15,000GNS ISLAVALE PEACE TOPS SIMMENTAL NEXT GEN IV SALE OF FEMALES & WEANED CALVES AT CARLISLE

• Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso make 9500gns
• 8500gns Islavale Raven wins Weaned Calf Championship
• Maiden heifers average £5024
• Simm X Hi Health heifers average £1823

 The December 2023 born Islavale Peace from WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith sold for 15,000gns to lead the trade at the fourth staging of the Next Generation Sale of Simmental Females & Weaned Calves held at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday, 6^th December.

Overall Reserve Champion Female Islavale Peace 15,000gns

Sired by Rockytop Luca 20, and out of Islavale Foxy EX 91, this heifer had earlier taken the red ticket in the last female class in the pre-sale show before going on to take the Overall Reserve Champion Female award from judge for the day Richard McCulloch of the noted Overhill House herd at Armadale, West Lothian.  Come sale time and Richard McCulloch backed up his judgement when purchasing this stylish heifer after some spirited bidding. Of buying the day’s leading priced animal, Richard McCulloch said:  “Islavale Peace is a lovely heifer with a great top line. Just a smashing heifer, she’s stylish, very feminine and is a totally different bloodline being introduced into the herd.  I’m delighted to have bee able to buy her.”

Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso 9,500gns

At 9500gns was the winner of the first class of the day in the shape of Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith Banffshire.  This upstanding April 2022 born heifer is the first daughter to be sold off the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo, and is out of Backmuir Orlane’s Kenzie.  Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso joined the top price of the day when also being purchased by the judge. Commenting, Richard McCulloch said: “As with the top price, this Backmuir heifer is a totally new bloodline and I’m excited to see what she’ll bring to the Overhill House herd in due course.  She’s a feminine heifer, very square, and with a good topline.  In addition to her breeding, she is the colour for the herd I look for, and is the type of female I think has the potential to go on and breed good bulls for the commercial and pedigree market.  A future aim will be to put her to the herd sire Pistyll Kingsman.”  Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso was sold as in-calf to Backmuir Nemo, the only son of the £25,000 Lisglass Kirk.

Judge Richard McCulloch

It was another top day for the prolific Islavale herd who with their entries took the Reserve Overall Female Championship; the Weaned Calf Championship; and the days top price in both the female section and the weaned calf section!

Weaned Calf Champion Islavale Raven 8,500gns

The win in the Weaned Calf Championship, with the youngest entry in this year’s catalogue Islavale Raven, marked a remarkable three years in a row that the Islavale herd has won this title.  April 2024 born, the classy young heifer Islavale Raven is the first calf offered at sale by the herd’s junior sire Islavale McCoist, and is out of Islavale Japan EX 90, a Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 EX 94 daughter.  Of his Weaned Calf Champion, the judge Richard McCulloch said: “What a beautiful, sweet heifer calf this was.  Again very square with a super top line, she was very correct and just full of style. A tremendous young heifer with all the qualities to have a big  future ahead of her.”   Islavale Raven was purchased by Gavin Brown for his noted 30-cow Springfield herd at Penicuik, Midlothian.

Overall Champion Female Atlow Plume 6,000gns

The Overall Champion Female on the day came in the shape of Atlow Plume, the winner of class four, and from David Donnelly, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.  This heifer by Dermotstown King Kong, and out of Atlow Dora’s JoJo, arrived at Carlisle with a show pedigree behind her having been Junior Female Champion at the 2024 Simmental English National Show, held at the Royal Lancashire. Commenting on his Overall Champion, Richard McCulloch said: “My Champion heifer was full of quality.  She had length, width and depth, and was very square on the plates.  She walked well, had a good top line, and wasn’t too extreme.  Just a very stylish Simmental heifer.”   Of the Next Gen Sale generally, Richard McCulloch went on to say: “It was a great honour to be asked to judge this sale and I’d like to thank the Society for asking me.  In judging I was particularly looking for females with the typical breed qualities, that were easy fleshing and could go on and breed top end bulls for the commercial market.  I thought the Simmentals presented today were outstanding and a great credit to the breeders.”

Purchasing the Champion Atlow Plume for 6000gns was Jimmy & Vikki Wood for their noted Popes herd at Dutton, Preston, Lancs.  Speaking afterwards Vikki Wood said: “We are friends with David and as such we’ve been watching Atlow Plume throughout the summer.  She really has grown on and we think is a real super heifer.  We like her back breeding as she is from a strong female line going back to Kilbride Farm Dora 34A, and it is always nice to add another strong female line into the herd.”

The Next Gen IV Sale again saw animals bought by new and established breeders and with purchases going to geographies around the UK. With new construction work ongoing at Borderway Mart, the pre-sale show was held in a makeshift show ring but still held the attention of a good ringside audience.  Maiden heifers averaged £5024, with heifer calves at £5075, and two served heifers at £6667.50.  A new addition to this year’s sale was a section of young Simm X Hi Health Heifers with 36 in all selling to a strong average of £1824.  Speaking afterwards BSCS General manger Iain Kerr said: “This is the fourth staging of this sale and breeders are working hard to bring forward animals with the quality and genetics to be ‘next generation’ cornerstone cattle in herds across the UK.   The sale again offered opportunity for new and established breeders to acquire some top end pedigree Simmentals, and we were delighted to see the newly added Simm X Hi Health Heifers meet with such a good trade.”

Braegarrie Paloma 6,000gns

Also selling at 6000gns was Braegarrie Paloma from DL & S Currie, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan, Ayrshire.  June 2023 born this heifer by Overhill House Link 20, and out of Braegarrie Melissa, a Denizes Hamish 16 daughter, had stood second in her class to the day’s Overall Female Champion.  Braegarrie Paloma was one of two purchases on the day by Mr M Webster for his Cracoe pedigree herd at Whittakers Barn Farm, Skipton, North Yorkshire.  Of his purchase Mr Webster said: “We initially saw a video of this heifer being shown at the Simmental Youngstock Show within the Borderway Agri Expo and just really liked her presence and stature.  She’s a very feminine heifer, with a lovely head, and just a great example of a Simmental female.”  The very next lot Braegarrie Prunella, a heifer’s calf out of Braegarrie Minella, and again sired by Overhill House Link, joined Paloma in heading to the Websters’ Cracoe herd.  Building towards 15 breeding females, both of these heifers will be integrated into the herd and will be put to Drumsleed Pollock, the new stock bull purchased at Stirling in October.

Denizes Nelly 14th 5,00gns

Two heifers made 5000gns.  The first of these was Denizes Nelly 14^th from MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire.  June 2023 born, this heifer is by Saltire Impressive and is out of the 13-year-old Denizes Nelly 4^th, an Ashland Tornado daughter.  Denizes Nelly 14^th went south when purchased by new breeders Messrs Durrant, Dunmow, Essex.  Also at the 5000gns mark was the second prize winner in class six, Newbiemains Penny from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfries.  October 2023 born, Penny is out of the noted herd sire Auchorachan Hercules 16 (ET) EX 92 and is out of Newbiemains Jenna VG 87.  Buying this heifer was Mr & Mrs G Burns, Tippetcraig Farm, High Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.

Newbiemains Penny 5,000gns

Champion Altlow Plume and reserve Champion Islavale Peace

Weaned calf champions Islavale Raven and Crudie Raven

AVERAGES 

1 Cow with calf at foot                                               £4725.00
2 Served Heifers                                                          £6667.50
13 Maiden Heifers                                                       £5023.84
3 Heifer Calves                                                            £5075.00
36 Commercial Heifers                                             £1822.62

Results from the 2024 Simmental NXTGEN IV presale show on Friday 6th December’24 at Borderway Mart, Carlisle

Judge: Richard McCulloch Over Hill House

Class 2 – In calf heifers
1^st – Lot 2 Backmuir Kenzies Nespresso              Reece & Andrew Simmers
2^nd – Lot 3 Backmuir Kendrix’s Nigella                  Reece & Andrew Simmers

Class 3 – Heifer born between 11/2/23 and 10/4/23
1st – Lot 6 Atlow Bella’s Pippa                                   Mr D Donnelly
2^nd – Lot 5 Islavale Piper                                             Mr W S Stronach
3^rd – Lot 7 Blair Pandora                                             Mr C Fordyce
4^th – Lot 4 Cwarre Eunice’s Pride                            Richard James Cumming

Class 4 – Heifer born between 4/6/23 and 3/7/23
1^st – Lot 11 Atlowe Plume                                          Mr D Donnelly
2^nd – Lot 8 Braegarrie Paloma                                  D L & S Currie
3^rd – Lot 9 Braegarrie Prunella                                  D L & S Currie
4^th – Lot 14 Springfield Prada                                   Gavin Brown

Class 5 – Heifer born between 12/8/23 and 18/9/23
1^st – Lot 16 Auchorachan Popcorn Nanny           D & R Durno & Sons
2^nd – Lot 15 Cwarre Rosie’s Peony                          Richard James Cumming
3^rd – Lot 18 Auchorachan Pandora Madie            D & R Durno & Sons
4^th – Lot 20 Denizes Rosie’s Cadette                      M A Barlow & Sons

Class 6 – Heifer born between 17/10/23 and 28/10/23
1^st – Lot 24 Islavale Pimms                                       Mr W S Stronach
2^nd – Lot 25 Newbiemains Penny                            Jim & Patricia Goldie
3^rd – Lot 23 Newbiemains Pippa                             Jim & Patricia Goldie
4^th – Lot 22 Atlow Pepsi-Cola                                   Mr D Donnelly

Class 7 – Heifer born between 5/11/23 and 20/12/23
1^st – Lot 28 Islavale Peace                                         Mr W S Stronach
2^nd – Lot 26 Newbiemains Philmstar                     Jim & Patricia Goldie
3^rd – Lot 30 Newbiemains Pattiwag                        Jim & Patricia Goldie

Class 8 – Weaned heifer calf
1^st – Lot 34 Islavale Raven                                         Mr W S Stronach
2^nd – Lot 32 Crudie Raven                                          Crudie Farming Company
3^rd – Lot 33 Crudie Rowen                                         Crudie Farming Company

Champion Female Atlow Plume                         Mr D Donnelly
Reserve Champion Islavale Peace                     Mr W S Stronach

Champion Weaned Calf Islavale Raven           Mr W S Stronach
Reserve Champion Crudie Raven                      Crudie Farming Company