Buyers travelled from near and far for the much anticipated seventh annual Proven Protein Sale in Charleville, Co. Cork.

Each autumn, the O'Keefe family of Knockilla offers a chance for buyers to get their hands on some of the best up-and-coming stock from their Radney herd.

The pedigree Holstein herd, which is currently averaging 9,468kg of milk at 4.08% fat and 3.78% protein, is renowned for longevity, production, protein, and type.

Denis Barrett took to the rostrum on the day as the sale was held in conjunction with Kanturk marts.

Proven Protein sale

The on-farm sale saw a top price of €4,600 for a January-2025-born heifer.

Radney Altalawson Bella was sired by Peak Altalawson ET and comes from Radney Oph Bella, who is projected to produce 10,360kg of milk at 4.57% fat and 3.98% protein in fourth lactation this year.

Radney Altalawson Bella has an Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €204, with a fertility sub-index of €58 and a milk sub-index of €92.

Her milk traits are broken into 12kg of milk at 16.86kg of fat and 8.33kg of protein.

Barrett described the heifer as having "so much protein, it is weighing down her ears".

The heifer was served to sexed semen in late April, and is expected to calve down in late January.

Radney Pepper Deborah was the next best seller, going under the hammer for €4,500.

The August-2024-born pedigree Holstein heifer calved down last month.

She has an EBI of €122, with a milk sub-index of €31 and a fertility sub-index of €22.

Her milk traits are broken into 56kg of milk, 3.8kg of fat, and 4.29kg of protein.

She was sired by Delaberge Pepper and came from Radney Albert Deborah, who produced 10,461kg of milk at 4.05% fat and 3.82% protein in her last lactation.

Some more top sellers of the day included;

€4,000 for Radney Pepper Bella, an August-2024-born heifer with an EBI of €119 and a milk sub-index of €60;
€3,800 for Radney Swish Triempress, an August-2024-born heifer with an EBI of €186 and a milk sub-index of €68;
€3,500 for Radney Praser Odetta, a February-2025-heifer born with an EBI of €158 and a milk sub-index of €88.

Overall, autumn calved heifers averaged 4,200gns, while spring calving heifers averaged 3,255gns.