Tullamore Farm will hold its annual draft heifer sale on Wednesday 21 October in Central Auctions, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

The sale will include 25 in-calf heifers and five maiden heifers. All heifers are genotyped four- and five-star on the replacement index and are eligible for the BDGP scheme.

The majority of the heifers are by AI sires QCD, ZAG, Biouvac, Curaheen Earp and Dereen Declan. Heifers are in calf to EBY, ULSAN, LM2014 and the Salers stock bull on Tullamore Farm and are due to calve.

The average replacement index of the group is €132. The breeding programme on the farm is centered around having a good functional R grade cow that is capable of producing good R or U grade progeny.

Forage-fed and vaccinated

The heifers are all spring 2019-born and have been managed on a forage-based diet for the duration of their lifetime.

Heifers have received no concentrates since turnout. Heifers are all vaccinated against BVD and lepto and all have been scanned in-calf to AI or natural service dates.

Commenting on the heifers, Tullamore Farm manager Shaun Diver said: “Personally, I think this year’s heifers are the best we have had so far. There is a lot more AI-bred heifers in this year’s batch and I think that’s showing.

We feel that these animals have the potential to go on and be profitable on the next farm

"We aren’t into breeding 900kg heifers calving at three or four years old, we are looking to produce a mid-sized animal to calve at two years old with as much AI breeding as possible.

"We feel that these animals have the potential to go on and be profitable on the next farm. Speaking to last year’s customers, they are very happy with the heifers."

Sale details

The sale will start at 7.30pm with ringside bidding and online bidding available via the Irish Farmers Journal Martbids app on the night.

Prospective purchasers are advised to register for online biding on www.martbids.ie and apply for permission to bid in Roscrea Mart.

The mart has asked that this is completed by Monday 19 October to make sure that farmers are granted permission to bid online on the night. For bidding enquiries, contact Roscrea Mart on 050-521 687.

Catalogues are available. If you email awoods@farmersjournal.ie, we will be able to email you a catalogue or text 087-121 8734 and the catalogue can be sent via WhatsApp.

Further details on the sale will be in next week’s Irish Farmers Journal and keep an eye on www.farmersjournal.ie for videos of the heifers in the coming days.

For enquiries about the heifers, contact Tullamore Farm manager Shaun Diver on 087-217 5486.

In pictures

Lot 802. Five-star genotyped heifer. Replacement index: €166. Sired by: QCD. Due 5 February to EBY.

Lot 800. AA heifer. Replacement index: €126. Genotyped five-star. +8kg for daughter milk. Due 21 February 2021 to Salers stock bull.

Lot 801. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €117. +8.2kg for milk. Sired by EBY. Due 21 March to LM2014.

Lot 803. Sired by QCD. ADG as calf: 1.29kg/day. Replacement index: €148.

Genotyped: five stars. Due 16 February to EBY.

Lot 804. Genotyped five stars. Replacement index: €142. +11.5kg for milk. Due 6 February 2020 to SA2189.

Lot 805. Sired by: Craheen Earp. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €182. Due 14 February 2020 to EBY.

Lot 806. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €115. Sired by ZAG. Due 4 February to LM2014.

Lot 807. Sired by Bivouac. Replacement index: €132. Genotyped five-star. +10kg for milk. Due 1 February to EBY.

Lot 808. Sired by Bivouac. Replacement index: €156. Genotyped five-star. Due 2 February to EBY.

Lot 809. Sired by ZAG. Replacement index: €124. Genotyped five-star. Due 18 March 2020 to Salers stock bull.

Lot 810. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €131. Dam's calving interval: 356 days. Due 8 March 2020 to Salers stock bull.

Lot 811. Genotyped five stars. Replacement index: €186. +13kg for milk. Sired by AHC. Due 10 February to LM2014.

Lot 812. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €129. Dam calved at 23 months and has a calving interval of 347 days. Due 20 February to SA2189.

Curaheen Earp, sire of Lot 813. +19kg for carcase. +10kg for milk. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €172. Due 3 February to EBY.

Lot 814. Genotyped five-star. Replacement index: €134. +9kg for milk. Sired by AHC. Due 6 February to LM2014.