The demand for quality heifers is still strong in the dairy world, with two-year-olds making up to €4,650 in the ring this week.

A number of clearance sales took place during the week, including the annual Lisduff spring sale in Fermoy, Co. Cork.

Demand was strong across the board; whether in-calf heifers, freshly calved cows, or cull cows, they are being snatched up at good prices across the country.

Lisduff spring sale

The pedigree registered Lisduff herd out of Whitechurch in Co. Cork held its annual spring sale in Corrin Mart during the week.

The herd, which is producing 656kg/milk solids (MS) at 4.53% fat and 3.66% protein, had 70 freshly calved heifers up for grabs, as well as 30 heifer calves.

The stock on offer had an average economic breeding index (EBI) of €139, broken into traits of 258kg milk at 15.77kg fat and 11.05kg protein.

€4,650 was the top price achieved on the day, it was given for a two-and-a-half-year-old cow, weighing in at 545kg.

The cow had an EBI of €107 and was yielding 8,098kg milk at 4.25% fat and 3.29% protein.

Her January-born calf followed her into the ring, weighing 75kg with an EBI of €146, she went under the hammer for €1,140.

Some more of the top prices for the cows on the day included:

€3,700 for a 2.5-year-old heifer at 570kg (€95 EBI);
€3,700 for a 2-year-old heifer at 465kg (€167 EBI);
€3,650 for a 2-year-old heifer at 565kg (€47 EBI);
€3,550 for a 2-year-old heifer at at 540kg (€180 EBI);
€3,460 for a 2.5-year-old heifer at 545kg (€138 EBI).

With great potential for high milk production, heifer calves also did well on the day.

Ssome of the prices are outlined below:

€1,200 for a 65kg heifer born in January (€129 EBI);
€1,200 for a 55kg heifer born in February (€129 EBI);
€1,140 for a 75kg heifer born in January (€146 EBI);
€1,100 for a 55kg heifer born in February (€119 EBI);
€1,020 for a 65kg heifer born in January (€125 EBI).

Overall, calves averaged €814/head on the day while the cows averaged €2,990 at the sale.

Bandon

Bandon Mart held a dairy sale during the week, with the majority of the 70-odd head of stock on offer being calved heifers.

The top price of €4,520 was given on the day for a February-2024-born heifer weighing in at 470kg.

The heifer has an EBI of €204, with a milk sub index of €74, broken into traits of 23kg milk at 7.28kg fat and 8.92kg protein.

The stock continued to sell for strong prices, with the sale averaging €2,597/head.

Some more top prices from the day include-

€3,820 for a 2-year-old heifer at 535kg (€135 EBI);
€3760 for a 2-year-old heifer at 525kg (€160 EBI);
€3,750 for a 2-year-old heifer at 505kg (€122 EBI);
€3,580 for a 2-year-old heifer at 575kg (€142 EBI);
€3,450 for a 2-year-old heifer at 560kg (€176 EBI).

The top sellers all had strong figures for milk production, indicating a demand for quality milking stock with good solids.

Waterford-Ross

Waterford Ross Co-op Mart in New Ross, Co. Wexford held a clearance sale for the Lambstown herd in Co. Wexford.

The herd, which averaged 6,368kgs of milk at 3.93% fat at 3.66% protein, had 80 freshly calved heifers and cows up for grabs on the day.

A top price of €2,600 was achieved on the day for a third calver weighing in at 530kg, with an EBI of €116.

The sale finished up with an average price of €2,010/head.