7,200GNS GRANGEWOOD NEW HOPE TOPS SOLID SIMMENTAL SALE AT CARLISLE

• 19 bulls sell to a clearance rate of 73%, and average £4,603
• 36 Simm X High Health heifers average £2021
• 57 lots sell in Simmental section to gross £165,988
• Bulls sell to Orkney, and down to Hampshire
• Popes Picasso 23 lifts Overall Simmental Championship

 Grangewood New Hope 22 from Andrew & Yvonne Leedham, Rowan Farm, Pickering, North Yorkshire sold for 7,200gns to lead a solid Simmental Sale at H&H’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Saturday, 11^th May.

Grangewood New Hope 7,200gns

August 2022 born, Grangewood New Hope is by the herd sire Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 (ET), and is out of the Dinton Nautical daughter Grangewood Jackie.  Combining length and muscle with top figures, this bull was +10 for Maternal Milk, and with breed top 5% and 10% Terminal Production and Self Replacing Indexes.  Purchasing this bull, who had stood second in his class to the Reserve Overall Champion, was JC Innes & Sons who run the Strathbogie herd, along with a suckler herd of some 800 cows, at Dunscroft Farm, Huntly Aberdeenshire.

In a good day’s trading the Leedhams sold three bulls with a depth of pedigree and performance figures, all sired by Ranfurly Impeccable who was purchased for 8500gns at Stirling in 2018, to make 7,200gns; 5,000gns; and 4,000gns respectively.

Across the sale 19 bulls sold to average £4,603, with 36 Simm X High Health bulling heifers averaging £2021, and a small entry of pedigree heifers topping at 3,000gns.  57 lots sold in all to gross £165,988.  Commenting on the sale, BSCS General Manager Iain Kerr said “We’re seeing a strong and increasing demand for Simmental genetics, bulls and females, from commercial producers across the UK and this is being reflected at the Society’s pedigree sales.  This sale fixture at Carlisle continues to grow and we’re really pleased to see 19 bulls sell across the UK, up by seven on the year, and to buyers from Orkney right down to Hampshire.   The addition of the Simm X High Health heifers for the second year is proving to be popular and met with an increased average which is great to see.”

Popes Picasso 7,000gns

Selling at 7,000gns was Popes Picasso 23 from the well-known pedigree herd of Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston.  This bull, a heifer’s calf, is the first offered at sale by the €52,000 Euro Clonagh Lucky Explorer, and is out of Popes Princess Kiki, a daughter of the herd’s renowned show cow Popes Princess Cleo. Again, a bull with good growth figures, and +12 for Maternal (Milk), this ‘stylish young bull with length and shape’ was bought by local commercial producer Irving Pearson, for his 120 cow suckler herd of mainly pure Simmental, and Blue cross Simmental cows, at Manor Farm, Blencow, Penrith.  Earlier in the day Popes Picasso 23 had been placed Overall Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show judged by Bruce Lambie of the noted Fallhills herd at Penicuik, Midlothian.  Commenting on his Champion Bruce Lambie said “This was a tremendous young Simmental bull, with all of the potential to be a fantastic stock sire in both pedigree or commercial herd.  He was a very modern type, clean through the middle, very correct on good feet and legs, and had a great top line.  A very worthy Champion who I’m sure will go on and do well.”

Auchorachan Newbie 6,000gns

Jim and Patricia Goldie who run the Newbiemains herd at Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire purchased to bulls on the day at 6,000gns and 5,000gns.    The first of these at 6000gns was Auchorachan Newbie 22 from D&R Durno & Sons, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch.  Sired by the 9,000gns Greencap Kane 19 EX91, this September 2022 born bull is out of Auchorachan Gipsy EX 92 who has previously bred bulls to 9,000gns twice.  With figures to go with the breeding, Auchorachan Newbie 22 is in the breed’s top 1% for both Terminal Sire, and Self Replacing Indexes.  Another Greencap Kane son, Auchorachan Ninja 22, a first prize winner, made 4,000gns when selling to TJ & MB Smithson, Poplar Farm, Stamford Bridge, North Yorkshire.

Grangewood Paddington 5,000gns

Selling at 5,000gns, the Goldies also purchased another from the Leedham family’s pen in the shape of the January 2023 born Grangewood Paddington (TM).  Another by Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 (ET), this calf is out of Grangewood Tollie’s Hope EX 93, a full sister to the 19,000gns Grangewood Baron, and whose sons have averaged 7,250gns to date.  A theme of the day was bulls selling well with a depth of pedigree and performance figures, and Grangewood Paddington (TM) continued this trend with him carrying a +11 figure for Maternal (Milk).

Commenting afterwards Jim Goldie said of his two purchases: “We came to the sale looking for a bull, and a second if possible, for our pedigree herd that’s now at 150 cows.  We had previously purchased a half-brother to Auchorachan Newbie (Auchorachan Kennedy 19) and have been really pleased with how good his progeny are.  He’s also from a line of three cows that are all classified EX 92 and that’s a big bonus for us. The Grangewood bull was a lovely standout, stylish bull with good feet and legs, and walked well. Again, his sire is well bred and classified EX94.  Two good bulls and we are pleased to have bought them.”

Newbiemains New Moon 5,000gns

Recouping some of their outlay, the Goldies themselves sold Newbiemains New Moon 22 for 5,000gns to DF Crew, Gall Farm, Lockerbie.  In the pre-sale show this upstanding July 2022 born bull had placed first in his class and was Overall Reserve Champion.  Sired by Carbery Lightening EX 91, Newbiemains New Moon 22 is out of Newbiemains Eclypse EX 90. Later in the sale Newbiemains Nailer 22, a Skerrington Iceman 17 EX 95 son was sold for 4000gns to Thwaites & Co, Thorney Croft, Newby, Penrith.

Enjoying another solid sale at Carlisle was the Scotland Hill herd of Tom Hill & Ruby Wright, Mill Farm, Wadworth, Doncaster who sold two bulls at the 4,800gns mark.  Up first was the September 2022 born Scotland Hill North Star 22.  Sired by the imported bull Clonagh King Eyes (ET), and out of Scotland Hill Emily Jilly, this bull went to Hampshire when selling to Clachanton & Poundland Partners, The Estate Office, Stratford Saye.  At the same 4,800gns mark was the October 2022 born Scotland Hill Niagra 22.  Another son of Clonagh King Eyes (ET), and out of Scotland Hill Westeria Freya, this bull was one of two purchases by well known Orkney buyer Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stromness.

Leading the small offering of pedigree females was the Tilbrook Netty from Peter Burgess, High Keenley Fell Farm, Hexham who made 3,000gns when selling to Derbyshire and the Dovefields pedigree herd of L Renshaw & I Brassington, The Old Myers, Church Broughton.  Sired by the AI sire Clonagh Latin Lover, this December 2022 born maiden heifer is out of Tilbrook Honey.

A feature of the sale was the Simm X High Health Sale of bulling heifers that saw 36 sell to average a very healthy £2,020.  Leading the way in this section with a pair of Simm Luing heifers at £2,450, and a further pair at £2,400 was Angus Freeman, Town End Farm, Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria.  Fourteen to fifteen months old, a selection of these heifers had caught much attention on the Society’s promotional stand at the NBA’s 2024 Beef Expo at North West Auctions Jct 36.  The top price heifers at Carlisle on Saturday were purchased by AJ & L Birkett, Birk Howe Farm, Ambleside, Cumbria.  Selling at £2300 was a pair of ¾ Simmental X heifers from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, and which were purchased by Rutter Farm, Burradon Mains, Morpeth.  Other same way bred Backmuir heifers sold for £2,250 to the same buyer.

Overall & Male Champions

Judge Bruce Lambie

AVERAGES

 19 Bulls                                   £4603.42
2 Heifers                                 £2887.50
36 High Health Heifers           £2020.83