The dispersal sale of the well-known Knoxtown pedigree registered herd in Clonroche Co. Wexford took place on farm this week.

The herd, which is run by Sean and Breda Murphy alongside their son Gearóid, is known for high-quality families such as Dairymaid, Erle, Adeen, Apple, Marie, and more.

The split calving herd is producing an average of 8,130kg of milk at 3.40% protein.

The sale was facilitated by Taaffe Auctions, and saw the entire 90-cow strong milking herd go up for grabs, as well as 40 springing heifers and 20 heifer calves born this year.

Dispersal sale

A staggering top price of €8,100 was given for Knoxtown Crushabull Adeen.

The May-2024-born heifer is in-calf to Beyond Hi-Praise after an April 1 insemination.

She was sired by the renowned Oh-River-Syc Crushabull-ET, and comes from Knoxtown Perseus Adeen EX, who produced 6,652kg of milk at 3.08% fat and 3.04% protein in her first lactation.

The springing heifer has the potential to be the 10th straight generation of VG/EX cows.

Her maternal sister, Knoxtown Lambda Adeen VG-2yr, also sold for €5,100 on the day, while her March-born calf sold for €2,600.

Knoxtown Ranger Erle was the next best seller of the day, going under the hammer for €6,600.

The May-2023-born heifer is classified as a VG-2yr, and calved down for the first time on March 1 of this year.

She is projected to produce 8,292kg of milk at 2.91% fat and 3.33% protein in her first lactation, and is back in-calf to Monamore T Rex.

She was sired by Ri-Val-Re Rager-Red and is out of Knoxtown Doorman Erle VG86, who produced 7,900kg of milk at 2.91% fat and 3.33% protein in her first lactation.

The heifer is the fifth generation of VG/EX cows, with her calf having the potential to be the sixth generation of VG/EX cows.

The heifer's calf sold directly after her, making €2,500 in the ring.

Both Monamore Yama Torch EX and Knoxtown Chief Adeen sold to the tune of €6,100.

The Murphys purchased May-2021-born Monamore Yama Torch EX at the Monamore dispersal sale last year.

The cow calved down in early March and is back in-calf to Beyond Hi-Praise.

She is projected to produce 9,769kg of milk at 4.25% fat and 3.74% protein this year. She is the fifth generation giving 3.73% protein.

She was sired by Westcoast Yamaska and comes from Monamore Torchs Admiration EX94-4E, whose production peaked at 10,719kg of milk at 4.19% fat and 3.61% in her fourth lactation.

The March calf also went under the hammer for €3,400 on the day, the top price paid for a 2026-born animal.

Knoxtown Chief Adeen is an August-2024-born heifer, in-calf to Monamore T Rex since April.

She was sired by Stantons Chief and is out of Knoxtown Perseus Adeen VG89, who has the potential to be the ninth straight generation of EX cows.

The dam is projected to produce 8,093kg of milk at 3.56% fat and 3.41% protein in her third lactation this year.

Between stock in-milk and heifers in-calf, the sale averaged €3,256/head, with more than 20 animals selling above €4,000/head.

Meanwhile, the selection of heifer calves born between March and October averaged €1,502/head.

Following the sale, Sean Murphy thanked his friends, family, and neighbours for their help and support with the sale and throughout the years, and wished all purchasers well.