Dovea Genetics, one of Ireland’s leading dairy and beef semen suppliers, held a charity auction in aid of Bóthar at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.The concept started in spring 2015 when progeny from Dovea’s bulls from different breeds were purchased for the auction. The Ploughing was the obvious choice to raise awareness for the charity, which this year marks its 25th anniversary. The heifer calves attended the Ploughing in 2015 before arriving back this year to be auctioned off.
Dovea Genetics, one of Ireland’s leading dairy and beef semen suppliers, held a charity auction in aid of Bóthar at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.
The concept started in spring 2015 when progeny from Dovea’s bulls from different breeds were purchased for the auction. The Ploughing was the obvious choice to raise awareness for the charity, which this year marks its 25th anniversary. The heifer calves attended the Ploughing in 2015 before arriving back this year to be auctioned off.
Bóthar stood as the first choice when selecting a charity, as Dovea has been dealing with the charitable organisation for over 20 years, providing dairy semen to a number of countries in which Bóthar works in.
The auction was held on the Wednesday afternoon of the Ploughing, with a large crowd surrounding the ring outside the AI company’s stand.
Well-known auctioneer in the farming world George Candler and renowned GAA commentator Marty Morrissey kicked off the sale proceedings.
To help with the promotion of the auction, Dovea Genetics enlisted the help of six well-known personalities in different sporting arenas who led a heifer each into the sales ring.
Topping trade was a Limousin-cross heifer which made €3,400. Sired by Elderberry Galahad, she weighed 575kg and was exhibited by hurling all-star and Limousin breeder TJ Reid. Successful bidder here was the Irish Limousin Cattle Society.
The last heifer into the ring sold for the next best of €2,800. This Charolais-cross by Usufruit weighed in at 535kg and was exhibited by John Heslin, Westmeath footballer and Teagasc PhD student. Chair of Dovea stud John Nugent was the generous bidder behind this one.
The Belgian Blue-cross heifer by Ballyfin Borat was the next in the money when she sold for €2,700 to the Irish Belgian Blue Producer Group, in association with Ashbourne Meats.
The three remaining heifers sold for €2,400 each. First lot into the ring and sold under the watchful eyes of Marty Morrissey was the Angus-cross heifer. Tipperary hurler Seamus Callanan exhibited the 670kg Lissduff Dandy daughter, who was purchased by the Irish Angus Producer Group.
Former Ireland rugby international and Munster prop John Hayes exhibited the Hereford-cross, a 620kg heifer sired by Kilsunny Goliath which sold to Irish Hereford Prime and the Irish Hereford Cattle Society.
The last of the heifers was the Simmental-cross sired by Derrough Samual. This 600kg heifer was purchased by Podge Mulhair of Hillcrest Simmentals.
In total, the charity auction raised €16,100 for Bóthar.
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