Top price of £5,150 at dairy sale in Kilrea Mart

Large crowds made their way to Kilrea Mart in Co. Derry for a chance to buy some ‘long-established’ dairy stock during the week.

The dispersal sale, which was being held on behalf of Lowry Mathers from Strabane in Co. Tyrone, saw some exceptional prices on the day.

The top seller went under the harmer for £5,150, with the sale average coming to £3,060 by the end of the day.

Herd dispersal

The whole herd dairy dispersal sale saw 238 lots make their way through the ring on the day, with auctioneer Mark Stewart taking to the rostrum.

The demand was strong, as the herd averages 10,400L at 4.42% butter fat and 3.44% protein.

The herd has being using artificial insemination (AI) for the past 40 years, typically calving down from September.

Out of the 220 AI-served animals, 30 were in-calf on the day.

The Mathers had bred the herd to sires including Spocket, Apple Jax, Brook, Apple Red, Esquire, Casimir, and Tusla.

A lot of the in-calf animals that were sold were sexed to Helium and Tulsa semen, or a pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull.

Some of the top prices for the milk stock are as follows;

£5,150
£5,100
£5,050
£5,000

Meanwhile, a further 28 lots sold in excess of £4,000 each for in-milk females, while dry stock made up to £3,050.

Kilrea Mart

Commenting on the sale, Mark Stewart from HA McIlrath and Sons Ltd said: “This was a unique opportunity to purchase in-milk females and dry stock from a long established commercial herd, boasting a good health status and wealth and depth of breeding.

“The animals sold to herds located across Northern Ireland, and on behalf of the Mathers family and Kilrea Mart, I would like to thank everyone who supported the sale and wish them all the best with their purchases.”

Shane Mathers is pictured with Danny McKay, Ballymoney, who bought Lot 100 for £3,800 in aid of AIr Ambulance NI. Source: Julie Hazelton

The Mathers family also donated Lot 100 for auction in aid of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

Danny McKay from Ballymoney ended up buying the January-calved cow for £3,800. She is currently yielding over 51L/day.

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