Jalex’ Winter Wonders Select sale of in-calf heifers proved a roaring success with a top price of £6800 paid on two occasions and an overall average just shy of £3000 for 136 heifers.

The sale, at James Alexander and family’s Alexander Home Farm, Northern Ireland, was staged live with an online bidding facility.

“We saw a good level average throughout and we managed to source some new buyers and keep plenty of repeat custom, which is what we like to see. It’s the biggest ringside crowd we’ve had yet, probably due to the holidays,” said Mr Alexander.

First to achieve £6800 was an Aberdeen-Angus heifer bred in Scotland and purchased from Blair Duffton, Huntly, after standing native champion at a show and sale at Thainstone. She sold in calf to the new Limousin stock bull, Clonguish Ronald, to Ivan Lynn and Sons, Armoy, Co. Antrim. June 2020-born heifer and scaling 880kg, she is by Gaskbeg Royal Producer and out of a Limousin cross British Blue dam.

Also making £6800 was a similarly aged heifer again due to Ronald. Bought out of Donegal last December, she is sired by Ross Alo and out of a British Blue cross Limousin cow. Fergal McMullan, Ballymena, Co Antrim, was the final bidder here.

Selling across the Irish Sea up to Nairn at £5200 was a British Blue cross heifer purchased by Hugh Barclay, of the Seafield Park Partnership. This three-year-old is a daughter of Boroside Jagerbomb and sold in calf to Corcamore Romeo.

Messrs McGee, Armagh, Co Armagh went to £5000 for a rising three-year-old British Blue cross heifer. Sired by Manitou De Belle Eau she is also carrying a Romeo calf

A British Blue heifer bred by Hugh and Stewart Dunlop, Holehouse, then made £4800 when selling to Tony Morning, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Another rising three-year-old, this time by Bedgebury Kent, she changed hands in calf to Corcamore Romeo.

Shennanton Livestock, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, forked out £4500 for a British Blue cross in-calf heifer also due to Romeo. Her pedigree features Tardif D Hontoir, and a Charolais cross British Blue dam.

Topping the bull trade at £4400 was a 21-month-old Limousin cross British Blue by Lodge Hamlet out of Ballyfin Borat. He sold to Messrs Connolly, Keady.

OTHER LEADING prices

In-calf heifers – £4200, to Messrs Morning, Letterkenny, Co Donegal (x2); to Messrs Waters, Ballinfull, Sligo; Messrs McMullan, Ballymena, Co Antrim

£4000, to Messrs Byard, Claycross, Chesterfield, Derbyshire; £4000, to Messrs Waters, Ballinfull, Sligo; £4000 Messrs Porter, Bridgend, Isle of Islay; £4000 Messrs Daly, Eyecourt, Galway.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Averages: 136 in-calf heifers, £2929.41; four bulls, £3625.00