The dairy trade seems to be holding strong despite the lingering confusion regarding the new bovine tuberculosis (TB) rules.

A number of sales took place during the week, including some large clearance and reduction sales.

Prices reached as high as €3,720 for top class milking cows in some of the sales, with the majority of milking stock sold over the week selling well over the €2,000 mark.

Corrin Mart

Corrin Mart in Co. Cork held a complete dairy clearance sale of the Collinstown Holstein Herd from Co. Cork during the week.

The stock on offer from the award-winning herd boasted a group average Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €89, with a €28 milk sub-index and a €26 fertility sub-index.

The top price on the day was given for the fully pedigree registered Collinsfort Daffodil 1503.

The January-2024-born heifer went under the hammer at €3,620.

She boasted an EBI of €198, with a milk sub-index of €30 and a fertility sub-index of €69.

She was followed closely by Collinsfort Daffodil 1530, another January-2024-born heifer who made €3,340.

She had an EBI of €101, with a milk sub-index of €52 and a fertility sub-index of €45.

Some other noticeable prices from the sale include;

€3,300 for a January-2023-born heifer (EBI €35);
€3,200 for a February-2023-born heifer (EBI €94);
€3,100 for a January-2023-born heifer (EBI €166).

The sale finished up with an average price of €2,448/head.

Bandon Mart

Down the road in Bandon Mart there was also a great trade, as 90 pedigree registered Holstein Friesian went up for offer as part of a dairy reduction sale for the Lissaniskey herd.

The herd is averaging 9,119L at 3.32% protein and 4.31% butterfat, equating to an output of 683kg milk solids.

A top price of €3,720 was given on the day for Lissaniskey Syracuse Geraldine, a September-2022-born heifer with an EBI of €27.

March-2023-born Lissaniskey Applicable Alice 2 sold for €3,300. She had an EBI of €5.

Lissaniskey Griff Candy also sold for €3,300, the October-2021-born cow had an EBI of €-31.

The sale wrapped up with an average price of €2,541/head.

Mart manager Sean Dennehy said it was a positive sale with some very good stock, adding that the improved weather has seen the ring fill up even more.

He also noted how the new rules regarding TB have not affected clearance sales such as this, and feels there will not be a big effect on cull cow sales either once farmers get used to the regulations.