A FIRST ever Stars of the Future Calf show and sale staged alongside the National Beef Association’s Northern Ireland Beef Expo, at Dungannon Auction Mart, on Monday, resulted in a record priced calf.
The sale of show potential calves saw a 10-month-old Limousin cross heifer from Alan Veitch, Lisbellaw, Fermanagh, storm to a record breaking £8000 for a cross-bred animal sold in the province.
The heifer, by the Scottish AI sire, Lodge Hamlet, is the first calf to be sold from the £8200 record priced 2012 Welsh Winter Fair heifer calf from Brian Jones, Bailea, Sennybridge.
Commenting on the sale, a delighted Mr Veitch said: “I always knew at home that she was fine calf, so came here with a good feeling. However, the days result has absolutely blown me away. I am completely over the moon. It feels totally unreal – I am not sure I’ll get much sleep tonight!”
Judge, James Nesbitt, Ayrshire, found his champion breeding heifer and champion Limousin in a Gerryguillinane Glen daughter from Jack Smyth, Newtownstewart, which went on to make £4000 selling to Gary Corrie, Newtownards, Co Down.
The reserve Limousin champion, a heifer from Shane Doyle, Kilkeel, which has been overall calf champion at Allams last year, made £4100 to Aberdeenshire show man, Blair Duffton, Huntly.
Overall, 16 cross-bred Limousin heifers averaged £1998, with three Limousin cross steers at £1155.