Over 5,000 people attended the 2026 Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) national open day at Cedarmore Holsteins in Kanturk, Co Cork, on Wednesday 8 July.
Those who attended were treated to a real spectacle, witnessing state-of-the-art facilities and tremendous cattle, not to mention the wonderful hospitality.
What followed was a record-breaking Breeders' Dream Sale from the Cedarmore herd, which kept spectators on the edge of their seats, as records were broken one after another. Conducted by Denis Barrett Auctions, the sale set a new record price of €16,200 and the highest average sale price ever recorded at an IHFA open day of €5,912.
Breeders traveled from all over, with cattle selling to 13 different counties, as well as to Northern Ireland.
So much was the demand, just two animals left the ring unsold out of almost 50 lots.
Nevan McKiernan talks to host Bryan O’Connor
Record breaker
Bidding got off to a flying start, as lot five Cedarmore Mogul Savoire Faire raised the roof, selling for an incredible €16,200.
This much-fancied in-calf heifer is a daughter of SSI DCY Mogul, while her dam is the impressive Cedarmore SK Savoire Fare VG.
Backed up by a dam line consisting of 12 generations of straight excellence, this September 2024-born heifer has all the hallmarks of becoming the next great cow in this famous family tree.
She sold due to calve down in late October to Haveitall Blakely Hinge ET, finding a new residence in Co Kildare.
She was closely followed by the three-month-old Cedarmore Vray Sm, at €14,200.
Described by the O'Connors as "a truly special heifer", three of her immediate dams have scored EX max.
Sired by Cookiecutter Holysmokes, this fantastic young heifer is out of Willsbro Lambda Galys-Vray 46 EX 90 and will now join a herd in Co Limerick.
A further seven heifers broke the €8,000 mark, headed up by the October 2024-born Cedarmore S K James Rose at €9,800, a heifer from a proven show family with production to match.
A daughter of Walnutlawn Sidekick, she sold to a new abode in Co Westmeath, due to calve down to Delta Smash in January 2027.
Achieving €9,400 was Cedarmore Ambrose Broke, a November 2024-born daughter of Bawnmore E Pepper Broke EX93 and Progenesis Ambrose. In-calf to Delta Smash, she combines some of the all-time great cow families in Pepper, Goldwyn and Shottle.
Matching her at the same money was Cedarmore SM Anika, a daughter of Cookiecutter Holysmokes. Just over six months old, this little stunner came with a show-winning pedigree, going back to Farnear Delta Lambda ET.
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