Top Holstein heifers saw a biding frenzy with more than 400 bidders present at this week’s Causeway Classic II, held at Balmoral which resulted in a top bid of 10,200gns.
Hitting the headlines at 10,200gns was the December 2009 born Priestland 4955 Gold Fifi ET consigned by Iain and Joyce McLean from Bushmills, County Antrim. This potential fourth generation EX was sired by Braedale Goldwyn and is bred from the noted Penn-Gate Skychief Fifi EX94, which gave more than 16,000kgs in her third lactation. She attracted spirited bidding from the packed ringside audience, with the securing bid coming from Lewis McMurray who runs the Matfield Herd based at Banbridge, County Down.
William and Andrew McCollum, Coleraine, County Londonderry, offered an Ensenada Taboo Planet ET daughter bred from Pine Tree Martha Sheen ET. Ballycairn Planet Missy ET is a potential eighth generation EX or VG, and is a full sister to the number 13 GTPI Ammon Peachey Shauna (GTPI 2363) – which sold for $21,000 as a first choice in 2008.
She sold with contract interest from several AI companies, and was snapped up at 8,500gns by Anthony Wills who runs the noted 1,000-cow Willsbro herd based at Pawton Dairy in Cornwall. This heifer was the first to sell in Europe from the hot new USA cow family. Pine Tree Martha Sheen has more than 20 sons in AI in America, and over 80 per cent of her offspring have genomically tested above parent average.
Then at 6600gns was Castletru Socrates Candy ET consigned by Mark and James Truesdale, Newcastle, County Down. Born in June 2009, she is bred from the VG88 2yr, Texel Beauty Shottle Choice – junior champion at Opmeer in 2009; and full sister to the $101,000 Ralma Shottle Camouflage VG88 (2yr) which sold at the Planet Holstein sale in 2008. She is bred from five generations of VG and EX, and joins Adrian and Conor McAufield’s Lissue herd at Lisburn.
The UK‘s number one PLI (£216) heifer, Prehen Mascol Froukje 2, realised 5800gns for the father and son team of Robbie and Stuart Smith, Waterside, County Londonderry. This eight-month-old Mascol daughter is bred from Prehen Goldwyn Froukje VG87 (3yr) – projected to do almost 11,000kgs in her second lactation. She boasts ten generations of VG and EX all over 4.5% butterfat and 3.5% protein, and sold to Kieran Tohill from Kilrea, County Londonderry.
The last lot catalogued was a first choice from three pregnancies due in September by Million and bred from the VG86 (2yr) Comestar Lautella Goldwyn. Consigned by David McAfee, Ballymoney, County Antrim, this lot realised 5000gns, selling to the Willsbro herd. The resultant heifer calf will be a maternal sister to the VG87 (2yr) Bolton number 30 GLPI (2730) cow in Canada.
Another Million daughter commanded a bid of 4100gns for Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, Dungannon. Relough Million Raven ET is a potential fifth generation EX, and is a maternal sister to six highly classified young cows, most of which have AI contracts. This November 2009 born Relough Durham Ruth PI ET daughter joins Cyril and Martin Millar’s herd at Coleraine.
Close behind at 4000gns was a first choice from two pregnancies by KHW Kite Advent Red and bred from Henkeseen Lic Ruffle Red VG88 (2yr). Backed by eight generations of VG and EX, the resultant calves are from the same family as world type leaders, Duplex and Sanchez. Consigned by David McAfee, this lot sold to Lismoor Genetics, County Cork.
County Longford breeder, Martin Riley, paid out 3300gns to secure Killane Wisconsin Finesse Red 5 from David and Austin Perry’s herd in Ahoghill, County Antrim. This red and white heifer boasts five generations of EX or VG.
Averages 22 lots, 3882.
