NNCE (Northern Counties Co-op) Farm in Northern Ireland will play host to an open evening today (Friday, October 1st) from 6-9 pm, ahead of its upcoming heifer sale.
The farm will offer 55 “top-quality” in-calf heifers for sale at Swatragh Livestock Market, 29 Garvagh Road Swatragh, at 7:30 pm on Friday, October 15th.
Eamon Healy, farm manager at Northern Counties Co-operative, told That’s Farming that this evening’s event will enable potential buyers to view heifers “up close and personal”.
“Last year, we held an evening for people to come to our farm and have a look at the cattle before the sale and found it to be of great benefit.”
NNCE farm sale
Northern Counties Co-op has been producing in-calf heifers for several years now, and its sales have grown to have quite a following. They claim to consistently turn out “excellent quality” in-calf heifers each year and have return buyers annually.
Heifers, this year, are in-calf to easy-calving AI Limousin sires, EBY and Ivor, and a selection are in-calf to AI Angus bull, Roydmoor Franklyn.
Furthermore, some heifers are in-calf to the herd’s Limousin stock bulls, which are Plumtree Fantastic and Ampertaine Magnum sons, that they purchased for their easy calving ability.
“We have used all these sires before and have found them to have great results. Sire selection is extremely important to us. We want all our customers to have a stress-free time at calving and get lively calves on the ground, which is what it is all about.”
“All our heifers are all BVD vaccinated and our naturally done and not pushed. They will receive pre-calving minerals in the lead up to the sale. Most of the heifers are due on November 28th, 2021 with a selection in December and a few later calvers.”
“This is the best batch of heifers we have ever had, and we are extremely proud of them. We will bring the 55 heifers into the cattle shed and have them batched in accordance with what they are served by and calving dates.”
“This is people’s chance to get a real good look before the sale and pick out that special heifer or have a look if they cannot make the sale and are going to watch online. I will be there on the night for anybody that has any questions or wants to know a bit more information.”
A heifer for everyone
“We aim to have a heifer for everyone. We have heifers that can produce show calves and then have heifers that will be suitable for a Charolais bull next year.”
“Overall, we have a good mix of Belgian Blues, Limousins and roan-type heifers this year, so there is something to suit all types of systems.”
They began these sales to provide a place for local farmers in Swatragh and surrounding areas to come and acquire quality in-calf heifer to replace their cull cows each year.
“We introduced more use of AI and are seeing more happy customers with quality calves, and they can also make use of our mart and sell the calves from the heifers when they are ready.”
Increased demand for quality suckler-bred stock
“In recent years, I have seen there has been an increase in demand for better quality suckler stock.”
“The calves from these types of cattle are fetching a far superior price at the markets with some exceptional prices achieved this year in marts across the country by far overachieving what dairy-bred stock are making.”
“People are realising that they can make as much money with fewer suckler cows but of a higher quality, achieving top prices for their progeny.”
“Every year at our sales, we have a full clearance with a range of return and new buyers, and we hope that this year will be no different. We will be able to facilitate transport on the night if buyers require this and will be a luck’s penny with every heifer,” Healy concluded.
More information: NNCE farm sale
Follow Swatragh Livestock Market on Facebook for more pictures and updates. Alternatively, if you wish to know any specific details, you can call Eamon on 07885781796.
Everyone is welcome on the night of October 15th in Swatragh Mart, but there will be online bidding available via Marteye.
