Official Simmental Society Sales in the Year Gross £2,167,231, up by £75,825 Pedigree Registrations up for the Third Consecutive Year Record pedigree sale averages, a strong performance in UK wide commercial sales, and for the third year in a row increases in both...
7 Simmental bulls make £7000 and over 14 Simmental bulls average £6586 The Working Genes production sale from the McGowan family at Incheoch, Perthshire met a keen trade for an entire clearance, and with a strong demand and average for the Simmental bulls offered....
Five animals make 5000gns and over Ranfurly maiden heifers average £4646 Joint sale grosses £128, 416 There was a strong demand for Simmental females with prices reaching a top of 8,000gns at the fourth joint production sale from the noted Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe...
With a few ‘new movers’ hitting the rankings, the 2016 born Auchorachan Hercules has moved straight into the number one position of most calves registered to a Simmental sire in 2022, with 71 calves added to the BSCS Herdbook. Auchorachan Hercules was bred by D&R Durno & Sons, Glenlivet, Ballandalloch, Banffshire and was the result of an embryo purchased from the Ranfurly herd of David Hazelton. Sired by the noted 12,000gns Auchorachan ACDC, Hercules is out of the Ranfurly herd’s prolific show cow South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd EX93. Clearly making his mark, Auchorachan Hercules breeder Michael Durno says: “Hercules has bred really well and is passing on all his great attributes to his progeny including length, carcase, style, and character!” Auchorachan Hercules carries a +11 figure for Maternal (Milk) placing him in the top 5% of the breed. In October 2021 Auchorachan Landmark sold at Stirling for 18,000gns, the highest price for a Hercules sired calf, and with Hercules sons at sale averaging £8500 to date. In the summer of 2022, Auchorachan Hercules was sold in a private deal to Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire for their Newbiemains pedigree herd.
In second place with 53 calves registered to him in the year, and another new entrant to the top 20, is Denizes Hamish from MA Barlow and Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire. January 2016 born Denizes Hamish is by Dinton Nautical and is out of the herd’s much decorated show cow Auroch Eve, a two-time Simmental Champion at the Royal Higland Show. In October 2022, the Hamish son Denizes Monty won the Supreme Championship at the pre-sale show of Simmental bulls before going on to sell for 20,000gns. Hamish’s first 12 sons sold at Stirling have averaged 7,500gns. Commenting, John Barlow says: “Denizes Hamish is breeding progeny with the full package of pedigree and performance figures, the noted Simmental maternal traits, and with shape and muscle. He’s leaving some very modern Simmental calves.” Denizes Hamish is in the breed’s top 1% for Calving Ease Direct, the top 5% for gestation length, and the top 1% for both Eye Muscle Area, and Retail Beef Yield.
Other noted entrants to the top rankings include Coose Lincoln (42); Curaheen Bandit (41); Annick Klondyke (39); and PHS Polled Worldwide 14 (39). Please see the Top 20 table below.
