10,000GNS GILLVIEW RANGER SETS NEW SIMMENTAL RECORD AT DUNGANNON SALE!

Gillview Ranger the first Simmental bull to sell at five figures at NI Society sale
Bulls average £5814.37, a new breed record, and up by £366.80
100% clearance rate

Records were broken at the British Simmental Cattle Society’s Sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Friday 27^th March when local breeder Ryan Gilmour sold Gillview Ranger for 10,000gns.The 10,000gns is a new record for this Dungannon Sale, eclipsing last year’s 7200gns figure for Corrick Pressley, and is the first time a Simmental bull has sold at the five figure mark at a Society Sale in Northern Ireland.

10,000gns Gillview Ranger, Overall Supreme Champion

In the pre-sale show, this October 2024 born bull had been placed as Supreme Champion by the judge Robert Forde, of the noted Mullynock herd, Tempo.  Commenting on his Champion, Mr Forde said:  “My Champion was just a lovely, standout bull in the show.  He was long, clean, well muscled, and has all the attributes to produce top end market weaners for commercial farmers, and to make a stock bull for a pedigree herd.”

Simmental judge, Robert Forde, Mullynock herd.

Full of breeding, the stylish Gillview Ranger is by the noted AI sire Coose Lincoln (ET) EX 95, and is out of Raceview Millie Fairytale, a Kilbride Farm Delboy 12 daughter purchased from Peter & Marion O’Connell in October 2021. At Stirling in February this year, Coose Lincoln (ET) EX 95 sons made 20,000gns, 19,000gns, 18,000gns, and 13,000gns.

Gillview Ranger’s figures see him in the Simmental breed’s top 15% for Maternal (Milk), and top 5% for Eye Muscle Area.  The combination of pedigree, performance, and the bull in himself, caught the eye of commercial suckler man Derek Reaney, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, who paid the day’s top price. Speaking afterwards Mr Reaney said: “I really liked this bull’s picture on Facebook, and then in the flesh when I saw him at the pre-sale show.  He’s a very modern type of bull, has a great top line, and plenty of muscle. I run 75 to 80 suckler cows, both Limousin X and Saler X, and my aim is to use Gillview Ranger to breed quality female replacements.”

The sale has come at a very timely moment with Ryan soon to be married to his fiancée Shannon.  Commenting, Ryan said:  Gillview Ranger has been an outstanding calf from birth and quickly became a firm favourite of mine, and especially of Shannon. In the lead-up to the sale, we were quietly confident as he was looking really well and we’re over the moon that he’s made this record price.  It certainly had a feel that fate was on our side, as we were just 10 days away from our wedding at the time of the sale in Dungannon, and Ranger went on to sell for 10,000gns, making “10” a number to remember for us!”

Ryan, who is also the NI Simmental Breeders Club Secretary went on to say: “We are proud to support and promote the Simmental breed here in Northern Ireland, and particularly with Dungannon Mart on our doorstep. We are really delighted to set a new Northern Ireland Simmental sale record, reaching a five-figure price for a bull, and during the NI Simmental Club’s 55th anniversary this year.  He’s gone to an excellent home, remaining locally in Tyrone with well-known commercial farmer Derek Reaney, and we would like to wish him every success with Ranger. We also extend our thanks to the mart staff and the Wylie family for their continued support and for hosting Simmental sales in Dungannon over the years.” The sale represents a high price to date for the Gillview herd which presently consists of ten breeding cows.  Further success was attained in the show ring last year when Gillview Rocket lifted the Reserve Male Champion at the NI National Show in Clogher.

In a small but quality sale at Dungannon, the bulls sold averaged £5814.37, a new record average and up by £366.80 on last year’s sale, and with a total clearance of the eight bulls forward.

Selling at 7000gns was the upstanding Ashland Silvester from Pat & Frank Kelly, Tempo, Co Fermanagh.  January 2025 born this bull is by the AI sire Ashland Brandy, and is out of Raceview Mollyfortuna 887, a Dermotstown Delboy EX 92 daughter.  This bull also carried strong performance figures being in the breed’s top 5% for Calving Ease Daughters, and top 15% for Maternal (Milk).  Buying this bull was John McGovern, Enniskillen, C Fermanagh.

7000gns Ashland Silvester

At 5600gns was Coolcran Rafiki 24 from Shane & Paul McDonald, Coolcran, Tempo, Co Fermanagh. A feature of the sale bulls offered, Coolcran Rafiki 24 also combined a depth of breeding, strong performance figures, and a prize winning show record. September 2024 born, Rafiki is by Islavale Miami, and is out of Coolcran Heidi’s Khaleesi, a maternal sister to the 26,000gns Coolcran Heidi’s Noreen, and noted as the best cow family in the herd.

With strong performance figures, Coolcran Rafiki 24 is in the breed’s top 10% for Maternal (Milk); is in the top 5% for 600 day weight; top 10% for 200 & 400 day weight; top 5% for Eye Muscle Area; and carried the best Calving Ease Direct figure in the catalogue. With a show record behind him, Coolcran Rafiki 24 was the winner of the DANI Rosebowl for Best Performance Recorded Bull at the NI National Show, Clogher, last year.   Coolcran Rafiki 24 was knocked down to Victor MacFarland, Ballygawley, Dungannon.

5600gns Coolcran Rafiki

It was a good day at the sale for Gavin Hayes & Son, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim, who kicked off the sale by selling Haystar Revolver for 5200gns John J Cavanagh, Pomeroy, Dungannon..  This April 2024 born bull calf is sired by Lissadell Nailer, and is out of Raceview Lively HW Nicolet, by Clonagh Tiger Gallant, who was purchased from a Raceview reduction sale. In November 2024 this bull was Junior Champion at the NI Simmental Club Calf Show held at Ballymena Livestock Market. At the pre-show sale of bulls at Dungannon, Haystar Revolver was placed Reserve Supreme Champion.  Of this bull the judge Robert Forde said:  “This was a big, long, square bull.  He was excellent on his legs, clean through his brisket, and again should go on to produce excellent, first quality calves.”

5200gns Haystar Revolver, Overall Reserve Champion

On the day the Haystar herd also had the top priced female when they sold the in-calf heifer Haystar Wonder 13 for 5700gns.   July 2023 born,  Haystar Wonder 13 is by the noted AI sire Corrick Kentucky Kid, and is out of the Cleenagh Flasher daughter Haystar Wonder (ET).  Scanned in-calf to Coose Kingston, and due mid May, Haystar Wonder 13 was bought by Ashley Bowden for his Legmurn herd at Stewartstown, Co Tyrone.

AVERAGES:

8 Bulls £5814.37 (+£366.80)
5 Heifers £3927

Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart.