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You are > Home > Ballymote Simmental Cross Breeding Heifer Sale 2004
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Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Ballymote Simmental Cross Breeding Heifer Sale 2004
Bank Holiday Monday 25th October is the date for the Annual Simmental Cross Breeding Heifer Sale at Connacht Gold Mart, Ballymote, Co. Sligo. On offer will be over 350 choice heifers, including in-calf, maiden and forward weanlings.
In-calf heifers
There are over 130 in-calf heifers on offer with most of them due to calf between now and January. All of the heifers are in-calf to a Simmental bull. This year more than ever suckler farmers are looking for good breeding heifers with milk and the Simmental breed is a continental breed with such good maternal traits. Trials at the Teagasc Research Centre, Grange and in the U.K. have shown that weanlings from Simmental Cross dams have the highest weanling weight. These in-calf heifers are invariably bought by repeat buyers every year i.e. having previously bought such heifers and being very happy with them, they came back again year after year to purchase more. The order of the sale is in-calf heifers first starting at 10.30 a.m. sharp.
Maiden heifers
One hundred and twenty maiden heifers are entered for the sale ranging in age from fifteen to twenty months. Every year these heifers are much sought after by both local farmers and exporters. The committee advises all prospective buyers to come early to view the heifers and talk to the breeders of the cattle so they can familiarise themselves with the bloodlines of the heifers on sale. Martin Regan, Chairman of the Western Simmental Club says that this is an ideal opportunity for suckler farmers to purchase quality heifers for replacements in their herds as the profits in the future from suckling will come only from quality weanlings.
Weanlings
Every year these quality weanlings are much sought after by farmers. They range in age from seven to eleven months. The older weanlings are ideal for bulling in late spring when they are about eighteen months old. These quality weanling heifers afford the suckler farmer the opportunity to bring heifers into his herd that he can grow into his system of farming, whether it is spring or autumn calving. This year there are some outstanding calves on offer.
Thomas Jordan, Manager of the Ballymote Connacht Gold Mart says that he is very happy with the standard of heifers on offer at this annual breeding sale as the committee monitors the standard of heifers as entry is through the sale committee only. Members of the committee are always available on the day of the sale to help prospective buyers with their enquiries in regard to any individual heifer they intend to purchase.
Sale sponsors
Permanent T.S.B. Sligo are the sponsors of this years sale. The prize in each category is awarded to the purchaser of the highest priced animal in that section.
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