Timed online auction plans for Halfway British Blue dispersal

Pedigree and commercial British Blue enthusiasts will have an opportunity to secure some of the most sought-after genetics in the breed, as the County Down-based Halfway Herd is set to be dispersed next weekend.

The online timed auction, conducted by Carlisle-based auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington, will commence at 7.00pm on Friday 8^th May and end at 7.00pm on Sunday 10^th May 2026. The catalogue can be viewed at handh.marteye.ie.

Property of George Mitchell and family from Banbridge, the Halfway herd was founded five years ago with embryos from the 5,000gns Ridge Dean Wisdom ET, and the 4,800gns Ridge Dean Wondering Gem ET – daughters of the famous Ridge Dean Jessie cow bred by English breeder Michele Wilde.

The dispersal sale includes a four-year-old cow; 6 bulls, 11 maiden heifers and two lots of semen.

Cattle are eligible for export to ROI and mainland UK. The herd is tested negative for BVD, TB and Johnes, and animals are vaccinated for IBR, Lepto and BVD.

The young bulls (lots 1 to 6) range in age from March to October 2024, and are sons of the Rocco de la Hasse son, Tattoo VD Sijsloberg; and the NI-bred Baron du Bois Bauloye son, Springbank Blackstar.  

The home-bred cow Halfway Ruby (lot 7) was born in September 2021 and is by the popular British Blue sire, Dafydd D’Ochain, and bred from Ridge Dean Wisdom ET. She is scanned in-calf, due at the end of September, carrying a heifer by Maradona du Champ du Moulin.

Halfway Ruby’s first calf, Halfway Valerie (lot 18), sired by Brennand Panther, is ten-months-old and is the youngest heifer in the sale.

Halfway Unique (lot 8), Halfway Uptowngirl (lot 9) and Halfway Upperclass (lot 10), are full ET sisters, born in September 2024, from Oxcroft Lionhart x Ridge Dean Wisdom ET.

The October 2024 Halfway Ublackbeauty (lot 12), Halfway Ubeaty (lot 13), Halfway Upbeat (lot 14) and Halfway Useful (lot 15) are full ET sisters bred from Springbank Blackstar x Ridge Dean Wondering Gem ET; while Halfway Upgrade (lot 11) born in October 2024, and the November 2024 born Halfway Una (lot 16) are the result of a mating between Ballygrange Alex and Ridge Dean Wondering Gem ET.

Rounding off the sale are two lots of British Blue semen: (lot 19) four straws of Tattoo VD Sijsloberg, a stylish, well-muscled bull renown for breeding pedigree and commercial show calves; and five straws (lot 20) of Maradona du Champ du Moulin, an outstanding bull with a global reputation for breeding stylish progeny.

Prospective bidders are welcome to view the herd on Saturday, 2^nd May 2026, between 11.00am and 1.00pm, and from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. The farm is located at 98 Halfway Road, Banbridge, County Down, BT32 4HB. Alternative viewing arrangements will be facilitated via prior appointment with the vendor.

View the catalogue online at handh.marteye.ie – contact the auctioneers for online bidding approval in advance of the sale.

For further information contact Lara Reid, at Harrison and Hetherington, tel: 01228 406239, or George Mitchell on mobile: 07871 833159.