The Dudley farm in Co. Tipperary, which hosted the Irish Pure Friesian Club's open day, saw a sale of 20 elite pedigree heifer calves conclude with a top price of €1,500.

The online sale, which ran from July 22 to July 25, was facilitated by Mid-Tipperary Co-operative Livestock Mart (Thurles Mart).

It featured a consignment of heifer calves from the Dekeana herd, with birth dates ranging from January 24 to March 10.

Calf sale

January-30-born Dekeana Trailblazer Lil topped the sale with a price of €1,500.

The pedigree Friesian was sired by Bradash Trailblazer (FR1512), a 90.63% pure Friesian with an Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €136.

The calf is out of Dekeana Lil 1345 EX90 3E, one of the Dekeana herd's highest protein producing cows.

The dam, who is currently in her eight lactation, has an EBI of €153.

She produced 7,691kg of milk at 4.03% fat and 3.76% protein in 2025, equating to 599kg of milk solids (MS).

The calf herself has an EBI of €119, with a milk sub-index of €-24 and a fertility sub-index of €63.

Dekeana Trailblazer Judy and Dekeana Trailblazer Savory were the next best sellers, each grabbing €1,450.

Dekeana Trailblazer Judy was born on January 24, making her the oldest calf of the group.

She has an EBI of €146 with a milk sub-index of €-8 and a fertility sub-index of €79.

She too was sired by Bradash Trailblazer, and came from Dekeana Adema Judy 1331 EX90, one of the top performing cows in the Dekeana herd.

Dekeana Adema Judy 1331 EX90 has an EBI of €112, and put out 8,044kg of milk in 2025, at 3.76% fat and 3.68% protein, coming to 598kg/MS.

She is projected to produce 672kg/MS in her eight lactation this year.

Dekeana Trailblazer Savory, born February 4 with an EBI of €136, also sold for €1,450.

This calf was also sired by Bradash Trailblazer, and is out of Dekeana Dan Savory 1613 VG85, a €136 EBI cow who produced 7,214kg of milk at 4.22% fat and and 3.61% protein, which is a total of 566kg/MS in 2025.

Both her granddam and great-granddam are EX90 cows, while the great-granddam is a Diamond Award winner.

Bradash Trailblazer was not the only sire with high selling calves, as the likes of Dekeana Excalibur Jane from Lismulligan Excalibur (FR4424) sold for €1,400

Dekeana Centurion Lil 3, sired by (Ig) Firoda Centurion 1 (FR2030) made €1,350, and Dekeana Harry Savory, sired by Carrickshock Harrier 3465 sold for €1,300.

Every calf up for grabs sold for €1,000 or more, with the overall sale averaging €1,208.