HOLSTEIN bulls met a strong demand at HA McIlraith and Sons' Kilrea Mart, where 18 cashed in to average £2929 having met a 95% clearance.

Auctioneer, Mart Stewart added quality bulls were in demand and half of the bulls sold made in excess of 3000gns and peaked at 4500gns.

In a swap around of placings, that top price was paid for the reserve champion from Robbie and Stuart Smith, Londonderry, in the shape of Prehen Froch, which sold with a profitable lifetime index (PLI) of £472. This Cookiecutter Harper son was born in February, 2016, out of Prehen Shot Froujke VG87, which averaged 8771kg at 3.86% BF and 3.03% P in two lactations, and is a sister to two former number one GPLI cows in the UK. Froch sold to N Bell, Cookstown.

The champion followed next in the trade stakes when Ronald McLean and Sons' Relough Diameter sold to W McKinney, Maghera, for 4200gns with a PLI of £523. The dam of this October, 2016-born entry, Relough Snowduster Danna VG88, averaged 12,340kg at 4.48% BF and 3.03% P in two lactations, while his sire is Sandy Valley I Penmanship.

Also in the money for the McLeans, of Donaghmore, Dungannon, was Relough Database, a similarly aged Topcroft Pesky Trix son which was knocked down to S McCammond, Randalstown, for 3550gns. With a PLI of £512, he is out of Relough Omen Danna 9 SP VG87, which averaged 10,373kg at 4.43% BF and 3.36% P in three lactations.

Topcroft Pesky Trix breeding proved popular as he was also also the sire behind the next two highest lots – Dallylaggan Top Gun at 4100gns and Drumeil Shredder at 3800gns. Consigned by David Campbell, Coleraine, Top Gun is bred from three generations of Excellent-classified cows and his immediate dam, which is now in her sixth lactation, has produced more than 60 tonnes of milk. He sold to A Gordon, Portglenone, with a PLI of £429.

The other Pesky Trix son in the money was Aidan McAfee's Drumeil Shredder from Aghadowey, which was snapped up by RC Reid, Glarryford. He was born in September, 2016, out of Drumeil Aikman Shalom Red ET – the number one red and white heifer in Europe 2015, which produced 10,318kg at 3.12%BF and 3.08% P.

OTHERLEADING prices:

3200gns – David Campbell, Ballylagan Supera (PLI £446) to M Millar, Coleraine.

3100gns – R McLean and Sons, Relough Ringer (PLI £449) to P Milligan, Tandragee.

3000gns – G and J Booth, Beechview Desperate Dan (PLI £309) to Brennan Farms, Rasharkin; Ian and Kenny Watson, Majestic Firebird Royster (PLI £547) to N Leslie, Castledawson.