by Nicky Moreton | Sep 9, 2024 | 2024 News, 2024 Market Briefs, 2024
SIMMENTALS TOPPING SALE SECTIONS AT: SEDGEMOOR; SKIPTON; SELBY; ABERDEEN; GISBURN; HALLWORTHY; CARLISLE; MARKET DRAYTON; DINGWALL; SALISBURY; MALTON; BAKEWELL; RUGBY; HEXHAM; THAME; CROOKLANDS; THIRSK; SHREWSBURY; STIRLING; EXETER; WHITLAND; LUDLOW; FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; DARLINGTON; CARMARTHERN; AYR; MONMOUTHSHIRE; DUMFRIES; BALLYMENA; PENRITH; AND SWATRAGH
Analysis of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) data has shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading age at slaughter, whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, reductions in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. The ultimate combination for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Native sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams. It’s tremendous economics for commercial beef producers.
See here part one of three of Simmentals topping store, prime, breeding, cull, and calf sale sections at markets round the country.
At Sedgemoor on 31st August and a sale of 1393 store cattle, grazing cows, & stirks, continental steers rose to £1755 for grand Simmental steers from EF & MA Cottle, North Brewham, who sold more at £1700 and £1660. More big Simmentals £1725 from C & R Foote, Stroud; £1705 A Parkin & A Broadhead and £1580 GJ & SM Down, Umberleigh. Continental heifers topped at £1585 for a Simmental from C & R Foote. More at £1515 and £1435 from EF & MA Cottle.
In a sale of 174 stirks at Skipton on 31st August, suckler bred continentals sold to an active ringside with Sim steers selling to £1100, the top steer price on the day, from T&S Holgate, Halton West.
Selby Market’s store sale on 31st August, saw young bulls sell to a top of £1270 and £1260 for Simms from S Keen.
On 30th August, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 482 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves at Thainstone. £1900 was the top call of the day for a Pen of Three Simmental Cross Heifers scaling 612kgs consigned by the Stronach Family, Berryleys, Grange. Heifers (239) averaged 305.8p and sold to 377.5p per kg for a 400kg breeding Simmental from Cairntack, Belhelvie and £1900 gross for a Pen of Three 612kg breeding Simmentals from Berryleys, Grange.
At Thainstone on 29th August, Aberdeen and Northern Marts held a sale of prime cattle. With all classes significantly dearer on the week an excellent entry of 64 prime cattle saw trade top at £2450 for a Simmental bull from Messrs Grant, Druid Temple. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, beef feeding cows (103) averaged £1263.35 and sold to £1550 for a 702kg Simmental Cross from Glencuie, Glenkindie.
On 29th August at Gisburn’s sale of 171 rearing calves, Simmental x bulls sold for £590 from RH & JS Vickery and topped the averages at £532.
At Hallworthy’s sale of store cattle on 29th August, a tremendous run of Simmental heifers from ID & SS Backway of St Columb topped the heifer section with a trio of stunning Simmental x Heifers to £1510 and a second pair to £1490, their trio of fleshed Simmental x away for breeding to £1440.
At Sedgemoor’s sale of prime cattle on 26th August, steers sold to £2,004.08 for a 752kg Simmental from CHJ Attwell & Sons, who sold more at £1,857.51 (697kg) and £1,791.28 (685kg). Heifers sold to £1,866.60 for a 680kg Simmental also from CHJ Atwell & Sons, who sold more at £1,756.82 (677kg) and £1,737.30 (647kg).
On 28th August, Harrison and Hetherington held their sale of calves at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Once again, a bumper entry of 445 calves through the doors. Sale topped at £590 and including for a 3 month old Simmental bull from Haregills Farming, Ecclefechan.
In a sale of 256 store cattle at Market Drayton on 28th August, heifers were led at £1740 for a 594kg Simmental from D&A Warrington.
In a small sale of prime cattle at Dingwall on 27th August, prime bullocks (3) averaged 303.0p per kg and sold to 304.0p per kg twice and including a 640kg Simmental Cross from Shoreton Farms, Culbokie.
A sale of UTM Finished cattle at Salisbury Livestock Market on 27th August saw the pick of the heifers being Simmental x from Steve Dyer, Chale Farm which reached 274.5p or £1570.14.
At a sale at Malton on 27th August, young bulls topped at 283.50ppk for an excellent 17 month old Simmental X weighing 720kgs (£2041.20)from DR Beal, Marishes, selling to R Pearson. Top price was another Simmental X from the same home at £2139.13.
At Bakewell on 27th August, and a sale of barren, OTM, and feeding cows, the strong trade for best meated cows was topped at £1842 for a Simm from EH Woodward, Risley.
In a sale of calves at Rugby Farmers Mart on 26th August, top price went to Messrs RC & J Mann £335 for his Simmental Bull Calf, who also sold a Simmental Heifer to £300.
On 26th August at a sale of barren cows, cull bulls, and over age clean cattle, at Market Drayton bulls traded to £2318.80 for a Simmental from S&M Huxley & Son, Talke.
On 23rd August and a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, heifers sold to 317.6p per kg for a 362kg Simmental from J W S Wishart, Knockhall, South Ronaldsay.
Hexham and Northern Marts held its weekly sale of 224 Store Cattle on 23RD August with trade throughout the sale being very strong and with no let-up in trade on short keep cattle. Leading the sale with a Simmental cross steer at £1960.00 was Mr Douglas Green, Longlea. At £1760 was a thick Simmental cross heifer from Riding Mill producer Mr R M Johnston, High Fotherly.
On 23rd August at Thame Farmers Auction Mart Ltd sale of 264 cattle, a large entry for the TB Exempt Sale met a strong trade for all. Red Lion Farms topped the steer trade with a trio of Simmental steers at £1620. Dave Alder sold his single suckled Simmental x heifer at £1685 to top the sale.
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 30, 2024 | 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News, 2024
- October 2022 born heifer Delfur Weigela N12 wins Overall Supreme Champion
- Newbiemains Prague places Overall Reserve
- 2024 competition sees 457 entries, up by 26 on the year, over six classes
Delfur Weigela N12, the October 2022 born heifer from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour is this year’s winner of the 2024 British Simmental Virtual Show. The fifth staging of this event, which has become the UK’s largest online pedigree show, saw 457 animals entered over six classes and from 87 breeders around the country.
Doing it the ‘hard way’, Delfur Weigela N12 initially came through the year’s largest class of 134 entries, for heifers born between 1st January 2022 and 31st July 2023, which was judged by Adrian Ivory of the Strathisla herd, Blairgowrie before securing the Female Championship from Anne MacPherson of the Blackford herd, Croy.
This year’s Overall Supreme Championship was judged by the British Simmental Cattle Society’s President Norman Robson of the Kilbride Farm herd, Ballyclare and saw Delfur Weigela N12 get the nod in front of the Male Champion, the February 2023 born Newbiemains Prague from Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan.
Commenting on his Champion, Normon Robson said: “This is a really well balanced female. She has a level top line, is very clean, shows a tremendous back end without being over muscly, and has a good tail setting. With plenty of femininity, she shows natural fleshing, and sound, correct feet and legs. I think she’s a very worthy Champion and is the type of high quality heifer that epitomizes the ongoing strides of improvement that Simmental breeders have been making over a number of years.”
Hearing the news of this Championship win just prior to the public announcement, Delfur herd manager Garry Patterson said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to hear that Delfur Weigela has won the 2024 Simmental Virtual Show! We were really delighted to win what was a huge class and with Delfur Nifty also taking second place. It’s been a terrific competition with a very high standard throughout, and just a great advert for the Simmental breed. Of Delfur Weigela N12, Garry went on to say, “Along with Delfur Nifty, Weigela has done really well at the backend shows last year and through this summer and has just continued to improve and come on. In shaping and developing the Delfur herd these are the type and quality of heifers we hope to continue to breed and build around.” Delfur Weigela N12, who is by Ballymoney Larry 20, and out of Delfur Weigela E12, an Auchorachan ACDC 09 9 daughter, has been served by the herd stock bull Islavale Magnum which was purchased for 28,000gns at Stirling in October 2022.
Of the ongoing popularity of the Simmental Virtual Show, Iain Kerr the British Simmental Cattle Society General Manager said: “First and foremost it’s a huge thank you to all of the breeders who have had a go and put forward entries for this year’s competition. Over 450 animals from 87 breeders is just terrific and the standard throughout reflects extremely well on the depth of quality within the Simmental herdbook. The competition is proving to be extremely popular with breeders and gives them an opportunity to come together, have a bit of fun and compete on a national level. From the numbers of people watching week on week, both in the UK and internationally, it really is a great promotional showcase for British Simmental and we’ve again had some terrific feedback. Plans are already underway for the 2025 competition!”
All of this year’s classes, entries, and videos can be viewed on the Society’s Facebook page.
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 15, 2024 | 2024 Virtual Show
Here we are again and it’s the final class ‘big reveal’ of the 2024 Simmental Virtual Show as we announce the results for Class Six – Cow in milk, any age, and which saw a terrific entry of 61 animals entered from around the UK.
For our winner this week we’re heading to Northamptonshire and extending a huge well done to Vernon & Jon Bailey, Mixbury Hall Farm, Brackley whose April 2018 born cow Mixbury Hall Juliet EX92 has taken the top spot. Sired by the herd’s noted Tilbrook Frank 14 EX94, Juliet is out of Mixbury-Hall Wonder, a Sundial Paul daughter.
Mixbury Hall Juliet
Judging this week has been Michael Durno of the noted Auchorachan herd, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. A big thank you is extended to Michael, and please here his one to ten, and also his short video and comments (with a terrific backdrop)
here:
1st Mixbury Hall Juliet
2nd Corskie Jools 3
3rd Newbiemains Klass Act
4th Corskie Great Day
5th Corskie Jasmine
6th Nygard Rigmor (P)
7th Springfield Idol
8th Innerwick Joan
9th Breaghey Class K359 (P)
10th Breaghey Vida L388
Corskie Jools 3
Newbiemains Klass Act
Corskie Great Day
Corskie Jasmine
Nygard Rigmor (P)
Springfield Idol
Innerwick Joan
Breaghey Class K359 (P)
Breaghey Vida L388
So that’s the classes concluded and which have seen an incredible 457 entries in all, up 24 on the year, and from Simmental breeders all over the UK!
The support for this year’s competition has again been fantastic and a massive thank you is extended to everyone who has entered this class and this year’s Simmental Virtual Show. The standard seems to be going up every year and what a promotion of the breed in what is the UK’s largest pedigree online competition.
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 15, 2024 | 2024 Virtual Show
It’s the turn of the big boys for this week’s ‘Big Reveal’ and the results for Class Five of the 2024 Simmental Virtual Show, for Bull born before 1st January 2022.
Once again we’ve had another top entry of 26 for this class and featuring bulls with plenty of length, good lines, and a natural power to them.
It’s been a terrific standard of competition this year throughout the Virtual Show and Class Five has very much continued that trend. Once again a huge thank you to everyone who supported this class!
BACKMUIR KING 19
Taking the top place in this class is Backmuir King from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire This upstanding five-year-old bull is by Islavale Hamilton and is out of Starline Olivia 27th. Well known to the show ring, and amongst a host of titles, Backmuir King was the Male Champion at the 2023 Royal Highland Show. It’s been quite a week for the Simmers who on Monday won a high quality 2024 Simmental Scottish National Show along with the Overall Individual Interbreed, at Turriff Show. For good measure Backmuir King stood second in his class there to the Male Champion!
Judging this week’s class was Helen Searle of the noted Guiltcross herd at Kenninghall, Norwich, and who is also Chair of the East Anglian Simmental Club. Here are Helen’s placings for first to eighth:
1st Backmuir King
2nd Blackford Mars 21 EX93
3rd Rathnashan Kellog’s (ET) (P) EX94
4th Kilbride Farm Jetstream 18 (P)
5th Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 (ET) EX94
6th Hiltonstown Lachlan 20
7th Wolfstar Jimmy Choo 18
8th Islavale Jammydodger 18 EX93
BLACKFORD MARS 21
RATHNASHAN KELLOGG’S (ET) (P)
KILBRIDE FARM JETSTREAM 18 (P)
RANFURLY IMPECCABLE I4 17
HILTONSTOWN LACHLAN 20
WOLFSTAR JIMMY CHOO 18
ISLAVALE JAMMYDODGER
It’s a big thank you to Helen for judging and please see her short video here with comments on Class Five. We’re loving the judge’s videos this year as well and the quality and ‘oh so quiet’ Simmentals featuring in the background of many!
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 8, 2024 | 2024 Young Members News, 2024 Northern Ireland News, 2024 News, 2024
• Finals held within Simmental Young Members Weekend in Northern Ireland
• 48 competitors take part with teams from seven UK regions, plus RoI
• NI’s Martin Cunningham, and Erin Nelson win Senior, and Junior Individual titles.
• North East (England), and East Anglian Clubs win Senior, and Junior Team titles
• Master judge was Iain Green of the Corskie herd
The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders Club hosted the British Simmental Cattle Society Young Members UK stock judging finals on Friday 26th July. The finals formed part of an extended British Simmental Young Members Weekend that comprised of the stock judging competition; further herd visits; and attendance at the NI Simmental National Show held within Antrim Show.
Some forty eight young members from seven regions across Scotland, England, and Wales, with visitors also from the Irish Simmental Cattle Breeders Club, travelled to Northern Ireland to compete in this fun and prestigious competition.
The stock judging finals were held at Kilbride Farm, Doagh, home of WH Robson and Family and the Kilbride Farm Simmental herd and with there being four classes to be assessed by the young judges, followed by giving reasons. The four classes were:
Class 1: Young Bulls
Class 2: Dry Cows
Class 3: In-calf Heifers
Class 4: Young Heifers
There were 48 competitors across three categories: Under 21 (Junior), 21-30 (Senior) and the same for international guests. All judges competed as individuals but were also paired with another judge within their age category and their scores were combined as an overall team result. There was an open competition for other competitors and family members which was also highly contested.
Master Judge for the event was Iain Green of Corskie Simmentals, Garmouth. His role involved adjudicating the reasoning element for all 48 young judges along with timekeeper, Shane McDonald.
In addition to the stock judging competition, judges and visitors enjoyed a farm tour around the Kilbride Farm Simmental Herd where there was an impressive show of young bulls, breeding females and young stock. The afternoon was followed by an evening of socialising and a hog roast before the announcement of results.
Senior Individual
1st Place – Martin Cunningham, Belfast
Overall and Senior winner Martin Cunningham with Iain Green
2nd Place – Katie Boyes, Yorkshire
3rd Place – Holly Lutkin, East Anglia
Junior Individual
1st Place – Erin Nelson, Rosslea
Junior winner Erin Nelson with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Chloe Cade, East Anglia
3rd Place – Callum Leedham, North Yorkshire
Senior Team
1st Place – Katie Boyes and Alex Bulmer (North East Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
Senior Team winners Katie Boyes and Alex Bulmer with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Holly Lutkin and Daisy Jones (East Anglia Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
3rd Place – Martin Cunningham and Kyra Parke (NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
Junior Team
1st Place – Isabelle Markham and Chloe Cade (East Anglia Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
Junior Team winners Isabelle Markham and Chloe Cade with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Erin Nelson and Molly Bradley (NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
3rd Place – Emma Stronach and Aimee Stronach (Scottish Simmental Cattle Breeders Club)
International Senior Individual
1st Place – Cian Connolly, Leitrim
International Senior winner Cian Connolly with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Eilish Gill, Mayo
3rd Place – Jamie Reape, Mayo
Individual Junior Individual
1st Place – Jimmy Neeham, Cork
International Junior winner Jimmy Needham with Judge Iain Green
2nd Place – Bridin Needham, Cork
International Teams
1st Place – Cian Connolly and Jamie Reape (Western Simmental Club)
2nd Place – Conor Maher and Eilish Gill (Western Simmental Club)
3rd Place – Cian Martin and Eoghan Coogan (Southern Simmental Club)
Open Competition
1st Place – Timothy Hamilton
2nd Place – Fiona Sutherland
3rd Place – Sarah Jane Young
The young members attended Antrim Show for the 2024 Simmental National Show on Saturday 27th July where there was a superb lineup of Simmentals on the day. Several NI young members were involved in showing animals as well as participating in the Young Handlers competition. In the 8-12 years old category, Lewis Dodd was placed first, Timothy Rainey placed second and Danny Clarke placed third. In the 13-18 years old category, Jamie Dodd placed first and Rhys Rodgers was placed second.
Following this, the young members travelled to the Hiltonstown Herd of Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Portglenone. The visitors were taken on a farm tour, with viewing of excellent breeding stock before a barbeque and socialising in the evening.
On Sunday 28th July, the young members travelled to Newry to visit the Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe and Alan Wilson. Visitors were also given a farm tour which includes several animals to be featured in their upcoming export sale on 7th September. There are to be approximately 25 animals within in this catalogue including full embryo siblings to the unbeaten Ballinalare Farm Nikita and the 28,000 gns Banhill Farm Masterpiece.
The Northern Ireland Simmental Club extends it’s sincere thanks to all host farms for their organisation, hospitality and generosity to making the weekend a huge success. “All farms and Simmental herd visits were a credit to the families involved and testament to their dedication to the Simmental breed”, Irish Simmental Cattle Society.
Also, thanks to Master Judge, Iain Green, for sharing his expertise and adjudicating the event as well as to all young members, family members and visitors for attending all events and supporting the club.
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