The Kealy family, which runs Grangecon Holsteins, held a production sale last Thursday of the entire herd’s young stock. The family felt this was the best way to allow an increase in numbers of the milking herd while also offering potential buyers the opportunity to purchase some of the best bloodlines which have made the Grangecon name synonymous with Holstein breeding over the years.

In total, 38 young females were offered for sale, which included seven guest consignment lots from Eamon McLoughney and Trevor Hanly.

Of the Grangecon heifers forward, 30 of the 31 sold to a healthy average of €954. These heifers ranged in age from as low as two months to nine months.

Topping the trade

Topping the trade was an August 2016 Red Holstein, Grangecon Shower Red 49, which sold for €2,250. Sired by Texel Beauty Debutant, this stylish young heifer is from one of the herd’s better-known lines and a daughter of VG 87 classified Grangecon Wrm Shower Red. This line originally goes back to Glen Drummond Shower, an EX classified cow born in 1989, and gave 11,516 in her second lactation.

Next in the money was a young heifer from the much sought-after Paradise family, Grangecon Mesdoor Paradise 3.

This is the first calf from Grangecon Wynbrook Paradise, a VG classified heifer who claimed third prize at the Tullamore Show last year.

This family is well known for breeding type, with each of the females for six generations classifying EX, including her fifth dam Vandy-K Integrity Paradise who classified EX96, along with giving close to 14,000kg in her second lactation.

John Roche was the successful buyer here at €1,800.

Grangecon Seaver Adria 7 obtained a price tag of €1,600 after a flurry of bids. Sired by R-E-W Seaver Et, she is out of Grangecon Domino Adria 4 which produced over 10,000kg in her first lactation.

Her grand dam is Comestar Adria Outside Et, a diamond award winner having produced over 3,000kg of protein and classified EX92.

The Shower family were back in the money again when Grangecon Shower Red 50 secured €1,450.

Again, going back to Glen Drummond Shower, this one is sired by Topspeed Kodak. Another first-calver’s daughter, each of the females in this young heifer’s pedigree have hit over 5% butterfat at least once.

The €1,325 price tag was hit twice, first by guest consignment Cunniamstown Ebony Zsr from Trevor Hanley.

Born October 2016, this lengthy heifer is sired by Hoanster Zanzibar and is a granddaughter to noted EX90 classified cow Cunniamstown Storm Ebony Et.

Matching her at the money was Euro Classic Shower Et. Sired by the showman’s classic Val-Bisson Doorman, this Shower family again sees a long line of VG or EX classified cows, with grand dam Grangecon Jordan Shower classifying VG87, while hitting over 10,000kg in her second lactation. Topping trade of the 2017-born calves was Grangecon Chelios Paradise 4 at €950. This young January-born heifer is sired by Domicole Chelios and comes from six generations of EX classified dams.

Prices ranged from €350 to €2,250, with a 92% clearance rate.

Hall of Fame Awards 2017

At a reception in the City West Hotel, Dublin, Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine Michael Creed launched the 2017 National Hall of Fame Awards, which takes place on Sunday 30 April in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, where the president of the GAA Aogan O Fearghail will present 23 recipients from the bovine, equine and ovine industries with their awards.