Saturday night's Summer Sizzler sale of Holsteins at Maineview, Ballymena, Co Antrim, witnessed a flying trade, with a top price of 14,000gns, a 98% clearance and an overall average of £4287.

The sale of 61 lots from 31 vendors staged at Andrew and Caroline Kennedy’s Maineview Farm, was topped by a four-month-old red and white calf from Philip and Simon Haffey of Glasson Holsteins, together with Josh Ebron.

Their Glasson Ebron Mo Irene *RC is bred from the first Red and White cow to achieve an Ex97 classification – Suard Red Jordan Irene Ex97-CH – that was also twice Red and White Champion at European Championship Shows and twice named Holstein International R and W World champion. Glasson Ebron Mo Irene *RC was purchased by a syndicate from Lisburn, Co Antrim comprising Alan Porter, Daniel Murray and James Swann.

Glasson Holsteins also received 6200gns for Glasson Doorman G Platinum ET, a yearling heifer by Val-Bas Doorman bred from the Ex95-USA T-Triple-T Platinum ET, a cow which was also twice nominated All-American. This youngster was knocked down to Messrs Richardson, Annaghmore Holsteins.

More than financing that transaction, Annaghmore Holsteins sold two heifers at 6000gns. First was Annaghmore Arti Jacuzzi Red ET, a February 2020-born red and white and a potential 12th Ex-classified female being out of Luck-E Awesome Jacuzzi-Red Ex93 USA. Highest bidder was Tom Kelly, buying for his Monamore herd in Co Louth.

Matching the 6000gns call was Annaghmore Atwood MJ Danoise, a May 2020-born daughter of Maple-Downs-LGW Atwood out of Lumville M Danoise VG89-3yr, which 13,759kg at 4.82% BF and 3.59% P in her second and was nominated All-Britain in 2019. She sold to Glasson Holsteins.

Second highest price was 8400gns paid for a first choice heifer calf to be born in January 2022 from three female pregnancies sired by

Stantons Chief. The calves born will be the result of embryos imported from Canada, with their dam being the Ex96 Hendercroft Fever Bazooka, while the grand-dam is the Ex96 Hendercroft Lheros Gumball – believed to be the only dam and daughter Ex96-classification cows in Canada with both having been nominated for Holstein Canada’s Cow of The Year Award. This lot was purchased by Slatabogie Holsteins from Maghera.

Tommy and Mark Henry's Mostragee Unix Lauren, from Stranocum, realised 6000gns when selling to Martin and Cyril Millar's Millars herd from Coleraine. Fresh calved and giving 39.5litres per day, this heifer is bred from the Dutch Froukje cow family.

Embryos sold to 1050gns each for Stantons Chief-sired bred from Leagh MS Doorman Katrysha ET with the grand-dam being the World Dairy Expo Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha Ex96-USA).

Auctioneers: Taaffe Auctions.

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