Holsteins meet strong demand at 3500gns

THERE was a strong demand for pedigree and

commercial cows and heifers at the May Dungannon Dairy Sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions.

Pedigree heifers and cows reached a ceiling of 3500gns, while bulling heifers topped at 3100gns and in-calf heifers sold to 2650gns. Non-pedigree milking heifers peaked at 2560gns.

Three lots shared the day’s top bid of 3500gns.

Hitting the headlines in the show

and sale rings was the supreme champion Ards Crosby Lilac PLI £466, which sold at 3500gns for Wilson and Andrew Patton, Newtownards. A potential ninth generation VG or EX, she was sired by Denovo 14566 Crosby, and is out of the VG2yr Ards Morgan S Lilac who gave 7,353kgs at 4.13% butterfat and 3.32% protein in her first lactation. Calved one month, the champion is producing 32 litres daily.

The pre-sale show, generously sponsored by Mason’s Animal Feed, was judged by Andrew McLean from the noted Relough herd based at Donaghmore near Dungannon. “The champion is a fantastic, medium-sized and well-balanced heifer. She very correct, full of style, and has a good udder with perfect teat placement. This heifer will be an asset to any dairy system.”

Also attracting a 3500gns price tag was the reserve champion Ballyweaney Brody Marla *RC PLI £285, bred by Mervyn and Gareth Smyth, Cloughmills. Sired by DG Brody, her dam is Ballyweaney Armani Marla Red, who is backed by eight generations of VG and EX dams. This young cow averaged 8,085kgs at 5.11% butterfat and 3.33% protein in her first 305-day lactation. She calved her second in early April and is yielding 50 litres of milk on a daily basis.

Andrew McLean added: “The reserve champion is an eye-catching young cow. She has a tremendous rear udder with great width and depth.”

Sam and John McCormick, Bangor, sold Hilltara Delta Supra PLI £332 for 3500gns. Sired by EDG Delta, she was bred from Hilltara Doorman Supra 3 GP82, who is backed by 10 generations of VG and EX dams. This heifer calved at the end of April.

Following close behind at 3450gns was the McCormick duo’s Hilltara Alaska Tippy PLI £200. This one was sired by the home-bred Endco Superhero son

Hilltara Alaska and is out of Hilltara Madiba Tippy. She produced her first calf in mid-April.

Herd mate Hilltara Rubicon Tippy PLI £319 came under the hammer of auctioneer Michael Taaffe at 3200gns. An EDG Rubicon daughter, her dam is Hilltara Kingboy Tippy GP84. This heifer calved at the end of April.

Sam and John McCormick won the honourable mention award with Hilltara Aiden Maude 4 PLI £104. A potential fourth generation EX, she calved in April and sold for 2850gns. Sired by the Seagull Bay Silver son Hilltara Aiden, this one is bred from Hilltara Alexander Maude EX91 5 E LP110.

Judge Andrew McLean des-cribed the honourable mention prize winner as well-balanced heifer with a youthful udder and good legs and feet.

Next best at 2750gns was Hilltara Deman Maude 5 PLI £88. An EDG Deman daughter, she calved in February and is bred from Hilltara Aftershock Maude 8 SP VG85.

The McCormicks’ second calver Hilltara Mogue Firework PLI £139 GP83-2yr sold for 3100gns. Sired by the View Home Monterey son Hilltara Mogue, she was bred from Hilltara Iota Firework EX 2E. This young cow produced 8,626kgs at 4.59% butterfat and 3.23% protein in her first lactation and calved her second in April.

A special entry of bulling heifers from Inch Genetics, Downpatrick, sold to a top of 3100gns. Leading the line-up was the fourteen-month-old Inch Sound Daphne 4 PLI £368. Sired by Mirabell Sound System, she was bred from Inch Cruise Daphne 6 EX93-3E LP50.

In-calf heifers peaked at 2650gns, paid to Raymond Johnston, Tem-

po, for the February 2020 Tully-farm Agronaut Oralie PLI £347. Sired by Mr Rubi Agronaut, her dam is Tullyfarm Silvia Oralie GP83.

Taaffe Auctions also conducted the dispersal sale of Winston and John Mulligan’s non-pedigree milking herd. Prices peaked at 2560gns, realised by a December 2019 first calver. She is scanned in-calf and due August/September to the herd’s stock bull Keely Marvel Liam.