€6,100 achieved for February-calved heifer at elite herd sale
An elite herd sale took place on Wednesday, April 23 at Carnaross mart for the dispersal of the Greenhills herd where Kevin Clare was selling his renowned herd of 80 milking cows with 21 heifer calves.
The dispersal sale was organised by Taaffe Auctions in conjunction with Carnaross mart and auctioneer, Michael Taaffe was on the hammer on the day.
The herd had an average economic breeding index (EBI) of €257, which is the top 6% in the country with a milk sub index of €75.
The herd averaged 6,661kg of milk last year with 4.43% fat and 3.88% protein, which accumulated to 553kg of milk solids (MS).
The Greenhills prefix was first registered with the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) in 1997 and encouraged the farmer to set his breeding goals of improving fat and protein percentages through breeeding.
The animals in the herd have been genotyped since 2014, which has allowed for the best young stock to be retained on the farm and bred from and has resulted in seven young bulls going to Progressive Genetics in the last five years.
Sample prices from the Greenhills dispersal sale are as follows:
Lot 17: Greenhills Picasso Sugar 2 is the dam of Greenhills Edie, a young bull with an EBI of €358 that was sold to Progressive Genetics.
Lot 18: Greenhills Zeus Sugar 2 is the maternal sister to Greenhills Edie sold to Progressive Genetics and has a milk sub index of €101 and fertility sub index of €140 with milk kg of 139kg and 0.17% fat and 0.16% protein.
Lot 35: Greenhills Stark Rose is a third generation cow producing over 4% protein each lactation, and is the dam of Greenhills Starkey (FR1988) sold to Progressive Genetics in 2024.
Lot 36: Greenhills Unack Rose 2 is also a third generation cow producing over 4% protein each lactation, and is the maternal sister to lot 35.
Lot 38: Greenhills Superdry Rose is an impressive calved heifer from the super high protein 'Rose' cow family.
Lot 40: Greenhills Unack Rose also comes from generations of high protein cows, with her dam producing 4.01% protein and grand dam 3.91% protein.
