Simmentals crowned best breed on parade at Ballymena Show

by Iain | Jun 3, 2014 | Uncategorised

The Simmentals impressed Scottish judge Alasdair Houston to secure the award for the best breed on parade at last weekend’s Ballymena Show.

The line-up of prize winning Simmental cattle was led by the day’s male and supreme overall champion Dermotstown Delboy, exhibited by the father and son team of Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare.

Fresh from success at Balmoral Show a few weeks ago, this twenty-month-old bull caught the eye of County Donegal judge Bertie Houston, to take his second successive breed title. Sired by Kilbride Farm Newry, he notched up a string of awards in southern Ireland last year, and was purchased privately by the Weatherup’s as a stock bull for their 35-cow Lisglass herd.

Claiming the reserve supreme honours was the female champion Ranfurly Weikel 11^th from David and Jonny Hazelton’s herd at Dungannon, County Tyrone. This February 2012 born Hillcrest Champion daughter is bred from the herd’s prolific brood cow South Park King Kong Weikel 2^nd.

The reserve male award went to the junior bull Slievenagh Emperor exhibited by Robin and Darla Boyd, and sons Christopher and Jamie, Portglenone. This  fourteen-month-old bull is by Curaheen Apostle, and out of a home-bred dam.

Later in the day Slievenagh Emperor, and herd mate Slievenagh Extra Special, won the interbreed pairs award under the expert eye of James Playfair-Hanney from Roxburghshire.

Runner-up for the female championship was the three-year-old cow Lisglass Clover 2^nd from Leslie and Christopher Weatherup. She was sired by the 10,000gns Slimero Victory, and is out of a dam carrying the Kilbride Farm prefix.

Ballymena Show is one of the NI Simmental Club’s nominated points shows for the Danske Bank-sponsored Male and Female of the Year Awards. It also hosted the second qualifying round of the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year Competition.

The qualifiers were Ashland Lady Ann 2^nd and Ashland Ella Beauty from Pat and Frank Kelly’s herd at Tempo, County Fermanagh.

Class results include:

Cow, born before 01/01/11 – 1, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Armagh, Woodford Paula by Ballintlea King.

Cow or heifer, born in 2011 – 1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare, Lisglass Clover 2^nd by Slimero Victory.

Heifer, born between 01/01/12 and 30/06/12 – 1, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Weikel 11^th.

Heifer, born between 01/07/12 and 31/12/12 – 1, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Woodford Paula 2 by Kilbride Farm Newry; 2, Michael and Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea, Drumagarner Diamond by Barnattin Wally; 3, Pat Kelly, Tempo, Ashland Lady Ann 2^nd by Ashland Brandy.

Heifer, born between 01/01/13 and 31/08/13 – 1, Pat Kelly, Ashland Ella Beauty by Kilbride Farm Ahoghill; 2, Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, Hiltonstown Emerald by Auroch Amos; 3, Raymond Porter, Omagh, Killynure Elsie by Omorga Volvo.

Bull, born on or before 31/12/12 – 1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Dermotstown Delboy by Kilbride Farm Newry.

Bull, born between 01/01/13 and 31/08/13 – 1, Robin Boyd, Portglenone, Slievenagh Emperor by Curaheen Apostle; 2, Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Extra Special by Kilbride Farm Bantry; 3, Raymond Porter, Killynure Elvan by Omorga Murray.

Bull or heifer calf, born on or after 01/09/13 – 1, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Woodford Penny by Kilbride Farm Newry.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup; 2, Robin Boyd; 3, Pat Kelly.

Balmoral Show 2014: Second successive supreme Simmental title for Lisglass

by Iain | May 16, 2014 | Uncategorised

Ballyclare-based breeders Leslie and Christopher Weatherup dominated the Simmental section at Balmoral Park for the second year in succession.

The father and son team who run the 35-cow Lisglass herd, claimed the male and supreme overall championship ribbons with their twenty-month-old stock bull Dermotstown Del Boy ET. Bred by Chris White from Dublin, he was sired by Kilbride Farm Newry, and was purchased privately at eleven-months-of-age.

This bull has won a string of awards in Ireland, including the National Yearling Bull Championship at last year’s Tullamore Show.  Leslie Weatherup confirmed that semen is available for sale.

Scottish judge Gordon Clark, who runs the 40-cow Broombrae herd at Fife, said it was an excellent show with some particularly strong classes, especially the intermediate and junior heifer classes. He described the overall champion as an outstanding bull. “He has tremendous ring presence, excellent conformation, and is full of breeder character. “

Claiming the reserve supreme award at the 146^th Balmoral Show was Slievenagh Emperor, a March 2013 born bull bred by Robin and Darla Boyd, and sons Christopher and Jamie, Portglenone.   He also secured the junior, reserve male and exhibitor-bred championship titles.

Sired by the 9,200 Euro Curaheen Apostle ET – a bull bred from North Amercian genetics, his dam is Slievenagh Aileen – one of 25-cows in the herd founded in 1979.

“The reserve champion is another excellent bull. He has length, great muscular development, and is a great prospect for the future,” added the judge.

The female and reserve exhibitor-bred championships went to Ballymoney Dora, an August 2012 born Celtic Rock daughter, bred by Noel and Mai Kilpatrick from Banbridge, who have made a return to pedigree Simmental breeding after ten years. The judge commented: “She is a lovely fleshy heifer, very feminine and full of breed character.”

Standing reserve in the female line-up, and also taking the day’s reserve junior award, was Ballinlare Farm Empress, a January 2013 born heifer from Joe Wilson’s 60-cow herd at Newry. She is a daughter of the herd’s 20,000gns stock bull Auchorachan Wizard, and is out of a home-bred Milnafua Jordan dam whose sons have topped 4,200gns at Stirling.

Results from the judging ring include:

Cow, born before 01/01/11 – 1, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Woodford Paula by Ballintlea King.

Cow or heifer, born in 2011 – 1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Lisglass Clover by Slimero Victory.

Heifer, born between 01/01/12 and 30/06/12 – 1, JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Weikel 11^th by Hillcrest Champion.

Heifer, born between 01/07/12 and 31/12/12 – 1, Noel and Mai Kilpatrick, Ballymoney Dora by Celtic Rock; 2, Pat and Frank Kelly, Ashland Lady Ann 2by Ashland Brandy; 3, Michael and Eamon McCloskey, Drumagarner Diamond by Barnattin Wally.

Heifer, born on or after 01/01/13 – 1, Joe Wilson, Ballinlare Farm Empress by Auchorachan Wizard; 2, Derek Costello, Barnattin Edel by Kilbride Farm Newry; 3, Pat Kelly, Ashland Ella Beauty by Kilbride Farm Ahoghill.

Bull, born on or before 31/12/12- 1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Dermotstown Delboy by Kilbride Farm Newry; 2, Stephen Millar, Glenrock Delbert by Heathbrow Niagara.

Bull, born on or after 01/01/13 – 1, Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Emperor by Curaheen Apostle; 2, Slievenagh Extra Special by Kilbride Farm Bantry; 3, Raymond Porter, Killynure Elvan by Omorga Murray.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Robin Boyd; 2, Messrs McDowell and Martin; 3, Pat Kelly.

Dispersal of the HAZELDEN Herd on behalf of MR N J MCGEOCH.

by Iain | May 9, 2014 | Uncategorised

Dispersal of the HAZELDEN Herd on behalf of MR N J MCGEOCH.160 LOTS
Saturday 30th August 2014
United Auctions, Stirling

DRAFT AGENDA FOR SYMA TRIP TO TURRIFF. AUGUST 2014.

by Iain | Apr 26, 2014 | Uncategorised

FRIDAY 1^ST AUGUST.
ARRIVE- ABERDEEN AIRPORT, BUS TO TRAVEL LODGE, ELGIN.

SATURDAY 2^ND AUGUST.

MORNING VISIT TO AUCHORACHAN HERD (MICHAEL DURNO), FOLLOWED LUNCH AT GLENLIVET DISTILLERY.

AFTERNOON, GO-CARTING AT LHANBRYDE?

VISIT TO CORSKIE HERD( IAIN GREEN) FOLLOWED BY BBQ.

SUNDAY 3^RD AUGUST.

MORNING VISIT TO DELFUR HERD.(EDWARD MOUNTAN)

AFTERNOON- STOCKJUDGING COMPETITION AT TURRIFF SHOW.

FOLLOWED BY BBQ HOSTED BY SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL CLUB.

MONDAY 4^TH AUGUST.

ALL DAY AT TURRIFF SHOW, – SCOTTISH NATIONAL SIMMENTAL SHOW.

EVENING VISIT  GARY CHRISTIE’S COMMERCIAL SIMMENTAL X HERD.

TUESDAY 5^TH AUGUST.

VISIT ISLAVALE HERD.(MESSRS STRONACH)

DEPART. ABERDEEN AIRPORT.

Herd health on agenda at Simmental AGM

by Iain | Apr 24, 2014 | Uncategorised

The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club held its AGM recently in Dungannon.

Guest speaker for the evening was veterinary surgeon John Gilmore, who is a partner in a large animal practice based in County Roscommon.

Working in a heavily populated suckler farming area, Mr Gilmore specialises in herd health issues, focusing on diseases which affect cows and newborn calves.  Two years ago the practice set up an in-house laboratory testing for diseases such as BVD and Johnes.

He highlighted a few statistics from Ireland’s national suckler herd, and stressed the importance of good herd management and nutrition, especially mineral supplementation.

Mr Gilmore has carried out extensive research into the use of various boluses for cattle. He recommends the tracesure® bolus from Animax, as it contains four essential trace elements – copper, selenium, cobalt and iodine, and one application lasts up to six months.

“When buying boluses don’t base your decisions solely on price,” he said. “It’s important to compare the mineral content.

“High molybdenum and low copper intakes can reduce growth, depress immunity and have a hard-hitting impact on reproductive performance. Low iodine is a common problem in cows, and can lead to reduced fertility, poor weight gain, general ill-thrift, abortions and stillbirths, reduced milk yields, and susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Mr Gimore added:”A lack of selenium can lead to stillbirths and reduced fertility, while cobalt is necessary for ruminants to maintain the vital production of vitamin B12, otherwise animals will suffer from depressed appetites and won’t thrive.”

Concluding he urged breeders to look closely at the importance of mineral supplementation, and stressed the importance of good quality colostrum for newborn calves. He also advised herd owners that the most beneficial time to administer boluses is six to eight weeks prior to calving.

The election of office bearers for 2014/15 was conducted by club member Robert Forde from the Mullyknock Herd based at Tempo, County Fermanagh.

The following members were elected: chairman, Richard Rodgers, Hiltonstown Herd, Portglenone; vice-chairman, Matthew Cunning, Point Farms Herd, Glarryford; treasurer, Leslie Weatherup, Lisglass Herd, Ballyclare; secretary, Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Herd, Portglenone.

Committee members for the forthcoming term include: Nigel Glasgow, Bridgewater Farm Herd, Cookstown; Chris Traynor, Rosemeadow Farm Herd, Armagh; Patsy McDonald, Coolcran Herd, Tempo; Thelma Gorman, Woodford Herd, Armagh; Joe Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Herd, Newry; David Hazelton, Ranfurly Herd, Dungannon, Conrad Fegan, Knockreagh Herd, Rostrevor; and Andrew Clarke, Breaghey Herd, Tynan

The committee also includes regional society council representatives Michael Robson, Kilbride Farm Herd, Doagh; Robert Rodgers, Hiltonstown Herd, Portglenone; Robin Boyd.

Club treasurer Leslie Weatherup reported on the club’s healthy financial situation.

Forthcoming club events include:

Wednesday, 28^th May – Evening show and sale of pedigree and commercial Simmental cattle, Ballymena Mart – show 4pm, sale at 7pm. Catalogues from JA McClelland and Sons Ltd on tel: 028 2563 3470.

Tuesday, 17^th June – Junior Stockjudging competition and farm walk, at Rodgers family’s Hiltonstown Herd, 13 Race Road, Portglenone – 7pm.

Friday, 8^th August – Annual charity BBQ and auction in aid of Friends of Cancer NI, at Dungannon Rugby Club – 8pm.

Anyone interested in joining the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club should contact secretary Robin Boyd on mobile: 07799 346784.