Freshly calved dairy cows and heifers met a strong trade last Thursday at the first monthly dairy sale held in Dungannon Farmers’ Mart by Taaffe Auctions.

A large crowd was present around the ring for the sale of freshly calved Holstein heifers and cows from a range of sellers, followed by the Inch herd dispersal sale of Holstein, Friesian and Swedish Red cattle offered by Jim Morrison and James Cleland from Downpatrick.

In the open sale, 22 freshly calved Holstein heifers sold for an average price of £1,705 and four freshly calved Holstein cows averaged £1,535.

The top price was £2,800 for a heifer, Killane Fieldman Pretty, exhibited by JA and SD Perry from Ahoghill. The animal was five days calved, is a Killane Fieldman ET daughter and is from the dam Killane Zenith Pat 194. The first lot in the ring was a heifer, Sterndale Colts Jodie Red (PLI £89), that made one of the top prices of £2,500. Exhibited by David Buchanan from Newry, the sire is Sandy-Valley Colt-P-Red and the dam, Sterndale Sterling Jodie Red ET. In the heifer show before the sale, judge Robert Stewart placed an animal from the Newtownards herd of GT and AM Patton as champion.

Carrowcroft Balisto Ruby (PLI £346) is a 25-month-old heifer, was 25 days calved, yielding 31 litres and made £2,000 in the sales ring.

Two heifers made £2,320. The first, Killane Jacey Flora 119 (PLI £351) was placed reserve champion in the heifer show and was exhibited by JA and SD Perry.

Also making £2,320 was Relough Grafetti Dot (PLI £218) exhibited by Ronald McLean and Sons from Donaghmore. The heifer was placed third in the show, was four weeks calved and was yielding 34 litres.

The good trade was reflective of a growing optimism in the sector as milk prices slowly improve. Although demand reduced slightly for some lots that came into the ring, only one lot was unsold on the day.

Inch

In the dispersal sale of freshly calved females from the Inch herd, 22 heifers averaged £1,469 and 34 cows sold for £1,487.

The top female price was £2,500 for a fourth lactation 75% British Friesian cow, Inch Glen Daphine 8 ET (PLI £245). The May 2011-born cow last calved on 27 August 2016, was yielding 39.6 litres and gave 7,958 litres in the last lactation.

She is a Blackisle Glen Albyn daughter from the dam, Inch Sem Daphine 2 ET.

Inch Guarini Dellia (PLI £298) is a Holstein heifer that calved on 14 September 2016 and was yielding 29.4 litres, and sold for £2,400.

Swedish Red females also sold well with the top price of £2,100 paid for a third lactation cow, Inch Linne Sippa. She last calved on 2 July 2016, was inseminated on 9 August and was yielding 36kg.

Bulls

The top price from the Inch dispersal sale was 3,650 guineas (gns) for a December 2014-born 88% British Friesian bull. Inch Theo (PLI £358) is a Deangate Tarquin son and is from the dam Inch Blackdale Daphine.

An 11-month-old British Friesian bull, Inch Trail (PLI £174) sold for 2,050gns. He is sired by Deangate Tarquin and from the dam Inch Rocket Blossom ET.

Calf

Making £1,050 was a Holstein heifer calf, Inch Doorman Roxy. She was born on 1 October 2016, is a Val-Bisson Doorman daughter and is from the dam, Inch Iota Roxy.