Holstein bulls to 3,000gns and heifers to 1,700gns at Moira

Quality bulls soared to a top of 3,000gns twice, while heifers reached a ceiling of 1,700gns, at Holstein NI's April show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena near Moira.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th May 2016, 08:59 BST
Updated 4th May 2016, 13:17 BST
Malcolm McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the reserve male champion Relough Fandango ET sold for 2,900gns. Included are judge Jim Gilliand; and sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.Malcolm McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the reserve male champion Relough Fandango ET sold for 2,900gns. Included are judge Jim Gilliand; and sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.
Malcolm McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the reserve male champion Relough Fandango ET sold for 2,900gns. Included are judge Jim Gilliand; and sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.

The first bull in the catalogue, Glasson Geordie PLI £424 from Philip and Simon Haffey, Portadown, impressed judge Jim Gilliland to take the male championship award.

Sired by SSI Mogul Defender ET, he is bred from the VG2yr Glasson Supersonic G Gail who gave over 8,500kgs at 4.84% butterfat and 3.47% protein in her first 305-day lactation. This eighteen-month-old bull is backed by eight generations of VG and EX dams and sold at 3,000gns to dairy farmers Riddell Murphy, and son Timothy, from Derrynoose, County Armagh.

Sharing the day’s top bid of 3,000gns was the third placed Relough Watchman PLI £411 bred by Ronald McLean, and sons Malcolm and Barry, from Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Born in March 2015, he was sired by Ladys Manor Graf La Bron, and is out of Willsbro Garrett Roxy 2 ET EX91 3* who averaged 12,479kgs at 4.79% butterfat and 3.08% protein in three 305-day lactations. He is bred from eight straight generations of EX dams, and sold to Cyril Maxwell from Augher, County Tyrone.

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Andrew McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the second placed Relough Watchman sold for 3,000gns. Also pictured is sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.Andrew McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the second placed Relough Watchman sold for 3,000gns. Also pictured is sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.
Andrew McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the second placed Relough Watchman sold for 3,000gns. Also pictured is sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.

The McLean trio had a good day at Moira, selling five Relough bulls to average £2,450 per head.

Next best at 2,900gns was the reserve male champion Relough Fandango ET PLI £433. Sired by Seagull Bay MVP, his dam is the Morningview Legend daughter Relough Legend Frances EX92 who is projected to do over 12,000kgs in her third lactation. She is bred from nine generations of VG and EX dams, and averaged 10,734kgs at 4.64% butterfat and 3.66% protein in her first two lactations. Buyer was pedigree herd owner JJ McDowell from Castlereagh, Belfast.

Ladys Manor Graf La Bron was also behind the breeding of Relough Frabron PLI £406. He came under the hammer of auctioneer Michael Taaffe at 2,780gns, selling to Ian Loughrin from Caledon, County Tyrone. This one was bred from Relough Hayden Frances EX91 2E LP50, and is backed by nine generations of VG and EX dams.

Inch Genetics based at Downpatrick, County Down, realised 2,480gns for the November 2014 born Inch Purpose PLI £434. Sired by Lakemead Pinnacle ET, he was bred from Inch Blackisle Daphne 2 ET EX92-3E LP70 who averaged 10,588kgs at 5.35% butterfat and 3.31% protein in six lactations. Backed by four generations of VG and EX dams he was snapped up by James Stevenson for his Aughnahoory Herd based at Kilkeel, County Down.

Philip Haffey, Portadown, exhibited the male champion Glasson Geordie sold for 3,000gns. Adding their congratulations are judge Jim Gilliland; and sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.Philip Haffey, Portadown, exhibited the male champion Glasson Geordie sold for 3,000gns. Adding their congratulations are judge Jim Gilliland; and sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.
Philip Haffey, Portadown, exhibited the male champion Glasson Geordie sold for 3,000gns. Adding their congratulations are judge Jim Gilliland; and sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.

Following close behind at 2,400gns was the third placed Glasson Force PLI £251 from Philip and Simon Haffey. Sired by the Sandy Valley Bolton son Coyne Farms Dorcy ET, he was bred from Berryholme G Jordan Flo ET VG89-SP – first prize senior heifer in-milk at Balmoral in 2014. This sixteen-month-old bull is backed by five generations of VG and EX dams, and sold to Dessie and Jonathan Moore from Fintona, County Tyrone.

Leading heifer trade at 1,700gns was the female champion Inch Hylke Daphne 4, a potential ninth generation VG/EX heifer consigned by Inch Genetics. Sired by Tittenser Hylke, she is bred from Inch Toystory Daphne EX SP. Two weeks calved and producing 32 litres daily, she caught the eye of Raymond McCartney who was bidding on behalf of the Patterson family’s Ballycrochan Herd based at Bangor, County Down.

Claiming the reserve female championship was Hilltara Mascalese Rachel bred by the father and son team of Sam and John McCormick, Bangor, County Down. Sired by Zani Bolton Mascalese, she is bred from Hilltara Jamie Rachel EX90 SP LP80. Calved five weeks and producing 35 litres daily, this one sold for 1,360gns to David and Ian Cummins from Upper Ballinderry near Lisburn.

The honourable mention award winner Cluntagh Alexander Petrelleet sold at 1,300gns for Steven Robinson from Crossgar, County Down. Sired by Golden Oaks ST Alexander, she is bred from the 4,500gns Croagh Petrelleet ET EX. This potential twelfth generation VG/EX heifer sold to R McAuley from Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh.

Andrew McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the second placed Relough Watchman sold for 3,000gns. Also pictured is sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.Andrew McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the second placed Relough Watchman sold for 3,000gns. Also pictured is sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.
Andrew McLean, Donaghmore, exhibited the second placed Relough Watchman sold for 3,000gns. Also pictured is sponsor Jeff Haslett, Moore Concrete.

Holstein NI is indebted to Moore Concrete for its generous sponsorship of the April show and sale at Moira. Company representative Jeff Haslett was on hand to congratulate the winners and present the awards

Averages: Six heifers £1,358 (100%); and 14 bulls £2,128 (67%).

Auctioneer: Taaffe Auctions