Islavale takes the Senior and Junior Female titles
Springfield Moss wins Overall Senior Champion
A high-quality show of Simmental calves lit up the ring at the Stars of the Future Pedigree Calf Show, held at United Auctions Stirling Livestock Centre on Saturday 12th December. A much-anticipated annual event, the Stars of the Future is becoming an annual showcase of the strength in depth of Simmental breeding combined with calves destined for forward sales at Stirling, and the establishing Next Gen sale of females and weaned calves at Carlisle.
Judging this year’s Simmental section and Championships was Gayle Campbell of the noted Saltire herd at North Berwick, East Lothian, who had a catalogued entry of forty-four Simmentals to work through, and with breeders from the North East to the South West of Scotland.
Taking top honours in the juniors, Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian lifted the Junior Male and Overall Junior Championship with Overhill House Neil. January 2022 born, this calf is by Islavale Heston who was purchased for 24,000gns at Stirling in February 2018 and is out of Overhill House India, a Curaheen Drifter daughter. Islavale Heston is proving to be a consistent breeder in the 160 cow Overhill House and has bred calves sold at Stirling at up to 8,000gns so far. Having featured in the Championship prizes previously, this was the herds first time showing at Stars of the Future for a few years. The plan from here is that Overhill House Neil will be aimed at the 2023 October Stirling Simmental Bull Sale.
Overhill House Neil, Overall Junior Champion & Junior Male Champion
Winning Reserve in the Junior Males, and Reserve Junior Overall, was Islavale Noah from Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Born 2nd April 2022, this entirely homebred bull is by Islavale Kerching, and is out of Islavale Glossy EX92, a Delfur Casanova daughter, and described as a ‘tremendous breeding cow’ in the herd. Islavale Noah now heads to the fast-approaching Simmental Next Generation II Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on December 2nd and in a catalogue which will also feature the herd’s Stars of the Future Overall Junior Female Champion, Islavale Nestle, and the Senior Female Champion Islavale Mango.
Islavale Noah, Reserve Overall Junior Champion & Reserve Male Champion
All round, it was another strong day for the prolific Islavale herd. Following on from the recent Stirling bull sales where the herd averaged a remarkable £13,500 for seven bulls sold, Islavale breeding featured in all four of the Stars of the Future section and overall champions, and with specific wins for the herd in both the Junior Female and Senior Female Championships, and Reserve Overall in both the Junior and Senior sections. Commenting, Stewart Stronach said: “Stars of the Future is a first class event to promote calves with forward potential, and it’s a nice time of the year to get calves out to show. We are delighted to feature in the Championship prizes and within a show that we thought was a great advertisement for the Simmental breed.” Rounding off the event for the family, Emma Stronach powered through to win the Intermediate Champion Young Handler title and followed by the Reserve Overall Young Handler award.
Islavale Nestle, Overall Junior Female Champion
After working through the heifer calves, the Overall Junior Female Champion came in the form of the Stronach family’s Islavale Nestle. The 22nd April 2022 born, Islavale Nestle is by Coose Lincoln EX90, and is out of Islavale Elisha EX93, a Curaheen Bandit daughter. On the day both the Junior and Senior Female Champions were the first calves to be shown from Islavale by their herd sire Coose Lincoln EX90, a bull bought privately out of the Republic of Ireland just prior to the Covid lockdown. Nestle’s dam Islavale Elisha EX93 also has some performance behind her having previously bred the 7,600gns Islavale Jammy Dodger, a bull who was sold online during the Covid crisis and the 2020 Stirling May Sale. Following Islavale Nestle through from the class and to take the Reserve Junior Female title was Rockytop Jewel’s Nutmeg, from Gary & Angela Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly. This calf, 14th April born, is another entirely homebred heifer being by Rockytop Inferno 17, and out of Rockytop Friday’s Jewel, a Kilbride Fearless daughter.
Taking the day’s Overall Senior Championship and Overall Senior Male was Springfield Moss from Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik. This calf, 18th July 2021 born, is by the herd’s stock bull Islavale Jabba and is out of Cleenagh Eliza, a Drumlone Anchor daughter. This latest title comes hard on the heels of the recent Simmental Calf Show at the Borderway Agri Expo and where the Springfield herd lifted the Reserve Supreme and Junior Championship with another Islavale Jabba son, Springfield Niagara. An Islavale Jabba daughter topped the females at the recent October Stirling Simmental Sale and with progeny from the bull sold at sale so far averaging £4,700. Speaking afterwards Gavin Brown said: “Stars of the Future was a great show with really good numbers and the quality was right up there. The age range was slightly extended for the senior classes, so we were able to enter our two senior bulls and fortunately this is where the success came from with our Champion, Springfield Moss. At this point we are aiming to take him to Stirling in February next year. His dam was purchased back in 2015 and she has gone on to be a great breeder for us, producing two heifer and four bull calves so far, and two of these bulls have been sold back through Stirling.”
Islavale Mango, Senior Female Champion and Overall Senior Reserve
It was back to the Stronach team for the day’s Senior Female Champion and Overall Senior Reserve, in the form of the November 1st 2021 born Islavale Mango. Another by Coose Lincoln EX90, the same sire of the day’s Junior Female Champion, Mango is out of Islavale Faith EX90 a Woodhall Walker daughter.
Commenting on her choice of champions, and the overall show, the judge Gayle Campbell said: “The Simmental breed has continued to evolve and improve since I first stepped into the judging ring. Today there is a favour towards darker animals but based around both the maternal traits that the Simmental is renowned for, and also the breeds ever improving terminal qualities”. Of the Simmentals at Stars of the Future, Gayle went on to say; “The standard was really high across the classes with some excellent calves forward. When judging females I am looking for stylish and balanced animals, they need to be feminine and show great breed character, but with a sweetness about them. I certainly found that with my Champions Islavale Nestle and Islavale Mango, two terrific calves. My choices for the Male Champions also just caught my eye as soon as they came into the ring. I was looking for young bulls with potential, power and shape, and Overhill House Neil and Springfield Moss certainly fit the bill and have a lot of future in them. A great show of Simmental calves and well done to all of the exhibitors.” A passionate advocate of the Simmental breed, Gayle Campbell first judged Simmental classes at the Stirling May Sale in 2011 and since then has gone on to judge at shows throughout Scotland and also at such as the English Winter Fair.
Newbiemains McGregor, Reserve Senior Male Champion
Standing Reserve Senior Male Champion was Newbiemains McGregor from Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Another entirely homebred calf, the September 2021 born Newbiemains McGregor is another from the first crop pf calves by Newbiemains Jericho and is out of Newbiemains Janabelle, a Newbiemains Golden Eye 15 EX91 daughter. This further title adds to the Goldies recent strong showing at the Simmental Calf Show at Borderway Agri Expo where the herd won the Senior Championship with another Newbiemains Jericho son, Newbiemains Moosala, and also lifted the Junior and Overall title with Newbiemains Noble Wynn. Competing in a strong class at Stars of the Future Newbiemains Noble Wynn stood second in his class to the Overall Junior Champion Overhill House Neil.
Delfur Weigela M1, Reserve Senior Female
Winning the Reserve Senior Female title, having won the class for females born 8th August to 16th October 2021 was Delfur Weigela M1 from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour. Born 18th October 2021, Delfur Weigela M1 is by Woodhall Instinct 17, and is out of the Auchorachan ACDC daughter Delfur Margaret D100. Woodhall Instinct 17 was also the sire of Delfur Maverick who was sold for 16,000gns at the recent October Stirling Simmental Sale. Further Woodhall Instinct sons, Delfur Mean Machine and Delfur Marvel, took first and second place in the class for Senior Males born on or between 18th October and 28th December 2021.
Stars of the Future 2022 Simmental Results
Class 1 – Senior Males born on or between 4 July & 24 September 2021
1st – Lot 353: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD MOSS – s. Islavale Jabba
2nd – Lot 356: Jim & Patricia Goldie – NEWBIEMAINS MCGREGOR – s. Newbiemains Jericho
3rd – Lot 354: Jim & Patricia Goldie – NEWBIEMAINS MOOSALA – s. Newbiemains Jericho
4th – Lot 352: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD MASTERCLASS – s. Islavale Jabba
Class 2 – Senior Males born on or between 18 October & 28 December 2021
1st – Lot 358: Delfur Farms – DELFUR MEAN MACHINE – s. Woodhall Instinct
2nd – Lot 359: Delfur Farms – DELFUR MARVEL – s. Woodhall Instinct
3rd – Lot 362: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR MICKEY – s. Islavale Imperial
Class 3 – Senior Females born on or between 8 August to 16 October 2021
1st – Lot 366: Delfur Farms – DELFUR WEILGELA M1 – s. Innerwick Ivor
2nd – Lot 365: Delfur Farms – DELFUR MOONSHINE – s. Banwy Bonzo 3rd – Lot 364: J C MacIver – COLTFIELD MARTHA – s. Rockytop Invader
Class 4 – Senior Females born on or between 22 October to 31 December 2021
1st – Lot 368: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE MANGO – s. Coose Lincoln
2nd – Lot 370: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR LORRAINE’S MULAN – s. Backmuir King
3rd – Lot 369: Mr J E Dyet – MERKLAND KELLY – s. Skerrington Gambler
Senior Male Champion Lot 353: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD MOSS – s. Islavale Jabba
Reserve Senior Male Champion Lot 356: Jim & Patricia Goldie – NEWBIEMAINS MCGREGOR – s. Newbiemains Jericho
Senior Female Champion Lot 368: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE MANGO – s. Coose Lincoln
Reserve Senior Female Champion Lot 366: Delfur Farms – DELFUR WEILGELA M1 – s. Innerwick Ivor
Senior Champion Lot 353: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD MOSS – s. Islavale Jabba
Reserve Senior Champion Lot 368: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE MANGO – s. Coose Lincoln
Class 5 – Junior Males born on or between 3 January & 28 March 2022
1st – Lot 373: Richard McCulloch – OVERHILL HOUSE NEIL – s. Islavale Heston
2nd – Lot 374: Jim & Patricia Goldie – NEWBIEMAINS NOBLE WYNN – s. Auchorachan Kennedy
3rd – Lot 375: Grant Stephen – GLENDUAL NEVIS – s. Team Celtic
Class 6 – Junior Males born on or between 1 April & 21 May 2022
1st – Lot 380: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NOAH 2 – s. Islavale Kerching
2nd – Lot 385: Gary & Angela Christie – ROCKYTOP NELSON – s. Glenturk Kingpin
3rd – Lot 381: Strathisla Farms – STRATHISLA NAIRN – s. Dirnanean Grafter 4th – Lot 382: Strathisla Farms – STRATHISLA NIMROD – s. Vale Royal Hamish
Class 7 – Junior Females born on or between 3 January & 28 March 2022
1st – Lot 386: Reece & Andrew Simmers – BACKMUIR EVA’S NEVA – s. Islavale Imperial
2nd – Lot 389: Strathisla Farms – STRATHISLA NANNY’S HAKA – s. Vale Royal Hamish
Class 8 – Junior Females born on or between 4 April & 12 May 2022
1st – Lot 394: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NESTLE – s. Coose Lincoln
2nd – Lot 392: Gary & Angela Christie – ROCKYTOP JEWEL’S NUTMEG – s. Rockytop Inferno
3rd – Lot 391: Strathisla Farms – STRATHISLA NALA’S GERALDINE – s. Vale Royal Hamish 4th – Lot 393: Gavin Brown – SPRINGFIELD NITA – s. Islavale Jabba
Junior Male Champion Lot 373: Richard McCulloch – OVERHILL HOUSE NEIL – s. Islavale Heston
Reserve Junior Male Champion Lot 380: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NOAH 2 – s. Islavale Kerching
Junior Female Champion Lot 394: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NESTLE – s. Coose Lincoln
Reserve Junior Female Champion Lot 392: Gary & Angela Christie – ROCKYTOP JEWEL’S NUTMEG – s. Rockytop Inferno
Junior Champion Lot 373: Richard McCulloch – OVERHILL HOUSE NEIL – s. Islavale Heston
Reserve Junior Champion Lot 380: Mr W S Stronach – ISLAVALE NOAH 2 – s. Islavale Kerching
• Popes calves take Overall Champion & Reserve • Wroxall Megga Mountaine wins Reserve Male
It was another red-letter day for the prolific Popes herd of JH and VG Wood, Popes Farm, Clitheroe Road, Preston, Lancs, when they won both the Overall Championship and Overall Reserve title at the Simmental National Pedigree Calf Show held within the English Winter Fair at Bingley Hall, Staffs, on Saturday 19th November. Judging the Simmental section was the well-known Danny Wyllie, Burton on Trent, Staffs.
Taking the top honours on the day was the stylish April 2022 born heifer Popes Weikels Nadine, who is by the Irish-bred Clonagh Latin Lover and is out of Popes Weikels Gracie VG85. Gracie was the outcome of an embryo bought from Northern Irish breeder David Hazelton to introduce breeding from that herd’s famous Weikel female line. All five of the Popes entries shown at the English Winter Fair were from the first crop of calves by the herd’s Clonagh Latin Lover and who was purchased for 6500 Euros. A bull full of breeding, Clonagh Latin Lover was purchased for his maternal influence, being out of the noted Clonagh Darling Eyes who was the online Simmental Miss World in 2018 and Overall Irish Simmental of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Sired by Manor Park Hansome, Clonagh Latin Lover combines pedigree with performance having excellent Maternal (Milk), and Carcase figures.
Popes Weikels Nadine, Popes Diamonds Nella & Popes Nexus
On the day, Popes calves sired by Clonagh Latin Lover won the respective male and female sections before moving on to secure the Overall and Reserve Overall titles. For the Woods family it was the second year in a row that they had secured the double at the English Winter Fair, and followed on from a highly successful show year at both the Great Yorkshire and English National shows.
Commenting afterwards, Vikki Wood said: “As a family we are delighted to win this Championship again and at the same time to help put on a good promotion of the British Simmental breed along with our fellow exhibitors.” Of the Champion, and Clonagh Latin Lover generally, Vikki went on to say: “Latin Lover was bought primarily for his maternal lines and to breed what we hope will be the herd’s next generation of females. Our aim and type in breeding females is to have the typical Simmental attributes of sweetness, femininity and breed character, correctness, and with no extremes. The Champion calf today looks to have those attributes at this early age.”
Taking the Overall Reserve and Overall Reserve Female title was Popes Diamonds Nella. Another April 2022 born calf, and by Clonagh Latin Lover, Nella is out of Popes Diamonds IO who is a Popes Fearless daughter.
Bull Calf Champion Popes Nexus
In the bull calves the Championship honours went to the Woods April born Popes Nexus. This calf, now being provisionally aimed at the October 2023 Stirling Bull sale, is again by Latin Lover and is out of Popes Nellys Illia, a Swingletree Emporor daughter who goes back to Tintoside Nellys Wonder.
Wroxall Megga Mountaine
Winning the Reserve Bull Championship and the Senior Bull Calf Class was Wroxall Megga Mountaine (P) from CH Evans and Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick. October 2021 born, Megga Mountaine is by the herd’s noted Coose Gambler (P) and is out of the homozygous polled Wroxall Jazz Superior (PP), a Wroxall Electric daughter. Coose Gambler (P) was the Irish National Ploughing Match Junior Champion Bull in 2016 and the Reserve Champion of Europe in the World Simmental Championship online competition in 2020. Owned by the Evan’s since 2017 Gambler has produced over 100 progeny for the herd, with sons sold to 5,000gns. This was the Wroxall herd’s first time showing at the English Winter Fair, but they have had a successful summer securing Championship and Reserve titles at both the Staffordshire County Show and the Three Counties Show this year.
A feature of the weekend was the Simmental breed promotional stand put on by the Midlands Simmental Club and situated at the main ringside. With some tremendous display cattle, professional breed promotion and literature, and plenty of home baked hospitality, the stand was extremely busy over two days. In a fine reward for all of the Midlands Club’s hard work the stand was judged the best Breed Society stand before securing the Best Trade stand at the show.
The promotional cattle, showing the outstanding maternal attributes of the breed, were three crossbred bull calves out of pure Simmental cows, and supplied by CH Evans and Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick. February born, the calves weighed up to 458kgs for a 26th February born calf, and to a daily live weight gain of 1.81kgs.
2022 Simmental Pedigree Calf Show Results at the English Winter Fair Judge: Mr D Wyllie, Burton on Trent
Senior Bull Calf, born between 01/10/2021 & 31/12/2021 1 – CH Evans & Son – Wroxall Megga Mountaine – s. Coose Gambler 2 – S White – Tirley Lawrence – s. Rathnashan Lobster
Junior Bull Calf, born between 01/01/2022 & 30/06/2022 1 – JH & VG Wood – Popes Nexus – s. Clonagh Latin Lover 2 – Croft Livestock – Fforest Napoleon – s. Auchorachan Hercules 3 – JH & VG Wood – Popes Northstar – s. Clonagh Latin Lover 4 – Renshaw & Brassington – Dovefields Napier – s. Clonagh Tiger Gallant 5 – C Price – Whalegreen Norman – s. Whalegreen Jasper 6 – C Price – Whalegreen Neville – s. Whalegreen Jasper
Senior Heifer Calf, born between 01/10/2021 & 31/12/2021 1 – S White – Tirley Ella 3rd – s. Rathnastian Lobster Pot
Junior Heifer Calf, born between 01/01/2022 & 30/06/2022 1 – JH & VG Wood – Popes Weikels Nadine – s. Clonagh Latin Lover 2 – JH & VG Wood – Popes Diamond Nella – s. Clonagh Latin Lover 3 – JH & VG Wood – Popes Nellys Neva – s. Clonagh Latin Lover 4 – Renshaw & Brassington – Dovefields Nina – s. Star Green Kenny 5 – Renshaw & Brassington – Dovefields Nadia – s. Star Green Kenny
Champion Bull Calf JH & VG Wood – Popes Nexus – s. Clonagh Latin Lover Reserve Champion Bull Calf CH Evans & Son – Wroxall Megga Mountaine – s. Coose Gambler
Champion Heifer Calf JH & VG Wood – Popes Weikels Nadine – s. Clonagh Latin Lover Reserve Champion Heifer Calf JH & VG Wood – Popes Diamond Nella – s. Clonagh Latin Lover
Supreme Champion JH & VG Wood – Popes Weikels Nadine – s. Clonagh Latin Lover Reserve Supreme Champion JH & VG Wood – Popes Diamond Nella – s. Clonagh Latin Lover
The much anticipated second staging of the Simmental Next Generation Sale of Females & Weaned Calves is fast approaching and will take place this year on Friday 2nd December 2022, at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle.
Hitting the ground running, the inaugural Next Generation Sale proved to be a tremendous success with served and maiden heifers averaging £4400, and weaned bull calves averaging over £6000 with a lead price of 16,000gns. Moreover, the sale attracted a fantastic show of Simmental cattle full of style, quality, and with a depth of bloodlines.
With 66 entries catalogued this year, the British Simmental Cattle Society is delighted to announce that the pre-sale show judge is Chris Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim who, along with his father Leslie, runs 35 breeding females with the noted Lisglass Simmental pedigree herd. The Weatherups also run 60 breeding Texel cross ewes and 150 store lambs on their 130 acre holding.
Chris Weatherup, Lisglass herd, and this year’s judge at the Simmental Next Generation II Sale
The Lisglass herd, established in 1989, has certainly made its mark in the Simmental breed. A list of achievements would include exhibiting a hat-trick of Balmoral Supreme Champions, breeding the ‘Simmental Champion of Europe’ in the shape of Lisglass Goldstar (shown by Gordon Clarke), and holding the Northern Ireland home sale Simmental top price record of £25,000 for the bull Lisglass Kirk.
It was very much the commercial value of the Simmental breed that drew the family into pedigree breeding and with Chris’s father Leslie starting out by farming store heifers which were mostly Simmental cross. Commenting Chris said: “Dad was so pleased with the way they performed in their growth and ability to finish that he decided to purchase two pedigree Simmental heifers at Automart Portadown. Over the years the pedigree herd has grown and we’ve looked to invest in the future of the herd with some top female lines being purchased at production and dispersal sales”.
Speaking on his general breeding philosophy Chris went on to say: “Our aim is to breed modern, easy fleshing, structurally sound, docile Simmental cattle with good milking ability. They must have plenty of length and growth to meet the demands of today’s market. We use a combination of a stock bull and AI, and our stock bulls over the years have included Blackford Explosion, Omorga Prince, Raceview Stanley, Dermotstown Delboy and currently Omorga Jaguar. The bulls we use have to be correct with good locomotion, and have style and presence with good breed character”.
“We want to breed Simmentals that go on and perform well and which brings repeat customers both commercially and pedigree. Of course it’s a bonus on top if you can breed that one that is a little bit ‘special’ and catches the eye. In the commercial sector, it’s a proven fact that Simmental is the leading continental beef breed for age at slaughter. I think there is a huge potential for choosing modern Simmental bulls when you are getting the advantages of high growth rates for age, and with super weights and carcases. It’s all about efficiency and performance giving increased profit”.
Speaking of the job ahead at Carlisle, Chris said: “The Next Gen Sale has all the potential to be a year on year showcase event for British Simmental providing quality, performance, and genetics for existing and new breeders. In judging the females come December I’ll be looking for cattle with femininity, length, growth, good mobility, and just carrying that ring presence, style and breed character. It’s a sale that offers something for everyone and I’m delighted to have been asked to judge and am really looking forward to it.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The provisional timetable for the Next Generation II Sale is as follows:
Please keep an eye on the Society’s Facebook page from here for further updates and previews of the Simmental Next Generation II Sale of Females & Weaned Calves due to be held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 2nd December.
• 23,000gns breed record price for a cow and calf unit • Cow & calf units sell at 23,000gns; 12,500gns; & 9400gns • Calved heifer sells at 16,000gns • 19 lots sell at 5,000gns and more • Cows & calves average £5,343.95 • Cows average £5,423 • Sale grosses £220,710.05 • Cairnview Reduction Sale tops at 7,500gns
The seven-year-old-cow Annick Colleen’s Ginger EX93 along with her heifer calf Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg, sold for a combined 23,000gns to lead the much anticipated Annick Simmental Herd Dispersal Sale held on behalf of the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, Annick Lodge Estate, By Irvine, Ayrshire, at United Auctions Stirling Agricultural Centre, on Saturday 10th September.
Described as a foremost Simmental pedigree herd, the Annick sale catalogue was just filled with quality animals, built around a strength of family lines with a depth of breeding, proven performance, and a high herd health status. It was enough to ensure a packed ringside and a tremendous trade with buyers from all four home countries purchasing and competing for the animals of their choice.
Sold as separate lots, the top price cow Annick Colleen’s Ginger made 15,000gns when selling to the noted Backmuir pedigree herd of Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. In a connectivity of breeding, later in the sale the Simmers also bought the first calved heifer Annick Ginger’s Lucia, and Ginger’s daughter, for 16,000gns. A third calver, Annick Colleen’s Ginger by Corskie Callum and out of Annick Prudence’s Colleen EX95, and with her calf at foot being a full sister to the 16,000gns Lucia. Following mum into the ring, Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg, a daughter of the 15,000gns Wolfstar Golddigger, was quickly reunited when purchased by the Simmers at 8,000gns. The combined 23,000gns price is a new Simmental breed record for a cow and calf unit.
Annick Colleen’s Ginger
One of the most anticipated lots in the catalogue was the February 2020 born heifer Annick Ginger’s Lucia. Full of breeding being out of the day’s top price and being sired by Wolfstar Golddigger, this upstanding, stylish heifer had secured a string of show titles through the summer and most noticeably when placing Reserve Simmental Overall, and Reserve Female Champion at the Royal Highland Show. Having calved a heifer calf by Kilbride Farm Karl the day before the sale, Annick Ginger’s Lucia couldn’t travel to Stirling. However, offered in her absence, this well-known heifer’s breeding and show ring performance was enough to see her race to 16,000gns and again be purchased by the Simmers family. With a touch of irony, the Simmers had plenty sight of Annick Ginger’s Lucia through the summer having narrowly pipped her to the Royal Highland Championship!
16,000gns – Annick Gingers Lucia
Commenting on their top price purchases who will now join the 80 cow Backmuir pedigree herd, Reece Simmers said: “This is a breeding line that we’ve admired for sometime and will be new to the herd. All three purchases have a lot of style, are very feminine, and tremendous examples of the Simmental breed. It’s not often you get a chance to buy quality like this, so we are absolutely delighted to get them.”
As well as the new 23,000gns breed record price for a cow and calf unit, the depth of breeding and quality in the catalogue ensured a strong herd sale with nineteen lots in all selling at 5,000gns and more with further cow and calf units at 12,500gns, and 9,400gns. The nineteen cows with calves at foot averaged £5,344; cows averaged £5,423; with maiden heifers averaging £3,255. In all the sale grossed a very healthy £220,710.
12,500gns (combined) – Annick Desiree’s Joy
Selling as two separate lots at a combined unit price of 12,500gns, was Annick Desiree’s Joy VG88 at 6,500gns and along with her heifer calf Annick Joy’s Natalie at 6,000gns. This cow and calf unit was purchased by Geoff and Kate Anderson for their Quarryhill herd at Westergreens Farm, Lossiemouth, Moray. This second calver is March 2018 born and is another by Corskie Callum, a Ballinalare Farm Nightrider son, and out of Annick Belle’s Desiree EX92. Again with breeding and proven performance behind her, Joy is the dam of Annick Memphis who was the Junior Simmental and Junior Interbreed Champion at the 2021 Stars of the Future Show. Her March 2022 born heifer calf, Annick Joy’s Natalie, is another sired by Wolfstar Golddigger.
Speaking on their purchases Mr Anderson said, “I went to visit the Annick herd a few weeks ago to have a look around the cattle in their home environment, and I purchased the cow and calf that I had picked out in the field. I was really impressed with them both and the breeding behind them. The cow has great depth of body and a nice square udder and she has a very stylish heifer calf to go with her. Both my wife Kate and I are very pleased with them and they are a great addition to our herd”.
9,400gns (combined) Annick Trixibelle 23rd
The very next cow and calf unit through the ring saw a combined price of 9,400gns. First up at 6,200gns was Annick Trixibelle 23rd VG89 from the herd’s highly noted Trixibelle line. The April 2018 born Trixibelle 23rd is by Skerrington Visa and is out of Annick Trixi Belle 9th EX92, an Omorga Volvo daughter. Sold as in-calf to Kilbride Farm Karl, Trixibelle 23rd was one of three purchases on the day by Richard McCulloch for his Overhill House herd at Armadale, West Lothian. Trixibelle’s bull calf at foot, Annick Marksman 21, November 2021 born, made 3,200gns when selling to SJ and W Dickinson, High Woodend, Tebay, Penrith.
7,500gns – Annick Fresia’s Kiki
Selling at 7,500gns was the first calving heifer Annick Fresia’s Kiki VG85. October 2019 born, this heifer is another by the prolific female breeding Wolfstar Golddigger and is out of Annick Whitney’s Fresia EX94, a Corskie Callum daughter. With strong performance and classification figures behind her, this heifer also boasted a show record having stood as Female and Reserve Overall Champion at the Royal Highland in 2021. Fresia was sold with her Kilbride Farm Karl sired bull calf, Annick Nazareth 22. Buying this outfit was Jim Dyet for his Merkland pedigree herd at East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire.
Next in the trade stakes was another cow and calf outfit sold separately and going on to different homes for a combined total of 7,000gns. The cow was the first-time calving, March 2019 born Annick Trixibelle 26th VG86, who is also sired by the aforementioned Wolfstar Golddigger and boasts impressive performance figures with both her TI and SRI figures placing her in the top 5% of the breed. Bred out of Annick Trixi-Belle 8th, she was purchased by E and M Fairhurst & Son, who went on to take home a further 20 animals in all to their fast establishing Fairhurst pedigree herd at Langliffe Mill, Langcliffe, North Yorkshire. Her bull calf, the 12 month-old Annick Merlin 21, sired by the homebred Annick Dalwhinnie 12, was purchased by Messrs AL and J Blair, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire.
6,200gns – Annick Whitney’s Fresia
The first of two to sell for 6,200gns was the cow and calf set Annick Whitney’s Fresia EX94 and her heifer calf Annick Fresia’s Neomi who were purchased by JC MacIver, Forres, Morayshire. Whitney’s Fresia, a fifth calver who is also the Dam of abovementioned Annick Fresia’s Kiki, is sired by the 18,000gns Corskie Callum, and out of Annick Kittiwa’s Whitney, who goes back to the homebred Annick Titan. Her eight month-old heifer calf Fresia’s Neomi is another sired by Wolfstar Golddigger.
6,200gns – Annick Trixibelle 24th
Matching the 6,200gns price, was Annick Trixibelle 24th. Sold in calf to Kilbride Farm Karl, she is another with outstanding performance figures, backed up by her previous show success, being crowned Senior Champion at the Stars if the Future show in 2019. Sired by Wolfstar Golddigger, she is out of the Corskie Callum-sired Annick Trixibelle 16th and was snapped up by JR Goddard, Hardwick,Norwich.
6,000gns – Annick Fleur’s Jasmin
Two lots sold for 6,000gns, both cow and calf pairs. The first set were the February 2018 born Annick Fleur’s Jasmin VG89 and her seven-month-old heifer calf at foot Annick Jasmine’s Nectar. Another Wolfstar Golddigger daughter, Fleur’s Jasmin is out of Annick Radiance’s Fleur EX93, who goes back to Corskie Callum. Another stand out cow, with her top classification score – the maximum for a second calver, her first heifer calf Annick Jasmines Marigold was the 5,000gns top priced heifer to sell at last Decembers inaugural Next Gen sale. She was purchased along with her Kilbride Farm Karl sired calf Annick Jasmine’s Nectar by Inverdunning Ltd, Dunning, Perthshire was sold back in calf to the same bull.
6,000gns – Annick Diamond’s Kylie
The other 6,000gns pair were Annick Diamond’s Kylie GP82 and Annick Kylie’s Nicole, purchased by Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, Morayshire. The May 2019 born Diamond’s Kylie is a first calver, who was sold back in calf to Kilbride Farm Karl. She is another daughter of Wolfstar Golddigger and bred out of Annick Lydia’s Diamond who goes back to Skerrington Visa. Her nine month old daughter Kylie’s Nicole is sired by the 15,000gns Islavale Jackpot.
Calf at foot to Annick Diamond Kylie – Annick Kyle’s Nicole
CAIRNVIEW REDUCTION SALE TOPS AT 7.500GNS
At the close of the Annick Sale, an offering of four lots was put forward by the Cairnview herd of Andy Wilson, Westcroft Farm, Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Leading the way at 7,500gns was the 2018 born second calver Perrywood Joanna who was sold with her impressive seven-month-old twin bull calves at foot, Cairnview Nick, and Cairnview Nack. Originally bred by BA Borlase, Sacombe Hill Farm, Hertfordshire, Perrywood Joanna is by Derrycallaghan Gambler 15, and is out of Perrywood Vixen. The twin bull calves were both sired by the homozygous polled bull Slievenagh International. Further Cairnview lots made 4800gns, 4200gns, and 3,500gns respectively.
Other top priced Lots
Lots 21 & 21A, sold for a combined 5,800gns with Dam Annick Heather’s Katriona V87 being purchased by GA Francis, Carmarthen, Dyfed for 3,000gns and bull calf Annick Monarch purchased for 2,000gns by KC and P Hawkey, St Wenn, Cornwall.
Lots 27 & 27A, Annick Prudence’s Colleen EX95 & Annick Nelson 22, sold for 5800 to Alex Heath, Market Drayton, Shropshire.
Lots 17 & 17A, Annick Fresia’s June VG87 & Annick Nevada 22, sold for 5,500gns to E & M Fairhurst & Son, Austwick, Lancaster.
Lot 41 Annick Ivy’s Moonbeam, sold for 5,500gns to R McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian.
Lot 22 & 22A, sold for a combined 5,300gns with Dam Annick Ember’s Kirsty VG87 being purchased by GA Francis, Abergorlech, Dyfed, for 3,500gns and bull calf Annick Magnum 21 purchased for 1,800gns by J & J Munn, Jamestown Alexandria.
Lots 2 & 2A Annick Belle’s Desiree EX92 & Annick Desiree’s Nadia, sold for 5,200gns to E & M Fairhurst & Son, Austwick, Lancaster.
Lots 16 & 16A Annick Diamond’s Jem VG87 & Annick Montreal 21, sold for 5,200gns to E & M Fairhurst & Son, Austwick, Lancaster.
Lots 11 & 11A Annick Fern’s Ivy VG88 & Annick Ivy’s Nancy, sold for 5,000gns to E & M Fairhurst & Son, Austwick, Lancaster.
Lot 37 Annick Icicle’s Leah, sold for 5,000gns to Inverdunning Ltd, Dunning, Perthshire.
Official Simmental Society Sales in the Year Gross £2,003,927
A strong year of performance for British Simmental has seen pedigree registrations and birth notifications surge with an increase of 15% in the year to an overall total of 7,388, up by 960. The figures released by the British Simmental Cattle Society are for the pedigree registration year of 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022.
Sitting alongside these figures is a similarly strong performance at the point of both commercial and pedigree sales and which has seen Official Society Pedigree Sales in the same period nudge through the £2Million mark to gross £2,003,927. In the course of the year the Simmental breed enjoyed some record sale averages and clearances, most notably at Stirling in February when 89 pedigree bulls sold to a new breed record average mark of £6,835. In a new sale fixture introduced to ‘grow the reach of the breed’, the Next Generation Sale of Females & Weaned Calves at Carlisle in December saw a top price of 16,000gns, with heifer averages of £4,396, and bull calf averages of £6,174.
In the year, pedigree registrations increased by 13.5%, with birth notifications enjoying a 19.8% increase and this overall surge for the Simmental breed was warmly welcomed by the Society’s President Stewart Stronach, Maisley, Keith, Banffshire, who said: “Simmental females are naturally efficient, healthy, easy to manage, and just full of milk. Adding value to any cross, they are maternal mainstays of the commercial suckler herd, can calve at two years old, and can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days.”
“In 2021 AHDB confirmed Simmental as being the leading continental beef breed for age at slaughter, and this couples with Simmental sired progeny being fast growing, with terrific weight for age and leaving a high yielding, profitable carcase. These are the natural attributes and efficiencies of the modern British Simmental that are driving demand, forging a profitable commercial future in an industry with a higher cost base, and meeting the ‘green’ challenges of reducing beef productions carbon footprint.”
“We welcome these improved registration and sale figures, and collectively our focus will be to continue to work hard and provide commercial beef producers with future fit, profitable dual purpose Simmental genetics.”
The next pedigree sale under the Society’s auspices will be the much-anticipated Dispersal Sale of the noted Annick Simmental Herd, Holehouse Farm, Irvine, held on behalf of the late Lachlan Quarm, at United Auctions Stirling on Saturday 10th September.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement
1 year
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Recent Comments