There was a complete herd dispersal sale of milking cows at Mid-Tipperary Marts in Thurles last Saturday on behalf of the Pallottine Fathers, Pallottine College, Thurles, Co Tipperary. The sale attracted buyers from all over the country. Unusually, the herd was almost 100% British Friesian and was a mix of spring and autumn calvers with more autumn than spring calvers for sale.

Like any herd dispersal, there was a range of quality on offer, with EBI values for individual cows varying from less than €100 EBI up to milking cows closer to €200 EBI.

In general, the autumn-calving cows were a difficult trade and sold for between €750 and €950 per head. On the other hand, anything calved this spring made very good money in general, ranging from €1,400 per head right up to €1,700 per head.

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The highest price was for Lot 8C, a cow born in October 2007 that was calved since 8 February 2014. Typical of the stock on offer, she was €167 EBI (€1 milk EBI/€126 fert EBI) and she made €1,700 in the ring, a very good price for a seven-year-old cow.

Typical of the type of breeding on offer, she was by the Dovea bull Tittenser Hylke (TIH) out of a cow sired by another Dovea bull (ODR). The cow into the ring before her was a freshly calved heifer (Lot 8B). She was 97% British Friesian, EBI €174 (€9 milk EBI/€131 Fertility EBI) and calved since 11 February 2014. She made €1,670 in the ring.

In comparison, Lot 11B was typical of the autumn calvers on offer. A third calver born in 2008, due next November to a stock bull, 97% British Friesian with an EBI of €139 (€8 Milk EBI/€117 Fertility EBI), she made €780 in the ring.

There was also a selection of in-calf heifers, spring-born heifer calves and maiden heifers for sale.

Other sales

Kilkenny Mart held a dairy sale last Thursday and the trade was described as more difficult for milking cows than previous sales.

Freshly calved Friesian heifers made from €900 to €1,400 per head. Freshly calved second and third calvers made €900 to €1,560 per head. Friesian heifer calves made from €295 to €370 per head and maiden heifers from €500 to €670 per head.