Holstein bulls sell to 5,000gns at Dungannon
Pedigree Holstein bulls attracted a strong demand at the Northern Ireland club’s 29th annual autumn show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at Dungannon.
Prices peaked at 5,000gns, and following an 87% clearance auctioneer Michael Taaffe confirmed that 34 bulls changed hands to level at £2,835 each.
Hitting the headlines in both the show and sale rings was the June 2015 born pre-sale champion Relough Danantory ET PLI £494, bred by Ronald McLean and sons Malcolm and Barry from Donaghmore, County Tyrone.
See also: Demand remains for fresh cows as Borderway Holsteins top at 2,900gns
Sired by the Mogul son Westenrade Altaspring, he is bred from the Morningview Legend daughter Relough Legend Danna 3 VG87, who produced 13,440kgs at 5.14% butterfat and 3.51% protein in her second lactation.
He sold to Sean O’Brien from Poyntzpass, County Armagh.
The McLean family’s noted Relough prefix sold seven bulls to average £3,300/head.
Next best at 4,700gns was the second placed Relough Combo ET PLI £510. Born in June 2015, he is by Cogent Supershot, and is bred from BB Mogul Cleopatra ET VG87-2yr, who produced 11,514kgs at 4.29% butterfat and 3.42% protein in her first lactation.
His granddam is the world-renowned Larcrest Cale ET VG89-2yr-USA from the famous Cosmopolitan family at Larcrest. This bull is a full brother to the £32,036 Larcrest RR Cale sold at the 2015 German Masters Sale. Highest bidders were Desmond and Jonathan Moore from Fintona, County Tyrone.
Robbie Smith, and son Stuart, from Londonderry, had a good day at the autumn sale, selling five bulls from their well-known Prehen Herd to average £3,528 each.
Leading the Smith’s consignment at 4,500gns was the unshown Prehen Fredrick ET PLI £517, which sold to David Alexander from Omagh, County Tyrone.
Born in July 2015, and sired by the Amighetti Numero Uno son De-Su 11756 Octavian ET, he is bred from Prehen Goldwyn Froukje ET EX94-4E-15* – a former number two GPLI cow in the UK.
This bull is one of the first Octavian sons to sell at auction in the UK, and is a maternal brother to Prehen Omen – the number one UK-bred proven bull.
Brothers Austin and David Perry, Ahoghill, sold two bulls at 4,000gns each.
First to go was the fifth placed Killane Rover PLI £238, a July 2015 born Vieuxsaule Flame ET son backed by 13 generations of VG and EX dams. Buyer was John McDowell from Castlereagh, Belfast.
The Immunity Plus sire Vieuxsaule Flame ET was also behind the breeding of the 4,000gns Killane Delta PLI £333. This third-prize winner is bred from five generations of EX dams from the noted Dellia family, and joins David and Alan Wallace’s Abercorn Herd based at Antrim, County Antrim.
Claiming the day’s reserve championship was Beechview Tintin PLI £356 from George and Jason Booth’s herd at Stewartstown.
Born in September 2015, he was sired by Seagull Bay Silver ET, and is bred from Clongowes Atwood Thelma EX92 – intermediate champion at the 2014 Irish National Holstein Show.
This one came under the hammer at 2,900gns, selling to Wilbert Kennedy from Ballyclare, County Antrim.