Hilltara herd lead bidding at Moira Holstein sale

The Bangor-based Hilltara herd led bidding in both the male and female sections at Holstein NI’s monthly show and sale at Moira.

Leading bull trade at 3,450gns was their third placed Hilltara Simon ET, while heifer trade reached a ceiling of 2,750gns, realised by their fourth placed Hilltara Wyman Charlotte.

The 300-cow herd owned by Sam and Trish McCormick, and son John, sold six heifers in total, which averaged £2,422 a head.

Bulls

Top priced bull, Hilltara Simon ET PLI £170, is sired by Gillette Windbrook, and is bred from the VG89-3yr Hilltara Alexander Sara, who gave over 8,400kgs at 4.48% butterfat and 3.20% protein in her first lactation. Backed by eight generations of VG and EX dams, this thirteen-month-old bull was bought by John O’Brien, Jerrettspass, County Down.

Holstein Moira 1

Second best at 2,300gns was the reserve male champion Prehen Silvio ET PLI £176, a February 2014 born Va- Early Dawn Sudan son, bred by the newly elected Holstein NI chairman Stuart Smith, and father Robbie, from Londonderry. He is out of the Hardline Titanic daughter Silla EX-GER, who gave over 15,600kgs in her second lactation. Buyer was John O’Brien, Jerrettspass.

Holstein Moira 2

The male champion Carrowcroft Richman PLI £335 from Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore, sold to William Parke, Ballyward, Co Down, for 2,000gns. ThIS fourteen-month-old is sired by Co-op Bosside Massey ET, and is out of the home-bred Carrowcroft Mr Legend Ruby VG86, who gave over 9,400kgs at 4.82% butterfat and 3.84% protein in her second lactation.

Females

Female leader, Hilltara Wyman Charlotte, was born in September 2012 and is bred from eleven generations of VG and EX dams. Sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son Pirolo Goldwyn Wyman, she is out of HIlltara Knowledge Charlotte 2 VG. Buyer was Gordon Davis, Dromore, County Tyrone.

As well as topping trade the Hilltara herd also scooped the female championship with the November 2013 born Hilltara Windbrook Bobby Joe. Sired by Gillette Windbrook, she is bred from the 2011 NI calf show champion Hilltara Lheros Bobby Joe GP81-2yr. Calved four weeks and producing 34 litres daily, this one sold for 2,420gns to Desmond and Jonathan Moore, Fintona, County Tyrone.

Holstein Moira 3

Ronald McLean, and sons Malcolm and Barry, Donaghmore, sold the unshown Relough Shottle Roxie 25 ET for 2,720gns. This December 2013 born Picston Shottle daughter is out of Relough Duplex Roxie 11 ET EX, who averaged 8,787kgs at 4.14% butterfat and 3.17% protein in five lactations. She sold to Michael McBride from Plumbridge, CountyTyrone.

The McLean family also claimed the reserve female championship with Relough Windbrook Danna 8. This potential tenth generation VG or EX heifer sold for 1,920gns to Michael McBride, having calved two weeks ago and is currently yielding 35 litres a day.

Honourable mention in the female section was Brague Gold Bullion, a February 2013 heifer from Robbie Mulligan’s herd at Banbridge. She sold to George Kenneway from Cullybackey for 1,810gns.

Averages: 12 heifers, £2,075 (100% clearance); 12 bulls, £1,761 (80% clearance).