Small selection of Holstein heifers make 3,020gns at Moira

A smaller than usual entry of heifers met a steady trade at Holstein NI’s monthly show and sale, Moira.

Overall 17 lots sold to average £2,428, with an 89% clearance.

Sale leader at 3,020gns was Carrowcroft Durable Empress, a Ronelee SS Durable daughter from Geoffrey Patton’s 150-cow herd at Carrowdore, County Down. Her dam Carrowcroft Dynamo Empress 2 (VG87) gave over 9,000kgs at 4.51% butterfat and 3.44% protein in her second 305-day lactation. Calved four weeks and producing 39kgs daily, this October 2011 born heifer joined Will Herron’s herd at Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

Two lots sold for 2,720gns. First of these was the July 2011 born Matfield Julianne 11, brought out by Lewis McMurray and sons Alan and Ian, from Banbridge, County Down. Sired by the Braedale Goldwyn son Smiddiehill Saratoga, she is bred from Matfield Julieanne 9, who gave over 11,800kgs at 5.48% butterfat and 3.26% protein in her second 305-day lactation. This one also caught the eye of Will Herron.

Geoffrey Patton enjoyed a good day’s trading at Moira, selling three heifers to average £2,877 a head. Best of these was the December 2011 born Carrowcroft Beacon L Primrose whom attracted a bid of 2,720gns from a County Tyrone herd owner. Sired by the Picston Shottle son End Road Beacon, she is out of a homebred Aquila Patron Lucente daughter.

The first heifer into the sale ring was the April 2011 born Matfield Lannie 23, from the McMurray family. She is by the homebred Picston Shottle son Matfield Ben, and is out of a Hartline Titanic daughter. Highest bidder at 2,700gns was Will Herron.

Sam McCormick, and son John, Bangor, County Down, realised 2,650gns for the February 2012 born Hilltara Mistral Charlotte 2. Sired by the Gen Mark Stmatic Sanchez son Hilltara Mistral, she is out of a homebred dam by Regancrest Design. She sold to an undisclosed buyer from County Tyrone.

Judge Martin Millar, Coleraine, awarded the supreme championship, sponsored by Teemore Engineering, to the youngest heifer in the catalogue Relough Danter Primrose 2. Born in February 2012, she is by the homebred Picston Shottle son Relough Danter. Calved two weeks and producing 30kgs daily, she joined Stephen McAllister’s herd at Dungannon, County Tyrone.

The McLean family also claimed the reserve championship with Relough End Story Roxie 2, which sold at 2,300gns to Sam Gilmore, Tandragee, County Armagh.

Honourable mention award winner was Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Mistral Charlotte, which sold at 2,200gns to Will Herron.

(Taaffe Auctions).