All roads led to ‘The Deise’ last Saturday (February 26), for the dispersal sale of a top Waterford dairy herd belonging to Anthony Betts.
The dispersal sale drew a large crowd to the farm near Tramore Co. Waterford, where what is believed to be an Irish record price for a non-pedigree cow was achieved.
The sale was conducted by Michael Taaffe of Taaffe Auctions. Prior to the sale, Taaffe told Agriland that enquirIes from buyers were coming from as far away as Donegal.
Over Anthony’s 47-year farming career – 39 of which where Anthony solely held the reins – he has developed his herd to have an average economic breeding index (EBI) of over €196, putting it in the top 1% of herds in the country.
€97 of this figure is attributed to fertility which again, places the herd in the top 2% nationally.
Many buyers present at the sale were hoping to obtain some top genetics from this Waterford dairy herd, which has been achieving 5.2c/L over the co-op average milk price.
Top Waterford dairy herd
Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Michael Taaffe described the crowd in attendance as one of the largest they have seen in many years at a farm sale.
Topping the sale at 4,900gns and setting what is believed to be an Irish record price for a non-pedigree cow sold at auction was Lot 15, the highest EBI cow in the herd with an EBI of €274.
She was fresh on her third lactation and sired by Ballinteskin Arnold (FR4021).
In her second lactation she produced 5,470kg of milk, with an average butterfat of 5.41% and protein of 4.66% and an average somatic cell count (SCC) of 31,000cells/ml.
She was purchased by a Co. Cork farmer who also purchased her month-old heifer calf for 1,750gns. Her calf was sired by Blackbush Gorytus SRM (FR6751).
12 cows achieved prices of over 3,000gns, several of which are pictured below, prior to the sale.
Lot 6, a second lactation cow with an EBI of €248, sold for 3,750gns. In her first lactation she produced 5,333kg of milk with an average butterfat of 4.83% and protein of 4.18%, and an average SCC of 42,000cells/ml.
Lot 10: A fourth lactation cow with an EBI of €227, sold for 3,150gns.
In her third lactation she produced 8,632kg of milk with an average butterfat of 3.91%, protein of 3.85% and an average SCC of 38,000cells/ml.
Her month-old heifer calf, Lot: 10a with an EBI of €287, sold for 1,350gns.
Lot 16, a third lactation cow with an EBI of €269, sold for 3,700gns.
In her second lactation she produced 6,883kg of milk with an average butterfat of 4.37%, protein of 3.98% and an average SCC of 65,000cells/ml.
Lot 20, a third lactation cow with an EBI of €221, sold for 3,500gn.
In her second lactation she produced 6,222kg of milk with an average butterfat of 4.11% and protein of 4%, and an average SCC of 63,000cells/ml.
Her month-old heifer calf Lot:20a, with an EBI of €248 sold for 1,600gns.
Her heifer calf Lot:20a sold for 1,600gns
Lot 48, a third lactation cow with an EBI of €215, sold for 3,650gns.
In her second lactation she produced 6,232kg of milk with an average butterfat of 4.33% and protein of 3.72%, and an average SCC of 41,000cells/ml.
Her heifer calf, Lot:48a, with an EBI of €264 sold for 1,000gns.
Her heifer calf, Lot:48a sold for 1,000gns
Lot 54, a third lactation cow with an EBI of €247, sold for 3,550gns.
In her second lactation she produced 6,705kg of milk with an average butterfat of 4.38% and protein of 3.87% and an average SCC of 71,000cells/ml.
Some more sample prices from Saturdays sale.
Heifers
Topping the bulling heifer trade was Lot 115; her dam is Lot 15 who sold for 4,900gns, setting what is believed to be an Irish record, earlier in the sale.
Sired by Grangebridge Dunkirk (FR4530) and sold with an EBI of €291, Lot 115 went for 3,100gns – again, setting what is believed to be record price for a non-pedigree bulling heifer. She was bought by a Co. Kilkenny farmer.
The second highest price went to Lot 109, the highest EBI heifer offer. With an EBI of €318, she sold for 2,850gns.
Some more sample bulling heifers are pictured below.
Calves
The prices and demand did not let up for the calves, with a top price of 1,750gns paid for Lot 15a.
The month-old heifer calf, with an EBI of €279, is sister to Lot 115 and daughter of Lot 15.
Sale summary
The 76 freshly calved heifers and cows sold from 800gns to 4,900gns, with an average sale price of €2,341.
The 19 springing heifer and cows sold from 950gns to 2,450gns, with an average sale price of €1,765.79.
The heifers on offer ranged from 1,250gns, to 3,100gns for 20 bulling heifers, and averaged €1,895. The 34 heifer calves ranged from 530gns to 1,750gns, averaging €1,066.24.
There were also 10 bull calves on offer which sold from 320gns to 70gns and averaged €212.
Commenting after the sale Michael Taaffe stated: “It was an exceptional sale of an exceptional herd of cows.
“Trade was extremely fast with buyers from Northern Ireland and 13 counties throughout the Republic of Ireland.
“There was a huge crowd in attendance, with ringside and online buyers extremely active.”