Dirnanean Simmental Dispersal Announcement

Dirnanean Simmental Dispersal Announcement

by | May 28, 2015 | Uncategorised

On February 23, 2015 ·

One of the longest established and most successful Simmental herds in the UK is to be dispersed on Saturday, September 12th at United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre.

Finlay McGowan’s Dirnanean herd based by Blairgowrie is famous for consistently producing bulls, which have appealed to both commercial and pedigree breeders.

Bulls have always been produced naturally with performance and fertility the top priority.  Sires, which have been influential in the herd, include Stuartslaw Joseph, Arkmill Franklyn and the imported Canadian bull AWL Polar.

Dirnanean has produced three record-priced bulls – Nugget, Typhoon and Bradley.

Included in the sale will be 66 cows with calves at foot/in calf along with in calf heifers and maiden heifers, two stock bulls and some semen.

Mr McGowan said: “Over 43 years Judy and I have built up a herd we are proud of. We have had a fair bit of success along the way, a lot of fun and made some very good Simmental friends all around the world.


“It is now time for Neil to put his mark on the Simmental breed and he has recently established his own Incheoch herd based on the five oldest cows and the youngest half of the 2014 born heifers from the Dirnanean herd. All other females will be offered at the sale. We hope that the next generation of McGowans have as much pleasure and success as we have had.”

David Leggat, Executive Chairman of United Auctions said: “We’re delighted to conduct this prestigious sale. For more than four decades Finlay and Judy McGowan have been pioneers within the breed.  Their focus has always been on genetics to suit the current market and high performing Dirnanean bred cattle have also enjoyed success in the show ring.

Lurgan Show venue for Simmental heifer derby

Lurgan Show venue for Simmental heifer derby

by | May 11, 2015 | Uncategorised


Heifer Derby

Members of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club are reminded that the 2015 Junior Heifer Derby, sponsored by Woodcraft Kitchens (Kilrea), takes place at Lurgan Show on Saturday, 6th June.

Open to heifers born in 2014, the Junior Heifer Derby carries at total prize fund of £350, and will be judged by RUAS president and breed stalwart Billy Robson OBE, from the noted Kilbride Farm Herd based at Doagh, County Antrim.

The schedule for Lurgan’s 103rd show includes a variety of classes for Simmental cows, heifers, bulls, and is also a qualifier for the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition. The event is a points show for the Danske Bank Male and Female of the Year Awards.

The County Armagh venue is also staging a class for Simmental young handlers, and is inviting entries for calves under one-year-old, and an exhibitor-bred calf under six-months-of-age.

Entries close on Saturday, 23rd May.

For further information download a schedule and entry form from the show’s website: www.lurganshow.co.uk, or contact cattle section secretary Sandra Byrne on tel: 028 9153 2417.

Kilbride Farm leads Dungannon Simmental trade at 3,000gns twice

Kilbride Farm leads Dungannon Simmental trade at 3,000gns twice

by | Apr 2, 2015 | Uncategorised


Male and supreme overall champion at the NI Simmental Club's spring show and sale, Dungannon, was Kilbride Farm Eric ET shown by Michael Robson, Doagh. Adding their congratulations are Andrew Clarke, Tynan, judge; and Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank, sponsor.
Male and supreme overall champion at the NI Simmental Club’s spring show and sale, Dungannon, was Kilbride Farm Eric ET shown by Michael Robson, Doagh. Adding their congratulations are Andrew Clarke, Tynan, judge; and Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank, sponsor.

Simmental bulls reached a ceiling of 3,000gns twice at the Northern Ireland Club’s spring show and sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Joint sale leader was the day’s male and supreme overall champion Kilbride Farm Eric ET bred by Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, from Doagh, County Antrim. Sired by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, this naturally polled bull is out of a home-bred dam by the Danish sire Lamhoj Supery. Two full brothers averaged 7,000gns in Stirling.

He is in the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle area +4.3, and terminal sire index +86, and in the top 10% for self replacing index +87.  This November 2013 born entry was snapped up by T McCartney, Jerrettspass, Newry.

Judge Andrew Clarke from the 8-cow Breaghey herd based Tynan, County Armagh, described the champion as a long, well fleshed bull with nice hindquarters and a good thick loin.”

Also selling at 3,000gns was the Robson family’s second prize winner Kilbride Farm Earl TSI+68 SRI+76. Sired by the Ardadoney Volvo son Kilbride Farm Barrister, he is bred from the Cairnview Snazzy daughter Kilbride Farm Dora 40B. Highest bidder on this eighteen-month-old bull was V Ferguson, Dungannon.

Next best at 2,800gns was the third placed Corrick Exodus TSI +66 SRI+77 consigned by Cecil and Hazel McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Sired by stock bull Carbery Carribbean, this November 2013 entry is out of a home-bred dam by Carnkern Titan. In the breed’s top 10% for eye muscle area +3.5, he sold to Norman Hammond, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

The Robson family were in the money again at 2,400gns, realised by the second prize winning Kilbride Farm Eagle TSI+71 SRI+76. He was sired by stock bull Crugmelyn Brenin, and is out of a home-bred dam by the popular Kilbride Farm Newry. In the top 5% for eye muscle area, this November 2013 born bull sold to Malcolm Fleming, Magherafelt, County Londonderry.

Andrew Clarke awarded the reserve male championship to Haystar Eclipse TSI+67 SRI+69, an October 2013 born Omorga Murray son bred by Gavin Hayes, and sons Kyle, James and Sam, Upper Ballinderry, County Antrim.  He was bred from the Hillcrest Champion daughter Carralavin Winford – one of six breeding females in the herd. This one failed to meet his reserve and returned home unsold.

Claiming the female and reserve supreme championship awards sponsored by Danske Bank was the September 2013 born Knockreagh Emily exhibited by the father and son team of Val and Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor, County Down. She was sired by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion Auchorachan Wizard, and is out of a home-bred dam by Omorga Volvo. Buyer at 2,600gns was judge Andrew Clarke.

“This is a lovely sweet heifer. She is long and oozes femininity.”

The Fegan’s 8-cow herd founded in 2003 also produced the reserve female champion Knockreagh Ella Rose. This October 2013 Auchorachan Wizard daughter secured a bid of 2,300gns from K Bell, Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.

There was a solid demand for commercial Simmental heifers with prices soaring to £775 over weight. The commercial section was sponsored by Millburn Concrete, Cookstown.

Maiden heifers ranged in weight from 335kgs to 595kgs, with prices peaking at £1,270, £1,250 and £1,160.

In-calf heifers peaked at £1,380, £1,280 twice and £1,240.

Averages: 6 pedigree bulls £2,590; 3 pedigree heifers £2,257.


NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' Club chairman Richard Rodgers is pictured at the club's Dungannon show and sale with Malcolm Thom, Millburn Concrete, sponsor of the sale's commercial section.
NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club chairman Richard Rodgers is pictured at the club’s Dungannon show and sale with Malcolm Thom, Millburn Concrete, sponsor of the sale’s commercial section.


Female and reserve supreme champion was Knockreagh Emily which sold at 2,600gns for Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor. Also pictured are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank, sponsor.
Female and reserve supreme champion was Knockreagh Emily which sold at 2,600gns for Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor. Also pictured are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank, sponsor.


Reserve female champion was Conrad Fegan's Knockreagh Ella Rose which sold for 2,300gns. Included are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and sponsor Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank.
Reserve female champion was Conrad Fegan’s Knockreagh Ella Rose which sold for 2,300gns. Included are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and sponsor Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank.


Reserve male champion was Haystar Eclipse whon by Kyle Hayes, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn. Included are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and sponsor Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank.
Reserve male champion was Haystar Eclipse whon by Kyle Hayes, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn. Included are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and sponsor Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank.


Taking a keen interest in the judging at the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' Club's Dungannon show and sale are, from left: Tom Bogue, Brookeborough; Neil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart; vice chairman Matthew Cunning, Glarryford; and William Ferguson, Stewartstown.
Taking a keen interest in the judging at the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s Dungannon show and sale are, from left: Tom Bogue, Brookeborough; Neil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart; vice chairman Matthew Cunning, Glarryford; and William Ferguson, Stewartstown.


Spectators around the showring at the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' Club spring show and sale, Dungannon.
Spectators around the showring at the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club spring show and sale, Dungannon.