At the November Dairy Sale in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, the McClean family made £40,530 (€47,845) from the sale of a crop of freshly calved heifers.

From Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, the McLean family own the noted Relough Herd and sold 21 lots at an average of £1,930/head (€2,278/head).

The family took home the second highest prize on the day of 2,900gns (€3,045) for the unshown Relough Shottle Jessica 5 which had a Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of £118 (€139).

This potential seventh generation VG/EX heifer sold to pedigree herd owner Richard Watt from Mountain View Farm, Augher, Co. Tyrone.

The heifer was sired by Picston Shottle and was bred from Relough Talent Jessica 4, who produced over 11,500kg in her fourth lactation.

In total the sale, which was conducted by Taffe auctions, was confirmed to have a 97% clearance by auctioneer Michael Taffe with 67 lots changing hands to average £1,763/head (€2,081/head).

Prices ranged from 700-3,100gns (€868-3,843), with the top price being paid for the pre-sale show Reserve Champion Hilltara Dorcy Ianina.

Owned by Sam and John McCormick’s Bangor-based herd in Co. Down, the Reserve Champion was sired by Coyne Farms Dorcy and was bred from Hilltara Fever Ianina.

Hilltara Fever Ianina averaged 7,961kg at 4.43% fat and 3.10% protein in two 305-day lactations.

Denis O'Neill exhibited the reserve Holstein champion Hilltara Dorcy Ianina bred by Sam McCormick, Bangor. Included are John Henning, Danske Bank, sponsor; and Mark Henry, judge, Stranocum.

Denis O’Neill exhibited the reserve Holstein champion Hilltara Dorcy Ianina bred by Sam McCormick. Included are John Henning, Danske Bank, and Mark Henry, Judge, Stranocum.

The pre-sale show was sponsored by Dankse Bank, and judged by Holstein Young Breeder Mark Henry from the noted Mostragee Herd in Stranocum, County Antrim.

Judge Mark Henry also found his Supreme Champion in Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara consignment, which saw 12 lots sell at an average of £2,050/head (€2,420/head).

Claiming the Danske Bank championship rosette was Hilltara Album Charlotte.

She is by the Genervations Epic son Silverbridge Album ET, and is out of a home-bred Lirr Drew Dempsey daughter who averaged 7,457kg at 4.06% fat and 3.6% protein in two 305 day lactations.

This potential eleventh generation VG/EX heifer calved over three weeks ago and is producing 36L/day.

The Supreme Champion was sold to ST and WH Irwin from Tynan, Co. Armagh at a price of 2,350gns (€2,913).

Meanwhile, the honourable mention award winner Killane Kauto Cactus 62 and sold for 1,920gns (€2,380) for brothers Austin and David Perry, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim.

She is by the home-bred Charlesdale Superstition son Killane Kauto, and is out of Killane Bluesky Cactus 59 who gave over 11,400kg at 3.34% fat and 3.31% protein in her second 305-day lactation.

Sale of non-pedigree stock

A top price of 1,700gns (€2,107) was paid twice for non-pedigree dairy stock, with Gary and Michael McHenry from Aghagallon, Co. Armagh taking home both.

First to sell was a Glenton daughter who is one month calved and yielding 28L/day. She was the first placed commercial heifer and sold to Trevor and Noel Muldrew.

The Muldrews also bought the McHenry’s second placed commercial heifer, which is calved three weeks and is producing 25L/day.

Ronald McLean and Sons also received 2,600gns (€3,223) for the January 2015 bull Relough Dancom.

Sired by Seagull Bay MVP, he is bred from nine generations of VG and EX dams, and sold to James Walker, Randalstown, Co. Antrim.