PEDIGREE Holstein bulls met a strong demand at the annual autumn show and sale at Dungannon, where trade reached 6700gns and a total of 30 bulls levelled at £3820, up £985 on the same sale last year.

Sale topper was the PLI award winner, Prehen Lerwick ET (PLI £567) from Robbie and Stuart Smith's herd at Londonderry. This 18-month-old entry by Sandy Valley Penmanship is bred from Prehen Shamrock Lady ET VG which produced almost 12,000kg in her third 305-day lactation at 4.19% BF. Lerwick sold to GR Gilmore, Portaferry.

The Smiths sold another son of Sandy Valley Penmanship for 4700gns, this time Prehen Frites (PLI £580) which is backed by nine generations of VG and EX dams from the herd's noted Froukje family. His dam, Prehen Justice Froukje ET VG89 5, is a former number two PLI cow in the UK and a full sister to the high ranking UK proven sire, Prehen Omen. She averaged almost 10,500kg in her sixth 305-day lactations at 4.12% BF and 3.33% P. Buyer here was R Murphy from Derrynose, Armagh.

Ronald McLean and sons, Malcolm and Barry, Donaghmore, sold three bulls at 5900gns, 5750gns and 5150gns to include the champion in the pre-sale show.

Dearest here was the 14-month-old Relough Alert (PLI £530), a bull by De-Su Acrobate ET and backed by seven generations of EX dams. Selling to Leslie Glenn and Sons, Carryduff, he is bred from Relough Iota Amy EX SP which produced nearly 14,000kg in her third at 4.6% BF and 3.44% protein.

Champion for the McLeans and selling for 5750gns was Relough Dasher (PLI £438), a September 2016-born son of Sandy Valley Penmanship, bred from Relough Barney Danna 7 ET GP84-2yr. Purchased by Robert Rainey, Beragh, Country Tyrone, Dasher's maternal grand dam gave 12,360kg in her third at 5.13% BF and 3.34% protein.

William Magee, Larne, forked out 5150gns for the fifth placed Relough Furlong (PLI £525) bred from ten generations of VG and EX dams. Another son of Penmanship, his dam is Relough Legend Frances EX92.

Other leading prices:

4800gns Wesley Gordon; 4600gns (x2) W and A McCollum, Coleraine; 4400gns Inch Genetics; 4100gns R and S Smith; 4050gns S and J McCormick; 4000gns W and A McCollum;

Auctioneers: Taaffe Auctions, Dungannon.