Simmental Autumn Sales finish on a flyer at Carlisle

by British Simmental | Nov 13, 2009 | Uncategorised

The British Simmental Society autumn sales ended with a flyer at Carlisle, when the bull average soared by 1500 gns with three more sold than in 2008 and with females peaking at 4000 gns for the youngest heifer in the catalogue. Demand has been such this autumn that virtually every Simmental sale has witnessed at least a ninety per cent or higher, clearance of stock – which speaks volumes for the quality of bulls and females which have been offered for sale.

There was certainly no superstition about when Lot No. 13, born on 13th April 2008 entered the sale ring on Friday 13th for W. J. Hollingsworth, Midhope Hall Farm, Sheffield. This son of Dirnanean Snowie, bred from the homebred Greenside Eric daughter, Midhope Eve, having lifted the reserve male championship in the show ring, commanded much interest by intending purchasers, before fetching a sale topping price of 5,500 gns.

At 4,500 gns, Gerrard Winner, provided his breeder Bob Carter with a memorable day showing and selling at Carlisle. The Gerard herd have down through the years featured prominently in the top end of proceedings at their local sale and this year was certainly nothing different. This April 2008 born Salisbury Challenger son was full of home breeding on the maternal side with the dam being Gerrard Royale 7th. Mr. Carter was back in the ring two bulls later selling Gerrard Ward for 3,200 gns. This Brinkton Brilliant son was bred from the famous Belinda family, with the dam being the Sacombe Wishful Thinking daughter, Belinda 28th.

Next in the bull money list, was the Supreme and Male Champion, Blackpool Wyatt, forwarded from David Loftus, Lodge Farm, Kirkham, Lancashire. Sired by the imported Polled Danish Sire, Lamhoj Supery, and bred from the Sterling Logan daughter, Blackpool Penelope, Wyatt commanded a sale price of 3400 gns.

Needwood Willy sold at 3,000 gns for Messrs. B. and D. F. Williams, Hollybank Cottage Farm, Burton-on-Trend. This February 2008 born Popes Juggernaut son was bred from Needwood Hannah by Newborough Grange Mistro. At 2,600 gns, Tirley Wayfarer (ET) sired by Sterling Flint and bred from the show winning Ingleston Vodka daughter, Darsham Gem provided Mr. S. P. White with a top bracket price.

All eyes in the female section were cast on the youngest entry in the catalogue, the Blackford Ringleader daughter, Chestermann Ringleader Katy, forward from Nick and Nadia Gwynne, Crymych, Pembrokeshire, in Wales. Having lifted the female championship and reserve supreme ribbons in the pre-sale show, Katy sold for the top female price of 4,000 gns. Born the last day of September 2007, and part of the Gwynne’s draft female sale, she was bred from the Sterling Rapier daughter, Chestermann Katrina’s Kuss. Chestermann Ringleader Nymph sold at 2500 gns and Chestermann Ringleader Melody sold at 2400 gns to help this impressive draft of 11 heifers average 2131gns.

Mr R. H. Carter and Son were back in the honours and the money again when their homebred Blackford Harvester daughter, Gerrard Belinda 47th lifted the reserve female championship together with her Brinkton Brilliant heifer calf at foot. This February 2007 born heifer and her 4 month old heifer calf sold at 1900 gns.

Averages:
10 Bulls, 3000 gns (7 bulls 1500 gns)
1 heifer with calf 1900 gns
3 females, 1233 gns (5 at 960 gns)
Chestermann draft, 11 at 2131 gns.

Stirling Agricultural Centre Show and Sale of Simmental Cattle

by British Simmental | Oct 20, 2009 | Uncategorised

A depth of quality gets strong Commercial vote as price averages rise significantly

“Spoilt for choice,” the comment of a leading commercial suckler farmer, just about summed up the quality of the Simmental bulls at the first autumn show and sale held at Perth Bull Sales new home, United Auctions modern state of the art premises on the outskirts of Stirling.

As good an autumn show of bulls as has been seen for some time reached out to tempt commercial producers who responded with an emphatic vote of confidence in the breed, which saw the sale average increase by some £834 on the year for 92 bulls, 17 more than last year, while the female average jumped £172 for 30 sold.

It was ironic though, that the sale topping price of 16,000 gns was reserved for the third last bull through the ring. Hockenhull Waterloo, sired by the 12,000 gns Blackford Harvester, provided a fitting finale for one of the breed’s “true gentlemen”, Hugo Arnold, Hockenhull Farms, Tarvin, Chester, to sign off with from the Autumn Perth Bull Sales. For a breeder, synonomous with quality cattle, who recently dispersed his prizewinning Hockenhull herd, it was the end of an illustrious career which deservedly ended on a high note. Waterloo, whose dam Hockenhull Girlie 13th, was the dam of several outstanding lots at that dispersal sale, sold to his sire’s breeder, Billy McPherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness.

Iain Green, who has just been elected onto the British Simmental Cattle Society Council, as a Scottish Club representative and father, Jimmy, can be extremely satisfied with a fine day’s trading having secured the two lead prices in the female section as well as runner-up in bulls for their renowned Corskie herd at Garmouth, Fochabers. Hitting the heights in the bulls, was Corskie Woody, an April 2008 born son of the Irish sire, Celtic Rock, who sold for 12,000 gns to Pitgaveney Farms, Elgin. Earlier in the sale, Corskie Wham, a son of the herd’s stock bull, Ballinalare Farm Nightrider sold for 8500 gns selling to the Burytown pedigree herd of Mr and Mrs Fields, Blunsdon, Swindon.

Grangewood William exhibited by Andrew and Yvonne Leedham, Swadlincote, near Derby, who secured the blue ribbons in the last intermediate class, attracted much attention in the salering selling at 11,000 gns to the Sacombe pedigree herd in Hertfordshire, owned by Paull, Judy and Bridget Borlase. This eyecatching son of Popes Laird who had won his class at the Royal Show in July, was bred from the homebred dam, Grangewood Sundial by Blackford Falcon.

Two Northern Ireland bulls commanded the final two five figure prices of 10,000 gns each. First through the ring was the best from W. H. Robson and Sons, Doagh, Co. Antrim. Sired by the homebred stock bull and widely recognised AI sire, Kilbride Farm Newry, the February 2008 born Kilbride Farm Wick now joins the Chestermann pedigree herd of Nick and Nadia Gwynne, Pembrokeshire, in Wales.

Omorga Watson, secured the final five figure sum, selling to Norman Innes, Findhorn, Forres. Having lifted the junior championship earlier in the day under the scrutiny of judge, Jimmy Wood, whose Popes Herd itself has lifted many top accolades in the show and sale ring up and down the country, Watson has an impressive pedigree legacy behind him. Being a full brother, to the jointly record priced Samson, stock bull at Strathisla, he is an embryo son bred from the highly successful mating of one of the most prolific brood cows in the breed, Cleenagh Daffodil and the widely acclaimed Irish bull, Raceview King, a combination which has proved unbeatable for his Omorga herd owners, Messrs. Harry and John Moore, Beragh, Co. Tyrone.

A cracker from the Broombrae herd of Gordon Clark, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, gave his owner a personal best price of 9,000 gns for the March 2008 born Broombrae Wayne. Sired by the herd’s stock bull, Woodhall Regent, a trait leader for 400 day growth, this big long red bull who was a third prizewinner in the pre-sale show sold north to A. Sime and Son, Bruceland, Elgin. Another by the Irish AI sire, Celtic Rock commanded 9,000 gns for Messrs J. and G. Houliston, Drem, North Berwick. Saltire Wallace whose dam is the homebred Saltire Pearl, is off for commercial work for J. Campbell, Bardnaclaven, Thurso.

Darshams Lucky Strike, the Islavale stock bull added another highly valued son to his list when Stewart Stronach and son Stewart, Grange, Keith, got an 8,500 gns sale in the form of Islavale Watson. Bred from the Whitemire Kansas daughter, Islavale Maxine, Watson sold to W. S. Galloway, Culnoag, Newton Stewart.

A hat-trick of bulls on the 8000 gns mark was led by Wroxall Wallace, a polled son of the Danish sire, Vingegard Texas and when bred to the Whitemire Guardian daughter, Wroxall Nice Moira, gave owners Dan Evans and son Rob, the reserve senior championship in the pre-sale show before selling to C. and M. Emslie, Law Farm, Insch. The Skerrington herd of John and William Young, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, hit the heights with a Starline Klassik son, who sold to pedigree breeders, Brian and Anne Wise, Skipton-on-Swale, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Lakeside Warrior provided Cecil Chartres and David Farrell, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N.I. with a herd personal best when their Kilbride Farm Newry son sold to S. Gummow, Newquay, Cornwall.

7,500 gns for the reserve intermediate champion, Braegarrie Wisdom gave Lindsay and Shona Currie and son, Robert, a best ever price when their Corskie Regal son sold to the Bruchag pedigree herd of Robert McAlister, Langalbuinach, Rothesay.

Two Ballinalare Farm Nightrider daughters, Corskie Vixen and Corskie Valerie commanded the lead prices in the female section, for the Corskie herd of Jimmy and Iain Green, Garmouth, Fochabers. At 4,500 gns each the two incalf heifers sold to D. Evans, Carraton and G. S. and G. I. Pettit, Main of Tannochy, Buckie, respectively.

Sale Averages:
Bulls £4920 (92), Females £2135 (30).

Bristol Sales Centre Show and Sale of Simmental Cattle

by British Simmental | Oct 15, 2009 | Uncategorised

The autumn show and sale of Pedigree Simmental cattle held at the Bristol Sales Centre, drew an excellent entry of quality stock which proved to be much sought after by a filled ringside of customers. Quality paid dividends with bidding strong throughout the sale.

Henry Widdicombe’s Starline herd came up trumps topping the sale with Starline Wizard, while lifting the championship with Starline Westminster, two bulls which boasted practically total home breeding on both sides of their pedigree. Wizard, bred from one of the top females in the herd, Starline Lorette 9th, the dam of Starline Marquis, a bull which has bred well at Delfur Farms in Scotland, created quite a stir when he entered the ring, with the hammer falling at 3300 gns. The April 2008 born Starline Westminster lifted the championship, another to add to the collection for this famous Devon based herd. Westminster, weighed in with a sale day weight of 938 kgs. – demonstrating tremendous power and correctness, the champion sold at 2000 gns.

The Camus Frontier son, Cliftonswood Whiz Kid, bred from the homebred dam Cliftonswood Beauty and entered by Mr H. J. Brown, attracted much interest before selling for 2400 gns.

Two lots attracted bids of 2300 gns. Firstly, Lot No. 41, the pre-sale’s show Reserve Champion, from Mr and Mrs Field. Burytown Wellington, was bred from the Scottish dam, Skerrington Sunset 20th and sired by the highly successful Skerrington/Annick stock bull, Sterling Nelson 2nd. The Irish bred sire, Celtic Rock, by Carnkern Titan proved a successful mating to the homebred Beanhill Surprise, for owners, Mr and Mrs Kimber, with Beanhill Wyoming, born in April 2008, also selling for 2300 gns.

Potential customers looking for quality breeding females for their herd were not to be disappointed. Attracting a bid of 2550 gns, was the in-calf heifer, Greenfields Vesta, forward from Giles Green. Bred from one of the leading females in the herd, Curlieu Foxy Lady 4th, Vesta was sired by Corskie Pilot.

Amongst the stars in the sale, was the March 2008 born, Celtic Rock sired Beanhill Wynona. Much admired before the sale, Wynona added to a highly successful day’s trading for Mr. and Mrs. Kimber, selling for the top maiden heifer price of 2500 gns.

During the dispersal sale of the renowned Oakhill herd for Mrs. S. Wakefield, who has bred many prizewinning cattle over the years, she saw her best sell for 2900 gns. This leading female price on the day was bid for Oakhill Heidi 2nd , by Rhys Grenham, owner of the Boars Head herd. Another to display the herd prefix on both sides of her pedigree, Heidi 2nd was sired by the Gretna House Supersonic son Oakhill Moka and bred from the Balmanno Hitman daughter, Oakhill Heidi.

AVERAGES:
4 cows £1772.
10 in-calf heifers £1563.
9 maiden heifers £1270.
18 bulls £1955.
Oakhill Dispersal (6) £1678.

Balmaud Dispersal Sale and Annick Reduction Sale

by British Simmental | Sep 25, 2009 | Uncategorised

United Auctions conducted the dispersal sale of the Balmaud Simmental Herd at Stirling Agricultural Centre on behalf of Messrs W & G Strachan on Friday 25 September 2009.

The sale attracted buyers from Shetland and Wiltshire. Top price was 10000gns for the stock bull “Woodhall Volcano”. This 2 ½ year old son of Corrick Kentucky Kid attracted a lot of interest from breeders impressed with the calves he had sired in the herd. The bull was purchased by neighbours M/s Hamilton, Aikengall and M/s MacAskill, Woodhall, Innerwick, Dunbar. Next top price was 4500gns achieved twice for cows with calves at foot. The first was paid by A G Stephen & Co Burnside of Idoch, Turriff for an eight year old Austrian bred cow Mausi which was sold with a Woodhall Vocano heifer calf at foot. Second at 4500gns was a homebred heifer, Balmaud Tracy which was sold with an outstanding Innerwick Renown heifer calf at foot the purchaser was A & I McInnes Ruaig, Isle of Tiree.

4000gns was achieved three times, firstly for a homebred cow Balmaud Shannon which was sold with a bull calf to M/s S Mackie, Balquhindachy, Methlick. At the same price Mr & Mrs Field, Upper Burytown Farm, Blunsdon, Swindon purchased Balmaud Topaz a homebred heifer with an Innerwick Renown heifer calf at foot.

Senior stock bull Strathisla Nuggat was also sold at 4000gns to M/s S Allardyce, East Town, Tarland

In calf heifers topped at 3000gns for the impressive 2 ½ year old Balmaud Vogue. This heifer, a daughter of Innerwick Renown, was purchased by M/s Moffat, Innerwick Farm, Dunbar.

Averages
29 cows and heifers with calves at foot averaged £2454.82
29 in calf cows and heifers and maiden heifers averaged £1420.03
11 stock / production bulls averaged £3102.27

United Auctions also conducted a major reduction sale of the Annick Herd of pedigree Simmental cattle on behalf of Mr L D Quarm.

Top price was 4200gns paid for a maiden heifer, Annick Helen’s Vicky a much fancied lot which has already had a successful show season. The buyer was M/s Green, Corskie, Fochabers. Cows with calves sold to 3200gns for Annick Helen a daughter of Gretna House Fantastic sold with a bull calf at foot the buyer was M/s D Bell & Son, Kincraigie, Strathmiglo.

Mr D Craig, Kennox Cottage, Stewarton paid 3000gns for Annick Helen’s Tara a heifer sold with its first calf at foot. 2600gns was paid by T C Gillespie Southpark, Borgue, Kirkcudbright for a promising in calf heifer Annick Poppy.

Averages
14 cows and heifers with calves at foot averaged £2006.25
14 heifers in calf and maiden heifers averaged £1918.00
2 bulls £1575

Stirling Agricultural Centre
www.uagroup.co.uk

Perth Multibreed Sale of Simmental Bulls

by British Simmental | May 4, 2009 | Uncategorised

The cold weather didn’t prevent the buyers turning out for the Perth Multibreed sale. A well stocked ringside of commercial buyers looking for bulls, ensured a good average of £3,644 for the 22 bulls sold through the ring. The only two bulls forward and not sold through the ring also sold later in the day in private sales.

The pre sale show champion, Balmaud Valuable judged by Neil McGowan, Shealwalls, Alyth and from W. & G Strachan, Mill of Balmaud, King Edward, Banff, set the sale off well when he sold for 5,800gns to Messrs Nelson, West Brackly, Kinross, Fife.

Top price of the day however was 6,000gns which went to W. S. Stronach and Partners’, Islavale Herd from Berryleys, Grange, Keith. Islavale Vinny, an October 07 son of Darsham Strike, sold to D. & M. Allan, Durran Mains, Castletown, Thurso.

United Auctions, Perth
Agricultural Centre, Huntingtower Park, Perth. PH1 3JJ
Tel. 01738 626183 Fax. 01738 636934
E-Mail. perth@uagroup.co.uk

www.uagroup.co.uk