• 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
Strong demand for Simmental breeding females Simm X Heifers & bull calves to £3400 Simm cows & bull calves to £3400 Simm cows & heifer calves to £3300
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! Two of the heifers were by Islavale Huntly, and with the third being by Skerrington Gambler. 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.
With an increasing cost base, efficiency and all-round added value is key to the forward industry. Quiet, easy calving, easy keep, milky Simmental females, who can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days, are ticking a lot of added value boxes for commercial producers. There’s more to a Simmental!
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.
Charles Gordon (right), Lost Farm, Strathdon, receiving the Champion Simmental award, for the second year in a row, from BSCS Chairman of Shows & Sales North, Stewart Stronach.
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.
This was the second year in a row that Lost Farm has topped the Simmental prices and lifted this award at the corresponding sale. The Gordons are well recognised for selling strong consignments of well-bred outfits to returned buyers at both the spring and autumn Thainstone fixtures, and from their 50-cow suckler herd of mainly Simmental cross females.
Class 1 Simmental Sired Heifer with Male Calf 1st – C & G Gordon Lost Farm Strathdon £3,700 2nd – C & G Gordon Lost Farm Strathdon £3,500 3rd – A Prentice The Bungalow New Noth Gartly £3,600 Class 2 Simmental Sired Heifer with Female Calf 1st – C Malone Pitcairn Cardenden £3,500 2nd – W J Morrison Fairburn Longmannhill £3,450 3rd – C Malone Pitcairn Cardenden £3,750
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