ADDED VALUE SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AROUND THE UK!

by Nicky Moreton | Jan 24, 2024 | 2024 Market Briefs, 2024 News, 2024

EXETER; HALLWORTHY; CARLISLE; DUNGANNON; MONMOUTHSHIRE; DINGWALL; BENTHAM; LANARK; MARKET DRAYTON; SEDGEMOOR; BAKEWELL; WHITLAND; THAINSTONE; HEXHAM; GISBURN; STIRLING; THIRSK; HALLWORTHY; FROME; LONGTOWN; SELBY; PENRITH; CARMARTHEN; BALLYMENA; TRURO; & MELTON MOWBRAY

The added value of Simmental genetics continues to gain commercial recognition for efficiency and profit, allied to strong ‘green’ credentials. AHDB’s confirmation of the breed’s age at slaughter abilities is coupled with Simmental sired progeny being fast growing with terrific weight for age, hitting industry specs and producing high quality carcases with a high retail beef yield. Maternal mainstays of the suckler herd, Simmentals are high quality suckler cows; full of milk; fertile; easy calving; can calve at two years old; and who can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days. These are the natural attributes of the modern British Simmental striking a chord with commercial beef producers. With the Christmas festivities just around the corner, December was a foreshortened month of commercial sales but there were still plenty of Simmental sale toppers to report on:

A small pre-Christmas offering of store cattle and stirks at Exeter on 22nd December saw a continuation of the recent uplift in prices when store steers rose to a top of £1680 given for a Simmental from South Battisborough Farm of Plymouth.

SIMMS TOP STEERS & HEIFERS AT HALLWORTHY
A small but quality run of cattle at Hallworthy on 21st December sold to a tremendous trade. Top spot going to R T Crabb of Boscastle with a run of Simmental x Cattle, their best a pair of 19-month-steers to £1560, next a single Steer to £1485 and a black shapey 18 month Simmental to £1450. Top heifers again from the Crabb Family with a pair of fleshy Simmental Heifers to £1335 and another at £1330.

On Wednesday 20th December at Carlisle, Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of bulls and weaned cattle seeing trade rise to similar levels of the Spring. Heifers topped at £1310 for Simmentals from Messrs Goldsbrough, Oakrigg Farm, Moffat.

At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 20th December, Suckled Cows and Calves sold to £1140 for a Sim Cow with a SHB Bull Calf at foot presented by D McCullough.

In a sale of baby rearing calves at Monmouthshire on 20th December, one month old Simm X bull calves sold to £345 for MA & MJ Williams, Rowlestone.

At Dingwall on 19th December, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd held a small sale of prime cattle. Prime Heifers averaged 275.3p per kg and sold to 284p per kg for a 570kg Simmental cross from Easter Sheep Park, Balblair.

At Bentham’s small sale of cast cows on 19th December, beef bred cows topped at 186p, £1469 for a Simmental X from Messrs Fare of Preston. On the previous day at a sale of rearing calves Simmentals topped the heifers at £300 from Cote Farm Partnership, Nether Kellet, with the same vendor selling a sweet young Simmental bull to £400.

On Monday 18th December 2023 at Lanark, Lawrie and Symington Ltd held their final sale of calves and stirks of 2023 with 68 calves and stirks forward. The sale was topped by Simmental Bullocks from Messrs M Hunter & Sons, Dawyck Mill Farm, Peebles at £950.

Market Drayton’s sale of 511 rearing calves on 18th December saw continental heifers being the trade of the day. Top call was £320 for a Simmental from W.J Holdcroft, Sandbach.

In a sale of UTM heifers at Sedgemoor on 18th December, heifers sold to £1746.36 for a pure bred Simmental (648kg) from R Bigwood, Burnham on Sea.

In a sale of barren, OTM, and feeding cows on 18th December at Bakewell, the top grossing cows were Simms at £1702.74, and £1544.48 from Mosley & Co, Chelmorten.

In a sale of barren cows at Whitland Mart on 16th December, the top price was £1,550/263p per kilo for a 590 kilos Tested Simmental cow from Rees, Hundleton.

At Thainstone on 15th December, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to £1,800 gross for a pair of 618kg Aberdeen Angus from A D Miller, to 310.6p per kg for a pair of 454kg Simmentals from Hilton Farm, Shapinsay.

Also on 15th December at Thainstone, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 254 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Bullocks (86) averaged 277.4p and sold to 310.6p per kg for a pair of 454kg Simmental Cross from Hilton, Shapinsay. At a small sale of adult breeding cattle in calf heifers sold to £2500 for a Simmental Cross Heifer from Hill of Fiddes, Udny. In Calf Cows sold to £2650 for a Simmental from the same vendor.

SIMMENTALS TOP STEERS & HEIFERS, & SUCKLED CALVES AT EXETER
A good show of stirks and suckled calves met another strong trade at Exeter on 15th December. Richard Beckley of Black Dog topped at £805 for Simmental x steers (8m), with heifers topping out at £760 for Simmental crosses (9m), from the same vendor. In the stirks and suckled calves sale, MA Stephens up from Plymouth presented Simmental x suckled calves (10m) which topped out at £915.

At Hexham & Northern Marts final store sale of the year on 15th December, Sandy & Andrew Ord, Newton Greens brought forward their annual consignment of 50 Angus and Simmental cross steers at 15-18 months and these well-presented bullocks topped at £1780 (for the Simms) to average a very worthy £1504 throughout. Other Simmental x steers on the day topped at £1850 Beacon Rigg, £1820 (x2),
At a sale of cast cows, bulls, and prime cattle from Orkney vendors at Thainstone on 14th December, bulls sold to £1,840 gross for a 1140kg Simmental from K & K Morgan, Swanny Farm, Swannay.

Gisburns sale of Prime Cattle on 14th December saw a prime Simmental bull from E&M Fairhurst at 872kgs made £2464 to feature in the leading prices.

At Caledonian Marts, Stirling sale of prime cattle, young bulls and OTMs on 14th December, Beef OTMs sold to 229 ppkg for a Simmental from T Mitchell, East Gormyre, West Lothian.
United Auctions, Stirling on 13th December sold 590 store cattle & young bulls. Bullocks (287) averaged 270.60p to 307.20p per kg for a 472kg SIMX from South Falfield.

Thirsk’s prize show & sale of breeding cattle on 14th December saw a total entry of 117 head with some exceptionally good cattle on offer met very good demand throughout. Top price of the day at £2850 was a Simmental X, In calf heifer from Amblers lodge, Shipton (this consignment of 10 averaged £2373).

At Hallworthy on 14th December, a dispersal of Hereford Cows with Simmental x Calves at foot from S Chudleigh of Launceston saw his best outfit to £1710 for a cow with 6 month calf at foot and second outfit to £1700, younger cows and heifer calves to £1400 twice.

On 13th December at a small sale of prime cattle at Frome, the top gross price for UTM steers was £1585 for a Simmental from Waddon Farms Ltd, Westcombe.

In a sale of rearing calves at Monmouthshire on 13th December, the bull calves were topped by a Simm at £350 from CWC Waters.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their December sale of Breeding and Store Cattle on 12th December at Longtown. A seasonal offering of stores were forward with a large proportion being young, hill bred cattle. A lovely run of very well bred Simmental in calf heifers consigned by WA & CM Vaughan, High Dovecote, Walton graced the cattle sale ring at Longtown. After some frantic bidding this super run of heifers topped the sale at £1,700 (x5), going on to average a very pleasing £1,672.

SIMMENTAL AT £2680 LEADS PRIME BULLS AT CARLISLE
At Borderway Mart’s Primestock Sale, Carlisle on 11th December, prime bulls saw thirteen sell over £2000 and eight over £2300 to a day’s overall top of £2680.58 for a 1041kg Simmental for first time vendors at Borderways weekly Primestock sale, Messrs McCulloch, Over Hill House, Midlothian. Other Simmentals sold to £2209.06 for 868kg from Messrs Dyet, East Merkland, Lanarkshire. In the sale of prime cattle, heifers sold to a top of £2136.59 for a 759kg Simmental cross from Messrs Morton, Church Farm Penrith.
C & D Auction Marts Ltd Dumfries held their annual Christmas Show and Sale of Rearing Calves & Stirks on 11th December which sold to a large and active ringside of buyers. The Sale was topped by an excellent Simmental X bull calf from Mr D Shuttleworth Dumfries at £600.

In a sale of 616 rearing calves at Market Drayton on 11th December, Simms topped both the bulls and the heifers. Leading the bulls at £390 was J Gould & Son, with the heifers being led at £330 by Simms from Robert Butterworth.

On 9th December at Selby Livestock Auction Market and a sale of 570 store cattle, a Simm heifer from R Darlison made £1300 to feature in the top prices.

SIMMENTALS TOP STEERS & HEIFERS AT EXETER
At Exeter’s store sale on 8th December, steers topped at £1630 for a pen of three striking Simmental bred bullocks (26m) for Michael Tooze up from Brixham, whilst DH and H Brain of Calverleigh saw younger (18m) Simmental steers rise to £1305. The heifer section saw a top of £1215 when John and Helen Keep sold their three shapely Simmentals (19m) for £1215.

On 8th December, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of rearing calves and stirks (96). Heifers topped at £800 for an 8-month-old Simmental from Mr J Findlay, Moorside Farm.

At C&D Auction Marts Limited Christmas Show & Sale of cast cows, bulls, & OTMs at Longtown on 7th December, the sale topped at £1,755 and £1,719 for Simmentals from Dempster Barguillean Partnership, Robmar, Argyll which also topped the price per kilo of 273p.

At Thirsk on 7th December and a sale of prime young bulls, the best grossing was £1911.39 for a Simmental x from H & L Dale & Sons, Loftus, purchased by Hartshead Meats Ltd, Ashton under Lyne.

On 7th December at Hallworthy’s sale of store cattle, J Vokes of Lockengate topped this section with a real stunner of a Simmental x Heifer to £1400 and a slightly smaller Heifer also a Simmental x to £1215. In a sale of suckled calves, A Varcoe of Bodmin took first prize Steers, with a trio of well-shaped and fleshed Simmental x steers which went on to make £1075, with a second bunch at £1065.

In a sale of calves at Carmarthen on 6th December, top price was £385 for a 1-month-old Simm bull from Davies, Cottage Farm

At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 6th December, heifer prices peaked at £1780 for a 690kg Sim (258.00) presented by F McVeigh. Suckled Cows and Calves topped at £2040 for a Sim Cow with a Lim Hfr Calf at foot presented by E Hagan.

At Truro’s sale of store cattle, steers up to one and a half year old were topped by Simmentals from Messrs E G Benney of Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, at £1345.

On 6th December at Stirling, United Auctions sold 523 store cattle & young bulls. Also 306 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Out of Spec averaged 211.29p to 251.50p per kg for a SIMX from Forestmill, and to £1810 for SIMX from Forestmill.
In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 6th December, ‘U’ grade steers topped at 266p/kg & £1760 for a Simmental from JC Stainer, Semington.

In a sale of calves at Whitland on 5th December, heifers were topped at £400 by Simmentals from Green, Lampeter Velfrey. Simmental bulls on the day sold to £385 from Jones, Llangunnor.

On the 5th December Lawrie and Symington sold 248 Store and Breeding Cattle at their final sale of 2023 at Lanark. Bullocks sold to a top of 314.6p/kg for a pen of 8 Simmentals at 391kg from Messrs J & A Hutchinson, Roberton Mains Farm, Dolphinton.

At Ballymena on 5th December, a super trade for 200 store cattle was topped at £1650 by a 580kg Simm from J McHenry, Ballinderry.

On 5th December at Melton Mowbray, and a sale of prime cows, stock bulls & OTM cattle, the top gross was for heavy Simmental cows from NA Sercombe to £1525.82.

At the Primestock Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 4th December, twenty four bulls sold to £2000 and over and including Simmentals to £2285, and £2260 from Messrs Goldie, Newbie Mains, Annan.

In a sale at Whitland on 1st December, tested barren cows saw sold to £1,740 for a 770 kilo Simmental from Davies, Rhydiau, Crymych. In a sale of fat cattle, heifers were topped at £1540m 261 ppkg for a Simm heifer also from Davies, Crymych. In the sale of 309 store cattle, bulls sold to £1,320 for a 15 month Simmental from Dickerson, Birchgrove.

In a sale of 457 store cattle and suckled calves at Exeter on December 1st, store steers topped at a creditable £1620 given for a grand trio of Simmental bred bullocks (26m) from Michael Tooze of Brixham whilst the better of a super run of yearling Simmental steers from John Hull of Tiverton sold readily and to £1190.

At Thainstone on 1st December, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 404 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Bullocks (176) averaged 300.8p and sold to £1755 gross for a pen of three 638kg Simmental Cross from Ardivot Farm, Lossiemouth. Heifers up to 250kg topped by The Hillocks (SimX) £610, with Nether Ardwell (SimX) at £520.

ADDED VALUE SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP SALE SECTIONS AROUND THE UK!

by Nicky Moreton | Jan 2, 2024 | 2023 Market Briefs, 2023, 2023 News

SIMMENTALS TOPPING SALES & SECTIONS AT: ABERDEEN; OSWESTRY; STIRLING; DUNGANNON; CARLISLE; AYR; DUMFRIES; SEDGEMOOR; LUDLOW; LANCASTER; EXETER; MARKET DRAYTON; MONMOUTSHIRE; MELTON MOWBRAY; TRURO; DARLINGTON; GISBURN; BALLYMENA; HUNTLY; HALLWORTHY; HEXHAM; WHITLAND; SWATRAGH; FROME; DINGWALL; LANARK; CARMARTHEN; & RUGBY.

Thank you to everyone in the year who has forwarded snippets of Simmentals topping commercial sale sections at markets around the country. We’ve been delighted to share them and highlight the efficiency, added value, and profitability of Simmental cattle.

Through the year we’ve majored on showing the data from AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations which confirmed that on average, calves by a Simmental sire finish 36 days earlier than those by continental sires and 46 days earlier than calves by native sires; Simmental sired calves can cost £72 less to finish; and that fast finishing equates to 5.4kg less CO2 equivalents. The data also highlights the advantages of Simmental females with continental sired calves out of Simmental dams finishing 29 days earlier than the average of all suckler dams! The Simmental breeds benchmark remains their milk, fertility, calving ease, and abilities to rear a fast-growing calf without creep feeding. Put it together and it’s a package of efficiency and economics and commercial producers are recognising that Simmental genetics gives you more.

We’re playing a little catch up and the following market briefs are for the month of November:
At Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone on 30th November, prime bullocks averaged 270.8p and sold to 297p per kg for a 550kg Simmental Cross from Crannabog, Rothienorman and £2119.05 gross for a 765kg Simmental Cross from Hilton of Culsh, New Deer. On the same day and a sale of cast cows and bulls, boning cows averaged £759.41 and sold to £1090 for a 702kg Simmental Cross.

Oswestry’s sale of calves on 29th November saw a nice selection of mainly younger calves. Leading the way was Simmental bulls to £270 from J R James & Son, Church Farm. In the weanlings section, Simmental bulls aged 2-5 months sold to £500 from IG & GM Evans & Son, Pendugwn.

At Stirling, United Auctions on 29th November sold 798 store cattle & young bulls. Also 267 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Young Bulls sold to £1900 for a SIMX from Innerwick. Out of Spec averaged 206.95p and to £1750 for a SIMX from Forestmill.

At Dungannon farmers Mart on 29th November, a good entry of steers cleared to a height of £1990 for an 850kg Sim (235.00) presented by S Lees. Dropped Calves met a brisk trade to peak at £400 for a Fleckvieh Bull presented by J Kelso.

On Wednesday 29th November Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of bulls and weaned cattle at Carlisle. Simmental bulls sold to £1130 from Messrs Skelton, Waterloo to feature in the top prices. On the same day at a store sale, dairy bred cattle sold to £1490 for Fleckvieh from Messrs Ritchie, Croftheads Annan.

At Craig Wilson’s Ayr Market on 28th November, Beef Cows peaked at £1580 for a Simmental Cross from J Howie, Auchentibbert.

Caledonian Marts, Stirling, had forward 417 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale on 27th November. Bullocks averaged 265ppkg selling to 322ppkg for a pen of Simmentals from A C Brodie, Ballard, Isle of Coll.
C&D Auction Marts held their fortnightly Sale of Store Cattle in Dumfries on 27th November. 194 Forward. Heifers sold to a top of £1385 for Simms from Potterland.

At Sedgemoor’s store cattle sale on 25h November, Simmental steers x 4 sold to a day’s joint top price of £1605 from RE James & Partners.

Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 24th November at Thainstone sold 528 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. “Store cattle demand continues to be very strong for all classes with many buyers going home empty handed.” Bullocks (220) sold to £1920 gross twice, firstly for a 692kg Simmental Cross, and a 724kg Simmental Cross both from North Crannoch, Crossroads. Heifers (253) averaged 280.7p and sold to £1880 gross for a Pen of Three 586kg Simmental Crosses from Sauchenbush, Echt.

Ludlow Market’s sale of store cattle on 24th November saw strong cattle definitely at a marked premium, and in the heifers topping at £1390 for Simmental X’s.

The monthly sale of beef breeding cattle (144) on 24th November at Exeter saw the top of the day being £1350 for a Simmental x heifer with another similar outfit at £1320, from Erth Barton Farming Partnership, Saltash.

On 23rd November, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 206 Cows and Bulls at Thainstone. Beef Feeding Cows (110) averaged £1009.54 and sold to £1310 for a 648kg Simmental cross from Gladhill, Garmouth.

At NWA’s J36 Crooklands Livestock Auction on 23rd of November a sale of calves and stirks saw steers sold to £715 for a Simmental x from JR Pye, Stalmine.

In a sale of weanlings at Market Drayton on 23rd November, the best at £360 was a four-month-old Simmental bull.
On 22nd November at Monmouthshire Livestock Centre’s store cattle sale, well bred wintering cattle were more plentiful and easy to place to a top of £1510 (580kg) for Simmental crosses from RT Evans, Crossways. HG Bendall, Lydney sold Simmental crosses to £1500 (550kg).

At Melton Mowbray on 22nd November, the best of the weanlings was to £770 for Simmental steers from PA Clowes & Partners, with KW Till selling to £750 and £730 for Limousin and Simmental steers.

In a sale of store cattle at Market Drayton on 22nd November, yarding cattle topped at £1,610 for 642kg Simmental steers from Mrs Pam McPhillips. 574kg Simm steers from FH Davies & Co made £1500.

Truro’s sale of store cattle on 22nd November saw the trade for year old heifers led by Simmentals at £835 from Messrs AR&TS Hooper, Truro; Simmentals from Messrs NH Semmens & Son,, St Levan, Penzance topped the two-year-old heifer section at £1205, and with the same vendor leading the two year old steer section with Simmentals at £1350.

Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock on Monday 20th November. In the store ring, the best of a run of ten-month-old Simmental’s up from W P Livestock, Suffolk made £1000 to feature in the day’s leading prices.

In a sale of 191 rearing calves at Gisburn on 19th November, Simmental x bull calves led the breed averages at £400 and selling to a top Simmental price of £420 from J&RJ Parsons. In a sale of breeding cattle at Gisburn on 18th November, In calf cows sold to highs of £1080 for a Simmental x cow from D Bird & T Bird.

At Ballymena on 17th November, suckler stock sold to £2020 for a Simmental cow with bull calf from W Ferguson, Newtownabbey who also sold a Simm and heifer calf to £1780.

At Ludlow’s TB Restricted Sale of store cattle on 17th November, strong types were in the most demand with Simmental X steers topping the sale at £1480.

At Huntly on 16th November, United Auctions held a sale of Store, Breeding & OTMs cattle. OTMS sold to a top gross of £1680 for a SimX from Claymires, Rothiemay.

On 16th November, Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, sold 59 Bullocks, Heifers and Young Bulls, and 58 OTM Cattle. Also 27 Calves & Stirks. Bulls (Under 30 months) sold to 295ppkg for a Simmental from Dalchirla Farms, Muthill.

Within a store cattle sale at Hallworthy on 16th November, the section of well over 100 suckled calves saw a big top price of £1190 for some outstanding Simmental steers from J Buckland, Penzance (pictured). The same vendor topped the heifers with a Simmental calf at £750.

At Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of Prime Cattle on 16th November, Young Bulls averaged 248.5p and sold to £2475 gross for a 1100kg Simmental from Auchorachan, Glenlivet.

At Monmouthshire Livestock Centre on 15th November the section of feeding/breeding bulls was topped at £920 for a 7-month Simmental from TM Thomas, Nash.

On 15th November, and a sale of prime cattle at Truro, the top gross price was £1832.50 for a 733kgs Simmental steer from Messrs EA&AR Thomas of Sevenmilestone, Truro.

At Ballymena on 14th November, store bullocks up to 500kgs were topped at £1270 by a 490kg Simm from R Hood, Broughshane.

At Hexham on 14th November, and a sale of cast cows and OTM, top grossing cow came from Mr R H Frater, Moorlaws with a Simmental x cow cashing at £1669.35.

Whitland Livestock Market on 14th November saw another good entry of 219 calves forward with a strong demand. Top price Bull was £500 for a Simmental from Jones, Peniel.

A Show of 70 quality cattle were presented at Swatragh Livestock Mart on 13th November which resulted in an outstanding trade for all stock on offer. Heifers sold to a top price of £1,240 at £2.43 per kg for a 510kg Sim from a Limavady producer.

A sale of barren cows and cull bulls at Sedgemoor on 13th November saw a grand cream-coloured Simmental cross cow take the top price accolade (ppk) when rising to 179.5ppk, and £1597.55, for NF Newman.

C&D Auction Marts held their fortnightly Sale of Store Cattle in Dumfries on 13th November, 280 forward. Heifers per kilo led by a Sim at 290.9p from Hartbush.

On 15th November at Stirling, United Auctions sold 873 store cattle & young bulls. Bullocks (446) – averaged 265.90p and to £1840 gross for a 694g SIMX from Barbarafield.

Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, had forward 434 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale on 13th November. Heifers averaged 251ppkg selling to 285ppkg for a pen of Simmentals from J Filshie, Lyleston, Cardross.

SIMMENTAL CROSS COW AND CALF SELLS TO £3400 AT THAINSTONE
Simmental cattle topped the sections at Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of breeding cattle on 10th November. Heifers with Bull Calf averaged £2124.28 per head & sold to £3100 for a Simmental Cross Heifer and calf from South Blachrie, Fyvie. Heifers with Heifer Calf averaging £1854 per head & sold to £2700 for a Simmental Heifer and calf from South Blachrie. Cow with Bull Calf averaged £2735.71 per head & sold to £3400 for a Simmental Cross Cow and calf from Soundmoor, Mulben. In Calf Cow averaged £1394.44 per head and Sold to £2020 for a Simmental cross from Soundmoor.

On 10th November, a large number of stores at Exeter saw over 400 head penned and sold. Store steers topped at £1620 given for a couple of grand Simmental bred bullocks from Cyril Emmett of Aylesbeare, followed by similar others off the same farm at £1610 and £1600. Younger Simmental steers from George Hill of Tavistock reached £1100.

On 10th November at Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of 684 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves at Thainstone, bulls sold to 307p per kg for a pen of three Simmental crosses from South Auquhorthies, Oldmeldrum.

At Frome’s sale of store cattle on 10th November, a fast trade for forward Continentals selling to a joint top of £1345 for a Simmental from Manor of Cadland Estate.

4-MONTH-OLD SIMM CALF SELLS TO £740 AT BALLYMENA
In a sale of Breeding bulls, dropped calves, and weanlings at Ballymena on 10th November. 301 lots in the calf ring sold well to £740 for a 4-month-old Simmental heifer from a local producer. Bull calves sold to £700 for a 3-month-old Simmental also from a local producer.

At Thainstone on 9th November, Aberdeen and Northern Marts held a sale of prime cattle. Young Bulls averaged 211.8p and sold to £2172.80 gross for a 970kg Simmental from Cowfords Farm, New Pitsligo. 30 to 36 Month – Heifers averaged 258.2p and sold to 265p per kg and £1950.40 gross for a 736kg Simmental cross from Balladrum Farm, Durris.

On 8th November, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, sold 443 weaned and store calves, and 33 Adult head of breeding cattle. Heifers (158) averaged 228.3p per kg and sold to £1,800 gross for a 755kg Simmental cross from Kirkhill Farm, Calder.

At Truro’s prize sale of suckled calves on 8th November, the fourth in the season, the first prize winner in class two (heifer born after March 1st 2023) was a Simmental x which sold to £830 for Messrs BJ Tregoning & Son, Helston. The winner in class three (steers born 1st oct 2022 – 28th Feb 2023), was also a Simmental cross and which sold to £880 for PM & A Jewell of Penzance. Other strong prices saw Simmental x, in the up to seven months old section, sell to £850 for Messrs LEC White & Son, Penzance.

At Stirling on 8th November, United Auctions sold 984 store cattle & young bulls.
Heifers (388) – averaged 259.01p and sold to £1835 for a 718kg SIMX from Neuk.
Young Bulls (65) – averaged 261.46p and to £1460 for a SIMX from Neuk. On the same day and at a sale of 174 breeding cattle, in-calf cows were topped at £2550, and £2450 by SIMMS from Inglis, Briarlands.

Lawrie and Symington Ltd, Lanark, sold 608 Suckled Calves and Store Cattle at their 7th November sale. The store cattle trade, bullocks per kilo, was led by a Sim from Auchrobert at 319.4p. A Sim from Allanton made 312.5ppkg.
At Whitland Mart on 7th November and a sale of 247 calves, the good numbers forward sold to a top price of £450 for a Simmental bull from Jones, Peniel whilst heifers topped at £380 again for a Simmental from the same producer.

At Ayr on 7th November, the trade for bulls was led at £1850 by a Simmental from East Merkland.

A seasonal show of over 70 quality cattle were presented at Swatragh Livestock Mart on Monday 6th November which resulted in a good trade for all stock on offer. Bullocks sold to a top price of £1,930 at £2.39/kg for a 808kg Sim from a Kilrea producer. An Ahoghill producer sold a Sim 660kg at £1,650 (£2.50/kg).

At Darlington on 6th November and a sale of cast cattle, store, and breeding stock, cast cattle dearer on the week and found a sharp trade throughout to level at 160ppk and £1083 per head. A super Simmental OTM heifer from G H Farms Ltd, Grange Hill, Bishop Auckland led the female’s per kilo when she sold for 240 pence.

In a sale of breeding cattle at Carmarthen on 6th November, a Sim cow with calf at foot from C & M A O Jenkins sold to £1480 and featured in the top prices. On the same day in a sale of weaned calves, Simx’s from Jones, Helygenlas sold to £1000.

At Rugby Farmers Mart on 6th November, R Ellis & Son topped in the lump and ppk with a Simmental Cow at 175ppk and £1523.

In a sale of 994 store cattle at Sedgemoor on 4th November, heifers peaked at £1685 for a Simmental from PH Symes & Son. The same vendors sold Simmental steers to £1700, the second top steer price.

At Thainstone on 3rd November, a total of 114 Store Cattle, Young Calves and Cast Cows were forward from Shetland Consignors at Aberdeen & Northern Marts. Heifers sold to a top of £1,660 and 285.2p per kg for a pair of 582kg Simmentals from M & T Thomson, Exnaboe.

At Huntly on 2nd November, United Auctions sold 323 Store, Breeding & OTM cattle. Heifers (149) sold to an average 277.2p per kg selling to 409p per kg for £1760 for SimX from Lyne of Linton, Sauchen.

On 3rd November at Frome livestock market’s store cattle sale, forward continentals were led by a super consignment of Simmental steers to £1520 for a heavy weight shapey steer from IA King.

At Dingwall on 2nd November, Dingwall & Highland Marts held a sale of store, breeding, and OTM cattle. Breeding cattle sold to £1,800 gross for a Simmental cross bull from Forest Lodge, Balmacara.

Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, held their fortnightly sale of Calves and Stirks on Thursday 2nd November. Trade topped at £540 for a Simmental from W Glover, Cladville, Islay.

In a sale of breeding cattle at Whitland Mart on 2nd November, a pure Simmental from Picton, Boncath sold for £3045 to feature in the leading prices.

At Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of prime cattle on 2nd November at Thainstone, prime heifers averaged 251.8p and sold to 277p per kg and £1921.85 gross for a 665kg Simmental cross from Tullo of Garvock, Laurencekirk. Young Bulls averaged 229.1p and sold to £2216.10 gross for a 830kg Simmental from Birchfield, Midtown of Glass. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, Beef Finished Bulls averaged £1603.07 and sold to £1940 for a 1310kg Simmental from Sauchenbush, Echt. In a sale of cast cows and bulls from Orkney consignors, mature bulls sold to £1510 for a Simmental from I&K Tait, Ingsay, Swannay.

At Dingwall on 1st November, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd sold 273 adult head of breeding cattle. In calf cows (49) sold to £2,000 gross for a Simmental cross from 28 Stenscholl, Staffin.

On 1st November at Frome’s sale of prime cattle, steers from CHJ Atwell & Sons topped at 250p/kg grossing £1801 for a well fed R grade Simmental with others to 247p/kg and £1798.

A sale of calves at Oswestry on 1st November saw an excellent trade throughout with Simmental bulls from J R James & Son, Church Farm topping at £340, £335 (twice) & £320. The same vendor topped the heifers with Simmentals at £290.