Brisk Holstein bull trade realises 3,750gns high

Pedigree Holstein bulls attracted a brisk trade at the Northern Ireland club’s February show and sale, held at Kilrea Livestock Mart.

Prices reached a ceiling of 3,750gns and 3,700gns with auctioneer Mark Stewart confirming that 24 lots sold to average £2,270 each.

Claiming the day’s top price and the championship title was the November 2010 born Mullaugher Samson (PLI £47) bred by David McNaugher from Aghadowey, County Londonderry. Sired by Picston Shottle, he is bred from the Silky Gibson daughter, Corringham Gibson Sallie EX90-2 (7yr) who has just produced her eighth calf and has given over 70 tonnes of milk with great components. Backed by nine generations of VG and EX dams he sold to Brennan Farms, Rasharkin, County Antrim.

Following close behind at 3,700gns was the first prize winning Inch Hardy (PLI £81) brought out by Jim Morrison who had made the long journey from Downpatrick in County Down. Born in October 2010 he is by the British Friesian sire, Tittenser Hylke, and is bred from the Maughlin Storm daughter, Inch Storm Daphne 6 ET EX93-3 (7yr) who produced over 10,000kgs at 5.36%BF and 3.42%P in her fourth 305-day lactation. This one joins Leslie Glenn’s dairy herd at Carryduff.

The second prize winning Glasson Samurai (PLI £140) came under the hammer at 3,550gns for the father and son team of Philip and Simon Haffey, Portadown, County Armagh. Sired by Mr Atlees Alta Amazing ET, his dam is the VG86 (3yr)SP Glasson Shottle Sara ET which yielded over 12,300kgs at 4.69%BF and 3.37%P in her second 305-day lactation. Backed by six generations of VG and EX dams, this October 2010 entry was snapped up by Mr Murphy from Armagh, County Armagh.

John McLean, and son Ian, Bushmills, County Antrim, realised 3,350gns for the fourth prize winning Priestland Rocky Red. Born in September 2009 he was sired by Carrousel Distringene Red ET, while his dam is the 5,200gns Cradenhill Rainey Red ET VG85 which produced over 11,400kgs at 4.10%BF and 3.20%P in her second 305-day lactation. Backed by seven generations of VG and EX dams, this one caught the eye of Messrs R Turtle and Co, Ahoghill, County Antrim.

Next best at 3,000gns was the fourth prize winning Ballyweaney Fredy ET consigned by Mervyn and Gareth Smyth, Cloughmills, County Antrim. Born in December 2010 he is by Regancrest Elton Durham , and is bred from Penn Gate Leduc Fresh EX90, who produced over 11,000kgs at 4.30%BF and 3.36%P in her third 305-day lactation. This one is backed by five generations of VG and EX dams, and sold to Samuel Wilson, Ballymena, County Antrim.

David and Austin Perry, Ahoghill, County Antrim, realised 2,900gns for the third prize winning Killane Rich (PLI £112). Born in November 2010 he was sired by Gran-J Oman McCormick, and is bred from the Braedale Freeman daughter, Killane Freeman Roberta EX91-2 (5yr). Now in her fourth lactation, she has produced an average of 9,243kgs at 4.36%BF and 3.04%P in three completed lactations. Boasting eleven generations of VG and EX dams, he sold to Messrs Coleman from Doagh, County Antrim.

The Braedale Goldwyn son Mullaugher Goldfinger ET (PLI +£106) sold at 2,850gns for David McNaugher. Born in August 2010 his dam is Valleyville Gibson Lily VG88 – maternal sister to Valleyville Lheras Jenn EX94, first prize senior three-year-old at the Canadian Royal Winter Fair. Backed by three generations of VG and EX dams he was snapped up by William Munnis from Ballymoney, County Antrim.

The reserve championship was awarded to Prehen Rosette (PLI +£38), a Roylane Jordan son backed by six generations of VG and EX dams. Bred by Robert and Stuart Smith, Londonderry, County Londonderry, he is out of the Manat daughter, Prehen Manat Dellia 2 ET EX91-4 (6yr), and sold for 2,350gns