All three of these heifers had placed first in their respective classes in the pre-sale show judged by Reece Simmers of the noted Backmuir pedigree herd, Keith, Banffshire.
Topping the sale was the 9200gns paid for Haystar Beauty 6. This ET calf, born June 2025, is full of breeding being sired by Raceview Mattie J Beauty M, and being out of Raceview Lady W Nicolette, from the Raceview Beauty dam line. Beauty is also a maternal brother to Haystar Romeo, a former NI Male of the Year, and who went on to sell for 10,000gns at a Jalex sale.
Purchasing the top price was Stephen MacAuley for his Hillfield pedigree herd at Crumlin, Co Antrim.
Of buying the top price Stephen MacAuley said: “I’m really delighted to have been able to buy this heifer. She has fantastic bloodlines and the cornerstone genetics I was looking for and which I can build the Hillfield herd round. We will flush her in due course and her purchase is in keeping with my general aim of quality over quantity!
"A terrific all-round heifer she has a super temperament which is important to us, and Simmental as a breed with its calving ease, and top maternal traits is just so easy to work with.”
The youngest animal in the catalogue, Haystar Dora 3 made 7000gns when selling to Simmental breeder, Danniel Harrison, Annalong, Co Down. Described as a ‘fancy, showy heifer’, this December 2025 born calf carried a real depth of pedigree being sired by Lissadell Nailer, a former Irish National Male Champion, and being out of Clonagh Moonlight Dora, a full sister to the €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer owned by the Popes Herd, Lancashire. Her grand dam Clonagh Dora The Explorer was twice former Overall Champion at Tullamore Show.
Another Lissadell Nailer daughter, Haystar Divina 5 sold for 6400gns. In the pre-sale show, this December 2024 had been placed Overall Supreme Female Champion by the judge Reece Simmers. Again with plenty of breeding behind her, this heifer is out of Haystar Divina 2, with dam line going back to Sterling Adels Naomi, and with females from the line selling to 28,000gns. Haystar Divina 5 was a second purchase for the aforementioned Daniel Harrison.
Commenting on his Champion and the Haystar heifers, Reece Simmers said: “My choice of Champion was just a lovely heifer with power, plenty of length, and full of breed character. The three Haystar animals were a super line-up of Simmental heifers. Full of quality and style, they just had that something extra that you’d expect at an Elite Sale.”
It was a terrific sale for the Haystar herd and speaking afterwards Kyle Hayes said: “We’re really delighted to see these heifers sell so well. With it being an Elite Sale marking the 55th anniversary of the NI Club, we were keen to support it with something a wee bit special, and we hope we have done that. The top priced heifer was quite a modest calf when she was born but she really got going and developed into what we think is now a standout heifer. As a herd and with everything on we don’t have the time to show but we think these heifers would very much fit for the show ring.”
Of the Haystar herd’s general breeding philosophy and outlook Kyle Hayes went on to say: “In type we’re looking to breed females with a moderate frame, length, and full of style and breed character. We’ll look to stick with five or six top cow lines and within that to concentrate on some embryo work. An aim is to breed these type of high end heifers and we hope to grow a market within which we could sell three or four of them per year.”
In the small show of bulls forward, Corrick Senator 25 from Cecil and Scott McIlwaine led the trade when selling Corrick Senator for 6000gns. Got by AI, this May 2025 born bull is Curaheen Drifter and is out of Skerrington Rhona 41st , a Sowenna Aristocrat daughter. Corrick Senator 25 was knocked down to S McLaughlin, Dungiven.
From a draft of five heifers put forward by the Omorga herd of John Moore, Beragh, Omagh, Co Tyrone the June 2025 born Omorga Shona made 5100gns when being bought by Roger Henderson, Drumsamney, Desertmartin, Magherafelt. By the AI sire Clonagh Tiger Gallant, this heifer’s calf is out of Omorga Natasha from the herd’s noted Daffodil line. The first Omorga animal offered was the February 2025 born Omorga Sonia 25. This heifer by the 20,000gns Denizes Monty, and out of Omorga Joy, a Dermotstown Delboy (ET) EX 92 dughter was bought by David McElmurray, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone.
Another heifer bringing a lot of good bloodlines to the sale was Ranfurly Stella 19th S9 (P) from David & Jonny Hazleton, Cohannon House, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. This Auroch Deuter sired heterozygous polled heifer is out of Ranfurly Stella 12th L18 VG 85, the Reserve Supreme Champion at RUAS Balmoral in 2022, and whose dam Raceview Fancywinty 652 EX 93 is described as ‘one of the best cows we had in our herd.’
With excellent performance figures of calving ease and maternal (milk), Ranfurly Stella 19 th S9 (P). Buying this heifer at 4900gns was Patrick Fitzsimmons, Strangford.
Taking the Reserve Female Championship in the pre-sale show was from Drumagarner Scarlett (P) from Messrs M & E McCloskey, 98 Drumagarner Road, Kilrea, Coleraine.
February 2025 born, this heterozygous polled maiden heifer, got by AI, sired by Curaheen Gunshot (P), and is out of Drumagarner Nikki, a Curaheen Drifter daughter. Come sale time, Drumagarner Scarlett (P) made 4600gns when selling to Kelly Bros, Ballycastle.
AVERAGES:
15 maiden heifers £4858
4 bulls £44331.25
