CHRIS MARTINDALE ELECTED AS THE 28TH BRITISH SIMMENTAL PRESIDENT

CHRIS MARTINDALE ELECTED AS THE 28TH BRITISH SIMMENTAL PRESIDENT

Shropshire-based breeder Chris Martindale has been elected as President of the British Simmental Cattle Society (BSCS) following the Society’s Annual General Meeting held recently in Stirling at the October Bull Sales. Having served as a Council Member since 2021, he...

‘TREMENDOUS’ BROOMBRAE DISPERSAL SALE TOPPED BY 8000GNS COWS & CALVES

by | Oct 24, 2024

  • 15 cows & calves average £5474
  • 2 In-calf heifers average £6,195
  • 3 Maiden heifers average £5250
  • Sale grosses £110,250
  • Denizes Production Sale tops at 8000gns, 7000gns, and 6000gns

 Finishing with more than a flourish, the full and final Dispersal Sale of the Broombrae Simmental herd of Gordon Clark, Broombrae Farm, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife met with a tremendous trade in front of a packed ringside of buyers at United Auctions, Stirling on Monday 21st October.

Leading the way was two cow and calf units, each at 8000gns. With almost all of the lots, cows and calves, and heifers, exceeding the 5000gns mark the Broombrae sale was arguably the strongest on a busy all-breeds day!  The sale grossed an outstanding £110,250 for the 35 head in all and throughout the three days of the Stirling Sale, the pens had been busy with new and established breeders, from Orkney to Norwich, looking through the quality lots on offer.

Established in 1987, the herd was built around proven breeding lines and with a breeding aim to have healthy, easy managed cows with milk, good udders, and of good temperament.  This shone through in the cattle presented which had a real consistency, freshness, were full of length, and doing a great job of their calves at foot.  The cows, with their calves at foot, had all run with Newbiemains Nightrider from the end of May to September, and then with Coltfield Maciver.

Broombrae Delight R6 – daughter of Broombrae Delight L11, 8,000gns for the outfit.

The first of the outfits at 8000gns was the second calver Broombrae Delight L11 who was sold with her heifer calf at foot Broombrae Delight R6, sired by Coltfield Maciver 21.  August 2020 born, Delight L11 is by the herd’s noted stock bull Lisglass Goldstar 15, and is out of the Corskie Copper daughter Broombrae Delight F4.  With a Maternal (Milk) figure of +11, Broombrae Delight L11 with her heifer calf was purchased by Mr & Mrs L Moffat, Innerwick Farm, Dunbar, East Lothian for their Innerwick pedigree herd.

Broombrae Delight M20 and Delight R7 8,000gns

Also at 8000gns was another from the Delight line in the shape of Broombrae Delight M20, and sold with her April 2024 born Camus Harold sired heifer calf at foot, Broombrae Delight R7.  Broombrae Delight M20 is also by Lisglass Goldstar, and is out of the Peasiehill Engelbert daughter Broombrae Delight H2.  Buying this unit was Jim & Patricia Goldie for their Newbiemains herd at Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Of his top price purchase Jim Goldie said: “We saw the Broombrae animals the day before and picked out one or two including Broombrae Delight M20 and her calf.  A lot of the cows forward had really nice calves at foot.  Delight M20 is a good, well balanced correct cow, is back in calf to Newbiemains Nightrider so all being well will produce a quality calf in the spring.  She has a good calf on her at present and which we might have a look to show next year.”

The sire of the top two prices, Lisglass Goldstar, featured heavily in the sale and has been an influential sire in the herd with numerous bulls into five figures having sold into pedigree and commercial herds.  Lisglass Goldstar was also voted Simmental Champion of Europe in 2021!

Broombrae Delight K1 with calf Delight R3, 6,000gns for the outfit

At 7000gns, and continuing the demand for the Delight line, A&R Brownlie, Melrose, Roxs purchased the March 2019 born Broombrae Delight K1, sold with her Camus Harold sired March 2024 born heifer calf Broombrae Delight R3 at foot, for their Sylvestris pedigree herd. This cow, again a third calver, and with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +11, is sired by Corskie Elgin, a Greencap Ace son. Later in the day, Broombrae Delight N23 (P), a daughter of Delight K1, made 5800gns.

Two lots sold at 6000gns.  The first of these was the August 2021 born first calved heifer Broombrae Rosina M13, who was sold with her heifer calf at foot, Broombrae Rosina R5 sired by Coltfield Maciver.  Broombrae Rosina M13, who had a Maternal (Milk) figure of +12, is another by Lisglass Goldstar, and is out of Broombrae Rosina E40 who was the top price at the herd’s sale in February this year.  Purchasing this outfit was Binn Agricultural Ltd, Glenfarg, Perthshire.

Broombrae Delight N22 6,000gns

Also at the 6000gns mark was the top price heifer in the sale, Broombrae Delight N22.  Yet another by Lisglass Goldstar, this heifer sold as PD’d in calf, is out of Broombrae Delight I15 and carried a Maternal (Milk) figure of +10.  Champion at Fife Show this summer, Broombrae Delight N22 heads to Orkney having been purchased by JD Flett, Stank Farm, Stromness.

Broombrae Delight H13 5,800gns

The catalogue ‘cover girl’ and described as ‘probably the best breeding cow for sale’ was Broombrae Delight H13 who made 5800gns when selling with her sixth calf at foot, the April 2024 born Camus Harold sired heifer calf Broombrae Delight R9.  The March 2016 born Delight H13 is sired by Peasiehill Engelbert 13, and is out of the Team Wisconsin daughter Broombrae Delight F13.   Broombrae Delight H13 is the dam of Broombrae Major who sold to Cogent, Broombrae Nijinsky who sold to a top commercial herd, and also Broombrae Delight P10 who sold for 5000gns later in the catalogue.   Purchasing this outfit was Gavin Brown for his Springfield pedigree herd at Penicuik, Midlothian.

Broombrae Delight N23 5,800gns

Also at the 5800gns mark was the aforementioned heterozygous polled in-calf heifer Broombrae Delight N23 (P).  November 2022 born, this heifer is by Innerwick Logan (P), and is out of the 7000gns Broombrae Delight K1 (sold earlier in the sale).  Buying this lot was Michael Halligan for his Netherstewarton herd at Eddleston, Peebles.

OTHER LEADING BROOMBRAE PRICES

5,200gns            Lot 642 Broombrae Snowdrop M17 & bull calf Radar 24 sold to Macfarlane Farms Ltd, Quixwood Farm, Duns, Berwickshire

5,200gns            Lot 648 Broombrae Lorey K10 & heifer calf Lorey R1 sold to G D Key & Son, Mundham, Norwich

5,000gns            Lot 643 Broombrae Rosina I21 & bull calf Rocky 24 sold to T Clark & Sons, Abbey Farm, Madderty, Crieff

5,000gns            Lot 659 Broombrae Harriet P2 sold to AJR Farms Ltd, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, Aberdeenshire

5,000gns            Lot 660 Broombrae Delight P10 sold to O J & J M Barker, Easter Yardhouses, Carnwath, Lanark

5,000gns            Lot 661 Broombrae Harriet P13 sold to D & S Calder, Braes of Grandtully, Aberfeldy, Perthshire

8000GNS DENIZES MATILDA 6TH TOPS HERD PRODUCTION SALE

 Bringing a busy Simmental Sale day to a close on Monday 21st October at Stirling, was the Production Sale from the 80-cow Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland Lancashire that saw highlight prices of 8000gns, 7000gns, and 6000gns.

Denizes Matilda 6th & 20th 8,000gns for the outfit

Topping the sale, and with the 8000gns joint leading female price of the day, was the May 2020 born Denizes Matilda 6th (ET) who was purchased with her first calf at foot, the April 2024 born Denizes Matilda 20th, sired by Hiltonstown Lorenzo 20.  Denizes Matilda 6th is sired by Denizes Impressive who was sold to the Popes herd for 10,000gns and is out of the noted Raceview Beauty Matilda.  Purchasing this outfit, with Matilda 6th being back in calf, was Sam Steggles for his growing 40-cow Wacton pedigree herd at Honingham, Norfolk.  Commenting, Sam Steggles said: “Coming to Stirling we had seen the pictures of this outfit and really liked the Raceview breeding in the pedigree.  In the flesh we thought the heifer calf was terrific, perhaps the best in the market, and she has all the potential to go on and be an outstanding female.  We’re thrilled to introduce Matilda 6th into the herd with the breeding behind her, and with the potential she brings.”

Denizes Melody 22nd and 62nd 7,000gns

Selling at 7000gns was the nine-year-old Denizes Melody 22nd who was sold with her April 2024 heifer calf at foot, Denizes Melody 62nd, a Hiltonstown Lorenzo daughter.  Melody 22nd is by Bosahan Dynamo 12, and is out of the Ashland Tornado sired Denizes Melody 10th.  Melody 22nd has had progeny at 7000gns, and her grandson Denizes New Orleans sold for 22,000gns at Stirling in May this year. With Denizes Melody 22nd PD’d in-calf, this outfit was purchased by James Hodge for his establishing Goldstar herd at Dundonald, Ayrshire.  Speaking afterwards James Hodge said:  “We’re establishing a pedigree herd and Denizes Melody 22nd along with her heifer calf brings a depth of breeding and with the potential of a foundation female.  Melody 22nd is fresh looking for her age, with great maternal characteristics.”

Denizes Trixie-Belle 24th 6,000gns

At 6000gns was the top priced maiden heifer in the shape of the June 2023 born Denizes Trixi-Belle 24th.  This heifer’s maternal brothers include the 20,000gns Denizes Monty, and the 10,000gns Denizes Impressive.  Sired by saltire Impressive 17 and out of Denizes Trixi-Belle 6th, this heifer was also purchased by Sam Steggles who said:  “Again this is a flashy heifer with plenty of style that we really liked. There’s a depth of breeding as well that will also be new to the herd.  Trixi-Belle 24th ticked a lot of boxes for us and we hope she will go on and be part of the Wacton herd show team next year.”