Hilltara heifer tops December dairy sale

DEMAND for fresh calved Holstein cows and heifers remained strong at the December Dairy Sale, host-ed by Taaffe Auctions at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said the final sale of 2022 was well attended, and attracted brisk bidding from online buyers and farmers around the salering.

Prices peaked at 3900gns, paid to Sam and John McCormick, Bangor, for Hilltara Rubicon Maude 13 PLI £300. Sired by EDG Rubicon, her dam is Hilltara Doorman Maude 8 GP83 who averaged 8,163 litres at 3.70% butterfat and 3.2% protein in four 305-day lactations.

Securing the second highest price of the day of 3700gns was the De-Su 13700 Kipling daughter Modelfarm Kipling Jenny PLI £395 bred by Agnew Bros, Caledon. This one calved at the end of October. Her dam was the home-bred Modelfarm Supershot Jenny 2 who gave 9,396 litres at 4.49% butterfat and 3.46% protein in her second lactation.

Next best at 3450gns was Clandeboye Rubicon Sinead PLI £272 brought out Mark Logan, Clandeboye Estates, Bangor. An EDG Rubicon daughter, her dam is Clandeboye Seaver C Sinead SP.

Sam and John McCormick sold two fresh calved EDG Rubicon heifers Hilltara Rubicon Maude 16 PLI £443, and Hilltara Rubicon Rachel 2 PLI £377, for 3300gns each. Both calved in mid-November.

Following close behind at 3200gns was the McCormick’s Hilltara Doorman Betsy PLI £133. She calved in mid-November, and is a potential fifth generation VG or EX female. Her dam Hilltara Defender Betsy VG87 averaged 10,246 litres at 3.69% butterfat and 3.15% protein in two lactations.

The pre-sale show’s honourable mention award winner Burnhill Mirage Andrea PLI £196 came under the hammer at 3200gns for Charlie Weir, Waringstown. Sired by ABS Mirage, her dam is the home-bred Burnhill Reece Andrea. Calved at the end of November, she is producing 37 litres daily.

Also attracting a bid of 3200gns was Annalong Partytime Betty PLI £282 from Messrs W and D Gordon, Annalong. Sired by Hul-Stein Party Time, her dam is Annalong Oman Betty 2 GP79, who produced 8,024 litres at 4.38% butterfat and 3.53% protein in her fourth lactation.

Messrs Gordon also sold Annalong Fynn Doris PLI £440 for 3050gns. She is a Bomaz Fynn daughter, bred from Annalong Checkers Doris VG.

The pre-sale show was generously sponsored by AI Services (NI) Ltd, and judged by Jonny Matthews from the noted Lisnasure herd based at Donaghcloney.

Claiming the day’s championship title was Beechview Alligator Daisy PLI £152 bred by George and Jason Booth, Stewartstown. Sired by Stantons Alligator, her dam is Beechview Razzle Daisy VG88 LP70. She calved in early December, is giving 33 litres per day, and sold for 2500gns.

Jonny Matthews described the champion as a strong heifer with great dairy capacity, openness of rib, a well attached udder, and good locomotion.

The reserve champion was the second calver Hilltara Skywalker Tippy GP83-2yr PLI £362 bred by Sam and John McCormick. “This young cow has dairy strength, a lot of length, and great width from front to back. She has super front and rear udder attachment, and looks very milky,” added the judge.

Hilltara Skywalker Tippy gave 9,709 litres at 4.01% butterfat and 3.57% protein in her first lactation. She calved her second in early November, and came under the hammer of Michael Taaffe, topping Dungannon cow trade at 2900gns.

A batch of bulling heifers from George Mitchell’s Edenordinary herd based at Banbridge sold to a top of 800gns. Leading the line-up was Edenordinary Rager Boots PLI £345. Born in October 2021, she is by Ri-Val-Re Rager Red, and is bred from Edenordinary Dealmaker Boots who gave 9,069 litres 3.89% butterfat and 3.06% protein in her first lactation.

Next best at 700gns was the yearling heifer Edenordinary Hurr-icane Reba PLI £261. A daughter of Bacon Hill Hurricane, she is backed by eight generations of VG and EX dams.