NORTHERN IRELAND CLUB 50TH ANNIVERSARY SIMMENTAL SPECTACULAR PLANS UNVEILED

NORTHERN IRELAND CLUB 50TH ANNIVERSARY SIMMENTAL SPECTACULAR PLANS UNVEILED

by | Aug 12, 2021 | 2021 Northern Ireland News, 2021 Dungannon Sales, Uncategorised, 2021

Launching the NI Simmental Club’s 50th Anniversary Simmental Spectacular are chairman Keith Nelson, and vice chairman Andrew Clarke. Picture: Julie Hazelton

The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has announced details of a Simmental Spectacular to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.


Scheduled to take place at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Friday 22nd October, the event is set to feature a show and sale of pedigree bulls, elite pedigree females, and a selection of crossbred weanling heifers.

Announcing details of the Golden Anniversary Celebrations club chairman Keith Nelson said: “Northern Ireland is synonymous for top-quality Simmental cattle, and club members are custodians of some of the breed’s most prolific and world-renown bloodlines.

“Simmentals were imported into the UK in 1970, and the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club was founded in 1971. The forthcoming sale planned for 22nd October will provide club members with a chance to showcase the ‘cream of the crop’.”

Keith Nelson added: “The sale will offer buyers a rare opportunity to acquire elite pedigree heifers. Females that herd owners would normally be reluctant to sell!”

The sale is also expected to attract an entry of high-quality bulls from many of the Province’s leading herds. “Since the introduction of animal movement restrictions dictated by the NI Protocol, breeders in Northern Ireland are reluctant to take pedigree bulls to breed society sales across the water,” added Keith Nelson.

“Bulls which would normally have been destined for sales in Stirling have been sold privately off farm. Club members have reported a strong demand for Simmental bulls from local and UK-based customers. In the wake of Brexit we are hoping to re-establish the Dungannon sale venue as a one-stop shop for pedigree and commercial herd owners to source stock bulls.”

British Simmental Cattle Society sale rules will apply, and all vendors must be members of a CHeCS approved herd health scheme. All pedigree bulls and females will be pre-sale inspected in accordance with breed society regulations.

Organisers have also unveiled that the Simmental Spectacular will include a choice entry of cross-bred weanling and maiden heifers.

Vice chairman Andrew Clarke explained: ”We are inviting entries of quality commercial heifers aged between six-months and sixteen-months of age (born early July 2020 and end of April 2021). They will be inspected on-farm prior to the event, and the name of the sire will be listed in the catalogue.

“Simmental is noted for its maternal and terminal traits, and there is a strong demand for stylish commercial heifers. We are hoping that this sale will give farmers who are producing Simmental suckler replacements a shop window for their surplus breeding stock. It will also give buyers an opportunity to select replacement females which are progeny of pedigree Simmental stock bulls and proven AI sires.”

Entry forms and schedules are available to download on the Dungannon Farmers’ Mart website: www.dfm-ni.co.uk/Entry-Forms. The closing date for pedigree entries is Friday 20th August; while the entries for the commercial section must be submitted on or before Friday 3rd September.

MERLIN ‘WEAVES HIS MAGIC’ FOR SCOTLAND HILL HERD IN YOUNG SIMMENTAL BULL CLASS!

MERLIN ‘WEAVES HIS MAGIC’ FOR SCOTLAND HILL HERD IN YOUNG SIMMENTAL BULL CLASS!

by | Aug 10, 2021 | 2021 North East News, 2021 Welsh News, 2021 Midlands News, 2021 South East News, 2021 Virtual Show Results, 2021 News, Uncategorised, 2021

Congratulations to Tom Hill, from Scotland Hill Simmentals, Wadworth, Doncaster, whose young bull Scotland Hill Merlin, has taken the top spot in another strong Class in the ongoing 2021 ‘Virtual’ Simmental Show. Scotland Hill Merlin came out top in Class 5, Spring born bull calf, born in 2021 and from an entry of 87 calves in all from herds around the UK. May 2021 born, Scotland Hill Merlin is by Clonagh King Eyes, and is out of Scotland Hill Francesca Georgeanna. Well done also to the Northamptonshire based Mixbury Hall herd who placed second, third, and fourth! A big thank you is extended to Dafydd Jones, of the Banwy herd, Welshpool, Powys for so ably and kindly judging this class. Look out for Dafydd’s video comments which will be posted soon on Facebook.

Thank you again for all your entries so far which continue to create an outstanding Simmental showcase, and congratulations to all who have placed, the results are below.

1st – Scotland Hill Merlin

2nd – Mixbury Hall Marcus

3rd – Mixbury Hall Major

4th – Mixbury Hall Magnitude

5th – Mavsey Meteor

6th – Auchorachan Malcolm

7th – Auchorachan Major

8th – Backmuir Monty

9th – Newbiemains Mourinho

10th – Auchorachan Magic

THIS WEEK’S MARKET BRIEFS SEE SIMMENTAL CATTLE TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AT SEDGEMOOR; THAINSTONE; HEXHAM; HUNTLY; STIRLING; DUNGANNON; HOLSWORTHY; DUMFRIES; EXETER; MILNTHORPE; FROME; & RUGBY

THIS WEEK’S MARKET BRIEFS SEE SIMMENTAL CATTLE TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AT SEDGEMOOR; THAINSTONE; HEXHAM; HUNTLY; STIRLING; DUNGANNON; HOLSWORTHY; DUMFRIES; EXETER; MILNTHORPE; FROME; & RUGBY

by | Aug 3, 2021 | 2021 Market Briefs, 2021

We kick off this week with the sale of store cattle at Hexham and Northern Marts on 30th July which saw a tremendous pen of 11 Angus Simmental Cross Heifers from the Johnston Family, High Fotherley sold to £1400 and averaged £1237.27.

On 29th July at United Auctions Huntly market, United Auctions store cattle sold to average 218.7p per kg selling to 236.8p per kg for SimX from Meikle Northburn, Cuminestown and to £1135 for SimX from Mains of Tarryblake, Rothiemay. OTMS sold to average 164.7p per kg selling to £1740 for a 990kg Sim cow from Corskie, Garmouth

At United Auctions Stirling sale of store cattle, out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls on 28th July, out of spec cattle averaged 170.32p to 201.20p per kg for a SimX from Falahill.In Northern Ireland and Dungannon Farmers Mart on 28th July, the trade for fat cows went to a height of £1410 for an 810kg Simm presented by J Casey.

At the sale of store cattle at Holsworthy on 28th July, heifers topped at £1300 for a non FA Simmental from Mr N Jenkinson of Shebbear with others from the same farm £1220.

The sale of store cattle at Sedgemoor on 26th July saw steers rise to £1495 (3x 19/22m) for Simmentals from J Cockburn & Partners, Chard. Other Simmentals sold to £1310 (2x 23m) from LM & V Haskell, Wareham; £1280 (22m) from Keedwell Bros; £1140 (16m) from BS Davis, Bridgwater and £1135 (4x 13/17m) from R & J Cook, Bridport.

At Caledonian Marts, Stirling on 26th July, a sale of store cattle saw heifers average 221ppkg and to £1210 for a Simmental from D Mckenzie, Ardgate, Gartocharn.

C & D Auction Marts Ltd held their fortnightly sale of store cattle in Dumfries on Monday 26th July 2021. Bullocks per head were topped by a Simmental at £1200 from Millhill. Milhill also featured at the top end of the heifer prices with a Simmental at £1170.

Back to Thainstone on Friday 23rd July, and Aberdeen & Northern Marts trade for cows with bull calves at foot was led at £1,550 for a Simmental Cross from Woodend, Muir of Ord. On the same day, a sale of store cattle for Orkney consignors saw bullocks sell to 247.6p per kg for a 430kg Simmental from J & E Miller, Nigley, Evie.

On the 29th July at a sale from Shetland consignors, beef cows sold to £1,350 gross and 172.6p per kg for a 782kg Simmental from D G Flaws, Fleck, Dunrossness. At a sale of prime cattle on the same day, heifers sold to £1,501.65 gross for a 705kg Simmental Cross from Housebay, Stronsay.

A good line up of stirks and suckled calves at Exeter on 23rd July met a tremendous trade throughout with the best topping at £750 for a wonderful run from Martin & Liz Bennett down from Broadhembury being 11 month Simmental cross organic steers.

At North West Auctions sale of store cattle on 22nd July at Jct 36 Crooklands, Milnthorpe, Simmental bullocks sold to £1250 from GG U & D Swarbrick, Meathop. On the same day a sale of calves and stirks saw a much admired run of Simmental heifers from Bambers Farms, Lancaster selling to £340 and £320.

At the prime cattle sale held at Frome Market on 21st July, the UTM steer trade saw Anne Filkins, Norridge Farms feature in the top prices with ‘well farmed’ Simmentals soaring to 219.5p/kg or £1281.

The sale of primestock at Hexham on 20th July saw all classes of cast cattle meet an absolute flyer of a trade. A nice show of commercial cows sold to £1456.40 for well fleshed Simmental x cows from JJ & JM Sanders, Bavington Hill Head.

At Rugby Farmers Mart on 19th July, the trade for cows was ‘again simply flying’ and saw R Grades Simmentals top at £1420 from N J Foster

Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of prime cattle on 15th July at Thainstone saw under 30 Month prime bullocks averaged 232.5p and sell to £1,512 gross for a 675kg Simmental Cross from East Town, Tarland.

‘GREEN DAY’ AS CORSKIE AND GARMOUTH TOP EXCEPTIONAL CLASS OF 197 SIMMENTAL COWS!

‘GREEN DAY’ AS CORSKIE AND GARMOUTH TOP EXCEPTIONAL CLASS OF 197 SIMMENTAL COWS!

by | Jul 30, 2021 | 2021 Scottish News, 2021 Virtual Show Results, 2021 News, 2021

Corskie Heaven from Mr WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers has been placed first in the ‘huge’ Cow class of the 2021 ‘Virtual’ Simmental Show. In what has been the biggest class to date in the two years of the ‘Virtual’ show, the five-year-old Corskie Heaven, a Dirnanean Bradley daughter, prevailed from a class of 197 Simmental cows from breeders all over the UK. It was very much a ‘Green Day’ in the results with Garmouth Clover’s Honeysuckle, a Bel Dhu Capercaillie daughter, from Laura Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth placing second, with Corskie Flume placing third. Remarkably, five Corskie prefixed cows placed in the top twenty in the class.

Having the not inconsiderable job of judging this huge class was Thomas Hill, Daw Lane, Wadworth, Doncaster. Thank you Tom for a job well done and please look out for Tom’s video comments that will be posted soon on Facebook.

The places in the Cow class are:

1st Corskie Heaven

2nd Garmouth Clover’s Honeysuckle

3rd Corskie Flume

4th Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie

5th Newbiemains Iris

6th Kilbride Farm Eunice 195F

7th Vale Royal Annie

8th Starline Lorette 51st

9th Killiworgie Exotic Rose

10th Bosahan Heather Blossom

11th Newbiemains Jewel

12th Kilbride Farm Dora 75F

13th Tillyeve Diana

14th Kilbride Farm Eunice 213G

15th Mixbury Hall Holly

16th Corskie Hollywood P

17th Corskie Hopefull

18th Islavale Gucci

19th Corskie Jemstone

20th Ashfurly Weikel’s Kate

So a mighty well done to the Green family and their Corskie and Garmouth herds for a tremendous performance. A massive thank you is extended to everyone who participated in this class. To get an entry of 197 cows has been exceptional and way beyond expectations. What a promotion for the breed to show the depth in quality of Simmental females in the British herdbook!

PLEASE NOTE: Entries for Class 5: Spring born bull calf. Born in 2021, close Midnight tonight, 29th July. Please send your entries in to information@britishsimmental.co.uk or kate@britishsimmental.co.uk

‘THE HUGO ARNOLD TROPHY’ ANNOUNCED FOR THE SIMMENTAL ‘NEXT GENERATION’ SALE

‘THE HUGO ARNOLD TROPHY’ ANNOUNCED FOR THE SIMMENTAL ‘NEXT GENERATION’ SALE

by | Jul 30, 2021 | 2021 Next Generation News, 2021 News, 2021 Carlisle Sales, 2021

The British Simmental Cattle Society is delighted to announce the gift of a newly commissioned trophy, ‘The Hugo Arnold Trophy’, which will be awarded to the Overall Champion in the Weaned Calf section of the new Simmental ‘Next Generation’ Show and Sale to be held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, in December this year.  In addition to the new trophy, named in memory of Hugo Arnold of the highly noted Hockenhull Simmental herd, the Cheshire based Arnold family have also put forward a sponsorship arrangement that will see a level of prize money put forward to the sale over the next five years.

Announcing the gift of The Hugo Arnold Trophy and the sponsorship agreement, BSCS President Stewart Stronach said: “Upon being approached by James Arnold, the Society is of course absolutely delighted to accept this hugely generous offer.  Hugo Arnold is a legendary figure in the history of British Simmental and I’m sure all members will agree that it is very fitting and appropriate to have his name at the forefront of this new sale.  On behalf of the Society I’d like to sincerely thank the Arnold family for their kindness and support.”

Hugo Arnold, who sadly passed away last year, served a distinguished term as the Society’s President in 1995-1996.  His Hockenhull pedigree prefix resonates with Simmental and pedigree breeders not just in the UK but around the world. Synonymous with quality, breeding, and stockmanship, Hockenhull animals have been prolific at both sales and shows to the very highest level, and Hockenhull bloodlines have been the bedrock of many herds and with a continuing influence throughout the Simmental herdbook.

Commenting on the offer made to the Society, Mr Arnold’s son James said: “My father loved the Simmental breed and they played a huge part in his life.  One of his often quoted sayings was that ‘Simmental cattle needed to be bred because they make money and not because they look good being shown’!  The commercial perspective of this new sale, and particularly the emphasis and marketing of the young stock, we are sure would have sat very well with him.  As such the Arnold family are delighted to be associated with this progressive fixture and to help support the breed and the membership.”

First announced in April this year, the Simmental ‘Next Generation’ Sale will be for all classes of pedigree Simmental females, and with a further section for pedigree Simmental Weaned Calves born in the 2021 year.  Held on one day, the fixture will see a show for the females, followed by the weaned calves with classes for bulls and heifers, and with the sale itself held thereafter. 

Speaking at the time of the launch, Stewart Stronach said: “It is the aim that this fixture can quickly establish itself to be a showcase sale for the Simmental breed that provides the quality, performance and genetics for ‘next generation’ cornerstone cattle in herds across the UK.   The introduction of a weaned calf section for registered calves born in the year of the sale is an exciting inclusion and a new way for breeders to market calves with breeding, style and potential.  We hope that this sale will have something for everyone and will offer choice and opportunities for new and established pedigree breeders, and also for commercial producers.”

The Simmental ‘Next Generation’ Sale will be held on Friday 3rd December at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle.  Entries opened on Monday 14th June and can be made by visiting the Simmental section within the H&H website at: 

https://harrisonandhetherington.co.uk/entry-forms/pedigree-beef-online/?catid=62&cat=simmental

The closing date for entries is Monday 4th October.