• Backmuir win Overall Supreme; Male; & Female Championships • Corskie team wins Overall Junior; Reserve Supreme; Reserve Overall Junior; Junior Female; Reserve Junior Female; Reserve Overall Female; Junior Male; & Group of Three • Corskie Nutmeg wins Reserve M&S Beefbreeder Interbreed; Overhill House Neo takes Third
Played out in some sparkling sunshine, a high-quality Simmental line up turned up the heat and dazzled the ringside crowd on day one of the 2023 Royal Highland at Ingliston, Edinburgh on Thursday 22nd June.
Overall Champion Annick Ginger’s Lucia
Judge for the day Simon Key of the noted Key herd, Abbey Farm, Loddon, Norwich was enjoyably put through his paces as the show of bulls and females through the classes put on a first-class demonstration of the modern attributes of the Simmental breed. After some four hours of judging the Supreme Championship tap forward was given to the first calved heifer Annick Ginger’s Lucia, with her classy heifer calf at foot, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), and with the outfit owned and exhibited by Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. For the Simmers the win represented the fantastic achievement of a second consecutive Royal Highland Simmental Supreme Championship and following their win with Islavale Lullaby last year.
Bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, Annick Ginger’s Lucia was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September last year for 16,000gns. At the sale this heifer had stayed at home due to having calved the day before but the Simmers had had full sight of her through the summer and particularly at the corresponding Highland where she had stood Overall Reserve to the Simmers themselves! This high-quality February 2020 born heifer Is sired by Wolfstar Golddigger, and is out of Annick Colleen’s Ginger who led the aforementioned sale at 23,000gns. Her eye-catching September 2022 heifer calf at foot is sired by Kilbride Farm Karl, a Curaheen Gunshot (P) son. Annick Ginger’s Lucia initially came through a high-powered head to head in her class against team mate Brandane Lu Lu, bred by Jimmy & Kath McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds, and who the Simmers purchased for 18,000gns at the Next Generation II Simmental Sale at Carlisle in December last year.
Commenting on the Supreme Champion, the judge Simon Key said: “My choice of Champion is an outstanding female and just full of that special Simmental ‘jazz’! She has a super breed head, a great top line, plenty of length, is tremendous on her plates with a perfect tail head setting, and was shown with a cracking heifer calf at foot. She’s everything a modern Simmental is all about, working hard, rearing a calf with a tremendous future, and whilst keeping her condition.”
It was a day of Royal Highland doubles for the increasingly prolific 80-cow Backmuir herd with the herd winning both the Male and Female Championship, to add to their back-to-back Overall Supreme titles. This was only the herd’s third time showing Simmentals at the Royal Highland and with their debut being in 2019 when they picked up the Reserve Overall with Sterling FCUK Impuls. Quite a record over three shows! Speaking afterwards, a highly delighted Reece Simmers said: “It’s very, very special to win the Royal Highland, in my eyes the leading Simmental breed show. To ‘defend’ that title this year and ‘double up’ is an amazing feeling, a great honour, and way beyond expectations. Annick Ginger’s Lucia has all the makings of being a really high-quality Simmental cow, and she’s doing a great job of her first calf who is herself a heifer full of potential. In recent years we’ve bought what we feel are cornerstone females to future proof and develop the progress of the herd. I hope these females in time will allow us to keep improving and breed first quality homebred Backmuir Simmental bulls and females.”
Male Champion Backmuir King
Keeping the theme, and winning their highest award to date at the Royal Highland with a homebred animal, the March 2019 born Backmuir King powered through against some top notch bulls to lift the Overall Male Championship. This March 2019 born bull is by Islavale Hamilton and is out of Starline Olivia 27th, a Skerrington Warlord daughter. This was a first, and likely last time, for this bull to be shown with the intention now to turn him out over this next few days with 25 to 30 cows. Backmuir King sons will be entered into the upcoming Stirling Sale in October and with the Royal Highland being the perfect vehicle to showcase the sire’s qualities. After a fantastic show, the Backmuir team headed for home and with some consideration being given to taking aim at the Scottish National Show due to be held on Saturday 5th August at Dumfries Show.
Judge Simon Key
With general reflections on the Simmental day the judge Simon Key said: “I’d like to heartily congratulate all of the exhibitors today for putting on such a tremendous show of modern Simmentals. I think that was as good a breed spectacle as you would hope to see and just look at the crowd it held at ringside through the judging. The breed has a real commercial momentum behind it and you can see why. Stylish, correct bulls with length, width, shape and good on their plates. The females were similarly just full of style, consistency and quality, and with a lot of future in the young stock. The milk in the Champion is a typical Simmental female hallmark and I think these qualities, and the natural efficiencies of the breed are just really resonating with commercial producers. At a personal level it’s both a privilege and an honour for a ‘lad from Norfolk’ to have been asked to judge at the Royal Highland. This is the breed’s ‘Champions League’, the pinnacle, and I’ve massively enjoyed the day.”
No strangers to the winners circle at the Royal Highland it was nonetheless a show day to remember for the well-known Corskie team of Iain Green, and his daughter Laura, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with their entry of seven animals winning a remarkable ‘haul’ of first prizes and Championship titles. A roll-call of the ‘prize-booty’ secured includes: Six class first prizes and a second; the Reserve Supreme; Reserve Overall Female; Overall Junior; Reserve Overall Junior; Junior Female; Reserve Junior Female; Junior Male; the Group of Three; and Reserve M&S Beefbreeder Interbreed. A truly outstanding performance given the depth of quality in the competition.
The sire of three of the Corskie first prize winners was Kilbride Farm Haka who was purchased at Stirling in February 2018 for 10,000gns. This included the days Reserve Overall Supreme, and Reserve Overall Female in the shape of Corskie Mimic. This January 2021 born heifer, out of Corskie Imitation, initially won the fourth class of the day for females born on or between 1st January and 30th June 2021. Last year this heifer was Overall Junior Champion at the Scottish National Show. In the previous class the first prize ticket went to the October 2021 born Corskie Miami with this heifer then going to lift the Junior Female, and Overall Junior titles. Corskie Miami is by Rathnashan Kellog’s, and is out of Corskie Hollywood (P), a Lynde General (P) daughter. Lifting the Reserve Junior Female title, and the winner of the first class of the day, was another stylish Kilbride Farm Haka daughter in the form of Corskie Namenco. April 2022 born, Namenco is out of Corskie Framenco, a Corskie Delboy daughter. In the final class of the day Corskie Namenco, and Corskie Mimic teamed up with the second prize in class two Corskie N-Enna, all sired by Kilbride Farm Haka, to win the Group of Three. At last year’s show Kilbride Farm Haka was the sire of the Reserve Junior Male Corskie Mikah and who himself later went on to sell for 11,000gns.
Junior Female & Overall Junior Champion Corskie MiamiGroup of Three winners
With previous Royal Highland Championships and Interbreeds behind them over a number of years, this year’s show was arguably the 180 cow Corskie herd’s most successful to date. Commenting on a memorable day Laura Green said: “We are all really proud of this Corskie team and the success they’ve had today against such a depth of quality in the Simmental classes. It’s very much a team affair for Corskie with dad, Jemma, Hannah, our stockman Shaun Cumming, and myself all involved and with a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get to this point. We had three sires featuring in the first prize winners but with Kilbride Farm Haka coming to the fore. He’s leaving progeny male and female that are full of breed characteristic, with length, both shape and growth, and with plenty of style. There’s a lot of established, consistent, homebred breeding in the dams in this team and that’s the first foundation for the quality of the progeny. It was a super day for the breed as a whole and I really think with the young bulls on show, and with females like the Champion just full of milk and doing their calves so well, the Simmental breed is really coming into its own.”
Reserve Junior Female Corskie NamencoReserve Overall Male, the Junior Male & Reserve Overall Junior Corskie Nutmeg
Making a big impression on the ringside crowd, the two young bull classes provided an in- depth showcase of modern Simmental bulls full of breed character, length, correctness, shape, and style. The first class featured 13 young bulls and with a depth of quality throughout. It was from the second class however that Corskie Nutmeg, one of the stars of the day, emerged. This January 2022 born bull, again by Kilbride Farm Haka, and out of Corskie Jasmine, took the red prize ticket before moving on to secure the Reserve Overall Male, the Junior Male, and Reserve Overall Junior titles. On the Friday morning, this stylish young bull took the Reserve title in the M&S Beefbreeder Interbreed in front of the judge, William McAllister, Ballymena. Standing second in the class to Corskie Nutmeg, and following him through to take the Reserve Junior Male title, was Blackford Nimrod from the noted 30-cow herd of Anne MacPherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness. March 2022 born, an ET calf Nimrod is full of breeding being by the noted show bull Heathbrow Important (P), a past European Simmental Champion, and is out of Blackford Wagtail, a Kilbride Farm Strabane daughter and the dam of the record-breaking Bel Dhu Capercaillie. With one or two local shows possibly ahead of him, the main aim for this young bull will now be the October Sale at Stirling.
Corskie Netfiix
In the first class it was Corskie Netflix who came out on top of the mighty baker’s dozen of young bulls. Sired by the prolific Auchorachan Hercules, this April 2022 born calf is out of the Bel Dhu Capercaillie daughter Corskie Highness. Taking second in this strong class was the shapey Rockytop Novak from Gary & Angela Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly. April 2022 born, this bull is by Glenturk Kingpin and is out of Rockytop Clover’s Gwen. In third place was the eye-catching Overhill House Neo from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian. Again April 2022 born, Neo is the first calf to be shown sired by the herd’s 26,000gns sire Pistyll Kingsman, and is out of the Irish bred Seepa Daffodil. Another bull to feature in the Interbreeds, Overhill House Neo stood as second Reserve in the M&S Beefbreeder.
Overall Champion & Reserve ChampionOverall & Female Champion & Male ChampionJunior Female & Junior Male ChampionMale Champion & Reserve Male Champion
2023 ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW SIMMENTAL RESULTS
262 Female born on or after 1st April 2022 1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Namenco 2nd Richard McCulloch Overhill House Neva 3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Nala 4th Mr G Smith Drumsleed Nysa 5th Gavin Brown Springfield Nita 6th Frank Gwynne Castlewigg Empire Stella 2
Backmuir Eva’s Neva
263 Female born between 1st January & 31st March 2022 1st Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir Eva’s Neva 2nd Mr W J & J Green Corskie N-Enna 3rd Future Livestock Future New Girl 4th Crudie Farming Company Crudie Natalia
264 Female born on or between 1st July & 31st December 2021 1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Miami 2nd W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Malia 3rd Mr G W Smith Drumsleed Marina 4th Strathisla Farms Rathnashan Nelly Harriet 5th Heather Duff Pitmudie Montana 6th Crudie Farming Company Crudie Miss Moneypenny
265 Female born on or between 1st January & 30th June 2021 1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic 2nd Mr G W Smith Drumsleed Mango 3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Mulberry 4th Lizzie Harding Hallway Winnie’s Majesty 5th P M & R Fitton Derrycallaghan Kalamity-Jane 2nd 6th David Ireland Annick Desirees Midnight
266 Female calved before 3 years or due to calve before 3 years old, in milk or in calf born in 2020 1st Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia 2nd Reece & Andrew Simmers Brandane Lu Lu 3rd Gavin Brown Islavale Liquorice
Corskie Jasmine
267 Female born in 2018 or 2019 in milk or certified in calf at time of show 1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Jasmine 2nd W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Jazzy 2nd
269 Bull born on or after 1st April 2022 1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Netflix 22 2nd G & A Christie Rockytop Novak 22 3rd Richard McCulloch Overhill House Neo 22 4th Richard McCulloch Overhill House Niko 22 5th Strathisla Farms Strathisla Nightrider 22 6th Nadia Gwynne Chestermann Nick 22
270 Bull born on or between 1st January & 31st March 2022 1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22 2nd W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Nimrod 22 3rd Mr G W Smith Drumsleed Neymar 22 4th Heather Duff Cairnview Nick 22 5th Crudie Farming Company Crudie Napoleon 22
272 Bull born on or before 31st December 2020 1st Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir King
SP1 Best Junior Female Mr W J & J Green Corskie Miami SP2 Reserve Junior Female Mr W J & J Green Corskie Namenco
SP3 Best Female Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia SP4 Reserve Female Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic
SP5 Best cow with calf at foot Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
SP6 Best Junior Bull Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22 SP7 Reserve Junior Bull W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Nimrod 22
SP8 Best Bull Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir King SP9 Reserve Bull Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22
SP10 Breeder of Best Bull Reece & Andrew Simmers
SP11 Best Junior Animal Mr W J & J Green Corskie Miami SP12 Reserve Junior Animal Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22
SP13 Best Animal of opposite sex to the Junior Champion Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22
SP14 Champion Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia SP15 Reserve Champion Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic
SP16 Best Animal bred by Exhibitor Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic
SP17 Best Group Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic, Corskie N-Enna, Corskie Namenco
A bumper set of Simmental market briefs covering May through to the first week of June sees Simmental cattle continuing to top a range of sale sections and at some 29 livestock markets around the United Kingdom and from the very North of Scotland to Cornwall!
Commercial producers see that there is more to a Simmental! A hard working, no nonsense beef breed, Simmentals efficiency, outstanding milk, fertility and maternal qualities, combined with growth, leading age at slaughter, and carcase traits, gets the job done and adds up to production and profit in a cost conscious industry. Latest market briefs include:
At Thame Market on 9th June, the sale of 117 store cattle saw heifers topped at £1395 for Simmental x heifers from P W & M E Jones.
At Frome on 7th June, UTM steers were topped at £2161 by Simm x from EM Horn & Son Southampton.
At Quoybrae on 5th June, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 106 store cattle. Heifers (55) averaged 250.3p and sold to 299.2p for 244kg Simmental crosses from Bowertower Mains Bower and £1,495 gross for a 617kg Simmental cross from Ritchies Croft, Brawlbin.
In a sale of calves at Bakewell on 5th June, a ‘blistering trade’ saw bulls top at £340 for a Simm from M & K Roworth, Beerwoodcote.
In a prime cattle sale at Rugby Farmers Mart on 5th June a small show of cows was led by a 752kg Sim from Woods farm, Meriden Ltd which made 242ppkg or £1819.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 2nd June sold 635 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Heifers (238) averaged 293.7p and sold to 377.9p per kg for a pen of two 434kg Simmental Cross from Fintry, Turriff. Bullocks 251-300kg – topped by SimX at £1035, from Glebe of Deisher. Bullocks 301-350kg – topped at £1280 by SimX from Fintry.
In a sale of OTMs at NWA’s Lancaster market on 2nd June, the top grossing cow was a Simmental achieving £2012.
At a sale of OTMs at Malton on 2nd June, the trade for cows )all over 72 months), was led by a Sim X 880kg, from SF Stubbings, Sledmere topping at 244.50ppk (£2151.60).
In a sale of store cattle for Shetland consignors also on 2nd June at ANM’s Thainstone centre, bullocks sold to 354.4p per kg for a pen of five 292kg Simmentals from D G Flaws, Fleck, Dunrossness. Heifers Sold to £1,160 gross for a pair of 372kg Simmentals and 320.6p per kg for 262kg Simmentals from D G Flaws, Fleck. On the same day and a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors, a total of 110 head were forward. Heifers Sold to a top of £1,340 gross for a pair of 408kg Simmentals from A D Miller, Spring Valley, Stronsay.
At a sale of cast cows and bulls at Thainstone on 1st June, Beef Feeding Cows (81) averaged £1426.36 and sold to £1850 for a 824kg Simmental Cross from Dorsell, Alford. Bulls averaged £1979.17 and sold to £2870 for a 1410kg Simmental from Fallaw Farm, Inverkeilor. At a similar sale from Orkney consignors on the day, beef cows sold to £2,170 gross for a 844kg Simmental from A T Annal & Son, Myres, South Ronaldsay.
The strong trade for Simmental rearing calves at Gisburn market continued on 1st June with the top price being £470 for a Simmental calf from D Calvert & Son.
At Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 31st May, heifers with good meat and finish sold to a top of 259p/kg for a handy weight Simmental from L Symes, Southampton.
In a sale of rearing calves at Market Drayton on 31st May special mention goes to £455 L.E. Weston&Sons who sold Simm bull calves at £455, and £395.
Wednesday, 31st May Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly Store Cattle sale at Carlisle. A seasonal entry in terms of quantity and quality saw another electric trade with values staying at similar levels per head as the quality declines. Sale header at £1770 was a cracking Simmental x from Messrs Potter, Cardew House, Dalston.
United Auctions sold 553 store cattle, native bred & young bulls, and 106 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls on 31st May at Stirling. Heifers (266) sold to £1840 for a 692kg SIMX from Tillyrie.
A seasonal entry of stock on 31st May at Dungannon saw all classes of stock continue to sell sharply. Heifers topped at £1640 for a 595kg Sim (276.00) presented by D Nelson; Weanlings sold to £1290 for a 460kg Sim (280.00) presented by Owenreagh Farms.
On Tuesday 30th May 2023 Lawrie and Symington sold 310 Store Cattle at Lanark. 151 bullocks sold to 336.5p for a Simx off of Skipness Estates.
On 30th May at Holmfirth a small sale of store cattle saw a Simmental heifer from S&M Thackery lead the trade at £1190 and when selling to J Hobson & Son.
At Worcester’s sale of 144 store cattle on 27th May, the steers were led by a 16-month-old Simm X at £1345, from A Verity.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 723 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves on 26th May. Heifers (252) averaged 301p and sold to 369.4p per kg for a pen of three 268kg Simmental and £1980 gross for a pair of 548kg Simmental both from New Barns, Forfar.
At Lancaster livestock auction on 26th May, heifer stirks sold to £1240 for a Simmental x from AJ Metcalfe, Out Rawcliffe.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts on 26th May saw a total of 125 Store Cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to a top of 357.5p per kg for 386kg Simmental from I D Sinclair, Upper Heads, South Ronaldsay.
In a sale of stirks and suckled calves at Exeter on 26th May, the top of the day in the heifers saw the Chugg Family down from Chulmleigh present Simmental crosses (6m) to £730 with others to £690 & £640.
On 25th May and a sale of store cattle at Rugby Farmers Market, a run of quality Homebred Simmental Bulls sold to 286ppk and a market topping £2349 for CH Evans & Son.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 24th May, Fat Cows Fat Cows cleared to £1690 for a 735kg Sim (230.00) presented by J Casey.
In a sale of calves at Melton Mowbray on 24th May, kicking off the day saw a whopping Simmental month old bull calf to £470 on behalf of local vendors, Chandler & Dickman, with another Simmental heifer calf from the same pen at £335.
At Skipton Auction Marts Fortnightly Sale of Young Feeding Bulls, Store Bullocks & Heifers, and Breeding Cattle on 24th May, Simmentals led the averages for young bulls at £1560 and against the continental average of £1438, and the native average of £1255. RD Elliott sold Simms at £1690, £1620 and £1450.
At Dingwall on 24th May, at Dingwall & Highland Marts sale of store cattle and OTMs, OTM prime & feeding bulls were led by a Sim from Meikle Ussie at £,2360.
💥WESTER BLEATON SELLS TO £3450 TO LEAD STRONG TRADE FOR SIMMENTAL HEIFERS AT THAINSTONE On 23rd May at Thainstone’s special sale of breeding cattle, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 183 head. Breeding cattle continued to meet a brisk demand and with Simmentals featuring throughout. Cow with Heifer Calf sold to £3450 for a Simmental Cross with a Lim cross calf from Wester Bleaton, Bridge of Cally. Other strong Simmental prices saw Simm and SimmX Heifers with bull calf prices include: Simm – Pitgersie £3550, £3500, £3250, Towiemore £3500, South Blachrie £3350, Bankhead £3350, Wester Bleaton £3300; SimX – Pitgersie 3500, £3350, £3250, Towiemore £3500, £3450, Wester Bleaton £3500, £3400, £3350, £3300, £3250, Mains of Drumdollo £3250. Heifer with Heifer Calf Simm prices included: SimX – Pitgersie £3550, £3400, £3100, Wester Bleaton £3250, £3100, £3050, Bankhead £3300; Mains of Drumdollo £3100. Cow with Bull Calf was led by Sim from Bankhead at £2900 and who had further Simms at, £2550, £2400; and a SimX at £2850. Cow with Heifer Calf was led by a SimX from Wester Bleaton at £3200 (X2). Further SimX Cow with Heifer Calf included: Glenlea £3100, Bankhead £2300, Knowes, Birkenhill £1800; Bankhead had a Sim Cow with Heifer calf at £2950. Harrison and Hetherington fortnightly sale of store cattle on 23rd May at Lockerbie Auction Market saw a busy ringside of buyers and a good show of cattle. Cattle remained highly sought after with especially cattle for grass being in extremely high demand. 12-month-old Simmental cattle sold to 292ppk from Mr Harrison.
On 22nd May Bakewell Market sold 115 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows. All buyers were fighting hard to secure numbers with all of the best cattle comfortably over £2/kilo including 14 over 220p/kg and a top of 268p for 518kg Sim cow from Messrs Powell, Hundall.
On 20th May at Stirling, United Auctions sold 448 breeding cattle with Simmentals featuring in the quoted prices and including: Porterstown (SIM) £3200×2. Heifers and Heifer Calves: Porterstown (SIM) £3200. Cows and Bull Calves: Mains of Craigisla (SIM) £2700; Cows and Heifer Calves: Lochlane (SIM) £2850 & £2700.
At Thainstone on 19th May, Aberdeen & Northern Marts had a total of 102 Store Cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to a top of 349.7p for a pen of 406kg Simmentals from A & D Clark, Stratheast, Holm.
On 18th May at Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone, a Simmental X heifer sold to 253p per kg and £1973.40 gross from Tillyeve, Udny. On the same day, a sale of Beef Feeding Cows (93) averaged £1488.80 and sold to £1870 for a 750kg Simmental Cross from Essil, Garmouth. On 18th May at Stirling, Caledonian Marts sold 134 Cattle comprising of 64 Bullocks, Heifers and Young Bulls, and 70 OTM Cattle.Prime. Heifers averaged 297p and sold to £2273 for a Simmental from J Brown, Greencraig, Slamannan.
💥MAINS OF TARRYBLAKE SELL SIMMENTAL HEIFERS TO £3500 AT HUNTLY At Huntly on 18th May, United Auctions held a sale of Store, Breeding and OTM cattle. Store cattle met a keen enquiry yet again. Breeding cattle sold to a large ringside where some top-end Simmental cross heifers were easily sold. In the sale of breeding cattle, Heifers with male Calves at foot saw SimX at £3500 from Mains of Tarryblake, with a Sim from the same home at £3400. In the Heifers with Heifer calves at foot Mains of Tarryblake again doubled up with a Sim at £3500, and a SimX at £3400. In the store sale, bullocks sold to a top of 321.2p per kg for a 330kg SimX from Corskie, Garmouth. Heifers sold to a top gross of £1320 for a 480kg SimX Auchinclech, Grange. OTMS sold to a top gross of £2240 for a 900kg SimX from Wester Elchies, Aberlour.
At Stirling, and United Auction’s sale of young bulls on 17th May, the trade was topped at 257.70p for a SIMX from Hole O Clean. In the store sale, Simmental heifers from Leyshade sold to £1800 & £1790. C&D Auction Marts held their weekly sale of Primestock on Wednesday 17th May at Dumfries. Leading the way at £1950.50, and £1878.75 was Simms from Dalswinton.
In a sale of 315 calves and stirks at Holsworthy on 17th May, the stirks sold to £530 (6m) for a Simmental steer in from GG Smale, who sold heifers to £500 (5m).
On Wednesday, 17th May Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly Store Cattle sale at Carlisle with another fantastic entry of 548 Store cattle forward at Borderway. A tremendous trade for all classes was witnessed with strong cattle in particular a flying trade. A Simmental bullock from TH & PA Johnston, Westray, Cockermouth led the days trade at £1980.
On 17th May at Truro, the sale of UTM prime cattle steers, saw the top gross price of £1968.4 being paid for a Simmental x (760kg) from Messrs R E, G L & M R Body of Hayle. In the cull cows, topping the section was a Simmental x for Mr B Cowell of Wendron, Helston at 226p/kg away to Dawn West Devon of Hatherleigh.
In a sale of 370 weanlings at Market Drayton on 15th May, in the younger weanlings, top prices were a six month old Simmental bull from Mr S.R. Nash, Leigh at £660. In the steers a 10-month-old Simmental topped at £960 Harold Davies & Ptns.
On 15th May at Sedgemoor, young bulls 12m to 13m sold to a top of £1,897.88 twice (both 723kg) and £1,802.50 (700kg) for Simmentals from R Bigwood.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 10th May, dropped Calves continued to sell briskly to peak at £390 for a Sim Bull presented by E Speers.
In a sale of rearing calves at Holsworthy on 10th May, special mention goes to the Wearing Family, Tavistock who sold a one month old Simmental to an impressive £480.
Oswestry’s sale of store cattle on 10th May saw £1270 (343p/kg) paid for Simmental steers aged 19 months and sold by Llangedwyn Home Farm, to feature in the top end of prices.
In a sale of store cattle on 10th May at Market Drayton, the steers were led at £1795 by a Simm from RJ Litchfield & Son who had further Simms at £1600.
In a sale of store cattle at Truro on 10th May, a fast trade for all on offer from start to finish saw strong types well placed. Steers sold to a top of £1760 for a 20-month-old Simmental x for Mrs B Baxter of Porkellis, who went on to sell a further Simmental x of the same age to £1565. A single 22 month old Simmental steer for Mr G L Budge of Baldhu realised £1645. Truro Market witnessed a Beef Type average for cull cows of over 200p/kg for the first time ever. Top price was for a smart Simmental heifer from Mr N Doble of St Agnes which sold to Messrs W A Rapson & Sons of Milton Abbot at 230p/kg,
On Wednesday 10th May, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of weaned cattle at Carlisle. Young cattle through the roof as Ring 4 was packed to the rafters with bidders for grass cattle. Simmental steers sold to £1280 from Millisle Farm to feature in the leading prices.
💥TOWIEMORE SIMMENTAL HEIFERS WITH CALF AT FOOT SELL TO £4350 AT THAINSTONE SALE OF BREEDING CATTLE! Towiemore Simm heifers with bull calf at: £4350; £4200; £4050 x2; £4000 Towiemore Simm heifers with heifer calf at: £4050 x 2; £3950; £3900 x 2;£3800 Towiemore Simm cow with bull calf: £3950; £3650 Towiemore Simm cow with heifer calf: £3050 90 Towiemore females, almost all Simmentals, with calves at foot averaged £3453! At Thainstone on Tuesday 9th May, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 227 head of adult breeding cattle and with Simmental females again on fire, in big demand, and meeting with an excellent trade. Featuring strongly throughout the sale was the Smith family at Towiemore Farm, Keith, Banffshire who had a number of Simmental heifers and cows with calves at foot well over the £4000 mark and topping at £4350. In all 90 Towiemore females, almost all Simmental, averaged a remarkable £3543! Leading Simmental Prices included: Heifer with Bull Calf: SimX – Towiemore – £4350, £4200, £4050 (X2), £4,000, Wester Bleaton – £3950; Sim – Towiemore – £4300, £3950. Heifer with Heifer Calf: Sim – Towiemore – £4050, £3900; SimX – Towiemore £4050, £3950, £3900, £3800, £3750; Cow with Bull Calf: SimX – Towiemore £3950, £3600; Cow with Heifer Calf: Sim – Towiemore £3050; SimX – Sillerton £2550, £2300.
On Monday 8th May and a sale of 112 cattle forward at Rugby Farmers Mart, the trade for cows was led at £2051 for an 892kg Simm from CH Evans & Son.
United Auctions sold 651 cattle at Huntly on 6th May. 265 Heifers sold to average 295.6p per kg selling to 380.1p per kg or £2250 per head on three different occasions for seven SimX’s from Connachie, Elgin.
On Friday 5th May and a sale of store cattle at Exeter, an army of buyers in from all parts of the country pushed store cattle prices for all types on offer to new heights. Steers topped at £1860 for a grand, smart Simmental steer (26m) from William Cross of Huntsham with other Simmentals off the same farm going down in age reaching £1780 (24m) and £1760 (22m).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 448 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 4th May. Leading the bullocks at 340p, the top price per kg, was a Simmental from Cleeves.
In a sale of calves and weanlings on 5th May at Lancaster Auction Mart, heifer calves sold to £470 twice, with another four at £450 for well reared Simmental x from JR Newham & Son, Conder Green. At Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd’s sale of Store Cattle at Newton Stewart on 5th May, a nice show for quality forward met a good demand. Topping the trade at £1350 was a pen of tremendous outwintered Simmental bullocks from A & MA Henry , Barrachan. Simmentals also led the per kilo this time for a pair of beauties from H Milroy, Mid Gleniron that made 325.9p k/g.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone on 4th May, 30 to 36 Month Heifers sold to 265p per kg for a 535kg Simmental from Backhill Clackriach, Maud and £1,743 gross for a 700kg Simmental from Raefin, Keith.
At Caledonian Marts sale at Stirling on 4th May, OTM’s sold to 290 ppkg for a Simmental from Glenside Farms, Stirling.
💥SIMMENTAL HEIFER AND CALF SELLS TO £3700 FOR THE GORDON FAMILY, LOST FARM, STRATHDON AS SIMMENTALS FEATURE THROUGHOUT IN NUMBERS AND LEADING PRICES AT THAINSTONE Simmentals were again to the fore in numbers and leading prices on 3rd May at Thainstone as Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 503 head of adult breeding Cattle. The British Simmental Cattle Society’s award for the best sired Simmental Heifer and Calf went to The Gordon Family, Lost Farm, Strathdon with the 1st prize Simmental Heifer with Bull Calf which sold for £3700. Bulling Heifers met a fantastic demand selling to a top of £2600 for a pair of tremendous 19-month-old Simmental Heifers from D & G Manson, Brodieshill Farm, Alves. *The Mansons will host a Simmental Open Day on 8th July. Over 90% of the bulling heifers forward were Simmental sired. The section for Cow with Bull Calf sold to £3,150 for a Simmental Cross with a Limousin Cross from Rennieshill, Newmachar.
The commercial demand for Simmental females continued unabated with a strength in depth throughout the entry and a strong trade to match. Leading Simmental prices included: Heifer with Bull Calf: SimX – Lost Farm £3750, £3700, £3600, £3500, South Blachrie £3650, £3600, Bungalow, New Noth £3600 (X2), £3550 (X2) Heifer with Heifer Calf: SimX – Pitcairn Farm £3750, £3500, South Blachrie £3650, £3450 Lost Farm £3650, Farirburn £3450, Bungalow, New Noth £3400. Leading Bulling Heifer prices: 351kg – 400kg – Culnoag (Sim) £1300; 401kg – 450kg – Connachie (Sim) £1550 451kg – 500kg – Berryleys (Sim) £1850, Connachie (Sim) £1800 501kg – 550kg – Berryleys (Sim) £2250, £2150, Connachie (SimX) £2100, £2020 (X2), £2000 (X3), Culquhassen (SimX) £2000; 551kg – 600kg – Connachie (Sim) £2250, Brodieshill (SimX) £2150, Connachie (Sim) £2100 (X5), £2050, Coldhome (Sim) £2050; 601kg – 605kg – Brodieshill (SimX) £2550, £2450, Bankhead (SimX) £2300, Connachie (SimX) £2100, Bankhead (Sim) £2050. At Stirling on 3rd May and United Auctions sale of store cattle, and young bulls, the young bulls sold to a top gross of £1450 for a SIMX from Easterton. In the store sale, 805 heifers were sold with the leading Simm prices including: Lochlane £1870 & £1820; Bargany 331.60p; Barabarafield £1800; Forestmill 322.20p.
A sale of UTM heifers at Frome on 2nd May was led by a Simm at 256ppkg from JC Stainer, Semington.
💥MERKLAND SIMMENTAL BULLING HEIFERS SELL TO A CRACKING £3650 AT STIRLING! The trade for commercial Simmental breeding cattle was on fire at United Auctions – Livestock Auctioneers, Stirling on Monday May 1st with quality Simmentals in demand throughout the categories. Leading the way was Jim & Liz Dyet, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire who topped the sale of bulling heifers with three 16 to 18-month-old Simmentals each making a tremendous £3650! All three heifers were purchased by Alastair Mitchell, Victoria Farm, Muthill, Crieff. Further Merkland Simmental x heifers on the day made £2200, and £2000 on the day when selling to Milton Farmers. The strong trade for Simmentals continued when Simm X heifers & bull calves from Kirkton made £3400. In the cows & bull calves, Simm X’s from Beannie made £3400, and £3300 respectively. The same vendor led the cow & heifer calf trade with their Simm X’s making £3300, and £3100.
At Quoybrae on 1st May, and Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of store cattle, Heifers (57) averaged 300p per kg and to £1590 gross for a 542kg for Simmental from Hunster, Bower.
Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, had forward 542 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale on May 1st. Bullocks averaged 291 ppkg selling to 340 ppkg for a pen of Simmentals from J Lambie, Knockdaw, Ballantrae.
On Monday 1st May at Market Drayton and a sale of 322 weanlings, the steer trade was led by ten- month-old Simmental steers which sold for £710 for C.&B. Slater, Whitmore.
• 100% clearance of fifteen females to average £2612 • Female Champion Drumagarner Michelle makes 4400gns • Drumagarner take five of the top six female prices • Gortnamoyagh Neptune (P) tops the bulls at 3300gns
The in-calf heifer Drumagarner Michelle from Mr M & Mr E McCloskey, Kilrea, Coleraine sold for 4,400gns to lead a strong trade for Simmental females at the Northern Ireland Simmental Club’s May Sale held at Swatragh Livestock Market, Maghera.
Female Champion & Top Price, Drumagarner Michelle
June 2021 born, Drumagarner Michelle is by Curaheen Dickens, and is out of Drumagarner Gayle, a Drumagarner Eden daughter who goes back to Broomfield Wee Nina one of the herd’s foundation females. Earlier in the day this heifer had won the Female Championship in front of the judge David Farrell of the Lakeside herd at Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. Sold PD’d in calf to the noted Curaheen Drifter, Drumagarner Michelle was purchased at the day’s top price of 4400gns by Mr K Stubbs for his 20-cow Drumbulcan pedigree herd at Whitfield Farm, Co Fermanagh. Commenting Mr Stubbs said: “This heifer just caught my eye. She’s full of style and character in herself, is well bred, and in-calf to a top bull. Quality is key and I’m delighted to have bought her for my Drumbulcan herd.”
Judge – David Farrell
A tremendous day’s trading for the McCloskeys saw them take five out of the top six female sale prices and with six Drumagarner heifers averaging £3016. Speaking afterwards Eamon McCloskey commented: “I brought six well-bred heifers to support the sale and am delighted with the trade. It was a strong sale as buyers are clearly looking for Simmental females and breeders across the board brought some quality heifers to sell.”
The Simmental breed has seen a surge in demand across the UK for breeding females and the sale at Swatragh continued this with a total clearance of the fifteen females forward to average a very healthy £2612. Commercial producers looking for the hard-working efficiency of high-quality Simmental replacement females bid readily on the day for the lots of their choice.
Reserve Female Champion, Drumagarner Nelly
Selling at 3400gns was the McCloskey’s stylish heterozygous polled heifer Drumagarner Nora (P). January 2022 born, Nora is by Curaheen Gunshot (P), and is out of another Drumagarner Eden daughter, Drumagarner Helen. This lot was knocked down to William Gabbie, Crossgar, Co Down. The previous lot Drumagarner Nelly, and the Reserve Female Champion, made 2900gns when being one of five females bought on the day by Paul O’Kane, Dungiven, Co Derry. With plenty of top bloodlines behind her, this January 2022 born heifer by Longbeach Darius 12, and out of Drumagarner Kate featured the noted Hillcrest Champion, Omorga Volvo, and Dermotstown Delboy in her back pedigree. In addition to their top prices, Drumagarner sold further heifers on the day to 2600gns (x2), and 2200gns.
At 2700gns was the March 2022 born Lummin Nessa from D&M Thompson, Ballymena, Co Antrim. A twin to a female, this March 2022 born heifer is by Clonagh Mister Hansome, and is out of Lummin Iona, an Auroch Deuter daughter. Purchasing Lummin Nessa, who carried a high Maternal (Milk) figure of +11, was Peter Gilmore, Kilrea, Co Derry.
In the bulls, polled genetics again featured when the heterozygous Gortnamoyagh Neptune (P) from J&T Stewart, Garvagh, Co Derry sold for the day’s lead price of 3300gns. This January 2022 born calf is by the homozygous polled Coose Kingston (PP), and is out of Gortnomayagh Ikia, an Edenbann Ferguson daughter. Purchasing this bull who carried good figures for both Calving Ease, and Maternal (Milk) was Ryan Campbell, Kilrea, Co Derry.
Male Champion Ashland Notorious
In all, eight bulls sold on the day to average £3,140 and with a 72% clearance rate. Selling at 3000gns was the Male Champion in the shape of Ashland Notorious from Mr P Kelly, Tempo, Co Fermanagh. This young March 2022 born bull is by the Auchorachan ACDC son Delfur Decider 12, and is out of Ashland Topaz 3rd, a Whitemires King Kong daughter. Buying the Male Champion was Daniel Laverty, Bellaghy, Co Derry.
At 2900gns was Hiltonstown Nevada 22 (ET) from Richard & Rhys Rodgers, Port Glenone, Co Antrim. Another March 2022 born calf, Nevada is by the AI sire Mullynock Gallant, and is out of Ballinalare Farm Cherie VG87, an Auchorachan Wizard daughter. This calf was purchased by David Thompson, Bushmills, Co Antrim.
Feature on James McKane, Spring Farm, Ballymena, and where the performance efficiency of the Simmental breed is the backbone of the farm’s commercial suckler herd. Spring Farm will host a NI Simmental Breeders Club Open Day, in conjunction with the British Simmental Cattle Society, on Saturday 20th May 2023.
James McKane
Fact file
• 100 acres grassland • 55 cow commercial Simmental herd • 6 pedigree Simmental cows • 15 months, 350kg age and weight at first breeding • 24 month age at first calving • 100% herd calving within three months • 100% calves reared • 380kg dwt in 14 months, weight and age of finished bulls, majority grading U bracket, remainder R3
Suckler producers searching for an efficient and profitable cow need look no further than the Simmental, says James McKane who has a lifetime’s experience working with the breed. “Simmentals are future fit; we’ve adopted a relatively low input high output system and they tick all the boxes. They’re fertile, have ample milk, great growth rates from forage-based diets, and equally important, they’re docile.” Add together the herd’s performance efficiency and it has the hallmarks of contributing to reduced emissions.
“We’ve a 55-cow herd of predominantly Simmental genetics run with two Simmental stock bulls, and usually end up averaging 100% calves reared. We’re achieving our target for the entire herd to calve from mid-February within a 12-week block. Cows and calves are turned out as soon as the weather permits, and they look after themselves eating nothing but grass, supplemented with magnesium licks, throughout the season which we like to extend to at least seven months,” explains James who farms at Laymore, near Ballymena in partnership with his wife, Laura and with help from brother, Bill.
Six-week old Simmental calves
“The cows and heifers milk like trains right through to the bitter end without any meal and they keep themselves in body condition score 3 to 4 right round the year. Furthermore, we’ve never fed creep to the calves; it’s another expense, results in poaching and what’s more, we don’t need to, their mothers have plenty of milk.” Following weaning, the herd is housed and thrives on pure silage diets, without any supplementary feed, until turn out.
James explains replacement heifers are sufficiently well grown to serve at 350kgs and calve at two years. “They’re bred to the Angus and we synchronise. Since we strive to be more and more efficient, there’s no way we would think about keeping them on for another year grazing valuable grass.”
The commercial Simmental herd thrives on a forage diet throughout the housing period
While a few of the later born male calves are steered and sold as stores, most are kept entire and are currently finishing within an average 14 months at 380kg and sold deadweight on to a rising late spring market. The majority are grading within the U bracket, the remainder R3. “On housing, these bulls are introduced to a diet of first cut grass silage and meal, and after a settling down period, by the turn of the year we finding they’re averaging 1.7kg DLWG.
“In fact, we’ve just started to weigh the bulls on a monthly basis – it was something the NI Simmental Club has encouraged us to do, and its proved to be an eye opener finding out how they’re really performing. I would never have picked out some of those bulls that are doing up to 2.0kg DLWG.”
James’s Simmental journey began in 1971 when he saw the breed for the first time pictured in Farming Life accompanying an article marking one of the initial Simmental importations to the province made by W David Perry, Killane. “David was a friend of the family, so I asked my Dad if we could visit and ended up bringing home a Simmental heifer; she was my 13th birthday present. She cost £40 which was a lot of money at the time, however she turned out to be an investment for life.”
Since then, James says it’s been a slow road to success. “I’m a first-generation farmer and made sacrifices to save up pocket money sufficient to buy one pedigree heifer from Killane in 1978, before growing the herd to stocking capacity on our 100-acre grassland unit. We’ve now got six pedigree cows registered under the Springfarm prefix and are presently hoping to introduce ET to help expand the herd. It’s a development that’s been inspired by daughter, Megan’s love of the breed and interest in showing at local agricultural shows.
“I’ve also got a contracting business so I’m away from the farm a lot, particularly during spring and summer. Again, that’s where Simmentals score, they’re so quiet and easy to handle, and we’ve always been confident our cattle are safe for our two daughters, Megan and Ruth to work amongst.”
He adds: “For this unit to have a future, then we’ve to keep costs down, be as efficient as possible and only keep low input high performance cattle. Our Simmentals are ticking all the boxes.”
Hiltonstown Indiana exhibited by James McKane & Balmoral Show Simmental Champion
• If you are interested in attending the Simmental Open Day at Spring Farm on Friday 20th May, then you can ‘register your interest’ by clicking: https://britishsimmental.co.uk/open-days-farm-walks/ This would be a huge help in allowing us to anticipate the number of attendees and to organise accordingly.
• Please also keep an eye on the NI Simmental Breeders Club, and British Simmental Cattle Society’s Facebook pages; and also www.britishsimmental.co.uk
• Record Simmental average at Carlisle of £6519 • 100% clearance rate with all 12 bulls sold • Eight bulls make 6000gns and more • Midhope lead the pedigree females at 3800gns • Auchorachan top the Simmental High Health bulling heifer sale at £3800 • Chestermann Reduction Sale tops at 3300gns
Richard McCulloch, Overhill House, Armadale, West Lothian led a terrific Simmental bull sale at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart when he took the 10,000gns sale top price with Overhill House McCoy at the breed’s May Carlisle Sale on Saturday, May 13th.
Overhill House McCoy 10,000gns
A strong demand from a packed ring side saw a 100% clearance of the 12 bulls forward and a centre record average at this May fixture of £6519. In all, eight bulls made 6000gns and more with top price bulls selling to Orkney, Aberdeen, Northumberland, Hawick, Derbyshire, and Newton Stewart. A busy Simmental day saw pedigree females sell to 3900gns, whilst the newly introduced sale of Simmental X High Health heifers saw a top price of £3800 and 33 average £1790.
Earlier in the day, the December 2021 born Overhill House McCoy had been placed as the Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show of bulls by the judge Harry Wood of the noted Popes herd, Dutton, Lancashire. Come sale time some fast bidding for this bull saw him race to 10,000gns before being knocked down to prolific Simmental bull buyer Liam Muir, Stromness, Orkney. Mr Muir was purchasing the bull for clients in the shape of Ronnie & Gladys Brown, Newhall, Stromness, and for their 60-cow suckler herd. Commenting after the sale Mr Muir said: “This is just a good Simmental bull. He has width, plenty of length, great style, and is the dark red colour I was also looking for.”
These thoughts were echoed by the judge Harry Wood who speaking immediately after the sale said: “The Champion is just what you’re looking for in a modern Simmental. He had a good top line, was good on his legs, had plenty of breed character, and is the colour that buyers are looking for.”
Judge Harry Wood Popes herd
The Supreme Championship and sale top price made it a double for the Overhill House herd who achieved the same feat at the recent Stirling Simmental Sale with the 16,000gns all-breeds top priced Overhill House Neil. Overhill House McCoy is by the 24,000gns Islavale Heston, the same sire as the herd’s Stirling topper, and is out of Islavale Caitlin a heifer bought privately as a yearling from the Islavale herd.
In all, eight bulls made 6000gns or more. Simmental bulls with polled genetics have increasingly been in demand and the second top price at Carlisle was the 8000gns paid for the heterozygous polled Auchorachan Monarch ET 21 (P), from D&R Durno & Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. This August 2021 born bull, who placed first in the first class, is by the heterozygous polled bull Lykke Iceman P, and is out of the Omorga Samson sired daughter Auchorachan Autumn EX94. A bull with length, power, and breeding, Auchorachan Monarch ET 21 (P), was purchased by the commercial producer, A&L Craig & Co, Downiehills Farm, Peterhead. A few lots later and the Durnos sold the entirely homebred Auchorachan Maserati for 6500gns to the Firm of McKinnel, Drumneil Farm, Newton Stewart. November 2021 born this bull, another with length and width, is by the prolific Auchorachan Hercules, and is out of Auchorachan Letta H2 VG88.
Auchorachan Monarch 8000gns
Two bulls made 7000gns. The first of these was the upstanding Newbiemains Mammoth from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Standing second in his class, this July 2021 bull with size and length, is by Newbiemains Jetset 18, and is out Newbiemains Joy VG 87, an Islavale Frontier daughter. Off to Northumberland, he was bought for the commercial herd of CJ Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford. Speaking after the sale, Mr Sutherland said: “I liked this bull immediately as he had size, length, wasn’t overdone and I think is a good honest bull. He’ll be put to use straight away in the commercial herd.” Mr Sutherland’s commercial herd comprises of 140 suckler cows.
Newbiemains Mammoth 7000gns
Also at 7000gns was T Hill & R Wright, Wadworth, Doncaster with the October 2021 born Scotland Hill McCoy. This bull followed the Champion through his class to take the Reserve Overall Championship in the pre-sale show. Sired by Clonagh King Eyes, and out of Scotland Hill Avril 2nd, Scotland Hill McCoy sold to the Borders and to IHG Warden, Skelfhill Farm, Hawick. Commenting afterwards, Mr Warden said: “This is the most we’ve paid for a bull at Carlisle, but we certainly think Scotland Hill McCoy will be worth it. He’ll be put to work at the end of June and will be run with 30 Luing heifers. The Simm Luing cross really works for us and we put them back to a Limousin bull. The bull had a certain finesse about him, and we think he’ll be perfect to produce nice hill females.” Strong supporters of the Simmental sales, the 65-cow Scotland Hill has previously sold bulls at Carlisle to 8800gns.
Scotland Hill McCoy 7000gns
Regular vendors at Carlisle, Mr DC Houldey, Kirtleton House, Lockerbie made 6500gns when selling their December 2021 born Manor Park Mickey. Sired by Corskie Ebay 13, and out of Manor Park Bronte, this bull had strong figures being +11 for Maternal (Milk), in the top 5% of the breed, and +82 for 400 Day Weight, within the top 10% of the breed. Purchasing this bull was TW Hamilton & Son, Kirkton of Crawford, Biggar, Lanarkshire.
Polled genetics was again to the fore when the heterozygous polled Rooklea Newyear 22 (P), the last bull in the ring, from Mrs A Trafford, Springfield Farm, Cockermouth made 6500gns when selling to Peter & Andrea Booth who run the Barleyclose pedigree herd at Gun Lane Farm, Belper, Derbyshire. A January 2022 born calf, Rooklea Newyear 22 (P) is by the imported sire Losning Iver (P), and is out of Rooklea Jasmine, a Kilbride Farm Glenhead 1 (P) daughter.
The final bull at 6000gns and over was Braegarrie Maverick from DL&S Currie, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan. October 2021 born this calf got by AI is by the well-known Woodhall Ferrari sire and is out of Braegarrie Vanessa who previously produced the 7900gns Braegarrie Bravo a Male Champion at Carlisle. From this milky dam line, and with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +9, Braegarrie Maverick was bought on the day by R McKinnel & Sons, Garrarrie Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.
Midhope Matilda 3800gns
In the small show of Simmental females, the top price was 3800gns for the March 2021 born in-calf heifer Midhope Matilda from regular consignors WJ Hollingsworth, Midhope Farm, Sheffield. This heifer by Delfur Chas 11, was another to go to the Barleyclose herd of Messrs Booth, Belper, Derbyshire. From the same home, Midhope Melanie made 3500gns when selling to Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk. March 2021 born, Melanie is by Denizes Johnny
The newly introduced sale of SimmX HighHealth bulling heifers drew much attention and again met with a strong trade. Leading this sale, and rounding off a good day’s trading, was D&R Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, with a September 2021 born Simmental heifer making £3800 and being one of two purchases by James Hodge, Dreghorn, Irvine. Other leading prices in this sale saw the Houldeys, Manor Park sell heifers to £2600, and £2500 x 2. As well as the top price of £3800, the Durnos sold further heifers to £2400, £2200, £2100, and £1900 x 2. Messrs Freeman, Troutbeck Farm, Winderemere sold 14-month-old Simm x Luings to £1850 x 2, and £1800 x2. S&L Dodd, Tundergarth Mains, Lockerbie sold 12- to 14-month-old Simm x Luings to £1800 x 4; and Messrs Finlay McGowan, Incheoch Farm, Alyth sold 12 to 13-month-old Simm x Luings to £1750 x3. In all, 33 Simm X High Health bulling heifers averaged £1790.
The Simmental section also saw a major reduction sale for the Chesterman Herd of Nick & Nadia Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm, Newton Stewart. Being held due to a change in farming policy, the Chestermann herd is well recognised at Carlisle and with the herd topping last year’s bull sale at 6200gns, and 6000gns. The sale on the day saw a top price of 3300gns paid for the seven-year-old Chestermann Data Nonne 3, sold with her heifer calf at foot Chestermann Empire Nonne 4. Purchasing this outfit was Andy Wilson for his Cairnview pedigree herd at Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Four further lots made 3000gns as 12 in all averaged £2703.75.
Across the sections on the day the Simmental sale grossed £180,755.
AVERAGES
12 Bulls £6518.75 33 Simm High Health heifers £1790 4 Heifers £2756.25 12 Chesterman Reduction Sale £2703.75
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