Here we go with more Simmental Market Briefs, and the first round-up post in 2023. The calendar may have ticked over but it’s more of the same as Simmental cattle again show their versatility, flexibility, and efficiency, in topping commercial sales around the UK. Please see here snippets from some 21 UK livestock markets as Simmentals top store, prime, breeding, cast, and calf sections.
At Darlington on 23rd January, the ‘brilliant store trade bounds along merrily’. Featuring at the very top end of prices, a trio of young Simmental bulls from E Parsons, Newstead Farm made £1300.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 20th January sold 765 store cattle and young bulls and with tremendous averages. Heifers (301) averaged 267.9p and sold to £1840 gross for a 604kg Simmental from Wester Coltfield, Kinloss. Bullocks at 651-700kg were led by Loanend with a SimX at £1860.
Backmuir led the heifers up to 250kgs with a Sim at £570, and also the heifers between 250-300kg with another Sim at £700. Heifers at 551-600kg saw Wester Coltfield top again with a SimX at £1720 with heifers at 601-650kg topped by Mill of Gellan with a SimX, and Wester Coltfield with a Sim, at £1780. At the same sale, R&A Pettit, Den Farm, Fochabers had Sim x steers at 295ppkg.
On 20th January Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a store cattle sale for Orkney Consignors. Bullocks sold to a top of £1,710 gross for a 626kg Simmental from J & M Smith, Lower Cornquoy, Holm. Heifers sold to a top of £1,660 gross for a 656kg Simmental from E Hourston, Mucklehouse, Swannay.
On 19th January Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 339 Cows and Bulls to average £1478.42. Boning Cows averaged £882.50 and sold to £1010 for a 576kg Simmental cross.
Harrison & Hetherington held a sale of store cattle at St Boswells on 19th January. Trade was buoyant throughout with the bullocks per kilo topped at 256.1p for a Simmental from Midburn. Heifers per head were topped at £985 and again for Simmentals from Midburn.
At NWA’s sale of calves and stirks on 19th January at Jct 36 Crooklands, bull calves achieved a top price of £390 for a Simmental x from Langley Park Firms, Millom who sold others at £350 and £340. United Auctions on 18th January at Stirling sold 980 store cattle, young bulls and 180 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, 24 breeding cattle & 76 rearing cattle. Out of Spec Cattle sold to 240.60p per kg for a SimX from Holms of Caaf. The breeding cattle were led by a pure Sim cow with heifer calf at £2600 from Powblack. In Calf Heifers saw pure Sims top at £2000 & £1800 also from Powblack. The sale of rearing cattle saw a strong show of stirks forward with the trade led at £650 from Messrs Yorke, Holmes of Caaf, for a SimX Bullock.
At the sale of store cattle and weaned calves on 18th January at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, Simmentals featured in the top end of prices with steer calves from Church View making £1140, and £950. At Dumfries on 18th January, C&D Marts Primestock Sale saw Simmentals from Cormaddie lead the per head, and per kilo trade at £1519.80, and £1491.50, and 190p, and 184p per kilo. Simmental heifers sold to 260p/kg from Low Three Mark to W. Lindsay, Butchers, Creetown.
Dungannon’s sale on 18th January saw the dropped calf trade for heifers top at £265 for a Sim presented by R Fields.
Hexham’s sale of cast cows and OTMs on 17th January saw Simmentals feature in the top end of prices with cows at £1914.03 High Keenley Fell, and 208.5p.
Malton Livestock Market’s sale on 17th January saw young bulls top at 223.50ppk (£2246.18) for a 10005kg Sim X from SF Stubbings.
At Ayr on 17th January, Craig Wilson Ltd held a sale of calves and stirks. In the stirks, Simmentals topped the trade for both bullocks and heifers. Leading the bullocks was Simmental X’s at £1150 from Auchentibber, with further from the same home at £1030 and £930. Heifer Stirks top price per head was a Simmental X at £960 from Boydston.
In a sale of calves at Melton Mowbray on 17th January, a handier show forward with increased buying power for all goods showed calves to be a strong trade. Top in the week was J Darlington & Son hitting highs for Simmentals at £305.
On Monday 16th January at Lanark’s Primestock Sale, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 119 cattle comprising of 40 bullocks and heifers, and 79 cast cows. Continuing a fine run of market topping sales, beef cows sold to £2100 per head for Simmentals from Messrs McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm, Armadale or to 232p/pk from Messrs McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm. On the day Overhill House had four other Simmentals to £1800!
Mr Charles Forrester, Northwood with a Simmental to £1,532.52 topped a small section of cull bulls at Market Drayton on 16th January.
On 13th January, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle for Shetland consignors. Bullocks sold to £980 and 264.8p per kg for 370kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. At NWA’s sale of calves, OTM, dairy and store cattle on Friday 13th January, the trade for Fleckvieh cattle stood out. Once again strong calves were in most demand with a couple of consignments of weaned calves leading the way. Sale peaked at £535 and £515 for Fleckvieh bulls from JR Newsham & Son, Conder Green. Dairy cows sold to a top price of 231p/kg for a young Fleckvieh from JS&KM Wilson & Son, Kendal. In the dairy cattle, a top price of £2000 was achieved including a Fleckvieh x from R&K Jenkinson, Pilling who sold others at £1900.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts on Thursday 12th January had a total of 80 Cast Cows and Bulls forward from Orkney consignors. Beef Cows Sold to £1,910 gross for a 930kg Simmental from J & E Miller, Nigley, Evie.
At Gisburn Markets sale of primestock and cast cattle on 12th January, a cracking show of cast cattle saw 131 forward and a red-hot trade. Beef bred cows sold to a high of 242ppk for a 710kg Simmental from David Pawson.
Thirsk Market held a primestock sale on 12th January. The best grossing bull was £2024.75 for a Simmental from JT Harker & Son, Upsall, purchased by RM Helliwell, Rochdale.
At a sale of adult breeding cattle on 11th January at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, the leading prices saw Simmental heifers from North Crannoch at £2450, £2380 (X8), & £2280. A SimX from Backhill of Seggat sold to £1980. Heifers with bull calf at foot sold to £1,850 for a Simmental with Simmental calf from Backhill of Seggat, Auchterless.
James Turner – Stoneacton Farm, Church Stretton, Shropshire
At Dungannon on 11th January, dropped Calves sold to £410 for a Sim Bull presented by R Fields. The same vendor also topped the heifers at £360 with a further Sim.
United Auctions on 11th January at Stirling sold 1421 store cattle, native bred cattle and young bulls and 176 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Heifers (604) averaged 245.76p to 274.10p per kg for a 405kg SIMX from West Muirhouse.
On 11th January at Melton Mowbray’s sale of prime cows, stock bulls, and OTMs, the auctioneers described the trade as ‘simply on fire as Melton firms its position on the map as the cull cow centre of the Midlands’! Leading the way was P Wright with a Sim X cow at £1906.94.
C & D Auction Marts held their opening 2023 sale of store cattle in Dumfries. All vendors delighted with returns as buyers competed fiercely for both suckler and dairy bred cattle. Bulls to £1160 for Simmentals from J Goldie Newbie Mains and to 293.8p.
At Brockholes Arms Auction Mart, Preston, on 10th January, a terrific sale of store cattle saw top spot in the steer section go to Mark Heap with an excellent 20mth Sim x realising £1,560.
On Monday 9th January, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 162 cattle comprising of 70 bullocks and heifers, and 90 cast cows at Lanark. Beef cows sold to £1930 per head for Simmentals from Messrs McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm, Armadale. Overhill House also had the second top price in the fat heifers with a Simmental at £1914.
At Huntly on 7th January, United Auctions sold 715 cattle at their first sale of 2023 where prices rocketed to record levels. OTMS saw a Sim at £2030 or 230.7p from Corskie, Garmouth; with a SimX at £2020 or 226.4p from Upper Blairnain, Aberlour.
In a sale of 656 store cattle at Sedgemoor on 7th January, heifers soared to £1400 for a forward Simmental from EMC Bax.
On 6th January and a sale of store cattle and stirks at Exeter, the top price in the heifers, and the joint top price on the day, was a tremendous pair of pure bred Simmental females from Keith White and Family of Sandford which went on to make £1380 each. In the stirks & suckled calves, the best topped out at £795 for Trevor Chugg down from Chulmleigh presenting Simmental cross steers (9m) with others a little younger off the same good farm to £670.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 149 Cows and Bulls to average £1499.21 on 5th January at Thainstone. The phenomenal trade for Beef Finished Cows saw 77 average £1678.83 and led at a tremendous £2210 for a 1018kg Simmental from Upper Woodside, Rothiemay.
United Auctions on Wednesday 4th January at Stirling sold 1280 store cattle, young bulls and 97 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Young Bulls averaged 251.17p to 274.70p per kg for a SIMX from Philiphaugh.
Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling sold 158 Cattle comprising of 71 Bullocks and Heifers, and 87 OTM Cattle on 5th January. Dairy Bulls forward all over 16 months sold to 222ppkg for a Fleckvieh from R Nelson, Blairmains, Culross and to £1281 for the same beast.
At Borderway Market, Carlisle on 4th January, H&H’s sale of store cattle and weanlings saw Simmentals feature in the top prices. Simmental bulls sold to £1140 from Messrs Skelton, Waterloo Farm at just 12 months of age.
Melton Mowbray’s sale of store and breeding cattle on 4th January saw larger yarding type cattle hitting the leading prices and well in demand. Topping was K J Heaps at £1235 with a pair of Simmental sired bullocks.
At Dungannon on 4th January, dropped calves cleared to a height of £400 for a Sim Bull presented by E Speers.
At C&D Auction Marts, Dumfries, opening sale of 2023 on 4th January, OTMs cashed in at 182p having sold to a top of £1621.50 and 230p for a Simmental from Newbie Mains.
In a sale of store cattle at Holsworthy on 4th January, a small entry was forward but with a tremendous trade! Up £100-£150 for most of the stronger, wintering cattle. Top price being £1305 for a 15-month Simmental steer from Messrs BG & DM Ley of Langtree with other Simmental steers from the same farm £1240-£1150. Lean, outlying 20-month Fleckvieh steers from Mr C McWhirter, High Bickington to £1140 with others to £1020.
Market Drayton’s sale of store cattle on 2nd January saw Simmentals leading the heifers at £1,190.00 (556kg) from H.A. Barber&Son.
On Monday 2nd January Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of primestock at Carlisle. A good entry of 72 prime bulls saw a very strong trade with ten bulls selling for over £2000. Messrs Hyslop, Gillrig, Lockerbie featured with Simmentals to £2110.58 for 789kgs.
It’s been another busy period for market briefs as Simmental cattle continue to show their versatility and top sales in the breeding, store, prime, and calf sections in markets around the UK.
The efficiency and quality of Simmental females combined with their ability to add value when crossed with other breeds sees them as being benchmark suckler cows; full of milk; fertile; easy calving; can calve at two years old; and who can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days. When you add in leading age at slaughter abilities, along with Simmental sired progeny being fast growing with terrific weight for age, and producing high quality carcases with a high retail beef yield, then it’s a compelling Simmental package for commercial producers in a cost conscious industry.
We’ve enjoyed bringing you Simmental market briefs through the year and from some thirty livestock markets around the United Kingdom. Going into 2023 if you have any snippets of Simmentals doing the business in your area then please let us know at information@britishsimmental.co.uk and we’ll be pleased to highlight them.
From the market briefs team, can we wish all Simmental breeders and commercial producers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The latest Simmental market briefs are:
At Lancaster Auction Mart sale of calves, dairy, OTM, and store cattle on Friday 16th December, the trade for OTM heifers was led by a Simmental at 231.50ppkg from Intack Farm.
On Wednesday 14th December Harrison & Hetherington conducted their weekly sale of calves at Carlisle. Simmental calves were very dear topping at £445×2 from Messrs Nash, Philgowan.
At Truro’s sale of store cattle on 14th December, 1½yo Simmental x to £1275 for Mr A Blamey of Veryan, Truro, the trade for one and a half year old steers was led by Mr A Blamey of Veryan, Truro with a Simmental x to £1275.
At Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 14th December, Simmentals with plenty of shape and weighing 637kgs from Norridge Farms topped returning 242.50p/kg or £1545. Norridge Farms also had others to £1492.
Thirsk market held a special show and sale of breeding cattle on 13th December. In the in-calf heifers section 103 were forward in all. Amblers Lodge sold 17 Simmental to a top of £2525 and the leading average of £2100.
Exeter Livestock Centre on 9th December held a sale of store cattle and suckled calves. Steers rose to a top of £1500 given for a strong looking Simmental from Graham Tancock of Broadclyst. A small entry of stirks and suckled calves met a strong trade throughout. Simmental steers (8m) from NM Sanders of Camelford topped the sale at £790.
In a sale of store cattle at Lancaster Auction Mart on 9th December, OTM heifers sold to 142.5p/kg and £1441 for a Simmental from Barlow Bros, Croston.
At Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 9th December, Simmental steers topped the sale and to a marvellous 234.50p/kg or £1541 from Norridge Farms, who also had others to 226.50p/kg.
In a sale of prime cattle at Aberdeen & Northern Marts Thainstone centre on 8th December, young bulls sold to £1,951.08 gross for a 916kg Simmental from Drumsleed, Fordoun. In a sale of cast cows and bulls on the same day, bulls averaged £1,784.44 and sold to £2,290 for a 1,340kg Simmental from Tillyeve, Udny.
In a further sale of store cattle at Lancaster Auction Mart on 8th December, younger steers sold to £825 for six month old Sim Luing bullocks from Low Moor Howe Farms Ltd.
At Skipton on 7th December the store heifer average was led by Simmentals at £1237 and to a top of £1340 from JM Ewin Newhouse; and £1330 from G&R Bulmer. United Auctions on 7th December sold 429 store cattle, young bulls, 315 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls & 42 rearing cattle at Stirling. Young bulls averaged 200.21p to 244p per kg for a SimX from Highmill.
C&D Auction Marts held their annual Christmas Primestock show & sale in Dumfries on Wednesday 7th December 2022. The top price per head was a Simm at £1757.20 from Lantonside.
In the Christmas Show of store cattle at Brockholes Arms Auction Mart on 7th December, the Reserve Championship went to WK Byers & Son with their pair of Simmental steers which went on to sell at £1,260. Mark Heap with another super pen of 17mth old Simx also sold to £1,260.
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd on December 7th held a sale of store and breeding cattle. Young Bulls sold to £760 gross for a Simmental cross from Croft Ault Na Chruinne, Glenshiel.
On 5th December at Lanark, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 229 cattle comprising of 50 bullocks and heifers, 99 cast cows and 80 calves and stirks. The 99 beef cows of all breeds sold to a top of £2000 per head for Simmentals from Richard McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm, Armadale. A further Simm cow from Over Hillhouse sold for £1895.
At H&H’s sale of primestock at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 5th December, the trade for all classes was sharper on the week. Messrs Stamper & Son, Rose Farm’s run of cattle topped the sale at 800kg, 262.5p, £2100 for a Simmental cross bullock and 671kg,
At Dalmally, United Auctions on 3rd December sold 525 store cattle and 56 breeding cattle. Bullocks sold to £1500 for an SimX from I R Morrison, Barra.
On Friday 2nd December at a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors at ANM’s Thainstone, bullocks sold to a top of £1,470 gross for a 600kg Simmental from K & K Morgan, Swanny Farm, Swannay. On the same day, ANM sold 401 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Heifers (143) sold to £1,400 gross for a 602kg Simmental cross from Nether Tillygarmond, Finzean. Bulls sold to 238.9p per kg for a 406kg Simmental cross from South Auquhorthies, Olmeldrum.
In a sale of calves at Exeter on 2nd December it was a consignment of Simmental heifers which were the trade of the day topping at £205 for Messrs GE Furneaux & Son of Modbury who sold others to £190, £175 x 2, £165 x 3 & £155 x 2.
On Thursday 1st December at a sale of cast cows and bulls at ANM’s Thainstone market, mature bulls sold to £1,790 gross for a 990kg Simmental from A D Miller Spring Valley, Stronsay. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, beef feeding cows sold to £1,610 for a 690kg Simmental from Coldhome, Keith. Feeding bulls sold to £1,470 for a 960kg Simmental from Cairnhill, Huntly.
On 30th November at Truro Livestock Market,OTM prime cattle were topped by a Simmental x to 176p (754kg) for Messrs A D, D J & N C Freeman of Truro. O the same day in a sale of store cattle, 1½yo heifers were led by a Simmental x at £840 for Messrs B J Tregoning & Son of Helston.
In a sale of calves at Oswestry on 30th November, a strong Simmental bull sold to the top price of £315 from I G Evans & Sons, Pendugwn with other Simmental bulls to £280 & £250 from J R James & Son, Church Farm.
At Thainstone on 24th November, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 63 Prime Cattle. Under 30 Month Prime Bullocks were led by Hilton of Culsh with a SimX at £2033. Young Bulls averaged 205.9p (-17.4p) and sold to 224p per kg and £1892.80 gross for a 845kg Simmental from Temple Farm, Old Edinburugh Road Inverness.
The versatility, efficiency, and profitability of Simmental cattle across all commercial sale classes is again highlighted in the latest Simmental Market Briefs taking us up to the 23rd November and with lots more still to come in further reports. This latest set takes us from Dingwall to Truro and covers some twenty four livestock markets across the United Kingdom.
United Auctions (Wednesday 23 November 2022) sold 593 store cattle, young bulls and 226 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls at Stirling. Heifers (282) averaged 224.00p to 269.20p per kg for a 286kg SimX from Lochlane, and to £1405 for a 568kg SimX from Oatridge.
Skipton Auction Market held their fortnightly sale of young feeding bulls, store bullocks & heifers, and breeding cattle on 23rd November. A new fixture saw the Bovalto Show & Sale of Weaned Beef Bred Bulls provide breeders the opportunity to sell cattle early and buyers the chance to buy high quality bulls to grow on. Simmentals dominated the entry of 90 bulls and led the way in the prices with spring born bulls under 10 months topped at £1450 from RD Elliott, High Moor Farm, Tadcaster who sold further bulls in the same category at £1410 and £1390. RD Elliott also topped the 10-12 month section with Simmental bulls at £1450, and £1390. In the over 12 months section, JD Loftus had Simmental bulls at £1450.
At Harrison & Hetherington’s primestock sale on 21st November at Carlisle, a crossbred 718kg crossbred Simmental bull sold to £1784.23 from Messrs Mitchinson, Gallaberry, Brampton purchased by Jewitt Meats, Spennymoor.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone,on 17th November, and a sale of cast cows, and bulls, from Orkney consignors, beef cows sold to £1,590 gross for a 860kg Simmental from Backakelday Farms, Holm.
In a sale of rearing calves at Gisburn on 17th November, a Simmental female topped the trade at £430 from Nortons Farm Produce. Simmental X bulls sold to £350 from S Breare.
At Huntly on 17th November, United Auctions sold 205 store cattle and OTMs. OTMs sold to an average of 162.8p per kg selling to a top of 180p per kg for a 830kg SimX from Whitehils, Grange. In a sale of cast cows and OTM cattle on 18th November at NWA’s Lancaster market, OTM feeding dairy heifers led the way selling to 234.5p/kg and 229.5p/kg or a top of £1681 for Fleckviehs from JK&B Birkett & Son, Morecambe.
Simm cross steers at £1225 from B Knott and IJ Plant led the store cattle trade at McCartney’s Worcester Market on 17th November. At the same sale, Simm x bulls from SP & BS Saunder to £1150 at 11 months.
C&D Auction Marts had a sale of cast cows and bulls on 17th November at Longtown. The sale topped at 211p for a Simmental from first time vendor D Mackay, Lednabirichen, Caithness. The same sale saw Simmental cows to £1,616 from Lednabirichen.
In a sale of rearing calves at Truro on 16th November, top price in the bull calf section was £270 for a Simmental x calf from Messrs N J & L Goldsworthy of Tregony, Truro, who also had another fine Simmental realising £245.
The sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Wednesday 16th November saw steer prices remain strong to peak at £1730 for a 725kg Sim (239.00) presented by T Montgomery.
On 14th November at Frome, a store sale of mainly younger dairy types forward were topped by well-shaped Simmental heifers at £1110 from RJ Dacombe, Wimborne.
At Sedgemoor on 12th November, an excellent mid-November entry of 802 store cattle, part of 1176 with the stirks, met a continuing phenomenal trade for the best types. Another South West top price again at £1590 was achieved by JC & PA Chapple, Musbury, with a 19m Simmental steer. In a sale of stirks on the same day, heifers sold to a top price of £745 for a pure Simmental from R & J Cook. Further Simmentals to £670 AD Bulled & Sons.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on Friday 11th November at Thainstone sold 779 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Bulls sold to 241.4p per kg for a 406kg Simmental cross and £1,040 gross for a 450kg Simmental cross from South Auquhorthies, Oldmeldrum.
On 11th November and a sale of stirks at Morgan Evans & Co’s Anglesey market, the female stirk trade was led at £530 by Simmentals from W Hughes, Ty Mawr Llan.
At Exeter on 11th November, a fantastic day in the cattle pens included a top quality entry of store cattle with large volume buyers from far and wide looking for big numbers for housing ensuring trade remains buoyant. Steers topped at £1455 and including for a grand Simmental bullock from Douglas Horton of Kingsbridge.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on Thursday 10th November at Thainstone sold 399 cows and bulls to average £1285.26 Beef Feeding Cows (191) averaged £1129.16 and sold to £1410 for a 742kg Simmental from Bullechach, Harpsdale.
In a sale of rearing calves at Gisburn on 10th November, females sold to the top price of £405 for strong Simmentals from Stephen Breare, Silsden.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 471 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 10th November. Stronger and quality types dearer again. Top price of the day was 270.9ppkg for a pen of Simmental Bullocks off Lochhill.
At NWA’s sale of calves, stirks, suckler calves, store & OTM cattle at Lancaster on Thursday 10th November, steers sold to the top price of £1215 for a Simmental x from RJ&R Holden, Millom. In the prize sale of suckled calves at Truro on 9th November, Messrs P M & A Jewell of Penzance had a superb run of Simmental calves on offer (pictured) with a pen of 8 steers selling for £895 to lead the 8-10 month old section, and with another pair at £805.
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, on November 9th sold (434) weaned calves, store and 36 adult head of breeding cattle at Dingwall. Young Bulls (32) sold to 240.0p per kg for a 300kg Simmental cross from Bunchrew Farm, Inverness.
Skipton Auction Mart held their fortnightly sale of young feeding bulls, store bullocks & heifers, and breeding cattle on 9th November with 385 head forward. In the cows, there was a decent show of stronger cows as 17 of the 56 cows sold at £1300 or more. CA Foster of Bolton Abbey topped at £1680 with a Simmental cross.
C&D Auction Marts held their weekly Primestock sale in Dumfries on Wednesday 9th November 2022. In the OTMs Simmentals from newbie Mains led at £1396.75.Newbie Mains also sold prime Simmentals to 290p/kg.
At Lochboisdale on 7th November, United Auctions sold 400 suckled calves and 42 Breeding Cattle and Farrow Cows. Heifers sold to 324p/kg for SimX from R A Wilson, 93/96 Bualadubh.
At Exeter on November 7th, the barren cow section was headed by Simmentals, firstly from Roger Blackler of Modbury with one making an impressive £1418 (786kg x 181ppk) followed by another at £1393 (832kg x 168ppk) for PJ and SJ Gregory up from St Column.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts Thainstone sale of store cattle, young bulls and weaned calves on 4th November, bulls sold to 251.3p per kg for a 394kg Simmental cross from South Auquhorthies, Oldmeldrum.
In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 4th November, Fleckvieh’s still wanted by a number of buyers with RTJ Voizey & Partners selling to a fantastic top price of £1427 or 175.50p/kg .
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of cast cows and bulls at Thainstone on 3rd November, boning cows averaged £730.83 and sold to £855 for a 618kg Simmental cross. Beef Feeding Bulls averaged £1230 (+£156.43) sold to £1410 for a 995kg Simmental from New House, Oust Farm. On the same day prime heifers sold to £1938.15 gross for a 885kg Simmental from Berryleys, Grange. Heifers averaged 232.3p and sold to 239p per kg for a 550kg Simmental.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 253 head of breeding cattle on 2nd November at Thainstone. In Calf Cows (143) sold to £1,880 (twice) for Simmental crosses from Broombrae, Kincardine O’Neil. Heifers with Bull Calf sold to £2,650 for a Simmental cross with Limousin cross from Lost Farm, Strathdon. The sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart on November 2nd saw fat cows sell to £1230 for a 740kg Sim (166.00) presented by V Allen.
At Hexham’s sale of primestock, cast cows, and bulls sale on 1st November, bulls sold to £1651 for a Simmental from Mr R Craig, Slaley.
At Malton on 1st November, young bulls topped at 246.50ppk for an excellent 19-month-old Sim X weighing 535kg (£1318.78) from FH A & MA Eddon, Lockton selling to R Pearson.
On Monday 31st October at Market Drayton and a sale of barren cows, cull bulls, and overage clean cattle, the highlight of the suckler section was a Simmental selling to 162p (£1,056.24) from Mr Darren Young, Balterley. JH.&JE. Sands & Son, St Martins Simmental to 142p (£1,178.60).
C&D Auction Marts Ltd had their fortnightly sale of store cattle at Dumfries on Monday 31st October 2022 with an entry of 427. Heifers per head were led by Simms at £1300 from High Auchneel.
At Stirling on 29th October, United Auctions sold 349 Beef Breeding Cattle. In calf cows sold to £2000 & £1900 for SimX’s from Beannie. Pure Simms sold to £2000 & £1950 from South Mains.
At Exeter’s store sale on 28th October, Dave Pollard of Black Dog who usually brings some decent Simmentals didn’t disappoint, with a pen of three of his tremendous red and white steers (20m) easing to £1495 a head with younger but equally as good Simmental steers reaching £1250 for PJ and SJ Gregory up from St Columb and to £1130 for smart yearling Simmentals from Andrew and George Palk of Paignton.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of cast cows and bulls, and prime cattle at Thainstone on 27th October, Beef Feeding Cows (121) averaged £1148.02 and sold to £1370 for a 698kg Simmental from Netherhill, Tankerness. Beef Feeding Bulls averaged £1073.57 and sold to £1440 for a 910kg Simmental from Hilton Farm, Hilton Shapinsay. Prime Bullocks averaged 240.9p and sold to 271p per kg for a 565kg Simmental from Newton of Drum, Drumoak. Prime Heifers sold to £2014.50 gross for a 850kg Simmental from Berryleys, Grange.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 572 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 27th October. Top Price of the day was 265.5ppkg for a pen of Simmental bullocks off Bargany.
At Thirsk’s primestock sale on 27th October, best grossing OTM was £1693.38 for a Simmental from F & D Cornforth, Hambleton purchased by Mutch Meats, Ducklington.
On 26th October at Dungannon Farmers Mart, fat cows sold to a top of £1350 for a 750kg Sim (180.00).
On 26th October Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 571 head of adult breeding cattle. In the show and sale of spring calving heifers sponsored by Agrimin and judged by Craig Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden, the Champion Pair of Heifers award went to J Dow, Upper Sauchen, Inverurie with a pair of 17 month old Simmental crosses realising £2,400 to A Matheson & Son, Park View, Wick. Alan Gibb, Backhill of Seggat, Auchterless kindly donated a 20 month old Simmental cross heifer to be sold for ANM’s 150th anniversary chosen charities, Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation, SAMH and Charlie’s House. The heifer realised £2,000 to Stephen & Gibb, Haremoss, Cuminestown. In the judged classes: Class 1 Single Heifer, Sired by a Simmental Bull 1st – J Dow, Upper Sauchen, Inverurie £2,300 2nd – Alan Gibb & Co Farmers, Backhill of Seggat, Auchterless £2,020 3rd – J & M Troup, Southbank, Skene £2,300 Class 6 Pair of Heifers, Sired by a Simmental Bull 1st – J Dow, Upper Sauchen £2,400 2nd – Alan Gibb & Co Farmers, Backhill of Seggat £2,120
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., sold 375 weaned calves and store cattle on 26th October at Dingwall. Store bullocks (184) averaged 224.3p and sold to £1,330 gross for 605kg Simmental cross from 250 Rearquhar, Dornoch.
C&D Auction Marts held their weekly Primestock sale in Dumfries on Wednesday 26th October 2022. The OTMs per head were led at £1492.40 for a Simm from East Lanegate. At Oban on 25 October, United Auctions sold 171 breeding type Heifer Calves & 120 Adult Breeding Cattle. In the Breeding section, in-calf heifers sold to £2650 twice for SimX from Donald MacColl, Mid Farm.
• 18,000gns a breed centre record price • Heifers average £5202, up by £806 on the year, and a new breed centre record average • Overhill House sells to 9000gns • 8000gns Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th makes the top maiden heifer price • Islavale leads the weaned calf trade at 6500gns
Brandane Lu Lu 18,000gns
Jimmy & Kath McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds sold the in-calf heifer Brandane Lu Lu for 18,000gns to lead the second staging of Simmental Next Generation Sale of females and weaned calves at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart on Friday 2nd December.
Getting the sale off to a fast start being the second lot in the ring, this upstanding February 2020 born heifer is by Sterling Gino and is out of Sterling Candy’s FCUK. Purchasing the top price was Reece and Andrew Simmers for their noted Backmuir herd at Keith, Banffshire. Brandane Lu Lu is a full sister to Sterling FCUK Impuls who previously sold to the Backmuir herd for 13,000gns at Stirling in February 2019. At the inaugural Next Generation Sale last year, the Simmers bought the Female Champion, Islavale Lullaby and went on with her to win the Simmental Championship at the Royal Highland Show, and also the Simmental Scottish National Show. Commenting afterwards Reece Simmers, who watched the pre-sale show online and bid by telephone thereafter, said: “We saw Brandane Lu Lu at the Royal Highland this summer and we thought a lot of her sister who has identical breeding and who we purchased back in 2019. Brandane Lu Lu is just a quality heifer. She is powerful and has size but is sweet and feminine at the same time. We like the fact that she is due to calf to Atlow Dixon in January and that just gives you a bit of a quicker return. We are looking for ever improving quality over numbers in the Backmuir herd and just to add one or two in that vein when the opportunity arises.” The Backmuir herd presently consists of approximately 80 pedigree cows.
The establishing Next Generation Sale II again saw some breed record marks set combined with new entrants to the breed buying some of the leading lots on the day. The 18,000gns top price was a centre record for the Simmental breed and eclipsed the 16,000gns price achieved at last year’s sale. Twenty-two heifers sold to average a very healthy £5202 which was up by £806 on the year, and again a new centre record average for the Simmental breed. Fourteen lots in all made 4000gns or more and the sale saw a 74% clearance rate. Speaking after the sale, the British Simmental Cattle Society’s General manager Iain Kerr said: “The Next Generation Sale is a fixture that the Society aims to become established and recognised for offering primarily Simmental females with style, quality, a depth of bloodlines, and full of forward potential. Quality is the key, and with the ready trade and averages for the heifers, I think this second staging of Next Gen is another positive step forward for the breed.”
Overhill House Luna 9,000gns
Richard McCulloch, Over Hill House, Armadale, West Lothian attained the day’s second top price when selling Overhill House Luna for 9000gns. This December 2020 born heifer offered both quality and a depth of bloodlines being sired by Curaheen Drifter, who has had sons at 21,00gns and daughters to 17,000gns, and being out of Woodhall Bliss, a daughter of the noted Annick Talisker. PD’d in-calf to the herd’s 26,000gns Pistyll Kingsman, this combination of breeding and performance saw Overhill House Luna being snapped up by D&R Holdings, Low Bowhill Farm, Newmilns, Ayrshire. New members to the Society but longer term supporters of the Simmental breed, D&R Holdings have previously bought Simmental females privately from the Corskie herd. Later in the day the same purchasers snapped up the January 2022 born Overhill House Nancy for 6000gns, and the second top price in the weaned calf section. Earlier this young heifer had placed second in her class to the Champion Weaned Calf in front of the judge Chris Weatherup from the noted Lisglass herd, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. Overhill House Nancy is by the herd’s 24,000gns stock bull Islavale Heston, and is out of the Mohona Fletcher sired Overhill House Isla.
Overhill House Nancy 6,000gns
The leading maiden heifer price on the day was the 8000gns paid for Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th from the strong team offered by the Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire. With outstanding breeding behind her, this March 2021 born heifer has Royal Highland Show Champions as parents being by the 2018 Champion Blackford Galaxy and out of the multi-title winning dam Auroch Eve who was the Royal Highland Champion in 2015 and 2016, and who was also voted the show’s Simmental Champion of the Decade. Purchasing this animal was RE & SH Steggles, Honingham, Norfolk for their establishing Wacton pedigree herd. Commenting, Sam Steggles said: “I saw Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th online and just really liked her. This was reaffirmed when I saw her in the flesh at Carlisle and the combination of looks and depth of breeding is I think a good fit and really suited to the Wacton herd.” The Wacton herd was established in 1973 by Sam’s grandad but was largely bought out in the late 1990’s. Never losing his love for the breed Sam Steggles is re-establishing the Wacton herd and now has eight animals in the herd within the space of a few months. Later in the day a further purchase for the Wacton herd came in the shape of the 4500gns Brandane Mint from Jimmy and Kath McMillan. This April 2021 born heifer is by Sterling Gino, the same sire as the day’s top price, and is out of the Mendick Butch sired Sterling Bacardi’s Funky. Again with a little bit of homework involved, Sam Steggles had been to view this heifer on farm prior to the sale.
Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th 8,000gns
Selling at 7000gns was the served heifer Newbiemains Lady Gaga from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. With ‘different and new bloodlines’ Lady Gaga is by the imported Irish bull Ardunsaghan Kool Kid and is out of the Islavale Cracker sired Moorglen Hit The Diff. Newbiemains Lady Gaga was one of two profile purchases on the day by Ryan Morgan who runs the establishing Swannay pedigree herd at Swannay Farm, By Evie, Orkney. Ryan Morgan purchased at last year’s inaugural sale and was again very impressed with the standard of Simmental cattle on offer at Next Generation II. Of his purchase he said: “I hadn’t seen either of the heifers before arriving at Carlisle but they both just stood out for me straight away. Newbiemains Lady Gaga will fit right in with the Swannay herd and her projected calving date just really works. Ranfurly Stella 13th is a heifer with style and offers some great figures which is something that I look closely at when purchasing any animal.” For the Goldies it was another successful Next Generation Sale and following on from last year’s joint top female price of 9000gns achieved for Newbiemains Lady Wag.
Newbiemains Lady Gaga 7,000gns
The aforementioned Ranfurly Stella 13th made 5000gns for her breeder WD & JD Hazelton, Colhannon House, Dungannon when selling to Ryan Morgan. October 2021 born this maiden heifer, with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +10, is by the 14,000gns Ranfurly Jackall who was Supreme Champion at Stirling in 2019, and is out of Raceview Fancywinty EX93 from the herd’s noted Matilda Stella family. Featuring figures and breeding, Stella 13th’s dam Raceview Fancywinty has previously bred the 9000gns Ranfurly Jackpot, and also Ranfurly Stella 12th, the 2022 Reserve Champion Female at Balmoral Show. These two purchases for Ryan Morgan add to the growing Swannay herd of Simmentals and with a forward aim of the herd selling at Society sales in the future. In addition to the pedigree cattle, Swannay Farm carries a commercial suckler herd and also run 400 head of sheep.
Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel 7,000gns
Hertfordshire breeders DA&LA Sapsed, High Heath Farm, Codicote, Hitchin made 7000gns for Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel when being another purchase by Reece & Andrew Simmers for their Backmuir pedigree herd and who noted her as being ‘a great example of the Simmental breed’. A red ticket winner in the first class of the day, this October 2020 born heifer arrived at Carlisle with a significant show record behind her having Interbreed honours and a class first prize at the Simmental English National Show, and a further first prize at the Royal Norfolk. Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel is by Scotland Hill Cairo 11 EX91, and is out Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy VG88 part of the Hockenhull Girly family that has bred very well at Heathbrow. Girlie’s Laurel was sold PD’d in-calf to Heathbrow Important who won the online European Simmental Bull of the Year in 2019. The sale of Heathrow Girlie’s Laurel is a taster of the quality within this 40-cow herd which will be dispersed, due to retirement, at Stirling in the autumn of 2023.
Islavale Nestle 6,500gns
A much-anticipated entry was the youngest calf in the catalogue in the shape of Islavale Nestle from the Islavale herd of WS Stronach, Berrleys Farm, Grange, Keith, and she didn’t disappoint when lifting the Champion Weaned Calf title and going on to sell for 6500gns, the top price for a weaned calf on the day. Sired by Coose Lincoln, and out of the Curaheen Bandit daughter Islavale Elisha EX93, Islavale Nestle arrived at Carlisle having recently won the Junior Female Championship at the Stars of the Future Calf Show in Stirling. With a +8 figure for Maternal (Milk), this young calf was snapped up by the noted Popes herd of JH&VG Wood, Popes Farm, Clitheroe Road, Preston, Lancashire. Commenting, Jimmy Woods said: “We had seen photographs of Islavale Nestle from the Stars of the Future show and thought she looked a lovely feminine calf. When we saw her, she really is a sweet heifer, full of character, and will hopefully go on to prove to be a real asset in the Popes herd. As always, genetics play a big part in our choice of animals to purchase and we like Nestle’s breeding on both sides of her pedigree.”
Denizes Matilda 8th 6,000gns
The winner of class two in the females was Denizes Matilda 8th (P) from the MA Barlow & Sons team, and who went on to sell for 6000gns to a further new breeder James Anderson & Son, Headshaw Farm, Oxton, Lauder, Berwickshire. A blood red heifer from the herd’s noted Matilda family being out of Denizes Matilda 2, Denizes Matilda 8th is by the homozygous polled bull Slievenagh International 17 (PP). April 2021 born, Denizes Matilda 8th was a class winner at the 2021 Simmental Calf Show at the Borderway Agri Expo. With a very solid day’s trading the Denizes herd sold heifers at 8000gns, 6000gns, 4000gns, and 3500gns through the sale.
Taking first prize in Class Three was Islavale Topaz 18 from WS Stronach, Berrleys Farm, Grange, Keith and who went on to make 5000gns when selling to the Delfur herd of Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour. Entirely homebred this heifer calf is by Islavale Echo 2 13 EX92 and is out of Islavale Topaz 11 GP83. The Topaz line is noted as being one of the best breeding families in the herd and with Islavale Topaz 18 herself having a Maternal (Milk) figure of +7.
Leading Prices: Females Lot 2 Brandane Lulu 18,000gns to Backmuir Farm, Banffshire Lot 7 Overhill House Luna 9000gns to Messrs Holdings, Newmilns, Ayrshire Lot 15 Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th 8000gns to Messrs Steggles, Honingham, Norfolk Lot 3 Newbiemains Lady Gaga 7000gns to Messrs Morgan, Evie, Orkney Lot 6 Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel 7000gns to Backmuir Farm, Banffshire Lot 16 Denizes Matilda 8th (P) 6000gns to Messrs Anderson & Son, Lauder, Berwickshire Lot 26 Islavale Topaz 5000gns to Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour Lot 35 Ranfurly Stella 13th 5000gns to Messrs Morgan, Evie, Orkney Lot 19 Brandane Mint 4500gns to Messrs Steggles, Honingham, Norfolk Lot 12 Popes Tarkas Misty 4000gns to Messrs Fairhurst & Son, Austwick, Lancashire Lot 18 Popes Nellys Maya 4000gns to Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk Lot 20 Denizes Cadette 43rd (P) 4000gns to Messrs Stanley, Derby, Derbyshire
Weaned Calves Lot 58 Islavale Nestle 6500gns to Messrs Wood, Dutton, Lancs Lot 51 Overhill House Nancy 6000gns to Messrs Holdings, Newmilns, Ayrshire
Averages 22 Heifers served or maiden £5202.27 2 Bull Calves £2362.50 5 Heifer Calves £3759.00
A big well done to the Midlands Simmental Club who won the best Breed Society stand and also the Best Trade stand at the English Winter Fair held over two days at Bingley Hall on November 19th & 20th.
The stand featured a combination of Simmental cattle on display, professional breed promotion and literature, and plenty of Club members at hand offering a warm welcome, hospitality, and plenty of knowledge on all things Simmental. Commenting, Midlands Club Chair Jennie Hassall said “the stand was very busy over the two days with plenty of enquiries on the breed generally and the upcoming Next Generation Sale at Carlisle in December. The cattle on display also drew a lot of attention and were a great advertisement of the maternal qualities of the Simmental breed.”
The promotional cattle were three crossbred bull calves out of pure Simmental cows, and supplied by CH Evans and Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick. February born, the calves weighed up to 458kgs for a 26th February born calf, and to a daily live weight gain of 1.81kgs.
Particular thanks are extended to Club Chair Jennie Hassall (centre), Andrea Booth (left), and Kath Martindale (right), who are pictured here with the stand awards, and to all Club members for their work and input. Thank you also to Richard Storer Smith for his help with the stand, and to the Evans family for so willingly supplying the cattle.
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