Blue Cedar Peter (PP) Sets New 20,000gns Simmental Record at Worcester

Beanhill Ryan 24 makes 11,000gns
Wroxall Pornstar 23 (P) makes 9,000gns
20,000gns a new all-breeds centre record, and record for a Simmental bull sold in England

It was a record breaking day at the Worcester Simmental Sale held on Saturday 3rd May, at McCartneys Worcester Livestock Market.

Record-breaking 20,000gns Blue Cedar Peter  23 (PP)

Selling at 20,000gns and setting a new all-breeds centre record at Worcester, and a new record for a Simmental bull sold at a Society sale in England, was the homozygous polled, and entirely homebred, Blue Cedar Peter 23 (PP), from Nigel Darling, Intwood, Norwich.

December 2023 born, Blue Cedar Peter 23 (PP) is by Blue Cedar Kelso (PP), and is out of Blue Cedar Edwina 4^th (PP).  Purchasing this bull was stock manager Richard Bell for the 300-cow Bowley herd of Mr CM Mercer based at Hope-Under-Dinmore, Herefordshire. With limited staff, ease of management is a big factor for the Bowley herd and with the homozygous polled status of this bull being particularly attractive.

Blue Cedar Peter 23 (PP) with purchaser Richard bell (left), breeder Nigel Darling, and stockman Phil Boyd-Stevenson

Commenting after the sale a delighted Nigel Darling said:  “I’m absolutely over the moon to sell Blue Cedar Peter (PP) for this top price, and to set so many new record marks along the way is just amazing.  I joined the Society some fifteen years ago and have been concentrating on breeding polled cattle from the outset.  We’ve presently got twelve cows and all of which are homozygous polled.   There’s more and more demand for homozygous polled Simmentals from commercial producers who want easier management with no dehorning of calves whilst still retaining the traits the breed is renowned for.”  The Blue Cedar herd was established in 2010 with the purchase of the 15-month-old bull Wroxall Abacus 09 (PP), and with the purchase of the heifer Hunnyhill Wendy (P) thereafter.  Next up for the Blue Cedar herd will be the Royal Norfolk and with more homozygous polled genetics on show.

Endorsing Nigel Darling’s comments was the purchaser Richard Bell who said:  “In a big herd like Bowley and with not many staff, homozygous polled Simmental genetics is very attractive to us.  This bull has also got excellent calving ease figures and above average indexes so he ticks a lot of boxes and we’re delighted to have him.”

9000gns Wroxall Pornstar (P), Overall Supreme Champion

Earlier in the sale Richard Bell also purchased the day’s pre-sale show Overall Champion for 9000gns, and in the shape of the heterozygous polled Wroxall Pornstar (P) from the long established Wroxall herd of CH Evans & Son, Kington Grange Farm, Claverdon, Warwickshire. This naturally polled bull has shown phenomenal growth for age with figures to back this up, especially on the replacement traits. His mother was shown extensively and notably winning the breed championship at both the Three Counties and Staffordshire shows for two years on the trot.   Wroxall Pornstar (P), is by Corskie Megastar 21 (P), and is out of Wroxall Lovely-Moira (P), a Coose Gambler (P) daughter.

The pre-sale show judge was Rhys Grenham from the noted Boars Head herd in Crowborough, East Sussex.

11,000gns Beanhill Ryan 24

The second highest price on the day was the 11,000gns paid for the final bull in the sale, Beanhill Ryan 24 from Mr & Mrs RJ & BE Kimber, Chippenham, Wiltshire. January 2024 born, this bull is by the AI sire Broombrae Major M3 21, and is out of Beanhill Inca EX 90, a Tillbrook Earl daughter.   Purchasing this bull was RB Gough, The Gippols, Harley, Shrewsbury.

A small show of Simmental bulls within this multibreed fixture saw five out of the six forward sell to average £10,248 and again, a new record average mark for this fixture.

Judge Rhys Grenham left with Champion Wroxall Pornstar (P), and Reserve Champion Wroxall Pow Wow (P)