The first ever Dock Summer Sizzler sale took place in Kinsale over the weekend, with 50 lots going through the ring. Run by the Hayes family of Dock Holsteins, the sale also included consignments from well-known herds such as Eedy, Dellview, Rowantree, Sallybank, Rathgribbon, Seanacourt and Cahirmee Holsteins. Denis Barrett led proceedings in the auctioneer’s box and saw a peak of €5,400 for Dock Capital Champ ET. This VG86 classified first-calver carried a pedigree which was unique to Ireland. Her maternal brother Dock Connor is the highly successful Cogent AI bull, while a maternal sister Dock Supershot Champ also bred Dock Jimmy, who is on the road to Alta genetics.

If the in-demand Champ female line wasn’t enough, Capital Champ is also the first Stantons Capital Gain to sell in Ireland. She calved in January and has a projected 305-day milk yield of 8,982kg at 3.11% fat and 3.2% protein.

One of the youngest animals forward secured the second-top price.

The March 2017 Dock Beemer Britt ET had a number of bids coming from all sides of the auction tent before finally settling at €4,900.

This Pol Butte Mc Beemer ET daughter is out of 2014 ATH By Night intermediate champion Rocca-Dg W Britt ET.

The top classified second-calver dam previously sold daughters to €7,000 at the 2015 Roccafarm sale and has a projected second lactation yield of nearly 11,000kg.

Best of the yearling heifers came in the form of Dock Solomon Clare at €4,600. This June 2016-born daughter of Walnutlawn Solomon is out of VG89 classified second-calver Dock Lavengaurd Clare.

Solomon Clare comes from a long line of high-yielding females, including her dam, who milked 13,756kg in her second lactation.

Maternal sister to the sale topper, Dock Tango Cheesecake secured a price tag of €4,200. Also out of NH Nogul Champ VG86 who bred Cogent star Dock Connors, Tango Cheesecake is sired by Mr Welcome Hill Tango. Having calved in January, this young heifer is projected to yield 9,376kg of milk of 4.14% fat over 305 days.

Leading the charge from the sale consignments was Dellview Snow Angel at €4,100.

Sired by Larcrest Cancun and from the well-known Angel cow family, Snow Angel was put forward for sale with a wealth of experience in the show ring behind her, including all-Ireland junior heifer champion and reserve junior Holstein champion at Millstreet. Having calved in March, the VG87 classified first-calver sold with a projected 305-day yield of over 8,000kg.

Overall, trade was looked upon favourably, with 40 of the 50 lots forward selling through the ring. These lots ranged from two-month-old calves to first-calvers and achieved an average sale price of over €2,200.

Angus World Forum comes to UK and Ireland

The World Angus Forum takes place every four years and is a celebration of the huge impact of the Angus breed on global beef production.

This year, delegates and attendees from both the UK and the rest of the world are set to flock to the home of the Aberdeen Angus breed to take part in a full and expansive itinerary, kicking off this Friday. The events are aimed to educate and inspire, while celebrating the history and delving into what the future holds for the famous Aberdeen Angus breed.

The full itinerary will incorporate a tour in England, Scotland and Ireland, while taking in the Royal Highland Show, the Royal Three Counties Show, the All-Ireland Championship and a packed technical conference along the way.

The forum will attract many Angus breeders, farmers and associated companies from all over the world to listen to speakers, share their knowledge, expertise and experiences and to network together.

Alex Sanger, president of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society and chair of the World Angus Forum 2017 organising committee, said: “We’re excited to celebrate the breed in its home and give our delegates and friends from around the world a great taste of what the UK and Ireland has to offer at the same time.”

Kicking off in England from 16-20 June, attendees will visit the Rosemead, Lockerley, Aynho and Tofts Aberdeen Angus herds.

They will also attend the Royal Three Counties Show for the national show of Aberdeen Angus cattle, one of the main events on the agricultural calendar.

Upon finishing the tour of England, the official world forum secretariat will take place in Edinburgh from 21-26 June. This is where delegates will take in the Royal Highland Show and the two-day technical conference, which will look at current trends and hot topics in the beef industry, with an eye to how to create a sustainable and effective beef production operation in the future.

There will also be a number of social events, including a gala dinner, where the grand finale of the forum youth competition will take place.

The world Angus forum will then move on to a tour of the east coast of Ireland from 24-26 June where attendees will visit the all-Ireland championships at Newry Show, another highly anticipated event on the calendar.

Delegates will also visit the Liss and Gigginstown Aberdeen Angus herds, along with taking in the historic Guinness Storehouse.

The final leg of the event is the Scottish tour from 27 June to 2 July.

A selection of Aberdeen Angus herds with great historical and current importance will be visited, including Rawburn, Ballindalloch, Tillyfour and the herd of society president Alex Sanger, Rosemount.

Texel All-Irelands set for Gorey Show

On 17 June, Gorey Show will play host to the 2017 Texel all-Ireland championships.

Numbers throughout the classes at last year’s all-Irelands in Louth increased substantially due to the society’s 40th anniversary celebrations, but the society has again reported increased numbers, seeing in excess of 200 entries from all across Ireland.

Sponsored by Univet Ltd, 50 of the top breeders from across the country will exhibit on the day, which is now regarded as the precursor of the society’s premier sale.

However, all exhibitors are after one main title, that of course is supreme Texel champion of 2017, which carries with it the RDS champion of champion’s award.

Taking charge of proceedings is the much-respected Ms Anna Minnice Hughes, who runs the Penparc flock in Wales.