Ireland’s first sale of genotyped four and five-star commercial breeding heifers will take place in Ballybay Mart next Saturday.

The sale features an entry of 60 suckler-bred heifers with an average replacement index value of €106 – the top entered heifer has a replacement value of €157.

All of the top-class breeding heifers on offer have been scanned not in-calf and suitable for breeding by Dr. Dan Ryan.

A full catalogue, including ICBF ratings, is available here.

Mairead Kirk, a Teagasc Drystock Advisor in Co. Monaghan, gave Agriland a brief background to the sale.

Kirk said that next Saturday’s auction will be the fifth consecutive year of the sale, after the idea was developed at a discussion group AGM – as a means for farmers to add value to their stock.

“I facilitate four discussion groups. The farmers knew they were breeding top-quality heifers and so the idea to hold a special sale developed.

“All of the heifers are supplied by members of local Teagasc suckler discussion groups,” she added.

simmental heifer

Kirk also said that APB Clones has also come on board for this year’s sale, as a means of showing its commitment to the suckler industry, and has offered cash incentives to the purchasers of the top-priced animals on the day.

These include €250 for the purchaser of the top-priced heifer, €150 for the second-dearest and a €100 cash return to the purchaser of the third-dearest heifer on the day.

Mairead Kirk Teagasc and Paul Matthews ABP

Mairead Kirk, Teagasc, and Paul Matthews, ABP

When and where

The sale will take place in Ballybay Mart on Saturday, April 29 at 11am. For further details, contact Mairead Kirk on 087-4158715.