Despite a slow start, the autumn dairy trade is starting to pick up this week, with numerous sales now taking place across the country.

One such sale included the annual Carnaross dairy sale, in Carnaross Mart, Co. Meath.

The sale saw over 50 freshly calved heifers and cows go up for grabs, as well as a number of springing heifers.

A top price of €3,700 was given at the sale for a March-2024-born pedigree Holstein heifer.

Bred by Philip Jones of the renowned Hallow Holsteins, Hallow Lambda Serenity 1995 was full of class.

She was sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda-ET, an elite bull who also sired Knowlesmere Lvictory, the intermediate Holstein champion and overall honourable mention at the recent FBD National Dairy Show.

The heifer was out of Hallow Applicable Senerty EX90, a cow who is projected to produce 13,934kg of milk at 3.87% fat and 3.08% protein. equating to 968kg milk solids, in her sixth lactation this year.

Some other top prices from the sale included:

€3,650 for Hallow Ariel Twizzle, a May-2024-born heifer bred by Hallow Holsteins. She calved down three weeks prior and is currently giving 29L;
€3,600 for Hallow Lambda Serenity 2004, a March-2024-born heifer bred by Hallow Holsteins. Having calved in September, she is projected to produce 8,414kg of milk solids at 3.77% fat and 3.32% protein in her first lactation this year;
€3,500 for Hallow Lambda Grace 1758, a March-2024-born heifer bred by Hallow Holsteins. Her dam produced 6,851kg of milk at 4.12% fat and 3.46% protein in her first lactation in 2024.

UK dairy trade

Across the water in the UK, pedigree heifers are making up to £3,800 in the mart.

The monthly Borderway dairy sale recently took place in the Borderway Mart in Carlisle, England.

Buyers were recorded from 19 counties across the UK as a total of 344 dairy cattle went up for grabs.

These included Holstein cows in milk, Holstein heifers in milk, Holsteins in-calf heifers, Jersey-cross cows and heifers, Ayrshire cows, and bulling heifers.

The top price of £3,800 was achieved twice, the first of which was for a February-2024-born heifer.

She was sired by the well-known Seagull Bay Applejax, and was only calved down a month ago.

The next time the hammer rang to the tune of £3,800 was for an August-2024-born heifer.

The heifer was sired by Aster Dam Butch, and calved down back in August.

A further five animals were sold above £3,700, while another six sold above £3,600.

In total, 101 Holstein heifers in milk sold to an average of £3,034/head, while 40 Holstein cows in milk averaged £2,610/head, and in-calf Holstein heifers averaged £2,569/head on the day.

Meanwhile, Jersey-cross cows were selling to an average price of £1,862/head, while in-calf Jersey were selling for an average of £2,095/head.

According to the mart manager, prices are on the rise as confidence builds in the dairy sector due to the positive direction of milk prices.