ASHLAND LAD LEADS DUNGANNON SIMMENTAL SALE AT 5,600GNS

Simmental bulls sold to a top of 5,600gns at the breed society’s spring sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Securing the day’s leading bid was the much-admired Ashland Lad bred by father and son duo Pat and Frank Kelly from Tempo, County Fermanagh.

Almost fifteen-months, he was one of the youngest bulls in the catalogue, and boasted the complete package – ring presence, conformation and breed character, with a pedigree to match. Sired by the legendary Raceview King, his dam is the home-bred Carnkern Titan daughter Ashland Candice Terona 2nd – one of eight pedigree cows in the herd.

Ranked in the breed’s top five per cent for eye muscle area +5.7, and top ten per cent for terminal sire index +97 and self-replacing index +108, he attracted strong attention from salering and online bidders.

Following spirited bidding auctioneer Trevor Wylie dropped the hammer at 5,600gns, with the successful bid coming via the telephone from Messrs WJ Fraser and Son, Aughnarrow Farm, Ballindalloch, Banffshire. Stewart Fraser had spotted the bull on social media prior to the sale and was determined to secure him for his commercial suckler enterprise.

Also selling for export to Scotland was the 4,100gns Kilbride Farm Karl consigned by Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, Doagh, Ballyclare. Born in October 2019, this polled bull was sired by Curaheen Gunshot, and bred from the Sneumgaard Imperator daughter Kilbride Farm Fanni 601. He caught the eye of pedigree herd owner Lachlan Quarm who runs the Annick Herd based at Holehouse Farm, Annick Estate, Irvine, Ayrshire.

Three lots sold for 3,000gns each. First to go was the June 2019 Bridgewater Farm Kaymer TSI+76 SRI+74 bred by Nigel Glasgow, Cookstown. A Delfur Decider son, he was bred from Ranfurly Lady Diana 25th, purchased for 4,200gns at the 2nd joint production sale from the Ballinlare Farm and Ranfurly herds, held at Dungannon in September 2016. Buyer was Brian Murphy from Portadown.

Nigel Glasgow’s Bridgewater Farm Kilroy TSI+75 SRI+88 sold for 3,000gns to William Nixon, Ballynahinch. This September 2019 entry was sired by Islavale Frontier, and bred from the Raceview King daughter Ranfurly Beauty 6th. He is in the top five percent for calving ease +5.5, and top 10 per cent for eye muscle area +5.2.

Also securing a bid of 3,000gns was the September 2019 Rehall Karl TSI+65 SRI+71 , bred by William and Keith Stubbs, Irvinestown. Sired by the 8,500gns Islavale Cracker, he is out of the home-bred Drumacritten Callum daughter Rehall Flower – one of nine cows in the herd. Buyers were Hamilton and Matthew Cleland, who run a 130-cow commercial dairy herd based at Legamaddy Farm, Downpatrick. The father and son team have been using Simmental stock bulls for over 25 years, and finish all cross-bred progeny on the farm.

A small entry of females peaked at 1,900gns, paid to Jonathan Henderson, Desertmartin, for the November 2019 Drumsamney Caramel’s Belle. Sired by Shacon Hannibal, she is bred from the Kilbride Farm Comber daughter Drumsamney Amy’s Caramel.

Auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirmed that two heifers averaged £1,890 each; while six bulls sold to level at £3,623 per head – an increase of £863 on the 2019 spring sale.