG or EX heifer in in-calf to Killane Conway, and also joins the herd at Mountain View Farm Ltd.

William Weatherup, and sons James and Brian, paid out 2,000gns to secure Killane Fieldman Roberta 48 for their Quarterland herd based at Carrickfergus, County Antrim. Sired by the England Ammon Million son Killane Fieldman ET, she is bred from Killane Jango Roberta 23 EX. This one is in-calf to the SSI Domain Lithium ET son Killane Conway ET.

Heifer calves peaked at 2,350gns, realised by the three-month-old Killane Troy Saber Pansey 4 PLI £380, which caught the eye of Geoffrey Patton from the Carrowcroft herd based at Carrowdore, County Down. Sired by River Ridge Co-op Troy ET, she is bred from Killane Shottle Philo ET EX92-2E, and is backed by seven generations of VG and EX dams.

Philip and Simon Haffey, Glasson herd, Portadown, County Armagh, paid out 2,020gns to secure Killane Flame Finesse 17 PLI £259. Sired by Vieuxsaule Flame ET, this four-month-old calf is bred from Killane September Freck Finesse ET RC EX-3E LP 50, currently in her sixth lactation and projected to yield over 11,000kilos.

The two-week-old Killane Troy Neblina 4 ET PLI £482 caught the eye of Ian and Kenny Watson, Majestic Herd, Mascoquin, County Londonderry at 2,000gns. She is by River Bridge Co-op Troy, and bred from Killane Massey Neblina 2.

A full sister from the same ET flush, Killane Troy Neblina 5 ET PLI £482 sold at 2,000gns to Mervyn McGimpsey’s Towerview herd, Newtownards, County Down.

Three frozen embryos from Killane Massey Neblina 2 x River Bridge Co-op Troy sold at 380gns each to Aidan McAfee who runs the Drumeil herd based at Aghadowey, County Londonderry. Another sold in aid of HYB funds at 300gns to Martin Millar from the Millars herd at Coleraine.

Averages: 76 cows £1,708; 23 in-calf heifers £1,818; 7 maiden heifers £2,475; and 9 heifer calves £1,723.