The tail end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 has seen a strong trade for dairy stock – with cows in milk and spring-calving cows both being in demand.

With this in mind, Ballyjamesduff Co-op Mart is holding a on-farm dairy dispersal sale this Saturday, January 23, at 11:30am in Newcastle, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

The Cavan-based mart will be auctioning a quality herd of 70 high economic breeding index (EBI) valued cows, 21 in-calf heifers, 15 maiden heifers and a young pedigree Angus bull.

Some of the farm’s calving and calf rearing equipment will also be on offer at the sale.

The ongoing Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions has resulted in the sale being held solely online. This is in order to keep in line with current government guidelines.

Herd overview

The 70 head of Friesian cows and 21 in-calf heifers are due to start calving on February 1 – mostly to an A.I. (artificial insemination) Friesian sire.

Production of the herd averaged at 6,862kg of milk, at 4.27% fat and 3.6% protein. The average somatic cell count (SCC) for the herd is 157,000.

Image source: Ballyjamesduff Mart

Manager’s comments

AgriLand spoke with the mart’s manager, John Tevlin, to gain some more insight into what can be expected from the sale.

Commenting on the sale, he said: ”The sale is of the herd of the late Ger Hackett, who passed away at the end of last year.

”He had a good young herd of high EBI stock, that he had built up over the last number of years.

”The herd has excellent figures and a tight calving pattern, with the majority due to calf over a six-week period. The herd would be ideal for someone entering dairy or wants to add quality stock to their herd.

”We have had plenty of enquires about the sale; we are a licenced exporter so northern buyers are also welcome.”

Farmers with any queries about this dispersal or pre-sale viewing times are asked to contact John Tevlin or Ballyjamesduff Mart.