Royal Cornwall Show welcomed Vikki Wood (Popes) to judge the British Simmental Section for 2023. Seven breeders battled with high winds and soaring temperatures bringing forward twenty- four exhibits for scrutiny.
Judge’s Comments
I will begin by congratulating all the competitors on turning out a great show of cattle predominantly exhibitor bred.
Bulls born on or between 1 January 2021 and 31December 2021
Killiworgie Malteser
With no Senior bulls forward this was the first of my male classes. Steve and Gill Gummow’s September born Killiworgie Malteser, a son of Islavale Jerico was the only entry. Malteser is a well grown modern bull with plenty of natural fleshing.
Bulls born on or between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022
Tregnether Nemo
Steph Hooper and David Reeves presented two March born sons of Tregnether Jackpot, a home-bred son of Sterling Gino. Two well grown bulls and I felt that the solid coloured Tregnether Nemo just had the edge over his stable companion Tregnether Neptune on the day. Both bulls moved well, and Neptune sold to a commercial herd during the show.
Bull born on or after 1 April 2022
Sowenna Nemo
K, C & P Hawkey’s April born Sterling Gino’s son Sowenna Nemo was an easy winner over JM & A.W. Grose & Sons Trewarnevas Pedro a suckling six-month-old bull calf by Killiworgie Kaylup. Nemo caught my eye immediately a super classy young bull full of breed character on good feet and legs. Pedro the smaller of the two still very young and therefore overpowered by the first bull.
Male Champion and Reserve
Sowenna Nemo
From three class winners Nemo was an easy pick for Male Champion a super young bull with a great future. Malteser the Senior bull a worthy Reserve.
Cow or Heifer born before 1 January 2020 in-calf or with a calf at foot.
Here I had two animals forward. Killiworgie Chrissie’s Izzie a January 2017 daughter of Skerrington Desperado with a very smart Shacon Hannibal sired heifer calf at foot and the Grose’s 2019 Little Orchard Kaler 8K rearing a younger bull calf.
Both cows were in their working clothes. Izzie being my choice in this class. A lovely well-balanced cow doing a great job of her beautiful heifer calf. My second placed cow was just overpowered by the first but doing a great job, nevertheless.
Cow or heifer born in 2020 in milk with a calf at foot, or certified in calf and due to calve before 3 years of age.
Killiworgie Hemeras Libby
Again, a choice between two entries. Jim and Jean Buckland’s February born Sperrin View Director’s daughter Wellatree Limoncello with a Carbery Jaguar sired heifer calf at foot and the much younger November born Killiworgie Hemeras Libby by Lynfield Hamish.
Two lovely females again in this class Libby having the edge this time over Limoncello. Both lovely heifers who will go on to do well in their respective herds.
Heifer born on or after January 2021 and 31 December 2021
Kurlycoat Moneypenny
My strongest class of the day with seven entries forward was headed by Jake
Gregory’s January born Kurlycoat Moneypenny sired by the home-bred Kurlycoat Kingsman (Curaheen Tyson) out of the Stirling acquired Brandane Jessie-J.
Moneypenny took my eye as soon as she entered the ring. A well grown stylish feminine heifer with lots of presence an easy winner.
Standing in second and giving away nine months was the Olds’s Bosahan Minnie Miss Natalie a daughter of Kinclaven Infusion P ex the Hockenhull Natalie line. Again, stylish, and feminine with a great future but overpowered by the first heifer.
Another super heifer took third place Killiworgie Ivy’s Maria sired by Islavale Jerico over my fourth Wellatree Maddi a Carbery Jaguar daughter.
Heifer born on or after 1st January 2022 and 31 March 2022.
Angwelha Nessa
A strong class of heifers all different types. With six animals forward I selected Mr & Mrs S Buckland’s January born daughter of Carbery Jaguar, Angwelha Nessa, as my winner followed by the Hawkey’s Ballinalare Farm Galaxy sired Sowenna Miracle both similar heifers. The smart polled entry Bosahan Natasha Karina Star was third with Tregnether Nellie, a sweet Jackpot daughter, filling the fourth spot for Steph Hooper and David Reeves.
Heifer born on or after 1 April 2022
Killiworgie Izzie’s Nelly
Two quality entries forward with Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie 2 by Blackford Galaxy and bred by James Arnold representing Sowenna and Killiworgie Izzie’s Nelly. Although six months younger Nelly was the stand-out winner for Steve and Gill Gummow. By Shacon Hannibal she is a beautiful heifer who oozes quality style and femininity. I am sure we will see her again in the future. Girlie again a super heifer with a promising future.
Female Champion and Reserve
Female & Overall Champion Kurlycoat Moneypenny
From an impressive line-up of class winners my champion the January 2021 heifer Kurlycoat Moneypenny was an easy choice for me. Her class and style shone on the day. Killiworgie Izzie’s Nelly, an October 2022 born calf at foot, with her feminine qualities and potential merited the reserve spot.
Overall Breed Champion and Reserve
Kurlycoat Moneypenny breed champion with young bull Sowenna Nemo in reserve.
The exceptional Kurlycoat Moneypenny was my overall breed champion with the smart young bull Sowenna Nemo in reserve.
Pairs
Pairs
1st Steve and Gill Gummow Killiworgie Malteser & Killiworgie Hemeras Libby
2nd K, C & P Hawkey Sowenna Nemo and Sowenna Miracle
3rd Megan Wellington Pennytinney Magic Star and Pennytinney Marmalade
Two of my class winners bred by Steve and Gill Gummow came out on top in the pairs class and were my strongest selection to represent the British Simmental breed for the Burke Trophy.
Finally, I would like to thank the Royal Cornwall Show for inviting me to judge and the Cornwall Simmental Club for their kind hospitality. All in all, a very enjoyable day.
Other Results:
Junior Champion Sowenna Nemo
Reserve Junior Champion Killiworgie Izzie’s Nelly
The Killiworgie herd also won the most points shield in the section. .
Friday brought another hot but more settled day and the interbreed awards.
Sowenna Nemo and Bosahan Natasha Karina Star P Junior Pairs 4th.
Junior Pairs
The Simmental team of five selected by Vikki Wood were Killiworgie Malteser,
Killiworgie Hemeras Libby, Bosahan Minnie Miss Natalie, Sowenna Miracle and Killiworgie Izzie’s Nellie Well done to all the participants displaying a great representation of the breed.
Team of 5
On the final day four young handlers paired up with Simmental entries.
Congratulations to Matthew Grose, Rosie Bennetts, Will Gynn and Theo Bilkey
In the run up to the February 2024 Stirling Simmental Bull Sale please see here a feature on the Denizes Herd of Michael & John Barlow, Nr Leyland, Lancashire who have a team of five bulls entered. The feature was first published in the Scottish Farmer and is reproduced with their kind permission.
Focusing on cow families pays dividends for many dairy producers and the same holds true for Simmental breeders Michael and John Barlow of the Denizes herd, who regularly produce some of the lead priced entries at the Bull Sales.
It’s United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales that the team – Michael and his wife Doreen and John and his soon-to-be wife Claire, and their daughter, Robyn (2) –enjoy most too.
Top team at Denizes – Michael and Doreen Barlow, son John and his soon to be wife Claire and their two-year-old daughter, Robyn.
“Going up to Bull Sales at Stirling is the highlight of the year. There is nothing to beat the buzz and the atmosphere of Stirling when there is a good line-up of bulls to sell,” said Michael, who two years ago received 30,000gns for Denizes Lancelot and sold nine bulls and heifers to average a colossal £10,500.
Five Denizes bulls entered for the Bull Sales at Stirling of which all are sons of Denizes Hamish
“We’ve always enjoyed going to Stirling. We get such a buzz selling bulls into Scotland and especially up to Orkney.”
Denizes Lancelot made 30,000gns at Stirling in February 2022
Huge fans of Simmental breed since their first female was bought in 1978, they have seen the popularity of the breed soar in recent years, with home-bred bulls selling into commercial beef and dairy units and several noted pedigree herds.
Last year, they enjoyed a huge demand for heifers at the NxtGen sale at Carlisle too, selling 10 to average £5754, complete with top prices of 10,000gns – twice.
Denizes Melody 48 made 10,000gns at the NxtGen Sale
Their Simmentals prove their worth not only when selling to other herds, but also when used as breeding bulls over the 80-cow Meuse-Rhine-Issel (MRI) dairy herd that produces a herd average of 7500kg at 4.7%BF and 3.49%P.
“The dairy herd was established in the 1940s by my grandfather and it still pays its way when we sell the milk to Arla and MRI bullocks from it sell at up to £1400 at 22-months of age solely off forage. Simmental bullocks from the dairy herd by home-bred bulls will make nearer £1900,” he said.
“Everything here has to pay its way so we look to breed good, long, modern clean bulls with a good top line and back end,” said Michael, pointing out that the Denizes herd has sold 10 bulls to AI centres in recent years of which all have easy calving figures.
Another from last years NxtGen sale, Denizes Melody 52 also made 10,000gns
John, who attends to the day-to-day running of the Simmentals, is equally enthusiastic about the breed and travelling to Scotland, added: “There is nothing to beat the Simmental for its maternal characteristics and ease of calving.
“Simmental cross calves from any breed or cross will easily gain more than 1kg per head per day too, which coupled with their ease of temperament means an increasing number of farmers are looking for Simmental bulls. We’re selling more bulls than ever before into dairy and beef herds and, into different areas, and that’s without advertising.”
He added that data from AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations has also confirmed that on average calves by a Simmental sire will finish 36 days earlier than those from other continental sires and 46 days earlier than those by native sires.
It has also shown that Simmental sired calves cost £72 less to finish. Furthermore, continental cross calves bred from Simmental-sired cows were shown to finish 29 days earlier than those from ‘average’ suckler cows.
John Barlow left, and his father Michael, pictured with Denizes Lancelot, Logic and Lord.
The Barlows’ farming enterprise, based just outside Leyland in Lancashire, extends to 300 acres of low ground pasture and takes in the three farms of Littlewood Hall, Rowcroft and Denizes.
Michael’s late father, John, was equally passionate about the cattle and also introduced a livestock trailer business – Barlow Trailers – which he concentrated on at nights. It is now one of now leading trailer businesses in Uk selling livestock, horse, plant, and flat trailers.
One of the sale entries Denizes Nugget as a calf and his dam Ashland Topaz Jane
The family’s Simmental herd has been enjoying just as much success too since young John returned home to work on the farm having completed a degree in agriculture.
During that time he did a placement at Wilson and Geraldine Strachan’s Mill of Balmaud, Banffshire, where their former stockman Andrew Reid changed John’s outlook on Simmental cattle.
“After working with Andrew, I could see the potential in our cattle and found out how to bring that out. Since then, we’ve also focused more on the female lines and breeding bulls demanded by the commercial producer. It’s all about ticking the right boxes – the more boxes a bull ticks for the commercial breeder, the more likely you are to sell that bull,” John said.
“Good Simmental bulls have got to have the shape, size, growth rates, figures and have the right pedigree. They also need to have the health status and be of the right colour.”
To achieve such high standards, John and Michael have bought in to several top breeding female lines over the years to include the Trixie Belles, Melodys and Matildas which in turn have bred several top-performing bulls to sell and keep for their own use.
One of those purchases, Raceview Dawn Matilda, which was bought over the ‘phone at a breed sale in Roscommon for €8500, produced Denizes Impeccable – the sire of Denizes Lancelot and Logic sold in February last year for 30,000gns and 10,000gns respectively.
The herd’s star breeder at present, Denizes Hamish, is another son of a well-known breeding female. Hamish, whose first 14 sons averaged £7000, is the first calf out of Auroch Eve. He is also the sire of the herd’s first overall champion at Stirling in Denizes Monty which made 20,000gns at Stirling in October 2022, alongside another that made 12,000gns.
Denizes Hamish sire of the five bulls for Stirling Bull Sales and the Barlows top price bull to date at 30,000gns – Denizes Lancelot
Eve was purchased at just two hours of age for her pedigree when her sire is the Hillcrest Champion son, Auroch Ace, while her dam, Auroch Wave, boasts the show cow Darsham Kit Kat and Raceview Merle-Beauty in her pedigree.
Eve herself is also one of the breed’s leading show cows having been crowned The Scottish Farmer’s Champion of the Decade in 2020, after winning the Highland Show in 2015 and 2016. She also boasts championship titles from the Great Yorkshire, the Royal Norfolk and at the Scottish National at the Black Isle Show, when she landed the breed honours when Hamish was her bull calf at foot.
Going further back, it was Ashland Tornado, another private purchase acquired at just five months of age from Pat and Frank Kelly, Northern Ireland, that helped to put a stamp on the herd. He was also purchased on the back of his genetics.
“He bred some good sons, but it’s his daughters that have been particularly impressive, having produced the 30,000gns Lancelot and grandsons to 20,000gns. Tornado daughters are good, well-balanced females and the type that we aim to breed from. They’re structurally correct, medium-sized cows that do well with various bulls,” John said.
In more recent years, the Barlows bought Blackford Galaxy privately from the Macphersons, Croy, after the bull stood reserve champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2017 and the following year took the supreme under their ownership.
Denizes heifers at 10 months old are daughters of Blackford Galaxy
Last year, they also bought Saltire Impressive privately as a five-year-old; Corksie Nutmeg, the junior champion at the Royal Highland Show; and Coose Gambler, a former Cogent AI bull.
“We like Hamish and Impressive for their red colour and for their easy-calving characteristics, producing calves with shape and size while Nutmeg is more likely to be a cow breeder. Gambler was bought for his polled genetics and to put over the heifers,” said John.
Ideally, the duo look for a balance of muscle and size in their cattle with their ideal sized cow weighing in at 800kg and heifers calving at 30 months of age.
Heifers calve in February, and March, with the cows in June to September, inside. Being so easy fleshed they are fed a straw-based ration and plenty of minerals in the run-up to calving. They are also given time to calve instead of rushing in with the calving jack, which they believe is key to reducing calving problems and boosting herd fertility.
“We’re big on pre-calving minerals and make sure we don’t rush calving. In the past, we’d be too quick to assist, but we’ve learned to give them plenty of time and they normally calve themselves without any issues.”
While the boys look at calving figures, they are more likely to check the accuracy and gestation figures when buying a bull.
Easy-calving sires can breed easy-calving daughters too, with Denizes Hamish not only being in the top 1% of the breed, but also boasting gestation and calving figures of -2.9 and +9.2 respectively, with his daughters producing progeny with figures of +9.4.
Denizes Monty was overall champion at Stirling in February 2022, and sold 20,000gns
Hamish also breeds impressive looking progeny, being the sire of the inter-breed group of four at the Royal Lancashire Show last year. The quartet of yearlings, included Denizes Neff, Nugget, Nero and Nacho, caught the eye of the overall judge, David Leggat of United Auctions, who declared: “That’s one of the best inter-breed teams I have ever seen.”
Interestingly, those four, along with another Hamish son, Denizes Newton, are bound for Stirling this month.
The Royal Lancs is the first show for the family and it’s also the busiest as John aims to ‘break’ all cattle for the year when the two-day event is a 10-minute drive away and all entries are kept tied up overnight in a marquee.
“Last year, we took 21 cattle and this year we aim to take 35. It’s a great way to train youngstock for future showing because they get used to a big event at a young age.
Stirling Bull Sales comes first though, and if you can’t get a bull, you could buy a trailer or rent a motor home for a couple of weeks in the summer!
FARM facts
Family farm: Third generation family farm run by Michael and Doreen Barlow and son John
Livestock: Oldest herd of MRI dairy cows in the UK running 80 cows with a herd average of 7500kg at 4.7%BF and 3.49%P and 80 pedigree Simmentals to produce breeding bulls and heifers for sale mostly through United Auctions’ Stirling and Carlisle.
Diversification: Barlow trailers; motorhome rental; on-farm music festival.
ON THE spot
Best investment? “Buying Ashland Tornado to breed a herd of cows and Auroch Eve to breed Hamish.”
Biggest achievement? Breeding Denizes Lancelot which sold for 30,000gns when he is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides having a home-bred sire, grand-sire and dam.
Best advice? “Use Dinton Nautical on Auroch Eve to produce Hamish which is still going strong at eight years of age.”
Annual General Meeting. At the Scottish Simmental club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Jim Dyet was elected as the club chairman with Patricia Goldie retiring having served her term in office. Patricia was presented with gifts on behalf of the club committee by Jim Dyet. Jonathan Gunn was elected as vice chairman of the club and the club would like to thank Patricia for all she did during her time as chairperson. Following the AGM we held a pre bull sale dinner at The Bird and Bees restaurant in Stirling this was enjoyed by all who attended and will be repeated this February at the bull sales. A raffle was held during the dinner and £585 was raised for the Beatson Cancer charity.
Patricia Goldie presentation
NBA Beef open day- Dalswinton Estate. Dumfries The 5000-acre Dalswinton Estate, Dumfries and his team put on a first class 2023 Scottish Beef Event on Tuesday 6th June. The trailer tours viewed a 500 Angus cow herd with Simmental calves at foot which were much commented upon during the day for their quality and growth. The Simmental bull is mainly used to breed replacement females. The majority of Simmental calves on the day were sired by Boswell Lawyer. The British Simmental Cattle Society stand was in prime position and offered hospitality to commercial producers and breeders, whilst discussing all things Simmental. A further big thank you is extended to Jim Dyet, Scottish Simmental club chairman, along with his wife Liz, and to Patricia Goldie for all of their help on what was a very busy and productive day. The Simmental stand featured two Simmental X bulls kindly supplied by Clive and Harry Houldey, Manor Park, Lockerbie. One of these bulls weighed in at 695kgs at 11-months-old and with a DLWG of 1.97kgs! Highlighting growth, weight for age, and age at slaughter, the carcase attributes and profit potential of these bulls, destined for Borderway Market, Carlisle, was a talking point on the day and a great breed promotion. Many thanks to the Houldeys.
Royal Highland show. The highland show was this year judged by Mr Simon Key from Norfolk, placing Annick Gingers Lucia from Reece and Andrew Simmers, Backmuir as his Champion, with Corskie Mimic from WJ &JG Green in Reserve. On the Friday night the club held it’s hog roast in the marquee, please see the show section in the review for a full show report and pictures.
Open day at Brodieshill. A massive thank you to Colin & Robert Manson and the Manson family, who put on a tremendous Simmental Commercial Open day at Brodieshill Farm, Forres in July. The farm’s high quality, hard-working 140 cow Simmental based suckler herd was much admired on the trailer tours of the cattle. Those attending enjoyed some outstanding hospitality of Simmental hot beef rolls with the beef kindly sponsored by ABP. It was clear to all who attended, both commercial producers and pedigree breeders, just how much work had been put into the day, and how well run Brodieshill Farm is. Thank you to the Manson family.
Scottish National Simmental show. This year the Scottish National Simmental show was held at Dumfries for the first time. The show started on Friday night with a BBQ, along with an excellent choice of salads and puddings. A big thank you goes to our judge Bridget Borlase from the Sacombe herd for travelling up from Hertfordshire and making an excellent job of judging, placing as her Champion Popes Princess Immie from JH & VG Wood, Preston Lancashire with Annick Colleens Ginger in Reserve, from Reece and Andrew Simmers, Backmuir, Keith.
Overall Championship – Popes Princess Immie & Annick Coleen’s GingerHannah Woods receiving trophy from Jim Dyet
The sixth and final part of the 2023 Simmental year mini review looks at November and December and where the breed met with more than its fair share of success at the winter fair primestocks, and rounded off a terrific sale year with some further new records set at the Next Generation III Sale at Carlisle.
Nudging into November and it was a big well done to John and Bridget Olds, Bosahan Farm, Falmouth, Cornwall, who prevailed over some seventy calves representing eight breeds, who won the Overall Supreme Championship at the Cornwall Pedigree Beef Calf Show with their stylish heifer calf Bosahan Paloma Estelle (P). Estelle (P) is by the herd sire Kinclaven Infusion 17 (P) EX92. The Olds young bull Bosahan Nightfall (P), another by Infusion, also won the Senior Calf Continental Championship.
It was another Simmental Interbreed win at the Stars of the Future Calf Show at Stirling when Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, won the Simmental Overall Senior Championship before going on to win the Overall Senior Interbreed with their heifer calf Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P). September 2022 born, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P) is the first calf out of Annick Ginger’s Lucia who was purchased for 16,000gns at the Annick Herd Dispersal Sale and who won the Overall Simmental Championship at this year’s Royal Highland Show with Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), at foot. Annick Lucia’s Nicosia is sired by the Kilbride Farm Karl (P). The Junior Simmental Female and Overall Junior Champion Islavale Peaches, from the Islavale herd of Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith. This April 2023 born calf is by Islavale Lucifer 20 EX93 and is out of Islavale Honeypot VG 86.
374 Annick Lucia’s Nicosia407 Islavale Peaches
It was more Simmental Interbreed success and another win for the Wood Family, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston when their 30th January 2023 born bull calf Popes Premier won the Simmental Pedigree Calf Championship before moving on to win the National Pedigree Calf Show Interbreed at the English Winter Fair held at the Staffordshire Showground, Bingley Hall. Sired by Popes Lethal Weapon, Popes Premier has been shown all summer as a calf at foot alongside his multi title winning mum Popes Princess Immie. Winning the Female Championship, and the Overall Reserve in the Simmental section, was the junior heifer calf Fishpool Poppy from Tom & Jennie Hassall, Winsford, Cheshire. January 2023 born, Fishpool Poppy is by Newbiemains Kalypso.
Popes Premier Calf Show Interbreed ChampionFishpool PoppyPopes Premier with H Wood & Jim Goldie
Back to Cornwall and it was a big congratulations to Steph Hooper and David Reeves, St Columb Major, who won the Young Pedigree Beef Champion at the Cornish Winter Fair with their heifer Tregnether Polly. January 2023 born, Tregnether Polly is by the homebred Tregnether Jackpot 18, a Sterling Gino 15 son, and is out of Treverbyn Esme.
Tregnether Polly
James Alexander, Randalstown sold his heifer, the day’s Simmental Champion, for £5300 at the Royal Ulster Beef & Lamb Championship in November. The ‘Jalex’ Simmental heifer weighed in at 756kgs and made £7.01ppkg, with the £5300 price being the fifth highest on the day amidst what was a record breaking event sale. Purchasing the Simmental Champion was Republic of Ireland buyer John Joe Doyle.
Jalex
It was more success for Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, with their November 2022 born Simmental heifer Delfur Nifty which won the Simmental Championship and the Overall Individual Interbreed at the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s Livescot Pedigree Calf Show at Lawrie & Symington’s Livestock Market, Lanark. On the evening, Delfur Nifty teamed up with her stablemate Delfur Weigela N12, to take Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs. Delfur Weigela N12 had also been a class winner earlier and had placed Overall Simmental Reserve Champion.
The strong season of winter prime stock wins for the Simmental breed continued when Boars Head Nelly 16, from Rhys Grenhalm, Boars Head, Crowborough, East Sussex, won the Overall Supreme Calf Championship at the South Eastern Primestock Winter Fayre held at the South of England Showground in November. An eight-month-old heifer calf, Boars Head Nelly 16 is by the herd’s stock bull Islavale Jammydodger, and is out of Boars Head Nelly 8th, a Drumsleed Explosion 13 daughter.
Boars Head
The Simmental breed was well represented at the ‘4 Breed Calf Show’ held at Dungannon Mart in the last week of November. Topping the Senior section was Ranfurly Nunez ET, from the Hazelton family, Dungannon. This September 2022 born Woodhall Ferrari son is out of Raceview Fancywinty. In the junior section, heifers dominated. Breaghey Class P477 bred by Andrew Clarke, Tynan took home the Junior Champion title. This heifer is by Omorga Horton and is out of Breaghey Class I286.
Ranfurly Nunez ETBreaghey Class P477
Come December and it was back to the sales with a bang and the third staging of the Simmental Next Generation Sale of Females & Weaned Calves. The classy October 2022 born heifer Coolcran Heidis Noreen from Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran, Tempo, Co Fermanagh, the pre-sale show Champion, made a record breaking 26,000gns when selling to judge on the day Reece Simmers for the Backmuir Herd at Keith, Banffshire. The top price was a record for a Northern Ireland female, a Next Generation record price, and a breed record at Carlisle. 34 heifers averaged £5583.53, a sale record mark and up by +£363, with the Denizes herd selling two heifers at 10,000gns (and ten in all averaging £5754), and with Islavale Peaches, the Weaned Calf Champion, making 9000gns.
Keeping the breed profile high internationally, Gavin Brown of the Springfield Simmental herd, Springfield Farm, Penicuik won the 2023 Simmental Champion of Europe title with his herd stock bull Islavale Jabba. The European Championship is held within the online ‘Simmental Champion of the World Competition’ run by the Texas, USA based Simmental Breeder. With British Simmental genetics very much to the fore, the Reserve Championship was won by the young bull Pistyll Nightrider from Welsh breeders GA & HM Francis, Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen.
Islavale JabbaPistyll Nightrider
There was more success for GA & HM Francis, Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen, when their January 2023 born Simmental bull calf Pistyll Pablo won the Overall Continental Interbreed and Simmental Championship at the 2023 Welsh Multibreed Pedigree Beef Calf Championship held at Carmarthern Market. Pistyll Pablo is one of the first calves by the herd’s stock bull Pitmudie Lancelot 20, who was bought at Stirling for 8200gns in February 2022, and is out of Pistyll Ivy, a Carbery Fintona daughter.
Pistyll Pablo
So that’s a wrap on what was an action-packed Simmental 2023! As we move into January we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone, pedigree breeders, buyers, commercial producers, and Simmental Clubs, who played their part in making it such a memorable year for the Simmental breed, it really is greatly appreciated.
So far we’ve highlighted the trend in the year which was increased registrations; record sale averages and clearance rates; interbreed wins and breed showcases in the show ring; and independent data highlighting the performance and profitability of Simmental cattle. The final months of the year were to deliver more of the same and then some…starting in October!
In the run up to the October bull sales, and in what was a huge endorsement of British Simmental’s commercial abilities, data from AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations confirmed that on average, calves by a Simmental sire finish 36 days earlier than those by continental sires and 46 days earlier than calves by native sires; Simmental sired calves can cost £72 less to finish; and that fast finishing equates to 5.4kg less CO2 equivalents. The data also highlighted the advantages of Simmental females with continental sired calves out of Simmental dams finishing 29 days earlier than the average of all suckler dams. It was timely independent data highlighting the breed’s efficiency and profitability.
The Stirling Sale in October proved to be a memorable one as Simmental records were sent tumbling when the April 2022 born Overhill House Neo from Richard McCulloch, Over Hill House, Armadale, West Lothian sold for 46,000gns to lead the Simmental Bull Sale. The top price was a new breed record for a Simmental sold in the UK, and with Overhill House Neo being purchased by Reece & Andrew Simmers for their noted Backmuir herd at Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. In addition to the new top price mark, fifty-three Simmental bulls sold to average a mighty £7594 which in itself was a new UK breed record sale average and eclipsing the previous figure of £7558 set at the corresponding fixture last year.
Overhill House Neo 46,000gnsCorskie Naqus 14,000gnsIslavale Nugget 13,000gnsIslavale Newton 13,000gnsOverhill House Nestor 13,000gns
Roll on a couple of hours at Stirling and we moved to the much anticipated Heathbrow Polled Simmental Dispersal Sale on behalf of David & Lesley Sapsed, High Heath Farm, Codicote, Hitchin, Herts. It was another record breaking sale with a new 32,000gns Simmental female breed record set. Setting the record was Heathbrow Natasha, an 18-month-old maiden by the herd’s illustrious Heathbrow Important 17, the multi-title winning show bull, herd sire and European Simmental Bull of the Year in 2019, and out of Raceview Emerald Alicia600 EX91 by Milnafua Graduate. Heathbrow Natasha was bought on the day by Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston, Lancashire. In addition the record price, the Heathbrow Sale saw five lots including outfits sold for 10,000gns and more, with the sale grossing £347,700, and including export sales to Germany and the Republic of Ireland.
Heathbrow Natasha 32,000gnsThe Wood family from the Popes herd with David, Lesley and Brenda and Heathbrow NatashaHeathbrow Milky Way 14,000gnsHeathbrow Kitkat’s Treasure 9000gns & Paradise Treasure 4200gnsHeathbrow Melody 9,000gnsHeahthbrow Girlie’s Ivy 7,500gnsHeathbrow Magical Star 10,000gns
Four days after the Stirling Sales it was on to the Simmental Youngstock Show, hosted by the North West Simmental Club along with the Society, and held within the Borderway Agri Expo event at Carlisle. The Simmental Youngstock Show saw a fantastic entry of sixty cattle, the events largest to date by some distance, and with entries from nineteen breeders ranging from the north of Scotland down through to the south of England, and from Wales! The Overall Supreme Champion went to the November 2022 born heifer Delfur Nifty from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour. Nifty is by Ballymoney Larry, a Saltire Impressive son, and is out of Delfur Joyful, an Islavale Cassius daughter. The Reserve Junior Champion, Stablemate Delfur Weigela N12, also by Ballymoney Larry took the Junior Reserve Championship. Taking the Overall Reserve Championship and Senior Championship was the April 2022 born Springfield Neptune from Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik. Neptune is by Islavale Jabba, and is out of Springfield Ivory.
Robin BoydDelfur NiftyReserve Supreme & Senior Champion Springfield Neptune Reserve Junior Champion & Overall Reserve Delfur Weigela N12
Bringing the October Sales to a close was the NI Simmental Sale held in Swatragh Livestock Market and which saw a top price of 5000gns for the Female Champion and Reserve Overall Ashland Lucy Nora from Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo, Co Fermanagh. The Overall Champion and Male Champion was Robgill Neptune, a Newbiemains Interceptor 17 son from Cornamuck Farm, Dromore, Co Tyrone, and which sold for 4,500gns. So only two months to cover…but worth the wait! Keep an eye on Facebook as we round off the 2023 year.
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