Bulls top 3,400gns at Moira
There was a strong demand for quality fresh calvedheifers at Holstein NI’s April show and sale, Moira.
On the day 21 lots changed hands to level at £1,811per head, with a clearance rate of 95%.
Females
Leading the female line-up at 2,550gns was thereserve female champion Hillatara Bolton Starvale, a December 2010 born SandyValley Bolton daughter, brought out by Holstein NI chairman Sam McCormick, andson John, from Bangor, County Down. Buyer was Richard Mackey from Dromore,County Down.
Next best at 2,420gns was the second prize winningAbercorn Winston Ally ,exhibited by David and Alan Wallace, Ashdale Farm,County Antrim. Born in February 2011, she is by stock bull BallyginniffWinston, and out of a home-bred VG88 Lucky Mike daughter who has averaged8,323kgs at 4.37%BF and 3.6%P in three 305-day lactations. Calved three weeksand yielding 38kgs daily, she was snapped up by Will Herron fromNewtownhamilton, County Antrim.
The Wallace duo also secured a bid of 2,300gns fortheir third prize winning Abercorn Buckeye Violet. Sired by REW Buckeye ET,this December 2010 born heifer is bred from Abercorn Ford Violet, whichproduced over 9,000kgs at 4.90%BF and 3.59%P in her second 305-day lactation.Calved three weeks and giving 38kgs per day, she joins William Hill’s herd atTandragee, County Armagh.
The father and son team of Philip and Simon Haffey,Portadown, County Armagh, claimed the female championship ribbons with GlassonChampion E Butterfly. Sired by Calbrett IHH Champion, she is out of a home-bredVG87 dam by Kilvergan Eric. This one calved three weeks ago and is giving 38kgsdaily. Buyer was Will Herron.
Bulls
Bull trade was more selective, with trade peakingat 3,400gns and nine lots selling to average £2,263 each.
Sale leader at 3,400gns was the third prize winningRelough Ruyman ET (PLI£147), from Ronald McLean, and sons Malcolm and Barry,from Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Born in February 2012, he is one of the firstsons of Pirolo Goldwyn Wyman ET to come under the hammer in Northern Ireland.Backed by four generations of EX dams, this bull was bred from Relough DurhamRuth ET EX94-2E, which gave over 10,700kgs at 4.02%BF and 3.27%P in her fourth305-day lactation. Buyers were Ian andThoburn McCaughey from Broughshane.
Male champion Relough Mark (PLI£156) attracted abid of 3,200gns from brothers Noel and Trevor Muldrew, Castle Dillon, Armagh. Thisthirteen-month-old entry was also by Pirolo Goldwyn Wyman ET, and is out ofRelough Titanic Marq EX. He is backed by fourteen generations of VG and EXdams.
The McLean family also scooped the honourablemention award with Relough Maverick (PLI£114),which sold to Michael O’Brien,Poyntzpass, for 2,900gns. Born in February 2012, he is by Gillette WindbrookET, and is out of Relough Durham Melissa 2 ET, which gave over 10,400kgs at4.91%BF and 3.48%P in her fourth 305-day lactation.
Stuart Smith, Londonderry, realised 2,500gns forthe second prize winning Prehen Investor (PLI£132). This January 2012 born bullwas sired by Regancrest Altaiota ET, and is bred from twelve generations of VGand EX cows with an average of 90 points. His dam Prehen Allen Ivory gave over9,300kgs at 4.37%BF and 3.27%P in her third 305-day lactation. Buyer was JohnShanks from Ballynahinch, County Down.
Reserve male champion was the December 2011 bornClandeboye Seaver Franc shown by Mark Logan of Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, CountyDown. Sired by REW Seaver ET, he is bredfrom the noted Clandeboye Champion Francesca VG89-3yr – Irish National HolsteinShow champion and McLarnons Dairy Cow Champion in 2012. This one failed to meethis reserve and was withdrawn unsold.