A new Northern Ireland record price for a calved Holstein heifer was achieved at the Summer Sizzler 2 sale when George and David Simpson, Lisburn, sold the show winning female, Damm Tatoo Sallie VG88-2yr, for 18,500gns.
The sale, staged at Andrew and Caroline Kennedy’s farm on Straid Road, Ballymena, attracted a catalogue entry of 68 elite pedigree Ayrshire, Holstein and Jersey heifers which averaged just over £4500 with a 93% clearance.
Sale leader was the champion heifer in milk at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Balmoral Spring Show which had also been supreme heifer at the RUAS Winter Fair.
Sired by Duckett Crush Tatoo, she calved in September and sold sexed to Stauton Chief/Claynook Brook to father and son duo, Cyril and Martin Millar buying for their Millars herd from Coleraine.
Second top price was 8500gns for Lislea Hancock Cleo from Stephen Lisburn and Family, Derrynoose, Armagh. This January 2022-born heifer is the result an embryo imported from the USA from the famous Kings-Ransom Mogul Cleo Ex95-USA, a 10th-generation Ex cow that bred the 2021 All-American Produce cow.
Lislea Holsteins also secured 7500gns when they sold a first choice heifer calf to be born from two female pregnancies by Farnear Altitude Red and bred from the two times All-American Strans-Jen D Tequila Red Ex96-3E-USA, that has already bred two junior champions at World Dairy Expo in Madison. This lot was bought by a breeder from Co Louth.
The Hilltara herd of Sam and John McCormick, Bangor, Co Down, sold their best, Hilltara Diamondback Cleavage, at 7700gns to a Co Wexford breeder. This heifer calf is bred from the Cleavage branch of the same Kings-Ransom cow family behind the 8500gns heifer calf.
Mostragee RT Duckett Black Magic ET, another American bred embryo, consigned by Mark Henry, Rory Timlin and Duckett Holsteins USA, made 6800gns. This nine-month-old calf by Brenland Denver, is bred from the Ex95-USA Ms Beautys BlackVelvet and was knocked down to a Maghera breeder.
Top price amongst the coloured breeds was 5400gns for a seven-month-old Jersey heifer from Mark Henry and Rory Timlin, purchased by two Lisburn-based breeders. She is a daughter of the double World Dairy Expo Champion Bri-Lin Valson Spritz Ex96-4E-USA and sired by Hawarden Impuls Premier.
Source: The Scottish Farmer
