by Iain | Jul 3, 2012 | Uncategorised
The Scottish Simmental Club had a very successful Open day on 3rd July 2012 at Thurston Mains and Aikengall farms, by kind permission of Mr John Hamilton and Family. Despite heavy rain in the days before the Open day we were lucky that it was a fine day ensuring a good turn out.
The day started with Opening speeches from Mr Jim McLaren from QMS and from host farmer John Hamilton.
Following Tea and Cakes we headed up the hill to view the fine herd of Simmental x cows and calves.
On returning we headed into the sheds for lunch a fine BBQ, and a table overladen with cheesecakes and pavlovas to name just a few all prepared by Dorothy.
The expansion of a family farm to generate additional income is often driven by the desire to provide work for the younger generation, and Aikengall in Scotland is one such example.
John and Vanessa Hamilton, in partnership with their sons employ one full-time tractorman. Each son has a special responsibility, with James, 27, managing the large sheep flock, while 25-year-old Charles looks after the cattle. A third son, Harry, 20, has just returned from working in New Zealand.
The Hamiltons moved from Lanarkshire after buying the 768ha (1,900 acres) holding of Aikengall near Dunbar in East Lothian in 1998. They have since purchased a 161ha (400 acres) neighbouring farm Thurston Mains. Last year, they took on the tenancy of Nunraw at Garvald adding a further 485ha (1,200 acres), with all the land in organic production and ranging between 300-1,200 feet above sea level.
The suckler herd is made up of 350 Simmental cross cows, which are put to Beef Shorthorn or Lincoln Red bulls as heifers, followed by pedigree Simmental sires from their second calving onwards. As a result of the additional acreage, the herd is being increased to 400 head, which will be achieved by retaining more home bred heifer replacements.
All the progeny is finished on-farm and has been sold deadweight to Dovecote Park to supply Waitrose with organic beef for well over a decade. Bullocks are usually sold at 18-23 months, weighing around 380kgs deadweight. Any heifers which are not retained or sold for further breeding are sold at 18 months, weighing 330kg. The most recent price paid was £3.90/kg. The Simmental cross cattle from Aikengall have topped Dovecote Park’s Producer Performance Index for cattle which meet the required weight and grading specifications, whilst still achieving good weight for age on this low input system.
“The conversion payments were one of the attractions of organic farming, but the other incentive was the opportunity to add value to our products,” says Mr Hamilton. “I have always found Dovecote Park to be fair, and their payments haven’t fluctuated much, compared with some other buyers.”
The emphasis is on home-grown feed, with the growing cattle diet based on red clover silage, crimped barley and straw. Red clover leys play an important role; however they only tend to last four to five years, while the white clover mixtures remain productive for up to 12 years.
Mr Hamilton stresses that he is not intending to return to conventional production.
“I am not an organic zealot, but I have been surprised at how much I have learned about land management since converting to an organic system. Crossing chemical fertilisers off the list of inputs has saved a significant amount of money.”
A rigorous culling policy is applied to any cows which fall outside the tight spring calving pattern, with animals receiving a small premium for their organic status when they are sent for slaughter. The high price of yeld cows in recent months receiving up to £3.50kg,has also prompted the Hamilton’s to set a nine year age limit on cows. Heifers used to calve at three years, but the older group is now calved at two years, to speed up the expansion programme and increase productivity. By using Simmental bulls, they have a plentiful supply of quality replacements to implement such a rigorous culling policy to both improve and expand the herd, without compromising the herd.
Bull selection is taken very seriously, “We will pay around 8,000gns for pedigree Simmental sires, and have recently decided to try and improve conception rates by using smaller female groups, with one bull to 30 cows,” he explains.
“We need cows which will put on condition over the summer, so they are cheaper to feed over the winter. This trait is particularly useful on an organic farm, because only 40% of the finishing diet can be made up of concentrates. Therefore, unlike many other breeders, my preference is for bulls with high EBVs for fat cover. Ease of calving is the only other figure that influences me; other than that I select by eye. I always pay particular heed to the accuracy of the EBVs”
Despite predicting a strong future for beef production, Mr Hamilton has some reservations.
“Prices have improved, but our costs have gone up at the same time. I am happy with the balance of enterprises, but it would be nice if suckler cows were more profitable. However their rise in value has turned them into an important financial asset for the farm, so that has to be taken into consideration.
Stock: 350 suckler cows,all Simmental cross in a closed herd, only buying in bulls.
Cows calve to Simmental bulls and heifers to Shorthorn or Lincoln Red at 3 years old.
Use all homebred replacements, preferably a Simmental x Lincoln red/Shorthorn type of cow.
All progeny is finished on farm , sold to Waitrose / Dovecote Park deadweight at 22 months old and heifers 330-350kg dw at 20 months old, all finished on homegrown rations consisting red clover silage, crimped barley and straw.
Starting to sell heifers privately for breeding.
Cows are all wintered outside on deferred grazing and kale, and are housed in February once house space is available for calving.
1800 ewes in a stratified system
250 Blackface ewes on hill which are kept pure.
800 Blackface ewes crossed to Bluefaced Leicester to breed Mules.
750 Mule ewes put to Texel Tups, lambed indoors in March.
The sheep flock is also run on a closed system only buying in Tups, and breeding own replacements. With surplus ewe lambs sold for breeding.
All wethers finished on farm.
Lambs are marketed through Welsh Country foods and Dunbia.
Finally a big thank you, to John Hamilton and family, all the Sponsors who helped make the event possible and to the Club Members who helped on the day.
by Iain | Jun 22, 2012 | Uncategorised
Neogen Corporation has purchased from Merial Limited, all of the assets of the Igenity® Cattle Genomics Business, effective on May 1, 2012. Igenity products and services will be integrated into our GeneSeek Europe office, located within Neogen Europe Limited, based in Ayr, Scotland over the next few weeks. As one of our valued customers, we want to assure you that you can expect the same high level of service that you have enjoyed in the past.
by Iain | Jun 4, 2012 | Uncategorised
Breeders were out in force at the NI Simmental Club’s annual stockjudging competition, hosted recently by the Boyd Family’s noted Slievenagh herd based at Portglenone, County Antrim on Monday, June 4, 2012.
Club chairman Nigel Glasgow welcomed everyone and said he was delighted to see such an excellent turnout of members and their families.
Novice and experienced judges put their skills to the test by placing four classes of animals – cows, two-year-old heifers, yearling heifers and junior bulls.
Master judge for the evening was John Moore who runs the well-known Omorga herd at Beragh in County Tyrone. “There were quality animals in each class which made them difficult to place, so tonight’s exercise wasn’t a simple one. Even the most experienced judges would have found these classes challenging.”
John Moore announced the results of each class, before the highest placed competitors in each section were revealed.
The winners included:
Junior (under 21) – 1, Jamie Boyd, Portglenone and Alan Burleigh, Florencecourt; 2, Shane McDonald, Tempo and Andrew Clarke, Tynan.
Junior (21 to 30-years-old ) – 1, Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare; 2, Christopher Boyd, Portglenone.
Open class – 1, Michael Robson, Doagh; 2, Cecil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart; 3, Nigel Glasgow, Cookstown.
Nigel Glasgow congratulated the winners and thanked the Boyd family for their warm welcome and excellent hospitality. “Thanks also to Darla Boyd and the ladies who provided and served the beautiful supper.”
“Tonight has provided us all with an excellent opportunity to get together socially, test our judging skills, and view the renowned Slievenagh Herd.”
“On a more serious note, the event has also enabled us to select two teams of junior judges to represent Northern Ireland at the Simmental Young Members’ Association national stockjudging finals which take place at the East of England Show, near Peterborough, on July 6 to 8.
“Thanks to Merial Animal Health for its continued sponsorship of our young judging teams. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the junior judges well for the national finals next month.”
by Iain | Jun 2, 2012 | Uncategorised
By Julie Hazelton
The father and son team of Leslie and Christopher Weatherup from Ballyclare, celebrated success in the Simmental section at Lurgan’s Centenary Show on Saturday 2nd June.
The County Antrim duo scored a hat-trick, claiming the female and supreme overall Simmental championship ribbons, as well as top honours in the Woodcraft Kitchens (Kilrea) Junior Heifer Derby.
Their much-admired home-bred heifer, Lisglass Clover 2nd, was sired by the 10,000gns Slimero Victory, and is out of a dam purchased from the Robson family’s noted Kilbride Farm Herd based at Doagh.
The sixteen-month-old heifer caught the eye of judge Cecil Mclwaine, who runs the noted Corrick Herd based at Newtownstewart, County Tyrone.
Lisglass Clover 2nd was junior champion at Balmoral Show in May, and secured the breed’s reserve female championship award Ballymena Show.
Claiming the day’s reserve supreme championship award was the male champion, Slievenagh Bonjovi, stock bull in Duncan McDowell’s Castlemount Herd based at Newtownards, County Down. Purchased privately from Robin and Darla Boyd, Portglenone, this December 2010 born entry is by the Cairnview Snazzy son, Slievenagh Willem.
This is Bonjovi’s third successive reserve male championship, having secured the title at both Balmoral and Ballymena Shows.
Claiming the reserve female championship award was Ballinlare Farm Buttercup 2nd, a January 2010 born heifer exhibited by Joe Wilson from Newry, County Down. Sired by the 20,000 Euro Curaheen Tyson, she is out of a home-bred dam. This was her second outing on the NI Show circuit, having won the female and reserve supreme championship prizes at Balmoral Show in May.
The Lurgan Show qualifiers for the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition were Scribby Farms Cracker, a sixteen-month-old ET Celtic Rock son, and Scribby Farms Baroness, a November 2010 born ET daughter of Dripsey Super King, bred and exhibited by Keith Nelson from Rosslea, County Fermanagh.
The 100th Anniversary of Lurgan Show also played host to the final of the Simmental Junior Heifer Derby. Open to heifers born in 2011, this competition is generously sponsored by club member Eamon McCloskey of Woodcraft Kitchens based at Kilrea.
The Weatherup’s heifer was the hotly tipped favourite, while brothers Shane and Paul McDonald from Tempo, County Fermanagh, claimed the reserve championship with the home-bred Coolcran Lady Cara. Born in April 2011, she is by the noted Kilbride Farm Newry, and is bred from a dam carrying the Ashland prefix.
First and second prize winners competed in the final line-up of the Junior Heifer Derby. Also featured were the first prize winning Ranfurly Weikel 10th, a nine-month-old Raceview King daughter from David Hazelton’s herd at Dungannon. Standing behind her was Duncan McDowell’s Castlemount Chrissy, an October 2011 born Cairnview Snazzy daughter.
Results from the Simmental section at Lurgan Show include:
Cow, any age – 1, Bruces Hill Cattle Company, Templepatrick, Hockenhull Natalie 34th by Dovefields Gallant.
Heifer, born between 01/01/10 and 30/06/10 – 1, Joe Wilson, Newry, Ballinlare Farm Buttercup 2nd by Curaheen Tyson; 2, WD Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Weikel 6th by Raceview King; 3, Thelma Gorman, Armagh, Woodford Bluebell by Sacombe Edgar.
Heifer, born between 01/07/10 and 31/12/10 – 1, Keith Nelson, Rosslea, Scribby Farms Baroness ET by Dripsey Super King.
Bull, born on or before 31/12/10 – 1, Duncan McDowell, Newtownards, Slievenagh Bonjovi by Slievenagh Willem.
Bull, born on or after 01/01/11 – 1, Keith Nelson, Scribby Farms Cracker ET by Celtic Rock; 2, Thelma Gorman, Woodford Crackerjack by Kilbride Farm Newry; 3, Johnathan Farrell, Markethill, Corhammock Cosmo Clarke by Camus Frontier.
Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Keith Nelson, Scribby Farms Cracker ET and Scribby Farms Baroness ET; 2, Duncan McDowell, Slievenagh Bonjovi and Stralongford Bianca; 3, Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, Coolcran Juliet Cinderella and Coolcran Lady Cara.
Calf, under one-year-old – 1, Thelma Gorman, Woodford Crackerjack by Kilbride Farm Newry; 2, WD Hazelton, Ranfurly Weikel 10th by Raceview King; 3, Jim Hamilton, Rock, Dungannon, Slatequarry Kimberly Tyson by Curaheen Tyson.
by Iain | May 26, 2012 | Uncategorised
The Templepatrick-based Bruces Hill Cattle Company owned by Mike Frazer continued on winning form at Ballymena’s 114th annual show on Saturday 26th May 2012.
Following on from the recent Balmoral Show, senior stock bull Hockenhull Ali Baba retained his male and supreme championship titles, while his herd mate Hockenhull Natalie 34th claimed the female and reserve supreme championship ribbons.
Judge Kenneth Stubbs, Irvinestown, awarded the reserve male championship award to Duncan McDowell’s stock bull, Slievenagh Bonjovi.
Runner-up in the female section was Lisglass Clover 2nd, a home-bred junior heifer from Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s herd at Ballyclare.
Two home-bred heifers from David Hazelton’s herd at Dungannon qualified for the Ivomec Super Pair of the Year Final. They were Ranfurly Weikel 6th and Ranfurly Weikel 7th.
Results from the 2012 Ballymena Show include:
NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club Trophy for the champion:
Bruces Hill Cattle Company
Reserve: Bruces Hill Cattle Company.
Qualifier for the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year:
David Hazelton.
Cow, born before 01/01/09
1, Bruces Hill Cattle Company, Templepatrick, Hockenhull Natalie 34th by Dovefields Gallant.
Heifer, born between 01/01/10 and 30/06/10
1, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Weikel 6th by Raceview King;
2, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Weikel 7th by Lykke Sirius;
3, Duncan McDowell, Newtownards, Stralongford Bianca by Bridgemount Vixen.
Heifer, born between 01/01/11 and 31/08/11
1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare, Lisglass Clover 2nd by Slimero Victory 2;
2, Wesley Abraham, Irvinestown, Magheracrigan Clare 2nd by Omorga Volvo;
3, Bruces Hill Cattle Company, Edenvale Amanda by Kilbride Farm Newry.
Bull, born on or before 31/12/10
1, Bruces Hill Cattle Company, Hockenhull Ali Baba by Kilbride Farm Newry;
2, Duncan McDowell, Slievenagh Bonjovi by Slievenagh Willem.
Bull, born between 01/01/11 and 31/08/11
1, Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, Hiltonstown Cain by Raceview King;
2, Johnathan Farrell, Markethill, Corhammock Cosmo Clarke by Camus Frontier;
3, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Armagh, Woodford Crackerjack by Kilbride Farm Newry.
Bull or heifer calf, born on or after 01/09/11
1, Andy Weatherup, Larne, Ballyvallough Captain by Omorga Volvo;
2, Duncan McDowell, Castlemount Chrissy by Cairnview Snazzy.
Pair, property of exhibitor
1, Bruces Hill Cattle Company, Hockenhull Natalie 34th and Hockenhull Ali Baba;
2, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Weikel 6th and Ranfurly Weikel 7th;
3, Duncan McDowell, Slievenagh Bonjovi and Stralongford Bianca.
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