Northern Ireland's best heading to Black & White

Philip and Simon Haffey from Portadown, owners of the prize winning Glasson Holstein herd, and Gareth Smyth, from Cloughmills, owner of the Ballyweaney Holstein herd, will be selling seven heifers at the much anticipated 30th anniversary sale that features 130 exceptional lots from the best breeders in Europe.

“We have been selling at the Black & White sale for the past six years and with much success,” says Philip Haffey owner of the Glasson herd.

“Last year we had four heifers topping at 8,500gns for an Erle and back in 2011 we sold a young Glora calf for 9,000gns. We have heifers selling from both of these families this year,” he said.

First time consignor Gareth Smyth is selling a Red & White heifer from an All American winning dam KY Blue Ruben Marla Red EX94 who won Grand Champion at World Dairy Expo, Wisconsin USA in 2009.

This fancy Red heifer is sired by Armani.

The event celebrates its thirtieth sale on the 3rd December, a unique milestone for what has become such an important date in the global sales calendar.

You’ll find one of the most diverse line-ups of any sale; from the leaders in modern genetics to the foundations of today’s breed, also individuals that have and will dominate the show-ring, will over flow milk tanks and top genetic charts. All have one common thread that binds them… potent cow families.

The sale features:

l World class two year olds - VG88 and VG87 2 year olds ready to show

l National show winners bred from the best cows on the planet

l High testing genomic heifers with international AI interest

l Daughters of national champions

l 1 special Brown Swiss heifer already a national champion

l 15 of the best Jerseys in Europe sell in this year’s sale

l 2 British Friesian heifers from the breed’s top cows

There are seven other herds from Ireland represented in the catalogue including the Emerald herd of the Neville family from Croagh, Co Limerick who are selling a Doorman daughter from their prize winning Atwood Twizzle.

The Leagh herd of Tim Fitzmaurice, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, the Ballythomas herd of Eamon McLoughley, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, the Ballyyelly herd of Trevor Lockhart Letterkenny, Co Donegal and the Elitestreet herd of Elite Street Genetics Castlefreek, Co Cork are all selling their very best in what is now regarded as the UK’s Premier Elite Dairy sale.

Sale manager and head pedigree auctioneer Glyn Lucas said: “We are excited with what we have to sell this year, it’s fitting to have our very best line up on the events 30th year anniversary. I’m particularly thankful for the support the breeders in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have given over the years and this year is no exception. We are looking forward to another great sale and look forward to welcoming many breeders from the Northern Ireland to this year’s event.”

For full details on the event please visit the Harrison and Hetherington website www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk. To order a catalogue contact the pedigree office 01228 406230 or email [email protected].