It was the end of an era for Austin and David Perry when they dispersed their Killane Holstein pedigree herd last week at Ahoghill, Co Antrim.

Top price of 4,400gns (€6,400) was given for a 10-month-old heifer, Killane La Bron Roberta 56, a potential seventh-generation EX Ladys Manor Graf La Bron daughter out of the renowned cow Killane Outside Roberta 4 EX95-8E. After a brisk round of bidding, she was bought by Arnold Boyce and Dennis Torrens, Garvagh, Co Derry.

At 4,000gns (€5,800) was another potential seventh-generation EX heifer, Killane Galaxy Roberta 50. By De Su Freddie Galaxy, she is also out of the 100 tonne Roberta cow and sold in-calf to Seagull Bay Silver to John Barkley from the Maineside herd in Ballymena.

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At 2,350gns was the good lady herself, Killane Outside Roberta 4 EX95-8E, who is projected to produce 9,800kg in her 10th lactation. At 13 years old, she has bred five EX daughters and is backed by 12 generations of VG or EX dams. In calf to Sandy Valley Pacific, she was exported to Cumbria to pedigree breeder John Greenop.

Other prices included 3,700gns for a daughter of the Jocko Besne son Jango; 3,050gns for the maiden heifer Killane La Bron Saber Pansey 3; and 3,000gns for a daughter of Co-op Bosside Massey. In-calf heifers topped 2,120gns for a daughter of Amighetti Numero Uno, in-calf to Killane Conway, while heifer calves sold to a top of 2,350gns for the three-month old Killane Troy Saber Pansey 4, a River Ridge Co-op Troy daughter.

Overall, 76 cows averaged £1,708; while 23 in-calf heifers averaged £1,818.

The average for seven maiden heifers was £2,475 while nine heifer calves averaged £1,723.

Phone lines busy at Blessington

Storm Desmond kept a number of customers at home for last Saturday’s Texel in-lamb sale in Blessington, but this didn’t deter them from picking up the phone and securing some top lots. Despite the poor weather, the sale produced a 90% clearance of the 76 lots put through the ring.

Padraic and Gerard Niland, Chessy, Kinvara, Co Galway, took the top price of 1,300gns twice for two daughters of Drumgooland Unleashed. The first ewe through the ring sold by telephone bid to Gerry Killilea, Claregalway, Co Galway, and the second ewe at 1,300gns was bought by Sean McCloskey, Claudy, Co Derry.

At 1,250gns was a Turoe Ugene-sired ewe exhibited by Anne Murphy, Gorey, Co Wexford, selling to Pat Staunton, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo. Anne also took home 1,100gns for a daughter of Murphys Umpa Lumpa, bought by Sean McCloskey.

Two ewes sold at 1,000gns each. The first ewe at this money came from Padraic Niland’s pen with a Drumgooland Unleashed ewe that was bought over the phone by Michael Haverty, Dunmore, Co Galway. Also at 1,000gns was a Knock Ursus-sired ewe exhibited by Fergal O’Sé, Ventry, Co Kerry and bought by F and J Jeffery, Midleton, Co Cork.

Overall, in-lamb shearling ewes averaged €619 while six ewe lambs from Liam Walsh, Ballina, Co Mayo, averaged €460.

Salers All-Ireland Calf finals

At the Salers Society All-Ireland Calf Championship in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Martin Kerins, Carrigans Lower, Ballymote, Co Sligo, took the senior male championship with his calf Carrigans Lower Oisin, a Bronson son out of the dam Fane Kestrel.

Second prize went to Manusmore Obama, a Rio son owned by John Burke, Manusmore, Clarecastle, Co Clare, while Declan Bell took third with his calf Ballyvonnavaun Oscar, sired by Manusmore Master and out of the dam Clew Bay Kate

Declan also took the senior female championship with Ballyvonnavaun Olga, a Manusmore Master daughter out of Manusmore Grainne.

Glenmore Opal, sired by Lataster Eric, was second for Thomas Mulcahy, while Clew Bay Olive, sired by Ballymackeogh Lucas ,was third in the senior female championship for Tom McGreal, Prospect, Westport, Co Mayo.

In the junior section, the male championship was snapped up by Tom McGreal, Prospect, Westport, with his calf Clew Bay Patsy, sired by Ballymackeogh Lucas and out of the dam Monanaleen Moire.

Second prize went to Carrentubber Pedro, a son of Vanlooy exhibited by David Kirrane, Carrentubber, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, while Glenmore Pierre, sired by Glenmore Lexus, was third for Thomas Mulcahy in the junior male championship.

Meanwhile, the junior female calf champion was Connemara Patricia, a Knockavilra Nigel daughter out of the dam Connemara Laoise, exhibited by John O’Malley, Derradda East, Recess, Co Galway.

Champion at Carrick

The champion Charolais female at the elite pedigree show and sale in Carrick-on-Shannon was owned by Rory Cullen, Ballinaglera, Co Leitrim.

She failed to reach her reserve and was unsold.