For Robert Manson, the Simmental breed offers everything a commercial producer could ask for—maternal strength, good temperament, efficient growth, and the kind of adaptability required on the farm’s varied land. Brodieshill Farm is located near Forres, one of the...
Keith Nelson runs a mixed farm in Rosslea, County Fermanagh alongside his family, where they milk 120 pedigree Fleckvieh and Holstein cows in a robotic system, run a small suckler beef herd and a bed and breakfast pig system. For Keith, focusing on genetics is crucial...
Sales at Thainstone, UA Stirling, Caledonian Marts, Lanark, Ayr, Newton Stewart, Quoybrae, and Dumfries featured. Moving round the UK, we’re back in Scotland and looking at markets across Scotland in this last two to three weeks and where flexible, efficient...
Stirling was the place to be as the Simmental breed enjoyed a record-breaking sale at United Auctions on Monday 20th October, with a top price of 30,000gns and a breed record average of £11,070 for 61 sold through the ring.
An incredible 28 bulls reached 10,000gns or more and which saw the average increase on the year by a massive £3,636 and for 12 more sold. In all the sale saw an 86% clearance of the bulls forward. Reflecting the ongoing momentum in the breed, the Simmental average was the highest across all breeds in the week. The sale average of £11,070 was a new Simmental breed record figure, eclipsing the £9832 figure set at Stirling in February this year.
Garmouth Robert 30,000gns
Leading the trade at a fantastic 30,000gns, was the April 2024 born Garmouth Robert from the 12-cow herd of Laura Beattie, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers. In the pre-sale show this bull had stood as Junior Champion, and Overall Reserve under the eye of the judge Geoff Anderson of the noted Quarryhill herd, and herd manager of the Pitgaveny herd, Wester Greens Farm, Lossiemouth. Garmouth Robert is a son of Rathnashan Magnum, who had previously bred bulls up to 20,000gns, and is out of Garmouth Glory’s Jessica, a daughter of the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie. Earlier in the summer, and in his only show outing, Garmouth Robert had placed Overall Male and Junior Male Champion at the Royal Highland Show. Of his Overall Reserve Champion, the judge Geoff Anderson said: “This was a strong bull with a great length to him, very square, full in the plates, walked really well, and with a lot of breed character.” The day’s top priced bull sold to the noted Backmuir herd of Reece and Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith.
Corskie Rome 20,000gns
It was a memorable day all round for the Green family, Corskie Farm, Garmouth. The pre-sale show saw the family double with Corskie taking the Overall, and with Garmouth lifting the Overall Reserve. The herd also won the Group of Three with Corskie Rye, Rosco, and Randy, all sons of Blackford Mars. Sale time saw Garmouth take the 30,000gns top price and with the six Corskie bulls averaging a mighty £14,490 and to a top of 20,000gns for the Champion, Corskie Rome. The October Sale followed on from the trend set in February and where the herd averaged £13,220 for eleven bulls!
Team Corskie line up of bulls
Speaking afterwards a delighted British Simmental Cattle Society President, Chris Martindale, said: “It’s been a tremendous Simmental sale and I’d like to congratulate the breeders who continue to raise the bar in bringing bulls full of quality and consistency in type. On the ground commercial buyers are really seeing the advantages of modern Simmental genetics and as we’ve seen today are competing with pedigree breeders for the bulls on offer and willing to go to top prices. As we’ve said quality females are the engine room of a suckler herd and commercial producers recognise the benchmark Simmental maternal traits of fertility, milk, calving ease, and docility. These quality, modern, easy fleshing bulls are providing that and with the added recognition of what they’re doing in terms of growth, age at slaughter, and daily carcase gain. Commercial producers are backing their judgement and seeing the benefits in their females and what Simmental calves are going on to do as both store and fattening cattle.” The sale saw bulls sell to the very north of Scotland, with eleven bulls heading to the islands, and all the way down to Newquay, Cornwall. Other trends on the day saw bulls with good figures, particularly milk, easily sold, and with a demand for the bulls on offer with polled genetics.
Islavale Ruben 26,000gns
Also enjoying another fantastic sale day was the Islavale herd of WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith who sold eight bulls to average a mighty £17,062, a record for the herd, and with a top price of 26,000gns. Fetching their top price was Islavale Ruben who stood second in his class to the day’s top priced bull. April 2024 born this bull is by Rockytop Luca, who was bought privately, and is out of the Shacon Hannibal sired dam Islavale Teresa. Heading back near home, Islavale Ruben was bought by Ryan Smith, Towiemore, Keith, who runs a noted commercial herd of 240 cows, and along with the establishing Towiemore pedigree herd. Of Islavale Ruben Ryan Smith said: “This is a very modern Simmental bull with plenty of length, and great width from front to back. He has a very good square back end, plenty of depth to him, and is full in his plates. I like his markings and think he’s a very stylish well put together bull, and just what I was looking for. The bull will be used on the pedigree cows initially we’ll also look to take some semen from him.”
Islavale Rico 18,000gns
Islavale Raymondo 17,000gns
Islavale Rookie 17,000gns
Islavale Rockstar 14,000gns
Islavale Rocco 13,000gns
Islavale Radar 13,000gns
Islavale Reggie 12,000gns
The Reserve Junior Champion, Islavale Rico, made 18,000gns when being bought by the aforementioned Green family for their 180-cow Corskie herd. May 2024 born this is one of the first bulls by the homebred Islavale McCoist, the sire of the 8500gns Champion Calf at the 2024 Next Gen Sale, to be offered for sale. Two further bulls by Islavale McCoist made 17,000gns, including Islavale Raymondo, who sold to commercial producers JG Callum Ashlea, Milton of Culloden, Inverness. Islavale Rookie made the same price when selling to Cameron and Valerie Fraser from Housebay Farm, Stronsay, Orkney. Other Islavale bulls saw 14,000gns paid for Islavale Rockstar, to TC and G Greenhill, Craighill Farm, Dundee; 13,000gns for the Reserve Intermediate Champion Islavale Rocco, to TG Hamilton, Killumpha Farm, Wigtownshire; 13,000gns for Islavale Radar to Welbeck Scottish Farms, Worksop, Nottinghamshire; and 12,000gns for Islavale Reggie, to K and S Meason, Frustigarth, Shapinsay, Orkney. Quite a day at the sale for the Islavale herd.
Judge Geoff Anderson with Society President Chris Martindale
So to the day’s Overall Supreme Champion, Corksie Rome from the Green family. This January 2024 born bull had taken the red ticket in the first class of the day before moving on to lift the Senior Championship, and then getting the Overall Champion tap out in front of what was a truly packed ringside. Another by Rathnashan Magnum, the same sire as with the day’s leading price, Corksie Rome is out of Corskie Kabasha GP 84, a daughter of the herd’s noted sire Kilbride Farm Haka. Of his choice of Overall Champion bull, the judge Geoff Anderson said: “My Champion bull had great power, length, and depth of body. He had a tremendous top and width to him, very square, and was full in his plates. Good on his legs he walked well and is a bull that can follow his cows. With a lot of breed character he was a worthy champion and I think a very complete Simmental bull.”
Come sale time, and early in the ring, a flurry of bids saw this bull reach 20,000gns before being knocked down to Gary & Angela Christie who run the Rockytop pedigree herd of 70 cows, alongside a 50 cow commercial herd, at Birchfield, Glass, Huntly. Speaking today, Gary Christie said: “We think this bull is really well put together. He’s balanced, with good depth, clean all the way through with a great top on him, and has a very nice nature about him as we’re seeing straight away having him home. We saw him initially at the Highland Show, where he stood second, and saw him again on farm. When I then saw him at Stirling he had gone on again and I hoped we could buy him. Plans are that he’ll be gradually introduced to the cows going up to 25 in June, and we’ll look to take some semen off him in the spring.”
Corskie Rosco 15,000gns
Corskie Roll 14,000gns
Corskie Randy 12,000gns
Other Corskie buyers saw noted commercial producer Robert Manson, Brodieshill, Alves, pay 15,000gns for Corskie Rosco, a part of the winning Group of Three, and of the one of the first bulls offered by the 14,000gns Blackford Mars, with Graham Allan of the noted Glenturk herd, Glenturk Farm, Newton Stewart, purchasing Corskie Roll, a Rathnashan Leonardo son, also for 14,000gns. Selling at 12,000gns was Corskie Randy, another of the Group of Three winners by Blackford Mars, and who stood third in his class to the day’s top price. This bull went commercially to the Duke Fife, Elsick Estate Office, Mains of Newhall, Stonehaven.
Grangewood Robert the Bruce 18,000gns
Three further bulls on the day sold at 18,000gns and including the much-admired Reserve Senior Champion, Grangewood Robert The Bruce, from the Leedham family, Andrew, Yvonne & Callum, Boghead farm, Tarbolton, Ayrshire. February 2024 born, Grangewood Robert The Bruce is by Ranfurly Impeccable, who has sired bulls for the herd up to 20,000gns, and is out of Grangewood Gretal’s Lyla VG 87, a Grangewood Glenlivet daughter. With a track record behind him, this bull was the Male Champion at this year’s Scottish Simmental National Show held in Perth and was Reserve Junior Champion at last year’s Simmental Youngstock Show held within the Borderway Agri Expo. Again a ‘very correct, stylish bull, with length and width, who walked extremely well’, Grangewood Robert The Bruce was sold to North Yorkshire and the Habton pedigree herd of Alex Bulmer, Coultas Farm, Malton.
Blackford Rob Roy 18,000gns
Anne MacPherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness also made 18,000gns for the Intermediate Champion Blackford Rob Roy, who was another high-quality bull to go commercially when selling to Rory McKenzie, Wester Craiglands, Fortrose. March 2024 born, Blackford Rob Roy is sired by Blackford Nimrod 22, a Heathbrow Important 17 son and out of Blackford Jazzy 2, a Blackford Galaxy daughter. Rob Roy is the first calf by Blackford Nimrod who was sold privately to the Boars Head herd in the South of England, and is out of Blackford Jazzy 2 EX 93, a daughter of the noted Blackford Galaxy a previous Royal Highland Champion.
Newbiemains Red Bull 18,000gns
AD Sutherland & Sons, Connachie, Kellas, Elgin who run the Glenlossie herd, paid 18,000gns for Newbiemains Red Bull from Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbiemains, Annan. This March 2024 bull by Annick Klondyke 19 EX 94 comes from a cow family of three EX classified dams and is out of Newbiemains Ice Tea EX 91. With a depth of pedigree and performance, Newbiemains Red Bull had one of the highest Maternal (Milk) figures in the catalogue at +13. Newbiemains Rafiki, another Klondyke son made 7000gns when selling to A&J Buchanan, Hawick. Later in the day, the Newbiemains herd held a successful draft sale of fourteen heifers that saw a top price of 7500gns with details at the end of this report.
Auchorachan Revolution 16,000gns
Another breeder enjoying a strong day’s trading for a terrific pen of bulls was D&R Durno & Sons, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. Two bulls sold at 16,000gns, with further bulls at 14,000gns, and 7000gns. The first bull at 16,000gns was the heterozygous polled bull Auchorachan Revolution 24 (P), one of the first by the €16,200 Coose Nebraska, and out of Auchorachan Hilly 8 EX 93, a Team Fergus daughter. Another bull with good figures, Auchorachan Revolution 24 (P), who is in the breed’s top 10% for 400 and 600 day weight; and in the top 20% for Maternal (Milk), sold to Maesquoy Farms, Harray, Orkney.
Auchorachan Roland 16,000gns
Auchorachan Redhill 14,000gns
Also at 16,000gns was the March 2024 born Auchorachan Roland, who stood second in his class to the Reserve Intermediate Champion. This bull is sired by Coose Nelson (P) and is out of Auchorachan Hilly 6 EX 91, who was Junior Champion at the Stars of the Future Show as a calf. Auchorachan Roland 24, who is in the breed’s top 20% for Maternal (Milk) was bought by commercial producer Andrew Swanson, Quarryside, Thurso. At 14,000gns was Auchorachan Redhill 24, another son of Coose Nelson (P), and out of Redhill Tracey VG 87, a Woodhall Earl13 daughter. This bull headed to the very south of England when being bought by Steve & Gill Gummow for their noted Killiworgie pedigree herd at Higher Killaworgey Farm, Blackcross, Newquay, Cornwall.
Popes Randolph 16,000gns
Popes Rollo 13,000gns
The Wood family’s Popes herd from Lancashire, also saw a top price of 16,000gns paid for Popes Randolph 24, the second prize winner in in Class Six. April 2024 born Popes Randolph 24 is by the €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer, and is out of Popes Whispers Idella. The Reserve Male, and Reserve Junior Champion at the 2025 English Simmental National Show, Popes Randolph also went commercially when selling to DF Stewart, Balglass, Lennoxtown, Glasgow. A few lots later and Popes Rollo 24 made 13,000gns and who was purchased by A Whiteford, Moulandale, Kemnay, Inverurie. Similarly bred, this bull is also by Clonagh Lucky Explorer and out of another Kilbride Farm Comber daughter, Popes Nelly’s Gypsy GP 84.
Innerwick Rockstar 14,000gns
Innerwick Rocky 11,000gns
Winning class three and going on to make 14,000gns was the March 2024 born Innerwick Rockstar from Dorothy Moffat, Innerwick, Dunbar. This bull is by the 16,000gns Delfur Maverick and out of Innerwick Irma, a Curaheen Gold Digger daughter. With width and depth of second thigh to him, this bull went to a pedigree herd when selling to Heather Duff who runs the Pitmudie herd at Brechin, Angus. Innerwick Rocky 24 made 11,000gns and was another bull to go to Orkney when snapped up by GT&S Coghill, Muce, Birsay. March 2024 born, and with a + 11 Maternal (Milk) figure, Rocky is by the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jimmy Choo, and is out of Innerwick Hermione.
Overhill House Rambo 13,000gns
Overhill House Rascal 11,000gns
Bulls from Richard McCulloch’s Overhill House herd, Armadale, West Lothian, sold for 13,000gns, 11,000gns, 9000gns, and 8000gns. Leading the way at 13,000gns was the April 2024 born Overhill House Rambo 24 (P), who went to the Woodhall pedigree herd of F&J MacAskill, Woodhall farm, Innerwick, Dunbar. A bull with a +11 for Maternal (Milk), Rambo 24 (P), is by Kilbride Farm Merlin 21, and is out of the Hoeness (P) daughter Overhill House Eclipse (P). Also by Kilbride Farm Merlin 21, Overhill House Rascal 24 made 11,000gns when selling to MJ & AM Mill, Shawsmill Farm, Lochgelly, Fife.
Pitmudie Rambler 11,000gns
Heather Duff’s Pitmudie herd, Brechin, Angus had a sale top price of 11,000gns for Pitmudie Rambler. This bull Kyleston Kaiser, and out of the entirely homebred Pitmudie Melissa, was purchased by Alan and Stuart Nicolson, Relugas Mains, Forres. The 11,000gns marked a new sale top price to date for the 50-cow Pitmudie herd.
Backmuir Rusty 10,000gns
Backmuir Pompei 12,500gns
Reece and Andrew Simmers, Keith, sold Backmuir Rusty, for 10,000gns to A&F Baillie, Low Glasnick Farm, Newton Stewart. A January 2024 born bull, Rusty is an AI calf by the 17,000gns Wolfstar Jimmy Choo and is out of Ballykin Lady May. Beyond the sale, Backmuir Pompeii, a Backmuir Marksman son out of the much-decorated Annick Ginger’s Lucia was sold for 12,500gns to Farquharson Farms, Darley, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire.
Selling at 10,000gns, was the junior bull Strathisla Rhinestone from Strathisla Farms, Blairgowrie. Sired by Rathnashan Newton VG 87, and out of Strathisla Echo’s Twiggy EX 90, this bull with a Maternal (Milk) figure of + 11, went to to J Gunn, Carsgoe, Halkirk, Caithness.
The aforementioned sale of heifers saw nineteen forward in total with fourteen of those from the Newbiemains herd of Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbiemains, Dumfries. The top price paid was 7500gns for the May 2024 heifer Newbiemains Red Rachel (P) who is homozygous polled. Sired by the noted Auchorachan Hercules 16 (ET) EX 92, and out of Fole Rachel 15 (P) EX 92, Red Rachel (P) was bought by Raeside Farm, Ladeside, Fenwick, Kilmarnock. Two lots later was Newbiemains R.Wanda who sold for 5500gns to AH Smith, Low Arkland Farm, Castle Douglas. This heifer is by Carbery Lightening EX 91 and is out of Newbiemains Miss Wanda GP 84.
7500gns top price heifer, Newbiemains Red Rachel (P)
Overall Championship presentation – Corskie Rome & Garmouth Robert
Senior Championship presentation – Corskie Rome & Grangewood Robert the Bruce
Intermediate Championship presentation – Blackford Rob Roy & Islavale Rocco
Junior Championship presentation – Garmouth Robert & Islavale Rico
Group of 3 – Corskie Rye, Rosco & Randy
LIST OF LEADING PRICES INCLUDED:
30,000gns Lot 342 Garmouth Robert sold to Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith
26,000gns Lot 340 Islavale Ruben sold to Ryan Smith, Towiemore Farm, Drummuir, Keith
20,000gns Lot 273 Corskie Rome sold to Gary & Angela Christie, Birchfield, Midtown of Glass, Huntly
18,000gns Lot 281 Grangewood Robert The Bruce sold to A J Bulmer, Coultas Farm, Great Habton, Malton, Yorkshire
18,000gns Lot 305 Blackford Rob Roy sold to J McKenzie & Co, Wester Craiglands, Fortrose, Inverness
18,000gns Lot 314 Newbiemains Red Bull sold to A D Sutherland & Sons, Connachie, Elgin
18,000gns Lot 351 Islavale Rico sold to W J & J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers
17,000gns Lot 324 Islavale Raymondo sold to J G Callum, Ashlea, Milton of Culloden, Inverness
17,000gns Lot 349 Islavale Rookie sold to C & V Fraser, Housebay Farm, Stronsay, Orkney
16,000gns Lot 295 Auchorachan Revolution sold to Maesquoy Farms, Maesquoy Farm, Harray, Orkney
16,000gns Lot 317 Auchorachan Roland sold to Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castleton, Caithness
16,000gns Lot 330 Popes Randolph sold to Mr D F Stewart, Balglass, Lennoxtown, Glasgow
15,000gns Lot 283 Corskie Rosco sold to D & G Manson & Son, Brodieshill, Alves, Forres
14,000gns Lot 300 Innerwick Rockstar sold to Heather Duff, Pitmudie, Brechin, Angus
14,000gns Lot 334 Corskie Roll sold to Graham Allan, Glenturk Farm, Newton Stewart, Wigton
14,000gns Lot 336 Auchorachan Redhill sold to S A & G Gummow, Higher Killaworgey Farm, Blackcross, Newquay, Cornwall
14,000gns Lot 350 Islavale Rockstar sold to Craighill Farms, Duntrune, By Dundee
13,000gns Lot 320 Islavale Rocco sold to T G Hamilton, Killumpha Farm, Port Logan, Wigtonshire
13,000gns Lot 323 Islavale Radar sold to Welbeck Scottish Farms Ltd, Cavendish House, Welbeck, Worksop
13,000gns Lot 335 Overhill House Rambo sold to F & J Macaskill, Woodhall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar
13,000gns Lot 338 Popes Rollo sold to A Whiteford, Moulandale, Kemnay, Inverurie
12,500gns Lot 268 Backmuir Pompeii sold to Farquharson Farms, Darley, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire
12,000gns Lot 307 Islavale Reggie sold to K & S Meason, Frustigarth, Shapinsay, Orkney
12,000gns Lot 339 – Corskie Randy sold to The Duke Fife, Elsick Estate Office, Mains of Newhall, Newtonhill, Stonehaven
11,000gns Lot 306 Innerwick Rocky sold to G T & S Coghill, Muce, Birsay, Orkney
11,000gns Lot 309 Overhill House Rascal sold to M J & A M Mill, Shawsmill Farm, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Fife
11,000gns Lot 321 Pitmudie Rambler sold to A Nicolson, Relugas Mains Farm, Dunphail, Forres
10,000gns Lot 274 Backmuir Rusty sold to A & F Baillie, Low Glasnick Farm, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart
10,000gns Lot 353 Strathisla Rhinestone sold to Firm of James S Gunn, Carsgoe, Halkirk, Caithness
9500gns Lot 337 Greencap Remark-A-Bull sold to W & R Murdoch, Murroch Farm, Dumbarton
9500gns Lot 347 Popes Russian sold to Gelston Castle Farms, Borland of Kelton, Castle Douglas
9000gns Lot 301 Overhill House Rudolf sold to G & A Milne, Standingstones, Durris, Banchory
8500gns Lot 303 Coltfield Result sold to Farquharson Farms, Darley, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire
8500gns Lot 344 Kilbride Farm Rancher sold to T R Walker, Ryeflatt Farm, Cleghorn, Lanark
8000gns Lot 302 Corskie Roseisle sold to Scottish Government Bull Stud, Knocknagael, Inverness
8000gns Lot 304 Overhill House Race sold to Glenkiln Farms, Bettyknowes, Crocketford, Dumfries
8000gns Lot 345 Merkland Ringleader sold to John Mitchell & Co, Rumbleton Rig, Greenlaw, Duns
7500gns Lot 280 Corskie Rye sold to Mossburnford Farm P/Ship, Mossburnford, Jedburgh
7500gns Lot 292 Fallhills Rosco sold to Steven Sandison, Millburn Farm, Harray, Orkney
7500gns Lot 333 Omorga Ranger sold to C & J Carmichael, Fiart, Isle of Lismore, Oban
7500gns Lot 348 Strathisla Rookie sold to Steven Sandison, Millburn Farm, Harray, Orkney
Top Female
7500gns Lot 364 Newbiemains Red Rachel sold to Raeside Farm Ltd, Ladeside, Fenwick, Kilmarnock
