New Ross Mart manager Richard Kirwan said he has never seen the likes of the trade recorded at special dairy sales held over the last two weeks.
On Friday last, a production sale of 48 freshly calved heifers recorded an average price of just over €3,000/head.
When two slow milking lots and a freshly calved heifer with three spins are excluded, this average increases to €3,200.
The heifers were offered by two high-yielding primarily Holstein herds, the Coolnagree herd run by Seamus and Bridget O’Leary and the Beachlands herd run by Walter Crean.
The Coolnagree herd has a herd average of 8,850kg milk / 678kg milk solids, while the Beachlands herd has similar figures of 8,851kg milk / 683kg milk solids.
A distinct characteristic of the Collnagree herd is red and white Holstein Friesian breeding and an entry of about 10 heifers were met with insatiable demand.
Two of these heifers exceeded the €4,000/head mark and secured the top price on the day of €4,600.
Another 25 heifers in the sale, which also included a small number of lots with British Friesian breeding, sold from €3,000 to €3,925, while 18 heifers ranged from €2,000 to €2,975 and just three heifers sold below €2,000.
Local buyers
Richard reported that heifers were not extreme in size averaging in the region of 525kg liveweight and ranging in the main from 480kg to 550kg.
Buyers were mainly local dairy farmers, with confidence helped by a combination of strong dairy prices, positive cull cow values and tight supplies of heifers with such breeding in the southeast.
“The red and white heifers added another dimension to the sale and was a strong factor in attracting a packed ringside.
“Demand certainly exceeded supply for the sale and there were buyers who came with the intention of buying that went home disappointed. There was also strong interest from further afield and lots of online viewers tuning in,” Richard said.
The sale witnessed spectacular prices, but Richard says that this trend has been seen in other sales.
The mart’s show and sale held a fortnight ago saw average prices increase by about €500/head year on year for freshly calved heifers.
The general run of prices ranged from €1,800 to €2,500, but a significant selection of show-type and high-yielding heifers sold for up to €3,000/head and exceeded this mark on a number of occasions.
This calved Friesian heifer weighing 510kg and born 14/01/21 sold for € 3,175.
This 525kg Friesian heifer, born 11/01/21, sold for €3,925.
This Friesian heifer, weighing 540kg and born 21/01/21, sold for €3,275.
This calved Friesian heifer, weighing 565kg and born 23/01/21, sold for €3,250.
This Holstein Friesian calved heifer, weighing 550kg and born 15/11/20, sold for €3,200.
This red and white Friesian heifer, weighing 545kg and born 08/20/20, sold for €4,300.
This 550kg calved Friesian-cross heifer, born 14/11/20, sold for €3,100.
This Friesian heifer, born 25/09/20 and weighing 530kg, sold for €3,100.
This 560kg Friesian born 26/01/21 sold for €3,025.
This quality Friesian heifer, weighing 510kg and born 07/12/20, sold for €4,000.
This Friesian heifer, weighing 535kg and born 16/10/20, sold for €3,550.
New Ross Mart manager Richard Kirwan said he has never seen the likes of the trade recorded at special dairy sales held over the last two weeks.
On Friday last, a production sale of 48 freshly calved heifers recorded an average price of just over €3,000/head.
When two slow milking lots and a freshly calved heifer with three spins are excluded, this average increases to €3,200.
The heifers were offered by two high-yielding primarily Holstein herds, the Coolnagree herd run by Seamus and Bridget O’Leary and the Beachlands herd run by Walter Crean.
The Coolnagree herd has a herd average of 8,850kg milk / 678kg milk solids, while the Beachlands herd has similar figures of 8,851kg milk / 683kg milk solids.
A distinct characteristic of the Collnagree herd is red and white Holstein Friesian breeding and an entry of about 10 heifers were met with insatiable demand.
Two of these heifers exceeded the €4,000/head mark and secured the top price on the day of €4,600.
Another 25 heifers in the sale, which also included a small number of lots with British Friesian breeding, sold from €3,000 to €3,925, while 18 heifers ranged from €2,000 to €2,975 and just three heifers sold below €2,000.
Local buyers
Richard reported that heifers were not extreme in size averaging in the region of 525kg liveweight and ranging in the main from 480kg to 550kg.
Buyers were mainly local dairy farmers, with confidence helped by a combination of strong dairy prices, positive cull cow values and tight supplies of heifers with such breeding in the southeast.
“The red and white heifers added another dimension to the sale and was a strong factor in attracting a packed ringside.
“Demand certainly exceeded supply for the sale and there were buyers who came with the intention of buying that went home disappointed. There was also strong interest from further afield and lots of online viewers tuning in,” Richard said.
The sale witnessed spectacular prices, but Richard says that this trend has been seen in other sales.
The mart’s show and sale held a fortnight ago saw average prices increase by about €500/head year on year for freshly calved heifers.
The general run of prices ranged from €1,800 to €2,500, but a significant selection of show-type and high-yielding heifers sold for up to €3,000/head and exceeded this mark on a number of occasions.
This calved Friesian heifer weighing 510kg and born 14/01/21 sold for € 3,175.
This 525kg Friesian heifer, born 11/01/21, sold for €3,925.
This Friesian heifer, weighing 540kg and born 21/01/21, sold for €3,275.
This calved Friesian heifer, weighing 565kg and born 23/01/21, sold for €3,250.
This Holstein Friesian calved heifer, weighing 550kg and born 15/11/20, sold for €3,200.
This red and white Friesian heifer, weighing 545kg and born 08/20/20, sold for €4,300.
This 550kg calved Friesian-cross heifer, born 14/11/20, sold for €3,100.
This Friesian heifer, born 25/09/20 and weighing 530kg, sold for €3,100.
This 560kg Friesian born 26/01/21 sold for €3,025.
This quality Friesian heifer, weighing 510kg and born 07/12/20, sold for €4,000.
This Friesian heifer, weighing 535kg and born 16/10/20, sold for €3,550.
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