By Julie Hazelton
THE Carrowcroft Holstein herd had
a clean sweep in the female championship line-up at the April Dungannon Dairy Sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions.
The County Down-based herd, owned by Geoffrey Patton, secured the champion, reserve and honourable mention awards at the pre-sale show generously sponsored by Moore Concrete. The three heifers went on to average £2,604 per head.
Topping the monthly Dungannon dairy offering at 2700gns was the day’s female champion Carrowcroft Idolise Heather PLI £294. Born in January 2020, she is by Denovo Idolise and is bred from Carrowcroft Zebra Heather EX LP70, which averaged 10,824kgs at 3.71 per cent fat and 3.32 per cent protein in six 305-day lactations. The champion calved in mid-March and is producing 36 litres daily.
The reserve female champion came under the hammer of auctioneer Michael Taaffe at 2500gns. Carrowcroft Rubicon Ruby 3 PLI £445 is calved six weeks and producing 35 litres per day. This May 2020 heifer is a daughter of EDG Rubicon ET and is bred from Carrowcroft Intruder Ruby.
Geoffrey Patton also realised 2380gns for the November 2019 born Carrowcroft Grafeeti Ruby 2 PLI £218. Sired by Ladys Manor RD Grafeeti, her dam is Carrowcroft Jeeves M Ruby EX-3E LP70.
Also selling at 2380gns was the March 2020 Tullylea Upright Atlas 3 PLI £297 consigned by Mervyn and Derek Nelson, Maguiresbridge. A daughter of Westcoast Ardor, she is bred from Tullylea Grafeeti Atlas VG, which gave 10,652kgs at 4.34 per cent fat and 3.44 per cent protein in her second lactation.
Next best at 2300gns was Hilltara Mumbia Mary from Sam and John McCormick’s herd at Bangor, while Geoffrey Patton secured a bid of 2280gns for Carrowcroft Rubi Taz Romina PLI £460.
Following close behind at 2240gns was the honourable mention prize winner Carrowcroft Prince Ina PLI £241. Sired by the home-bred Larcrest Calumet son, Carrowcroft Prince, she was bred from Carrowcroft Dalliance Ina GP82. This heifer calved in mid-March and is producing 36 litres.
Judge Dennis Torrens, from the Agivey herd in Garvagh, praised the quality of heifers at the sale. “The champion is a real stand-out heifer, with strength and size. The reserve champion is another fantastic heifer with a superb udder and great locomotion.”
Cows peaked at 2300gns twice. First to sell was the third prize Hilltara Casper Charlotte PLI £370, a potential 13th generation VG or EX from Sam and John McCormick’s herd. Commanding the same price was the first placed Carrowcroft Casper Bounty GP83-2yr PLI £254. Calved almost four weeks, she is giving 42 litres daily.
A small entry of bulls reached a ceiling of 1950gns, with five selling to level at £1,806 each.
Topping bull trade at 1950gns was the Prehen Fragrant GPLI £551 bred by Stuart Smith, Londonderry. Born in February 2021, he was sired by Bomaz Kettle and is bred from Prehen Bourbon Froukje 100 VG87, which averaged 8,000kgs at 4.28 per cent fat and 3.32 per cent protein in three lactations.
Next best at 1900gns was the reserve male champion Prehen Fringe PLI £558. Born in January 2021, he is by Keopon Raptor and bred from Prehen Supersire Froukje GP83-2yr.
The male championship went to Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Astronaut PLI £210. This January 2021 Woodcrest King Doc son is bred from Hilltara Windbrook Apple 2 EX93-4E LP80. He sold for 1850gns.
Dennis Torrens commented: “The champion is an eye-catching bull, with size, chest width, and real ring presence.”
An entry of in-calf and served heifers from the Downpatrick-based Inch herd sold to a top of 1950gns. Sale leader was the September 2020 Rathkeel Secretariat Daphne PLI £103. Sired by All Nure Secretariat, she is bred from Inch Persistent Daphne 3 VG and is in-calf to sexed Westcoast Almateter.
A batch of bulling heifers from Trevor Keatley’s Aghyaran herd in Castlederg sold to a top of 1200gns. Leading the entry was the February 2021 Aghyaran Atomic Rae 2. Sired by Larcrest Atomic Red, she is bred from Aghyaran Pulsar Rae VG96 and is backed by 12 generations of VG and EX dams.
Seamus Gunn, Derrylin, sold an entry of bulling heifers. They topped at 700gns, realised by the May 2021 Ernevale Perseus Triuna PLI £411. By Westcoast Perseus, her dam is Ernevale Megawatt Triuna VG86.
Rounding off the day’s trading was a batch of heifer calves from Geoffrey Patton’s herd in Carrowdore. They topped at 950gns, realised by the October 2021 Carrowcroft Vader Zip PLI £528. Sired by Bomaz Vader, her dam is Carrowcroft Achiever Zip VG86-2yr.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
