Moree herd sells to top of 5,000gns

The Moree pedigree Holstein herd held a dispersal sale of 180 milking cows last week, with the sale conducted by Taaffe auctions. Cows sold to a sale average of just over 1,700gns, with a reasonably firm trade for first-calved heifers and cows in their second lactation.

Prices peaked at 5,000gns for Moree Rubicon Marqi, a September 2015-born animal sired by EDG Rubicon. The animal has been successfully flushed for embryos, with genetics now being exported to New Zealand. As a heifer she yielded 9,540l and was sold to a breeder in the Republic of Ireland.

The second highest price was 4,500gns paid for Moree Fever Twine, a Crackholm Fever daughter in her third lactation and currently yielding 70kg of milk daily. Other noted prices saw 3,050gns paid for Moree Glenton Nora, currently yielding 73.5l in her second lactation.

Cows were mainly sold to local herds, with 23 animals exported to the Republic of Ireland, Wales and England. See page 64 for further details on the sale.

Meanwhile, a dispersal of mostly Fleckvieh cows at Ballymena Mart last week, on behalf of the Gibson family saw cows in-milk selling to a top price of £2,500. This was followed by £2,400 and £2,300 paid on two occasions, with 17 animals selling above the £2,000 mark.

Simmental sale

The NI Simmental club held its May sale of breeding animals at Ballymena Mart last week, with eight bulls selling to an average of 2,145gns.

Bulls topped at 2,900gns paid to David Hazelton’s Ranfurly herd. Pedigree cows with calves at foot sold to 2,500gns on two occasions, with maiden heifers making 1,650gns. Commercial heifers sold from £920 to £1,420.