Relough's supreme champion leads Holstein bull entry at 3,220gns

The McLean family's renowned Relough prefix hit the headlines, claiming the supreme overall championship and a top price of 3,220gns at Holstein NI's 26th annual spring show and sale.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2016, 08:32 BST
Updated 17th Feb 2016, 06:54 BST
Reserve champion was Glasson Supremo exhibited by Simon Haffey, Portadown. Included are judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.Reserve champion was Glasson Supremo exhibited by Simon Haffey, Portadown. Included are judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.
Reserve champion was Glasson Supremo exhibited by Simon Haffey, Portadown. Included are judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.

Sale leader and winner of the PLI award was Relough Future ET PLI £432, a fourteen-month-old entry exhibited by Ronald McLean and sons, Malcolm and Barry, Donaghmore, Co Tyrone.

Sired by the Genervations Epic son, Stantons Camaro ET, he is backed by seven generations of dams from the high components Froukje cow family. His dam Relough Legend Frances EX92 SP gave over 11,400kgs at 4.45% butterfat and 3.70% protein in her second 305-day lactation. He joins the Sovereign pedigree herd owned by Messrs Davidson at Ballywalter, County Down.

Judge Kenny Boyd from Glaslough described the overall champion as the whole package. “He is a well-grown bull with a clean cut frame and fantastic legs and feet. I’ve no doubt he will be a good cow maker.”

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Stuart Smith, Londonderry, exhibited the honourable mention award winner Prehen Frenetic ET sold for 3,100gns. Adding their congratulations are judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.Stuart Smith, Londonderry, exhibited the honourable mention award winner Prehen Frenetic ET sold for 3,100gns. Adding their congratulations are judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.
Stuart Smith, Londonderry, exhibited the honourable mention award winner Prehen Frenetic ET sold for 3,100gns. Adding their congratulations are judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.

The McLean family sold six bulls to average £2,600 per head.

Next best at 2,820gns was the fourteen-month-old Relough Ronaldo ET PLI £453. He was sired by De Su RB Moonray, and is backed by eight generations of VG and EX dams. Bred from the VG87-2yr Relough Gonzo Raven SP, he is a full brother to the UK’s number seven genomic PLI £589 heifer Relough Moonray Raven 3 ET. Highest bidder was Joe Wilkinson from Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

Following close behind at 2,800gns was the fifteen-month-old Relough Range PLI £262. He was bred from the Mountfield SSI DCY Mogul son, TW Goodwhone. Backed by eleven generations of VG and EX dams, he is bred from Relough Palermo Roxie VG87. Buyer was S Bell from Cookstown.

Colin Kilpatrick, Glenanne, Co Armagh, paid out 2,600gns to secure the fifth placed Relough Dalogen PLI £418. Sired by Cookiecutter Petron Halogen, this fourteen-month-old entry was bred from Relough Legend Danna EX91 who is fresh with her fourth and averaged 12,175kgs at 4.3% butterfat and 3.32% protein in three 305-day lactations.

Supreme champion and winner of the PLI Award was Relough Future ET sold for a top price of 3220gns by Malcolm McLean, Donaghmore. He was congratulated by judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.Supreme champion and winner of the PLI Award was Relough Future ET sold for a top price of 3220gns by Malcolm McLean, Donaghmore. He was congratulated by judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.
Supreme champion and winner of the PLI Award was Relough Future ET sold for a top price of 3220gns by Malcolm McLean, Donaghmore. He was congratulated by judge Kenny Boyd, Glaslough; and sponsor John Henning, Danske Bank.

Holstein NI chairman Stuart Smith, and father Robbie, from Londonderry, secured the day’s second highest bid of 3,100gns for their honourable mention award winner Prehen Frenetic ET PLI £483. This fifteen-month-old bull was sired by De Su RM Moonray, and is bred from Prehen Goldwyn Froukje ET EX93 2E 11* LP 60 – the number 20 PLI £441 cow in the UK, who produced in excess of 14,700kgs at 4.21% butterfat and 3.66% protein in her fourth 305-day lactation. Prehen Frenetic is a full brother to the former number one and number two PLI cows the UK, and the UK’s former number one proven sire Prehen Omen. This one joins John Caldwell’s herd at Beragh, Co Tyrone.

Claiming the reserve championship ribbons in the Danske Bank-sponsored line-up was Philip and Simon Haffey’s Glasson Supremo PLI £214. Born in September 2014, he was sired by Texel Beauty Cosmo, and is bred from the prize winning Glasson KJ Jasper Sara EX91 SP. Backed by seven generations of VG and EX dams, this one came under the hammer at 2,700gns, selling to Desmond and Jonathan Moore from Fintona, Co Tyrone.

Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore, Co Down, realised 2,550gns for the second prize winning Carrowcroft Andrew ET PLI £278, which sold to Robert Rainey, Beragh. Sired by Seagull Bay Supersire, he was bred from the $17,000 Bremer Active Charm ET VG86-2yr-USA. This fifteen-month-old bull is a maternal brother to NH Mogul Champ VG-2yr – the former number one outcross heifer in Europe sold for 26,500 Euro in 2013.

Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, realised 2,300gns for the fifteen-month-old Ards Cyril ET who boasts a genomic PLI £508. Sired by De Du 11236 Balisto ET, he is backed by thirteen generations of VG and EX dams, and sold to PJ McVerry, Belleeks, Newry, Co Armagh.

Taaffe Auctions reported an 81% clearance with 25 lots selling to level at £1,972 per head.