The Kilbride Farm Simmental herd owned by the Robson family from Co Antrim hosted its 50th anniversary sale last month.

The sale was held as a timed auction over three days and saw strong export demand and prices reaching 6,000gns.

Overall, 15 heifers sold to average £4,886.

Leading the way

Leading the way at 6,000gns was the August 2020-born Kilbride Farm Eunice 314L (P), which was purchased by Australian buyer Jeff Knox, New South Wales.

From here, agreement has been reached that she will be kept at Kilbride Farm where she will be flushed, with embryos being exported to Mr Knox thereafter.

Sired by Kilbride Farm Hans PP, she is out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 191F.

Mr Knox is no stranger to securing Kilbride Farm genetics, having imported 32 embryos last year.

Three purchases

Selling at 5,100gns was Kilbride Farm Eunice 295K (P), which was one of three heifers purchased by Eoin Coogan from Co Wicklow.

This August 2019-born heifer is by the homozygous polled bull Sneumgaard Imperator and a Crugmelyn Brenin daughter. This heifer was sold in-calf to Curaheen Gunshot (P).

Mr Coogan was back in action when purchasing Kilbride Farm Eunice 306K for 4,400gns.

A direct daughter of Crugmelyn Brenin, she is out of a Cairnview Snazzy daughter-bred cow.

Last on the Wicklow man's shopping list was Kilbride Farm Jolly 25K, which was secured for 4,100gns.

This one is sired by Kilbride Farm Gruffalo 15 and sold in-calf to Kilbride Farm Jetstream P.

Scottish purchases

Two heifers hit 4,700gns. First at the money was Islavale Harvest 16 daughter Kilbride Farm Dora 97K. This in-calf heifer was the choice of the Boharm herd in Scotland.

Matching the price was the October 2019-born Kilbride Farm Eunice 305K. This Kilbride Farm Gruffalo 15 daughter was the pick of Over Finlarg Farm, again in Scotland.

The same buyer also forked out 3,900gns for the youngest heifer in the sale, Kilbride Farm Eunice by Curaheen Gunshot.

The first lot in the catalogue, Kilbride Farm Eunice 291K, hit the market at 4,500gns. This full sister to the aforementioned Kilbride Farm Gruffalo was secured by Antrim breeder Connor Wilkinson.