Ulster bull breeders hit the jackpot

By Jeremy Hunt

A CAPACITY crowd produced a record-breaking sale of Holstein bulls at the Automart auction centre at Portadown.

Fufty-one sires averaged 2551 and prices reached 5700gns.

Buyers from throughout Northern Ireland packed into the market from early morning, which resulted in a flying trade.

Hitting the jackpot at 5700gns were Donaghmore farmers Ronald McLean and Sons, who produced an outstanding string from their renowned Relough herd.

But it was their Relough Pageant, a son of Etazon Addison, that sparked the sharpest bidding.

His dam is the 11,100kg Relough Primrose 3, one of the herds highest-index cows (PIN+67), and he has the eight-star brood cow Dynasty Southwind N Primrose as grand-dam.

Pageant (PIN+63) was bought by G Gilmore, Co Down.