16,000GNS OVERHILL HOUSE NEIL LEADS RECORD SIMMENTAL MAY SALE AVERAGE AT STIRLING

16,000GNS OVERHILL HOUSE NEIL LEADS RECORD SIMMENTAL MAY SALE AVERAGE AT STIRLING

• 24 bulls sell to average £5828, up by £195, and a new Stirling May Sale record average.
• Two bulls sell at over 10,000gns with eleven at 5000gns and more.
• 16,000gns leads the all-breeds prices at Stirling
• 16,000gns the top Simmental price, and top all-breeds price, at a May Stirling Sale

Following up his Supreme Championship in the pre-sale show, the January 2022 born Overhill House Neil from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian, duly delivered the goods in the sale ring when making 16,000gns to lead the Stirling May Simmental Sale, and to take the top price across the breeds at United Auctions multi breed fixture on Monday May 1st.

Overhill House Neil 16,000gns

This stylish, red coated, young bull is by the 24,000gns Islavale Heston, and is out of Overhill House India, a Curaheen Drifter daughter. In November last year, Overhill House Neill won the Overall Junior Championship at the Stars of the Future Calf Show. With top figures for calving ease and maternal (milk), this package of looks, pedigree, and performance figures saw some sharp bidding before the hammer fell and with Overhill House Neil being knocked down to Andrew Leedham for his Grangewood pedigree herd at Pickering, North Yorkshire.

The strong sale demand for Simmental bulls was again evident with the 24 bulls sold averaging £5828, up by £195 and, for the third year in a row, to a new record average for this May Simmental Sale fixture. As well as topping the sale day, the 16,000gns price was an all-breeds record for the Stirling May Sale

A terrific day’s trading for Overhill House saw the herd attain prices of 16,000gns; 7000gns; and 6500gns for three quality Simmental bulls. Commenting on Overhill House Neil after the sale, a delighted Richard McCulloch said: “Neil is the best bull we’ve bred to date within the Overhill House herd. From day one he was just an outstanding calf that had those ‘look at me qualities’ and just kept going on and improving. For me he’s the overall package in a modern Simmental bull. He’s dark red in colour, has a real Simmental breed head, has four good correct legs, is super clean, and has a back end to die for. He’s been sold into a good pedigree home, and I look forward to seeing how he gets on within the Grangewood herd.” The sale saw the Overhill House herd gross £30,975 for three Islavale Heston sons and with this 24,000gns sire consistently breeding sale bulls at the 7-8000gns mark. Of attaining the record sale price for any breed at the Stirling May Sale, Richard McCulloch went on to say: “The record price is just a bonus on top of what was a great sale for the herd and three good bulls that were brought out so well by my stockman Scott Gilmour. The standard of Simmental bulls forward at the sales just keeps getting better and better and with an obvious and increasing interest in the breed. From here we’re just going to continue to cull hard, be selective and with the aim of keeping the quality as high as we can at pedigree sales.”

Placing Overhill House Neil as the pre-sale Supreme Champion, was the pre-sale show judge for the day, Gary Wright of the noted Lagavaich herd, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch.

The 16,000gns was also the top price that Andrew and Yvonne Leedham, who run the 35 cow Grangewood pedigree herd along with their son Callum, have paid to date for a Simmental bull. Speaking after the sale, Andrew Leedham said: “He’s a terrific Simmental bull and just what we were looking for. We first saw him at the Stars of the Future Show and having been keeping an eye on his pictures and videos on Facebook. In addition to the qualities of the bull he has great figures including ease of calving and we think he’ll be very well suited to our Ranfurly Impeccable 14 17 daughters within the herd. From here we will consider taking semen from him and may ease him into the herd to use in this next month or so.”

Delfur Macbeth 10500gns


Taking the second top price of 10,500gns, and again from a strong line up of bulls, was the October 2021 born Delfur Macbeth from Delfur Farms, Aberlour. This calf by Woodhall Instinct, and out of Delfur Annie, carried a Maternal (Milk) figure of +10. Purchaser was the noted commercial producer JR Graham & Partners, Greenshields, Biggar, Lanarkshire. Selling at 9000gns was another from the Delfur team in the shape of the first prize winner in class six and pre-sale Reserve Supreme Champion, Delfur Marvel. October 2021 born, Delfur Macbeth is another by Woodhall Instinct and is out of Delfur Jill, an Islavale Cassius daughter. This bull headed back to Aberdeenshire when being knocked down to high-quality commercial producers Farquharson Farms, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire.

Delfur-Marvel 9000gns

On the day the Delfur herd sold three bulls to gross £25,500 and to average £8925, and with the 10,500gns price being the herd’s highest to date at this May Sale fixture. Under the herd manager Garry Patterson, the Delfur herd has been achieving some leading sale prices for Simmental bulls and with the quality and potential within the herd’s females now coming through. The herd presently comprises of 120 cows but with plans to gradually increase that number. When it comes to the sales Delfur Farms takes direct aim at breeding what the commercial producer is looking for and bulls carrying style, thickness and correctness, and with easy calving lines. Any bulls sold to breeders are a bonus on top!

Copper Mill Maverick 7000gns

Selling at 7000gns was Copper Mill Maverick from P Goldsborough, Oakrigg Farm, Old Carlisle Road, Moffat. Another bull with strong calving ease figures, the August 2021 born Copper Mill Maverick is by Rathnashan Linguine and is out of the Samark Superman daughter, Copper Mill Janice. Buying this bull was J&J Marshall, Grantown on Spey, Morayshire.

Overhill House Nash 7000gns

The second bull at 7000gns was another from Richard McCulloch and this time Overhill House Nash. This January 2022 born bull stood second in his class to the day’s Champion and Overhill House teammate, and in a class that saw Overhill take first, second, and third. Another calf by Islavale Heston, Nash is out of Overhill House Emma, a Blackford Ben Mhor daughter. With figures putting him in the top 5% of the breed for calving ease, and top 10% for Eye Muscle Area, Overhill House Nash was bought by JTM MacKay, Thura Mains, Caithness. Overhill House Noah who stood third in the same class made 6500gns when selling to Cumbria and WA Vaughan, High Dovecote, Walton, Brampton. Making up a strong trio of Overhill House bulls, and with strong performance figures, Noah is again by Islavale Heston and is out of the Annick Talisker daughter Overhill House Hanna.

Selling at 6000gns was another from the Delfur Farms pen and this time the October 2021 born Delfur Matey. This bull stood second in his class to the Reserve Supreme Champion and 9000gns teammate Delfur Marvel. Sired by Banwy Bonzo, Matey is out of another Islavale Cassius daughter, Delfur Kayley. Purchasing what was another dark red bull with easy calving figures, was MJ&J McLaren, Fintalich, Muthill, Crieff, Perthshire.

Getting knocked down at 5800gns was Broombrae Munro from Gordon Clark, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife. This October 2021 born bull, who stood fourth in a strong class, is by Corskie Kalgary 19, and is out of Broombrae Delight K1. With a top 5% figure of +11 for Maternal (Milk), this bull was snapped up by Glenkiln Farms, Crocketford, Dumfries.

Other Leading Prices:

Lot 463 5000gns Denizes Montana to A Nicholson, Dunphail, By Forres

Lot 465 5000gns Coltfield Mighty to H MacDonald, Mains of Dalvey, Morayshire

Lot 467 5000gns Dargill Master (P) to J& I Cameron, Hillside Farm, Kilmacolm

EFFICIENT, FLEXIBLE SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP LIVESTOCK SALES AROUND THE UK!

EFFICIENT, FLEXIBLE SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP LIVESTOCK SALES AROUND THE UK!

THE LATEST MARKET BRIEFS WITH SIMMENTAL SIRED CATTLE TOPPING SALES AT DARLINGTON; QUOYBRAE; STIRLING; FROME; LANCASTER; HALLWORTHY; GISBURN; LONGTOWN; TRURO; MARKET DRAYTON; LLANDOVERY; DUNGANNON; DINGWALL; MELTON MOWBRAY; HOLMFIRTH; LOCKERBIE; CARLISLE; WORCESTER; ABERDEEN; LANCASTER; ST BOSWELL; CARLISLE; OSWESTRY; BAKEWELL; DUMFRIES; HUNTLY; SEDGEMOOR; & AYR


Efficient and flexible, Simmentals complement all breeds; are easy calving maternal, milky mothers; produce beef from grass and are easy fleshing, fast growing and the UK’s leading continental beef breed for age at slaughter! This all-round ‘efficiency package’ continues to tick the boxes with commercial beef producers and seeing the breed performing where it matters, on farm and in commercial sale rings, for all classes of stock, at markets around the country and from Caithness to Cornwall!


Leek auction mart had a sale of 163 calves on 18th April. Good calves good to sell with the top seven over £315 and with a top price of £395 for a superb Simmy bull from Messrs Higginson, Knutsford.

At Darlington’s sale of store cattle on 17th April, the feeding buyers were extra keen to step on, with the thirty-three offered levelling well over £1000 with an average age of just 10 months; best of all were a quality quintet of 8–10-month-old Simmental bulls from regular consignor E Parsons, Newstead Farm which sold for a wonderful £1460 per head.


At Quoybrae on 17th April, Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 585 store cattle. Store heifers (241) sold to £2,000 gross for a 719kg Simmental from Mavsey, Lybster.


Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling had 537 Cattle Forward at their fortnightly sale on 17th April. Bullocks sold to £1960 for a pen of Simmentals from J & J Brown, Loanrigg, Slamannan.


In Frome’s sale of store cattle on 14th April, a really good show of younger continentals were forward, and with single suckled well shaped sorts again on fire. Good runs of Simmentals presented by RM & JE Brown IOW, PJ & PP Samways, Swanage and P & S Foot, Weymouth all produced wonderful prices. Phil Samways saw his homebred outwintered steers 11mo at £1060, 9mo at £880 and heifers to a marvellous £820. Sam Foot of P & S Foot continuing to produce the very best of cattle seeing bunches of 12mo steers at £1172, £1090 and £1050. 12mo heifers from the same home to £1115, £1012 and £960. Quality Simmental steers and heifers from Westcourt Farm again from IOW saw bunches at £1100, £925 while their smart heifers topped at £900.


In a sale of cast cattle at Lancaster on 14th April, beef cows sold to 249.5p/kg for a Simmental x from JE&AC Clarke & Son, Melling. Top grossing beef cow was a Simmental from Barlow Bros, Croston, achieving £1973 with a further Simmental from the same home at £1897. AJ&AC Clarke & Son, Melling achieved £1739 also for a Simmental.


£1850 CENTRE RECORD AT HALLWORTHY
Simmentals were setting new market records at Hallworthy’s sale of store cattle on 13th April. Some real deep bodied and tremendously well fleshed cattle from AP & DJ House of St Issey, saw a pair of Simmental x with depth and width at a new centre record mark of £1850, with another pair of Simmental x to £1765. In the heifers, AP & DJ House were on top again with an absolute stunner of a pen of four Simmental x Heifers, deep muscled and wide as a house to a top of £1630, with a second pen of four to £1505.


In a sale of rearing calves at Gisburn on 13th April, Graham Billington’s trio of Simmental bulls all one month eight days old sold very well indeed at £412 a piece heading up to the North East.


Another good entry of cast cows forward at Longtown on 13th April met with a competitive ringside of purchasers. The sale peaked at £1,590 for a Simmental shown by DR & E Nichol, Gowanburn, Kielder, with others to £1,325 from A Maclean, Killeonan, Campbeltown. Top per kilo of 248p for Simmentals from Gowanburn.


In a sale of prime cattle at Truro on 12th April, Simmentals featured in the top prices with Messrs R E, G L & M R Body of Hayle marketing a fine Simmental steer at 268p/kg, with a larger Simmental following on at 257p/kg. On the same day in the sale of store cattle, a 15 month old Simmental from Messrs D R & J C Vincent and Son of Tregavethan, Truro, sold to £1110. A good pair of 1 year old Simmental steers from Messrs L E C White and Son of St Buryan, Penzance marketed at £1105.


In Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 12th April, prime bulls in short supply but very much wanted with Simmental bulls from LJ & AJ Curry to 258p/kg for 675kg, grossing a top price of £1738. The same vendor also led the cull cow trade at £1679 for a Simmental.


Market Drayton’s sale of clean cattle and young bulls on 12th April saw the top headage being £2,025.10 for a Simmental heifer weighing 770kgs from A.J. Warner & Sons, Woodseaves. In the store sale on the same day, Simmentals sold to £1,700 for a 690kg steer from DE&SE Furnival Ltd.


United Auctions, Stirling on 12th April sold 1530 store cattle, young bulls and 104 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Simmentals featured throughout with leading bullock prices including: Yonderhaugh £2000 & £1840, Balquhatson 334.40p; Leaston £1575, Cockerstone 314.00p; Strath £1550 & £1545, Overton 308.50p; Wester Highgate £1440, Mount 305.10p; South Kirklane £1400, Killnochonoch 304.10p; Cockerstone £1400, Craegorry 298.10p; Craegorry £1350, Strath 297.10p. Simmental heifer prices included: Strath £1650, £1520 & £1500, Balwherrie 308.60p & 298.10p; Balwherrie £1500, Balquhatson Mains 294.60p; Wester Mye £1470, Strath 294.00p.


At Dungannon on 12th April, suckled cows and calves sold to £1470 for a 2014 born Sim Cow with AA Bull Calf at foot presented by N Berry, and £1380 for a 2015 born Sim Cow with an AA Bull Calf at foot.


Dingwall’s sale of store and OTM cattle on 12th April saw OTM prime & feeding cows average 197.4p per kg and sold to 239.5p and £2,060 gross for a 860kg Simmental cross from Kinnahaird Farm, Contin.


Melton Mowbray’s sale of prime cows on 12th April, saw the top cow being a heavy weight Simmental from James Griffin Farming which sold to £1804.96. In the sale of breeding cattle on the same day, Simmental cows & calves from Kingarth farms sold to £2220, £2020 and £1750 respectively. In the store ring, Howard Farms sold yearling Simmental heifers to £1290 ahead. In a bumper sale of calves, Chandler & Dickman had 3 week old Simmental x bull calves to £285, with heifers from the same run to £250.


At Holmfirth on 11th April, the top price in the cows with calves at foot was £1430 for a Simmental outfit from G Ellis and sold to L Broster.


Lockerbie Auction Market saw a blinding trade for store cattle at its fortnightly sale on 11th April. Buyers came from far and wide in search of all types but especially grazing cattle. Simmental bullocks sold to 375.5ppk from Messrs Robson, Laverockhall.


In a sale of prime bulls at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 10th April, an 840kg Simmental from Ward Farms, Westmains Farm, Lanark sold to £2633.40 to feature in the leading prices.


At Worcester’s sale of store cattle on 8th April, Simmentals took the top two prices in the continental heifers with a Simmental X at £1305 (264ppkg) from T Barbour & Son, and a further Simmental X from DJ & M Edwards at £1000. A 13-month old Simmental X at £1055 took the second top price in the steers and again from DJ & M Edwards.


At Thainstone on 7th April, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of Cast Cows and Bulls on behalf of Orkney consignors. Beef Cows sold to 280.5p per kg for a 638kg Simmental from Holland Farm, Stronsay.


On 7th April and a sale of cull cows at Frome, RM & JE Brown led the way at 220p/kg grossing £1470 for a Simmental X.


In a sale of OTM cattle at Lancaster on 7th April, steers sold to to 259.5p/kg and £1925 for a Simmental from A Kirkby & Co, Pilling.


At Gisburn’s sale of rearing calves on 6th April, Jonathan Peel’s month old Simmental bulls sold to £400 and to feature in the leading prices.


At St Boswells sale of store cattle on 6th April, Simmental bullocks from South Common sold to 338.7ppkg to feature in the leading prices.


In a sale of store cattle at Truro Market on 5th April, young steers sold well with Messrs A M & V R Pascoe of Gweek, Helston featuring in the top prices when they sold five 14 month old Simmentals at £940 and a trio of 13 month old Simmentals at £930.


On Wednesday 5th April, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of Store Cattle at Carlisle. Dairy bred bullocks sold to £1940 for a Simmental x from Auchengray Farm, Dumfries.


In a sale of calves at Oswestry on 5th April, Simmental heifers aged 2-3 months sold for £358 & £320 from J R James & Son, Church Farm.


UA’s sale of 43 rearing cattle on 5th April at Stirling, and consisting of mainly stirks, was topped at £740 for a SimX heifer from JCN & Sons.


Market Drayton’s sale of clean cattle and young bulls on 5th April saw the young bull trade race away to 326p (£2,092.92) for a Simmental from distant traveller Mr Richard Taylor, Park Lane. In the sale of store cattle, a 548kg Simmental from Mr David Swinson led the steers at £1390.


At Llandovery’s feeding cow sale on 4th April, Simmentals sold to a top of 205.70ppk or £1730 from MO Jones, Pantyrefail.


On 4th April Lawrie and Symington sold 920 Store Cattle at their April Show and Sale at Lanark. 590 bullocks were sold to a top of £1900 for 2 Simmental’s from Messrs Gilmour, Broomknowes.
In a sale of store and breeding cattle at Bakewell on 3rd April the trade for bulls was led at £2550 for a Simmental from WHI Mellor, Hazel Grove.


In a sale of weanlings at Market Drayton on 3rd April, heifers topped at £750 for 11-month Simmentals from R.W. Adams & Son, Stoke-on-Trent.


In a sale of store cattle at Dumfries on 3rd April, bulls topped at £1490, & £1450 for Simmentals from Lantonside, and to £1360 for Simmentals from Abune the Brae.


At UA’s Huntly Mart on 1st April, 905 cattle were sold. OTMs sold to average 215.7p per kg selling to 253.2p per kg or £2220 for SimX from Corskie, Garmouth.


At Gisburn’s sale of rearing calves on 30th March, J & RJ Parsons, Barnoldswick had the second top price of the day with a beautiful Simmental bull calf, 1 month and 21 days, at £445.


In a sale of calves & stirks at NWA’s J36 Crooklands auction mart on 29th March, a run of suckler bred six month old Simmental bullocks from A&M Carter, Witherslack topped at £870.


At Dungannon 29th March, suckled stock saw in-calf heifers top at £1320 for a Sim presented by B Sheridan.


At Borderway, Carlisle’s sale of weaned cattle on 29th March saw the trade of bulls up massively on the week. Leading the sale was Simmental bulls sold to £1580 from Messrs Tallentire, High Griseburn, with further Simmentals sold to £1400 from Messrs Skelton, Waterloo.


Market Drayton’s sale of clean cattle and young bulls on 29th March saw a blistering trade. Distance traveller Richard Reynolds sold Simmental bulls to 313p (£1,740.28), 306p (£2,001.24), & 290p (£1,629.80). In the heifers, the Warner Family’s Simmental returned at £1,974.46.


In the sale of prime cattle at Frome on 29th March, some cracking well fed steers from EM Horn & Son topped at 262p/kg and £1974 for a Simmental x at 18mo. Others from the same good home returned at £1931, £1863.


At Oswestry’s sale of calves on 29th March, J R James & Son, Church Farm sold smart Simmental heifers aged 2-3 months for £392, £390 & £385.


At Sedgemoor’s sale of prime cattle on 27th March, heifers rose to £1,786.05 for a quality pure bred Simmental from R Bigwood, Burnham on Sea, who sold another at £1,726.46.


On Monday 27th March, Lawrie & Symington Ltd had forward 139 cattle comprising of 52 bullocks and heifers and 87 cast cows at Lanark. Beef cows sold to 274p/pk for a Simmental from Messrs Lowry, Newsteadings Farm, Lanark.


A flying sale of store cattle at Darlington on 27th March saw bulls around 12 months of age impress as local producer E Parsons sold Simmental’s to £1430 and to feature in the top prices.


Market Drayton’s sale of cull bulls on 27th March saw Simmentals lead the way at £2168 from Paul Mullee & family.


At Gisburn on 25th March, feeding cows were a flyer, selling to a high of £1260 for a Simmental X from Stephen Duckworth.


On 23rd March, at Market Drayton’s Orange Market Sale, a strong trade saw the best yarding cattle top at £1480 for a 548kg Simmental steer.


At a sale of 603 store cattle at Ayr on 23rd March, 250 Heifers Averaged 269.2p or £1147.64. Heifer prices topped at £1850 for a Simmental off Laigh Drumdow.


In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 22nd March, Simmental heifers with shape and cover from Waddon Farm sold to 257p/kg and to lead the gross prices at £1603.

LIZZIE HARDING WINS THE YOUNG STOCKPERSON AWARD AT STIRLING FEBRUARY SIMMENTAL SALE

LIZZIE HARDING WINS THE YOUNG STOCKPERSON AWARD AT STIRLING FEBRUARY SIMMENTAL SALE

Let’s hear it for Lizzie Harding, Cornerfields Farm, Uxbridge, Bucks, who won the Young Stockperson award at the recent record-breaking Stirling Simmental Sale held in February. A young but long time Simmental enthusiast, Lizzie is heavily involved with the family’s Hallway herd. On a bit of a busman’s holiday at Stirling Lizzie, who is studying veterinary medicine at Nottingham University, was working with the Westridge Simmental bulls of Ward Farms, West Mains Farm, Carnwath, Lanarkshire.


Held at the February and October Stirling Simmental Sales each year, the Young Stockperson award recognises the Young Simmental member who over the three days of the inspection, pre-sale show, and the sale itself, has been judged to have shown enthusiasm, an eye for detail, and an all-round ability in the preparation, handling, and presentation of their Simmental bulls.


Judging the Young Stockperson Award at the February Sale was BSCS Council member Richard Storer Smith who himself runs the Storersmith Simmental herd at Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Commenting, Richard said: “These high profile bull sales provide fantastic experience for Young Simmental Members both in the skills of looking after and preparing the sale animals, but also in communicating with fellow breeders, potential purchasers, and general promotion of the Simmental breed. Lizzie shows fantastic ability, is just full of bubbly enthusiasm, and was a very worthy winner of this award.” Come sale time and it was a solid sale for the Westridge herd who sold their bulls at 6500gns, and 4800gns x2.


No stranger to Young Simmental events, and general breed shows and sales, Lizzie has been competing in and winning young stockperson awards over some ten years. Lizzie’s abilities and enthusiasm for all things Simmental is backed up by her tremendous in-depth knowledge of pedigrees in the Simmental Herdbook! A big well done is extended to Lizzie and all of the Simmental Young Members at Stirling who promoted the breed so well.

‘BUMPER’ MARKET BRIEFS!! SIMMENTALS TOPPING UK COMMERCIAL SALES AND INCLUDING AT: FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; BAKEWELL; SEDGEMOOR; HEXHAM; WORCESTER; BALLYMENA; EXETER; ABERDEEN; HUNTLY; GISBURN; STIRLING; SKIPTON; OSWESTRY; PENRITH; NEWTON STEWART; LANCASTER; HALLWORTHY; DUMFRIES; MARKET DRAYTON; CARLISLE; AYR; DUNGANNON; & THIRSK.

‘BUMPER’ MARKET BRIEFS!! SIMMENTALS TOPPING UK COMMERCIAL SALES AND INCLUDING AT: FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; BAKEWELL; SEDGEMOOR; HEXHAM; WORCESTER; BALLYMENA; EXETER; ABERDEEN; HUNTLY; GISBURN; STIRLING; SKIPTON; OSWESTRY; PENRITH; NEWTON STEWART; LANCASTER; HALLWORTHY; DUMFRIES; MARKET DRAYTON; CARLISLE; AYR; DUNGANNON; & THIRSK.

The commercial trade for all classes of cattle continues to be on fire at sale centres around the UK and Simmentals are featuring strongly within that. This latest ‘bumper issue’ of market briefs feature 24 markets around the UK where Simmental sired cattle having been topping sale sections over this last month. There’s many more market topping prices not covered here where the sale leading cattle are bred out of Simmental females!


Milk and maternal are the Simmental signature traits. Backed up with growth rates and age at slaughter, the modern British Simmental is adaptable to all geographies and systems around the UK. Remember, Simmental is the no-nonsense beef breed! Easy to look after, efficient, flexible, giving you added value, and with a hard-working ethos that gets the job done!


In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 22nd March Simmental heifers with shape and cover from Waddon Farm sold to 257p/kg grossing £1603 and featuring at the top of the prices.


At Melton Mowbray’s sale of store, and breeding cattle on 22nd March, breeding and feeding cows yet again saw a tremendous trade, with G Saxelby & Son leading the day’s trade for cows topping at £1845 for a pure Simmental.


Bakewell’s sale of 63 barren, OTM and feeding cows on 20th March saw an overall average of 201.86p /kg or (£1,332.00). Leading the way at £1759.50 was a Simm from P Cafferty, Ashover.
In a sale of barren cows at Sedgemoor on 20th March, a smart red and white purebred Simmental cow topped the day at 203.5ppk from R Bigwood. Others at 201.5ppk for a well fleshed Simmental cross from AJ & TLJ Hawkins.


Hexham’s sale of store cattle on 18th March saw the trade for young bulls led at £1390 for a Simmental from Messrs JA & L Ogle, Wydon.


Buyers simply queuing up for cattle at Worcester on 18th March. Stronger cattle are hitting heights never experienced in the store ring. Strong Steers sell to £1600 (yes £1600!), and led by Simmentals from AV Verity.


At Ballymena’s sale of calves on 17th March, the trade for younger bulls saw a 2-month-old Simmental top at £520.


A big entry of calves at Exeter on 17th March saw the top bull calf being £305 for a super Simmental bull from Messrs MR & KM Pring of Broadclyst.


Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of cast cows and bulls on 16th March from Orkney. Beef Cows sold to £2,030 gross for a 1020kg Simmental Bullock from D Petrie, Westhouse, Warth, Twatt.


At a sale of cast cows and bulls at Thainstone on 16th March, beef finished cows (109) averaged £1836.14 and sold to £2350 for a 1016kg Simmental cross from Nittanshead, New Pitsligo.


On 16th March, United Auctions had a sale of store cattle and OTMs at Huntly. OTM’s sold to a top of 226p per kg for a 770kg SimX from Whinbrae, Huntly. Top gross being £2420 for a 1320kg Sim bull from Tillyminate, Gartly.


A fantastic entry of 246 rearing calves were forward at Gisburn on 16th March, and simply put were ‘a right’ trade! David Mattinson sold the highest price calf of the day, a beautiful Simmental bull calf at £460.


At Stirling on 15th March, United Auctions sold 1459 store cattle, young bulls and 125 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Out of Spec Cattle averaged 232.69p and to £2190 for a SIMX from Abbey. OTM cows were led by Linross with a Simm at £2270, whilst OTM bulls were topped by Neuk with a Simm at £2170.


On 15th March at Melton Mowbray, a sale of calves and weanlings saw a tremendous run of Blue and Simmental sired calves from the regular supporters see Chandler & Dickman take the days leading prices; with a Simmental Bull calf away to £365 and more from the same good home to £350.
Skipton’s sale of feeding cows on 15th March saw a nice run of Simmental cross Cows from RD Elliott Tadcaster feature in the top prices, with 8 selling from £1560 to £1790 and 3 of them being £1700 plus.


In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 15th March, the top price was £2045 for a Simmental from EM Horn & Son, Swanmore. On the same day in a sale of prime cattle, Simmental steers with shape and cover from RE & AM Hicks sold to 266p/kg, and 262p/kg from JC Stainer. Simmental heifers from RE & AM Hicks sold to 258p/kg and £1545.


A sale of calves and weanlings at Oswestry on 15th March, saw a ‘good show of weanlings’ with C A Wildbore, Carreghofa topping with his Simmental steers aged 9-12 months selling to £630, and also £590 & £565.


Melton Mowbray saw a large yarding of rearing calves and weanlings forward with 164 rearing calves on offer on 14th March. A tremendous run of Blue and Simmental sired calves from the regular supporters saw Chandler & Dickman take the days leading prices; with a Simmental Bull calf leading the way at £365 and more from the same good home to £350.


On 13th March, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of 82 OTM Cattle. An excellent number of cast cows was forward to a very active ring of buyers. An overall sale average of 193ppk was achieved, topping at 287.5pk from first time vendor Messrs J G & S M Tallentire, High Griseburn, with a Simmental cross British Blue young cow totalling £1837.30 with this consignment averaging 258ppk/£1466.61. At the same sale, a TB exempt Simmental X, 6 year old cow from Messrs R W Sowerby & Son, Sycamore Rise made £2036.96.


At Craig Wilson Ltd’s sale of store cattle at Newton Stewart on 10th March, 70 Heifers averaged 270.2p k/g peaking at £1420 for a pen of Simmental Crosses from A Henry, Barrachan.


Young bulls are becoming ever frequent in the Hexham ring now on a Friday, and on 10th March, Messrs JA & L Ogle, Wydon sold two lots of Simmental cross bulls to the day’s top price of £1400.


A sale of store cattle on 10th March at Lancaster commenced with an entry of young feeding bulls. Yearling Simmentals from Barlow Bros, Croston sold at £1320. In the steers, Nether Kellett also sold Simmentals at £1680.


SIMMENTAL STEER SETS EXETER RECORD OF £2010
Exeter on 10th March saw close to 600 store cattle and stirks penned and sold with demand as strong as ever for all types on offer. Steers topped at a very impressive South West high and market record of £2010 given for a Simmental from Robert Hawkins of Ottery St Mary whilst much later born (15m) Simmental bullocks still saw a notable £1500 for Andrew and George Palk of Marldon. The same vendors saw their Simmental heifers (21m) sell to £1500 for a super bunch of five.


At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone on 9th March, 30 to 36 Month bullocks sold to 287p per kg for a 690kg Simmental Cross from Denhead of Muiresk, Turriff. Heifers sold to 283p and £1850.82 gross for a 654kg Simmental from Denhead of Muiresk. Denhead of Muiresk also sold young Simmental bulls to 287p, 284p, and 279p. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, boning cows averaged £1034.36 and sold to £1345 for a 718kg Simmental. Dairy cows averaged £1590 and sold to £1790 for a 816kg Fleckvieh from 4 Sibster, Wick.


412 Stores at Hallworthy on 9th March saw top spot going to A Hart of St Austell with a 23 month Simmental steer, deep bodied and well fleshed to £1735. W E Uglow of Trelash sold a super young Simmental x to £1445. Heard Bros of St Issey in close with a super pen of four Simmental x Steers to £1295. Younger Steers from J Buckland & Son of St Buryan saw his pair of 10 month Simmentals to £1200. W E Uglow saw a single Simmental x Heifer away at £1445.


C&D Auction Marts, Dumfries held their sale of primestock on 8th March. Dairy cows of all classes met a competitive trade selling to 208p/kg for a Fleckvieh from Slacks.


In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 8th March, Simmentals from CSA Holdings, Trowbridge led the way at 235p/kg.


On Wednesday 8th March, Market Drayton’s sale of store cattle saw the steers topped by a 652kg Simmental at £1,670.00 from Mr David Bradshaw.


In a sale of calves and stirks at Craig Wilson Ltd’s Ayr market on 7th March, Simmental Cross: £1260 Lochridgehill, heifer stirks were led at £1260 by Simmental X’s from Lochridgehill. In a sale of breeding cattle on the same day, the cow and calf trade was led by a Simmental and Heifer at £1800 from Fowler. In-calf females were topped by a Simmental at £1450 from Holmes.


At Hexham’s Primestock Sale on 7th March, making a very successful first trip, and featuring in the very top end of prices, was Messrs T M Lough & Son, Whittle, Shilbottle who sold Simmental cross cows to £1825.13. The same home sold a Simmental Bull to £1730.58.


On Monday 6th March and a sale of store cattle at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, heifers averaged 270 ppkg and selling to £1610 for a pen of Simmentals from A l & J Blair, East Kerse, Lochwinnoch.


Exeter’s sale of prime cattle on 6th March saw Keith and Hilary Harvey lead the way in the heavy heifer section with a dairy crossbred Simmental grossing £1514 (660kg x 230ppk) with beef bred Simmentals making to 246ppk and 244ppk for Adrian and Bradley Bowden and John Cullen respectively. The OTM primes on offer saw the best coming from Chris Stacey of Buckfastleigh with his Simmental heifer reaching £1381 (638kg x 217ppk).


C & D Auction Marts held their fortnightly sale of store cattle in Dumfries on Monday 6th March 2023. Bulls per kg were led by a Simm at 301.20ppkg from Abune The Brae.


United Auctions sold 1045 cattle at their sale at Huntly on 4th March. OTMs sold to average 191.9p per kg and a top gross of £2000 for a Simm from Whinbrae, Glens of Foundland.


The store cattle sale at Worcester on 4th March saw another ‘rip roaring’ trade and led by Simmental X’s at £1525 from G L Bomford & Son.


At Thainstone on 3rd March a sale of 145 store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors saw heifers sell to a top of £1,760 gross for a 644kg Simmental from J & E Miller, Nigley, Evie.


The sale of stirks and calves forward at Exeter on 3rd March saw the 170 forward meet with a solid trade. Top of the day was a trio of fantastic Simmental x steers (11m) from Richard Beckley down from Black Dog topping at £1025. Best of the heifers topped out at £850 again for Richard Beckley presenting Simmental crosses (12m).


At H&H’s Primestock Sale at Carlisle on 6th March, topping the prime bulls and the sale overall at £2423 was the heaviest animal of the day a 1038kg Simmental from Messrs Houldey, Kirtleton House, Lockerbie and purchased by Alan Jarvis. Black & White sold to £1733.15 for a 681kg Fleckvieh of Bluestone Farming, Nethermains Farm, Duns purchased by Jewitt Meats.


At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of cast cows, bulls, and prime cattle on 2nd March at Thainstone on behalf of Orkney consignors, beef cows sold to £2,270 gross for a 888kg Simmental from Firm of Paterson, Veltigar, Tankerness.


Gisburn’s sale of prime cattle on 2nd March saw heavier bulls sold to a high of 281ppk for a 796kg Simmental from H & F Eccles & Son.


At the sale of store cattle at Hallworthy on 2nd March, younger steers from J Noy of Helston with a cracking run of Simmental x Steers at 12 months saw his best to £1230 x3 and a pair of ‘posh Simmental steers’ to £1100.


C&D Auction Marts held their weekly sale of Primestock on Wednesday 1st March 2023 at Dumfries. Beef cows sold to 278p/kg for a Simm from Millhill.


At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 1st March, weanling prices remained brisk and peaked at £1170 440kg for a Sim Male presented by J Toland. Suckled Cows & Calves sold to £1760 for a Fleckvieh Cow with a Bull Calf at foot.


On Wednesday 1st March, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of weaned cattle at Carlisle. Topping the sale at £1460 was a Simmental bull from Messrs Cowx, Town End with another from the same home at £1440.


In a sale of store cattle at Ballymena on 28th February, the trade for heifers at over 500kgs was topped by P Brankin, Aghalee with a Sim at £1590.


At Thirsk on 28th February, 197 store cattle were forward. Young bulls sold beyond expectation making up to £1520 including Simmental X from R Inglis, Howden.


SIMMENTAL TOPS CARLISLE’S PRIMESTOCK SALE AT £2759!
The Primestock sale at H&H’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle, was topped by a 19-month old Simmental bull at £2759 from Messrs Houldey, Kirtleton House, Lockerbie on 27th February, and which sold for £315 more than the next top price beast.


Exeter on 24th February saw the show of stirks and suckled calves meet another fantastic trade for all types forward. Top of the day was Simmental cross steers (11m) from the Morris Family of Northlew topping at £1030.


On 24th February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1523 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves at Thainstone. Young bulls sold to 289.9p per kg for a 238kg Simmental cross from Aulton, Craigellachie and £1300 gross for a pair of 510kg Simmental from Peasiehill, Arbroath. On the same day at a sale of store cattle on behalf of Shetland consignors, bullocks sold to 311.7p per kg for a pen of three 348kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. Heifers Sold to £990 gross for a pair of 360kg Simmental and 275.1p per kg for a pen of three 338kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. Cull Cows sold to £1545 & 220p per kg for a 702kg Simmental from P & E Anderson, East Gate, East Burrafirth.


On 23rd February, at Aberdeen and Northern Marts Thainstone centre and a sale of cast cows and bulls on behalf of Orkney consignors, beef cows sold to £1,790 gross for a 758kg Simmental from B Ridland, Aikerness, Evie.


At Ballymena on 23rd February, an 8-year-old Simmental cast cow from Ranfurly grossed £2289.50 at £2.41ppkg and was bought for further feeding for a specialist French market.


At Huntly on 23rd February, United Auctions sale of store cattle and OTMs, saw the OTMs sold to a top of 246.8p per kg for a 770kg SimX from Haddo Estates, Tarves.


At a sale of prime cattle on 23rd February at Stirling’s Caledonian Marts, bulls (under 30 months) sold to 275ppkg on two occasions for a Simmental from J & S Barr, Leyden, Kirknewtonand, and to £2040 for a Simmental from P J & W Cameron, Woodhall, Innerwick.


On 23rd February at Ayr, Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 729 Store Cattle. A packed ringside of buyers witnessed an animated trade from start to finish. Top Price of the day was £1900 for a Simmental off Auchengarth. The Simmental bullock prices included: £1900 and £1740 Auchengarth, £1810 and £1750 Muirlaught, £1700 Cloquhairnan, £1530 West Newton, £1510 Dykefield. Simmental heifer prices included: £1690 and £1595 East Kerse, £1650 Coilsholm, £1450 Overtoun.


Sedgemoor’s sale of store cattle on 22nd February saw a good entry of 148 head meet a superb trade. Top was £1330 for Simmental steers from KA Cook, Morebath, who sold others at £1155.


On 22nd February, United Auctions, Stirling sold 1953 store cattle, young bulls and 166 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Bullocks (1054) averaged 288.88p to 332.50p per kg for a pen of 397kg SIMX from Clunoag.


Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 22nd February saw the heifer trade led by a well-fed Simmental x heifer from JD & JS Padfield at 251p/kg, grossing £1578.


At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 22nd February, suckled cows and calves sold to £2000 for a Sim Cow with a Bull Calf at foot presented by W Murphy; while springing Heifers sold to £1800 for a Sim presented by E Hagan.


In a sale of feeding bulls at Bakewell on 20th February, the top price was £1500 for a nine-month-old Simm X from Mosley & Co, Chelmorten. Second top price was another nine-month-old Simm X from the same home at £1400.


On 20th February at Market Drayton, the small sale of cull bulls was led at £2,175.62 by a Simmental from JH.&JE.Sands & Son, St Martins.

Photos from BSCS library

SIMMENTAL STEER SELLS FOR A £2010 CENTRE RECORD AT EXETER!

SIMMENTAL STEER SELLS FOR A £2010 CENTRE RECORD AT EXETER!

• Ant Hart tops Hallworthy Market with a Simm steer


A strong week of sales across their Exeter and Hallworthy centres saw Kivells auctioneers selling 1312 store cattle and 381 stirks in all with Simmentals leading the way at both centres. On 10th March, and with a South West high and an Exeter market record of £2010, was a Simmental (25m) from Robert Hawkins of Ottery St Mary, whilst much later born (15m) Simmental bullocks saw a notable £1500 for Andrew and George Palk of Marldon. More good Simmentals from Andrew and George Palk saw their heifers (21m) sell to £1500 for a super bunch of five.


On the previous day at Hallworthy and a sale of 412 stores, Simmentals again topped the trade. Top sale spot went to Ant Hart of St Austell with a 23 month Simmental Steer, deep bodied and well fleshed to £1735. W E Uglow of Trelash had a super young Simmental x to £1445. Heard Bros of St Issey also in close with a super pen of four Simmental x Steers to £1295. Younger Steers from J Buckland & Son of St Buryan saw his pair of 10 month Simmentals to £1200. In the heifers, W E Uglow had a single Simmental x Heifer away at £1445, and feature at the top of the prices.
It’s great to see commercial Simmental bred cattle continuing to sell so well in both Devon and Cornwall and a big well done to all the vendors involved.