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.
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.
• 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.
Renowned for its milk and maternal traits, backed up with growth rates and age at slaughter, the modern Simmental has a distinct British signature with the breed showing its adaptability to all geographies and systems around the UK. Here we have the latest Simmental market briefs with Simmentals consistently featuring at the top end of some 21 markets in what is a strong cattle trade for all classes.
Simmental is a 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!
20 MIXBURY HALL SIMMENTAL STEERS AVERAGE £1272 (Pictured) Vernon & Jon Bailey, Mixbury Hall sold their annual consignment of pure Simmental steers 10-12 months old at Thame on 10th February. 20 steers sold to £1290.00, £1285 and £1270, and to average £1272. The steers topped the trade in price for age by some distance.
Simmental steers from the Baileys, Mixbury Hall, Northants
Gisburn’s sale of prime cattle on 9th February saw trade up a gear and young bulls selling to a high of £2075 for a 607kg Simmental from JE Bracken.
On 9th February at Darlington Gary Christie sold the 17-month-old Rockytop Milton as a prime bull. Weighing in at 854kg he sold for £2,245.56 (276ppk), to feature amongst the leading prices. Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 8th February saw a demand for heifers with shape and finish. Top gross price UTM heifer at £1655 was a Simmental x from RMJ & AL Robinson.
Rockytop I’m Yer Man – sire of Rockytop Milton
At H&H’s sale of weaned cattle at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 8th February, ‘you have to see it to believe it’ was the auctioneers comment on the trade. Simmentals led the breed averages for young bulls at £1133.75 and with a top of £1480 from Sloan, Stockbridgehill.
At Stirling on 8th February, United Auctions sold 1096 store cattle, young bulls and 165 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, 4 Breeding cattle & 43 Rearing cattle. Heifers (389) – averaged 268.08p and to £1830 for a 700kg SIMX from Greenshields. Young Bulls (61) averaged 256.73p and to £1380 for a SIMX from Hole O Clean. OTM bulls were topped by a Sim from Springfield at £2020.
‘Can this trade get any dearer’? was the question asked by Melton Mowbray auctioneers at their sale of stores & breeding cattle (156) on 8th February. Top in the breeders went to S & E Dow with in-calf Simmental X heifers at £1620 with others to £1570 and £1500.
At Bentham on 8th February a busy ringside of both travelled and local buyers descended on Bentham ensuring that all classes were in strong demand and met a fantastic trade throughout. Strong feeding cattle generally £1550-£1700 with other notable prices including £1750 to regular vendors P & JM Wilson with Simmentals.
Market Drayton’s sale of store cattle on 8th February saw a ‘serious trade in front of a ring full of hungry buyers’! Right at the top end of prices, a 538kg Simmental from H Kelsall & Son made £1,490.00.
The sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart on 8th February saw in-calf cows sold to £1660 for a 2016 born Simm presented by D Scott.
At H&H’s sale of store cattle at Lockerbie on 7th February, trade was ‘up, up, & up”! The heifer trade was led at £1350 by a Simmental from Maxwellbank. In the steers, Simmentals from Messrs Rae, Muirhead, made 301.4p.
SIMMENTALS TOP RECORD BREAKING SALE AT BAKEWELL MARKET • Simmental cow to a new market record high of £2459.20 ‘Ripping up the record books’ was how auctioneers Bagshaws described the commercial cattle sale at Bakewell Market, Derbyshire, on February 6th and with Simmentals leading the way. ‘Every cow today was beyond all expectations’ was the quote, with a Simmental cow from David Donnelly, Hulland Ward setting a record price when selling at £2459.20. A 734kg Simmental cow also topped the pence per kilos when Harold & Brian Ponsonby, Tidswell Moor, sold a four year old Sim to 244p/kg. OTM Bulls were also topped by a Simmental and to £1930 for an entry from Thorp Farms, Baslow. Young bulls were a strong trade and a 780kg Simmental from S&D Fearn, Wardlaw Mires made £1996.80 or 256p/kg. 280 steers averaged £1019 and Simmentals featured at the top end of prices with DC&ME Andrews, Flash realising £1620 for a Sim X.
At Quoybrae on 6th February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 257 Store & Breeding Cattle. The small sale of breeding cattle sold to £1280 for a Simmental Cross from Elzy Farm, Staxigoe. At Whitland Marts sale on 4th February, barren cows and overage saw a strong trade with tested cows selling to a top of £1,610 for a Sim from Blaeneifed Farms Ltd, Llangoedmor also sold Simms to £1,280 & £1,230.
At Sedgemoor’s store sale on 4th February, heifers topped at £1600 for a red Simmental from GB Tuttiett, who sold more at £1450 and £1350. More Simmentals £1240 x2 The Clarence Herd, Shillingford.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on Friday 3rd February 2023 sold 952 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves, at Thainstone. Bullocks up to 300kg sold to £910 or 329.7p for a SimX from Craggan View. Bullocks 701-750kg sold to a top of £1900 and 269.1p for a SimX from Feaval, with a SimX from Essil at £1,820. Heifers up to 300kg were led by Craggan View with a SimX at £980, and bulls up to 350kg were topped by Cuttlehill with a Sim at £870. Bullocks 301-350kg sold to a top of 318.8p for a SimX from Cuttlehill (SimX). Heifers up to 300kg were topped by Craggan View with a SimX at 331.1p. On the same day and a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors, bullocks sold to a top of £1,900 gross for a pair of 706kg Simmentals from J & J Fraser.
At Thirsk Market’s weekly Primestock Sale on 2nd February, the best grossing steer was £2243.58 for a Simmental X from Chester & Dale, Helperby purchased by J Penny & Sons, Rawdon.
On 1st February at Dumfries Livestock Mart’s Primestock Sale, the beef cows comprised of predominantly feeding cows to ave 178.4p/kg to 215p/kg and £1795. Simmentals from Newbie Mains topped at £1795.25 per head, and to 215p.
Market Drayton’s sale of 279 store cattle on 1st February saw Simmentals lead the way at £1,570.00 and 550kg from Mr C.H. Forrester. Further Simmentals from the same home made £1,560.00 at 570kg.
SIMMENTAL HEIFER SETS MARKET RECORD AT FROME! Frome’s prime cattle sale on 1st February saw heavy Simmental heifers to £1971 from E M Horn & Son and which the auctioneers believe is a new market record for a commercial heifer! Charlie Butcher had a fantastic consignment with Simmentals trading to 246.5p/kg, 245.5p/kg (twice), 245.5p/kg and 238.5p/kg or £1606.
At Melton Mowbray’s sale of Prime Cows, Stock Bulls & OTM Cattle on 1st February trade was described as ‘simply ballistic’! Top grossing cows included Chandler & Dickman selling Simmentals to £1859.44.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 1st February, a good entry of dropped calves sold to a height of £380 for a Fleckvieh bull calf presented by F Collins.
On 1st February at Skipton, Simmentals had the joint top average of £1252 for store heifers which was £44 above the continental breeds average, and £245 above the native breeds average. Simmental store heifer prices included: £1350 JF&C Saunders; £1290 £1190 Brian Kaye; £1270 Williamson Bros.
At Ayr on 31st January Craig Wilson Ltd had a sale of prime and cast cattle and where bulls sold to a top of £1800 including a Simmental from Dalfask.
On 30th January at Lanark, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 111 cattle comprising of 32 bullocks and heifers, 79 cast cows. Beef cows sold to £2080 per head for a Simmental from Messrs Taylor, Heatheryhall Farm, Lanark.
On 30th January, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of 251 Store Cattle. Strong cattle were presented to an eager ringside of buyers. Topping the sale at £2,055 was a cracking Simmental X bullock from Messrs A & S Robley, Nelson Hill Farm, purchased by Mr D Barker. The same home sold other Sim bullocks to £1925, and £1875.
Gisburn’s sale of breeding cattle on 28th January saw in-calf heifers top at £1320 for a Simmental from S Pepper.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of cattle from Shetland Consignors on 27th January, store cattle bullocks sold to £1,045 gross and 281p per kg for 372kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. Heifers Sold to £860 gross and 266p per kg for 324kg Simmentals also from Scatsta. At a sale of store cattle on the same day from Orkney consignors, bullocks 401-450kg were led by Maesquoy with a Sim to £1,290 and 290.5p.
On sale day at Lancaster Auction Mart on 27th January, another strong entry of 120 cull cows sold to an exceptionally fast trade with an overall market average of 184p/kg. Heavy well fleshed beef cows sold to 264p/kg for a Simmental from C & AJ Woodhouse, Millom who sold others at 249.5p/kg. Aberdeen & Northern Marts on 26th January held a sale on behalf of Orkney consignors. Beef Cows sold to £1,890 gross and 236.8p per kg for a 798 kg Simmental from T & G Ritch, Kastal, Langskaill, Birsay.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 611 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 26th January. All classes sold firm again with 335 Bullocks averaging 260.8p or £1198.12. Top Price of the day was £1800 for a Simmental bullock off Ravenslie.
At Stirling on 25th January, United Auctions sold 1140 store cattle, young bulls and 222 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Young Bulls averaged 258.02p to 287.20p for a SIMX from Philiphaugh. Out of Spec Cattle sold to £1550 for a SIMX from Mount Lothian. OTM Bulls topped at £2610 for a Sim from Balbuthie.
Dungannon Farmers Mart on 25th January saw fat cows sell to a height of £1420 for a Fleckvieh presented by a Dungannon producer.
• 36.23% of buyers changed to Simmental from a different breed of bull in previous five years A fantastic ninety four percent of Simmental bull buyers have confirmed that they will purchase further Simmental bulls at future Society sales. That’s the strong endorsement of the Simmental breed following a snapshot survey of bull buyers at Society Sales held between 2017 and 2019.
The survey saw buyers through these years being sent a detailed questionnaire covering the initial reasons for purchasing a Simmental, and thereafter how satisfied they have been with the abilities and the performance of their bulls to date. A broad range of questions invited respondents to score and comment on the performance of bulls bought, including: calving ease; temperament of the bulls and their progeny; fertility and serving capacity; longevity and physical condition of the bull; and performance of progeny, including growth rates and perceived food conversion. Further questions asked buyers about the most important traits when buying a Simmental; the principle purpose of the bull; use on heifers; the importance of herd health information, pre-sale inspections, performance figures, and pre-sale fertility testing.
Unsurprisingly maternal traits featured highly in the characteristics of the Simmental breed most attractive to buyers, including: mothering ability and easy calving; milk; producing replacement heifers; and fast-growing progeny. The top characteristic for buyers was temperament and this was emphasised later in the survey with a total of 97.18% saying that the temperament of their bulls was good (88.73%), or average (8.45%), and with 92.53% saying that the temperament of the progeny was very good or good. Across these two categories less than 5% of purchasers responded that the bulls or their progeny had been below average for temperament.
Just over 70% of buyers indicated that performance figures and EBVs were a ‘quite’ or ‘very’ important aid when purchasing a bull. Of the traits, EBVs for calving ease were ranked the most important and with Maternal (Milk), a close second. The Simmental breed has taken a lead in many aspects of herd health at sales over the years, and the importance of this is shown in the survey with a total of 98.59% of respondents saying that it was ‘very important’ (83.10%), or ‘important’ (15.49%), for them to purchase bulls from herds with a high health status. Over 90% of buyers placed importance on bulls having passed through a pre-sale inspection with 57.34% saying it was ‘very’ important.
Interestingly, and perhaps indicative of some strong Simmental sales, 36.23% of buyers said that they had changed from a different breed of bull in the previous five years, and predominantly from other continental breeds. 53.62% of buyers run over five Simmental bulls with a further 40.58% indicating that they had one to five Simmental bulls. The makeup of buyers’ farms shows that 60% of the bulls have gone to hill farms, and with 40% to lowland. The bulls are used on mainly suckler herds (93.25%), with the dominant breed of suckler cows being Simmental/Simmental X, followed by Limousin/Limousin X; Angus/Angus X; and Luing/Luing X. The largest percentage of buyers run 31 to 100 cows (41.43%); with 37.14% having 101 to 200; and just over 21% having over 200.
The working abilities of the breed are again highlighted with 94.12% of buyers saying that they were happy with the physical and structural condition of the bulls bought, and with over 85% of the bulls still working in purchasers’ herds. In an anticipated strength of the breed, just over 92% of buyers said that they retained heifer calves as herd replacements. 42.86% of buyers said that they used bulls on heifers, and of those, 44.12%, aiming to calve the heifers at 28 months and under.
In another strong endorsement of the performance and commercial attributes of the Simmental breed, a remarkable 89.65% of those surveyed said the progeny of their bulls had been of the standard they expected (81.03%), or better than expected (8.62%), and 10.34% saying that the progeny had been average. No respondents replied that progeny from their bulls had been below expectations.
At the conclusion of the survey buyers were asked for ‘any other comments’, and again these were a combination of extremely positive, constructive, and insightful points. A number of comments remarked on what they saw as the ‘big strides’ in ongoing improvement in the Simmental breed over the last ten years. A further similar sentiment was that if the breed maintains and improves its strengths in milk, easy calving, docility, and good locomotion, ‘Simmental bulls will sell themselves’ in the forward industry. Breeders were given some ‘signals’ for forward sales to not overfeed bulls, and the importance of feet, good legs and mobility. Herd health, the versatility of Simmentals on all breeds, the importance of good growth rates, and food conversion from grass were also noted. Producing ‘bulls that make good cows’ was also a sentiment with a clear overall emphasis on the desire for Simmentals many recognised maternal strengths.
Commenting on the survey BSCS General manager Iain Kerr said: “It’s really important for the Society to engage with Simmental buyers to find out how satisfied they have been with their purchases, and to feedback their thoughts to breeders. The Simmental breed is renowned for breeding quality heifer replacements and for being first class suckler cows with plenty of milk, good fertility, easily calved and crossing to advantage with any other breed. We also see Simmental progeny being easy fleshing, with good growth rates, top weights for age, and being the industry leader for age at slaughter. To have these qualities recognised and endorsed by the breeds buyers, with an approval/repeat customer rate of 94%, is really encouraging. A massive well done is extended to pedigree Simmental breeders for these results and for consistently bringing forward a high standard of bulls. There is an ongoing commitment from the breeders and Society, in the sum of all its parts, to keep working hard to consistently produce the choice and quality of bulls that commercial beef producers and pedigree breeders require.”
The survey results have been released in the run up to the next round of pedigree Simmental Sales with sale fixtures at Stirling on February 20th; Aberdeen on 1st March; Dungannon on 24th March; and Melton Mowbray on 25th March.
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