21 black and white bulls to sell at Kilrea Holstein NI sale on March 3

James Woods, Genus ABS, confirms the company's continued sopnsorship of Holstein NI's March bull show and sale at Kilrea with the club's chairman Charlie Weir, and vice-chairman Iain McLean. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

Catalogues are available for Holstein NI’s annual bull sale at Kilrea Mart on Tuesday 3rd March 2020.

Auctioneer Mark Stewart has confirmed an entry of 21 pedigree bulls.

The pre-sale show, kindly sponsored by Genus ABS, commences at 11.00am and will be judged by Roy Cromie from County Donegal. The sale will get underway at noon.

Entries have been received from leading herds: Beechview, Bellemont, Bushmills, Drumeil, Inch, Keely, Majestic, Mullaugher, Prehen and Relough.

The bulls on offer range in age from April 2018 to January 2019, and are sons of top AI sires such as Peak Altafirebird, Seagull Bay Supersire, Va-Early Dawn Sudan Cri, Ladys Manor RD Grafeeti, NH Sunview Fantastic, VH Balisto Brook, Bomaz Altatopshot, EDG Rubicon, Bomaz Skywalker, Endco Superhero, Peak Altadepot, Our Favorite Undenied, Claynook Casper, the NI-bred fertility bull Prehen Lancaster, and the British Friesian sires Inch Persistent, Catlane Chad and the Dutch-bred Sem 17.

Mark Stewart said: “The catalogue features something for everyone, from outcross and British Friesian bloodlines, and bulls boasting genomic PLI values to £776. They are bred from high component and proven cow families, and backed by generation after generation of VG and EX classified dams.”

Included in the catalogue is the April 2018 Inch Potter (Lot 1) from the Inch Genetics partnership of Jim Morrison and James Cleland, Downpatrick. Sired by Inch Persistent, he is backed by 16 generations of VG and EX dams from the Ivory family. This bull boasts a blend of British Friesian and Holstein bloodlines for production and strength. His granddam Inch Lauthority Ivory EX90 produced 10,920kgs at 5.39% butterfat and 3.34% protein in her fourth lactation.

The December 2018 Prehen Lucas (Lot 16) from Robbie and Stuart Smith, Londonderry, is the first son of Bomaz Skywalker and the highest GPLI bull (£776) to sell at auction in the UK. His dam Prehen Penmanship Lady 3 GP83 (2yr) produced 7,811kgs at 4.87% butterfat and 3.35% protein in her first lactation. She is fresh and doing 37 litres at 4.61% butterfat and 3.31% protein, and is a former number one GPLI female in the UK; and the current number two fertility index cow in the UK. She is a full sister to Prehen Lancaster at Cogent.

Catalogues are available on request from HA McIlrath and Sons Ltd tel: 028 29540269.