South Western Suckled Calf Association Show & Sale
The show & sale is on Tuesday 25th October. Click here for more information.
28,000GNS ISLAVALE MAGNUM FIRES STIRLING SIMMENTAL BULL SALE TO A NEW BREED RECORD AVERAGE OF £7559, UP £1597 ON THE YEAR
- New Simmental Breed Record average of £7559 for 45 Bulls, and up by £1597 on the year
- Two Bulls over 20,000gns, with 10 bulls over 10,000gns in all, and 29 at 5,000gns and above
- Seven Islavale Bulls Average £13,500
- Sale grosses £366,315
- Springfield Heifer tops females at 6,000gns
The March 2021 born Islavale Magnum from WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, Banffshire sold for 28,000gns to fire the Simmental bull trade to a new breed record sale average of £7559, up by a remarkable £1597 on the year, at the breed’s October Sale held at United Auctions Stirling on Tuesday 19th October 2022.
With commercial producers competing fiercely with pedigree breeders for the quality bulls on offer, two bulls made over 20,000gns with ten in all over the 10,000gns mark and twenty-nine at 5,000gns and more. The total Simmental sale gross on the day came to £366,315.
A tremendous team of Islavale bulls broke new ground for this prolific Simmental herd with the 28,000gns topping their previous sale best of 24,000gns and seven bulls in all selling to an incredible average of £13,500. Five of the bulls broke the five-figure mark. The sale leader, Islavale Magnum, is by the noted AI sire Team Celtic and is the first calf at sale out of Islavale Harper who herself had stood as the Senior Champion as a yearling heifer at Stars of the Future in 2017. Combining a depth of pedigree with performance figures showing +14 for Maternal (milk), this classy dark red bull was purchased for the Delfur pedigree herd of Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour.
Commenting on behalf of Delfur Farms, which runs a 120-cow herd, new herd manager Garry Patterson said: “This is a big investment for the future, but we were looking for a bull that will put a serious stamp on the herd and help us to take that next step. I thought Magnum was a standout bull the minute I saw him, and with his breeding and performance figures he’s just the full package. We wanted a bull which will click with our females, breathe new life into the herd, and to take that next step. We very much think and hope that Magnum’s daughters will have the potential to do that and produce some first quality bulls at the same time.”
The 28,000gns top price surpassed the Islavale herd’s previous top sale mark of 24,000gns, and the average for the seven bulls sold smashed the previous best for a herd that has been consistently at the top end of Simmental sales over a number of years. Speaking after the sale, and commenting on the bulls they are breeding, Stewart Stronach said: “We breed the type of Simmental bulls that we like and what we think meet the needs of the market. Our aim is to breed correct, big square bulls, good on their plates with plenty of length, free flowing in their locomotion, and with character, style and presence. Our main aim is breeding first quality Simmental bulls for commercial producers and with sales to pedigree breeders a real bonus on top. We’re really delighted with this trade and hope and trust that the bulls sold go on to do well in their new herds.” In addition to the 28,000gns top price, further Islavale bulls sold on the day for 18,000gns; 13,000gns; 10,000gns x 2; 6,000gns; and 5,000gns.
Selling at 20,000gns was Denizes Monty from MA Barlow and Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire. On the previous day this January 2021 born bull placed first in his class, before moving on to secure the Senior Championship and the Overall Supreme Championship in the pre-sale show and in front of the judge Chris Martindale who runs the noted Forsdale herd at Coedfa, Oswestry, Shropshire. Commenting on his Champion Mr Martindale said: “What a modern Simmental bull this is. He’s clean throughout, has a super top line, has width shoulder to shoulder, and a back end to die for. The breed is known for its maternal traits of milk, fertility, and calving ease. A bull like this will retain those advantages and by adding terminal traits just gives you something very modern that ticks all the boxes for breeders and commercial beef producers.”
The Supreme Champion went to Northern Ireland when being purchased by Mr HJW and JC Moore for their noted Omorga pedigree herd at Beragh, Omagh, Co Tyrone and who said: “I’ve seen this bull as a calf and through the summer and he’s just a very modern Simmental. I feel he’s the whole package with the breeding behind him, top figures, full of shape but with style and class. Monty brings new breeding to the herd, and I’m delighted to have bought him.”
For the Barlows the pre-sale show marked a first time Stirling Supreme Championship for their Denizes herd that has previously enjoyed a string of section wins and top prices at Stirling with their highest sale price to date being the 30,000gns Denizes Lancelot in February of this year. Denizes Monty is by the noted Denizes Hamish who had previously sired bulls up to 9,500gns (with his first twelve sons at Stirling averaging 7,500gns), and who is out of the herd’s highly noted Auroch Eve. Monty is out of Denizes Trixi-Belle 6th who herself is the mother of Denizes Impressive, the sire of the sale’s Reserve Supreme, Popes Matchmaker. Through the summer Denizes Monty had stood as Junior Male and Reserve Male at the Royal Highland Show, and he was sold with strong performance figures for calving ease, gestation length, and Maternal (milk).
Speaking after the sale, British Simmental Cattle Society General Manager Iain Kerr said: “It’s great to see a Simmental sale with an average of over £7,500gns, a new record mark, and continuing a series of strong sales and averages for the breed over this past year. There were breeders buying bulls today, but the trade was underpinned by commercial producers competing for the bulls of their choice and willing to pay five figure prices. The Simmental is a maternal mainstay of the UK suckler herd and the efficiency of females in milk, fertility and easy calving, combined with growthy, fast finishing progeny is just adding up for commercial producers. We would have liked to have seen more bulls sold but there was a strong demand for the quality lots of offer and we have to be mindful of the continued move to spring calving, and farmers taking time to consider at present in a very cost-conscious moment for the industry.” A further seven bulls were sold after the sale and up to 7000gns.
The Junior Champion came in the shape of Islavale Mint, who went on to sell for 18,000gns to Crudie Farming Company, Crudie Farm, Arbroath, who run the 45 cow Crudie pedigree herd alongside a predominantly Simmental commercial herd of 120 cows, and with 30 Blue Greys. The April 2021 born Islavale Mint is by the noted herd sire Corskie Highlander, who has previously had calves up to 15,000gns, and is out of Islavale Amber 5 VG 86, an Islavale Echo daughter. With an emphasis on ease of calving, milk, fertility and temperament, the Simmental is the go-to breed for Crudie both commercially and pedigree, and herd manager Kenny McKeague was delighted with their purchase: “Islavale Mint is a very typical Simmental bull with what we’re looking for to add to the herd. He has a tremendous top line, is very square, has a good leg in every corner, and with a lot of breed character in his head. He’ll go home for a period of isolation, and we’ll aim to put him to some cows come March time.”
Immediately recouping a little of their outlay on the top price purchase was Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour when they made 16,000gns for Delfur Maverick the second prize bull in the third class of the day. March 2021 born, Delfur Maverick is sired by the 10,000gns Woodhall Instinct 17, a previous Stirling Junior Champion, and is out of the Auchorachan ACDC sired Delfur Denise, one of the top and easiest calving lines in the herd. Again with a depth of breeding, and strong figures including a +11 for Maternal (milk), this bull was purchased in a two way split between the Fallhills herd of Bruce Lambie, Fallhills Farm, Penicuik, and the Innerwick herd of Mr and Mrs L Moffatt, Innerwick Farm, Dunbar, East Lothian. Speaking after the sale Bruce Lambie said: “I am really delighted to buy a share of this bull and he was my number one pick of the sale. He ticked all the boxes for both Dorothy (Moffatt) and I being a long clean bull with great shape and with good legs and feet. This is the first time that I have purchased a bull with Dorothy. There’s a family connection and the same high health status in the herds, and Dorothy helped me get a start in the breed in 2013 when I purchased my first two heifers from her”.
Another strong team of Simmental bulls came from the noted Corskie herd of Mr WJ and J Green, Corskie, Fochabers, Garmouth, who made 11,000gns; 10;000gns; 7500gns; 6500gns; and 5,500gns respectively to gross £42,525 and at a cracking average of £8,505. Leading the way was the 11,000gns Corskie Mikah who placed first in the second class of the day. Arriving at Stirling with a strong show record behind him, Corskie Mikah had placed Reserve Simmental Junior Male Champion and Reserve Interbreed Beef Breeder Champion at the Royal Highland Show in June and went onto be Junior Male Champion and Reserve Overall Junior Champion at the Scottish National Show, at the Black Isle. Sired by Kilbride Farm Haka and out of the Dirnanean Bradley daughter Corskie Elissa VG 88, this bull was purchased jointly by J Milne and Son, Oldwhat Mains, Turriff, and David Ross and Fiona Shand, who run the Fortmarine herd at New Deer, Turriff.
Also selling at 11,000gns Coltfield Murry, from JC MacIver, Wester Coltfield, Forres, Moray. Bred out of Coltfield Izzie G 79, who goes back to Newbiemains Cocaine, he is sired by the 14,000gns Rockytop Invader. The May 2021 born Murry, successfully shown through the summer, was purchased for export by the well know Garret Behan who runs the 65-cow Clonagh Simmental herd in Portlaoise, Republic of Ireland. A long-time purchaser of British Simmental bulls, going back to his purchase of the 8,500gns Banwy T-Rex at Perth in November 2007, Mr Behan was delighted with his new acquisition, and commented: “We focus on bulls with feminine traits and showing and sales are a huge part to the herd’s success. Throughout the years and in particular the last ten the herd has, we think, achieved unrivalled success. In the past nine National Irish finals the herd has claimed the overall title at six of them including the champion and reserve in 2010”.
Three bulls were sold for 10,000gns, and with the first being another from the Corskie team in the shape of Corskie Monarch, and who had stood second in his class to the aforementioned Corskie Mikah. Buying this bull was J Barclay and Son for their Whiteknowes herd at Ardiecow Farm, Fordyce, Banff. Also sired by the 10,000gns Kilbride Farm Haka, he is bred out of Corskie Highness VG 86, a daughter of the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie, and one of the best and most consistent cow families within the herd. Commenting on his purchase, Mr Barclay said, “this is the first Corskie bull we have purchased, and we were looking to bring some new bloodlines into our stock. He looks a good strong bull, and I really liked his back pedigree. Monarch will be working alongside our other four Simmental bulls and over the 270 head suckler herd. Calving in the Spring and Autumn, we keep around 50 heifers for replacements to our mainly purebred Simmental suckler herd and sell the others finished to Morrisons”.
The two further bulls at the 10,000gns price, both came from Islavale team of the Stronach family. Islavale Mojo, a March-2021 born bull was the first through the ring and was snapped up by Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, Morayshire, for their Pitgaveny herd. A previous purchaser of Islavale genetics, Mojo again caught their eye after he stood first in his class in the pre-sale show, and in front of Islavale Magnum the day’s top price bull. Islavale Mojo is by Curaheen Giant, who has bred Stirling champions in the past for Islavale, and is out of the Popes Laird daughter Islavale Britney Ex 94. Islavale Mojo carried a Maternal (milk) figure of +9. The Stronach’s other 10,000gns bull was the blue ticket winner and April 2021-born Islavale Maximus. This calf is a son of the popular Irish bred AI bull Dermotstown Delboy E92 and is out of Islavale Chloe Ex 91, a daughter of the 15,000gns Atlow Dixon Ex 91. With both muscle and milk, Islavale Maximus goes to work with the high-end commercial herd of A and J Craig, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, who are again repeat buyers from the Islavale herd.
All the way from Hampshire, and in what was the herd’s first time at Stirling was Mr and Mrs S and L Blomfield, Lymington, with their February 2021 born bull Sway Monarch 21 (PP). This bull brought something different to the sale with him being the only homozygous polled bull in the catalogue and, despite being full homebred, featuring some Czechoslovakian and Canadian bloodlines in his pedigree. By the homozygous polled Sway Kingsman 19 (PP), and out of Sway Babycham (P), the long trip reaped its reward when Sway Monarch made 8,500gns in selling to the Dargill pedigree herd of J C McLaren and Partners, Knox House, Crieff, Perthshire.
The first of two bulls through the ring at 8,000gns was the pre-sale show Reserve Supreme and Intermediate Champion Popes Matchmaker from the noted Popes herd of JH and VG Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Lancashire which comprises of 60 cows and followers with 80 to calf. Full of breeding, performance, and figures, Popes Matchmaker is by Denizes Impressive who is out of Denizes Trixi-Belle 6th, the mother of the 20,000gns Supreme Champion and the same breeding line as Popes Laird. Matchmaker’s dam is the noted Popes Whispers Della whose dam line goes back to Greenside Whisper. With a Maternal (milk) figure of +12, Matchmaker is another bull who has had great success in the show ring this season, being crowned Reserve Junior Interbreed Champion and the Simmental Male and Junior Champion at the Great Yorkshire show in July. Heading all the way to Cornwall, this bull was purchased by Steve and Gill Gummow, to work in their well-known Killiworgie Simmental herd in Newquay. Killiworgie Simmentals have bred five figure bulls at Stirling, are prolific herd competition winners in Cornwall and the South-West, and this year won the 2022 Simmental Virtual Show competition.
Matching the 8,000gns price tag and snapped up by Snaigow Farming, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, was the April 2021-born Team MacGregor, a heterozygous polled bull by Lopemede Gregg and out of Team Melody, a daughter of the 10,000gns Auchorachan Winger. Team MacGregor, with strong figures for calving ease and a Maternal (milk) figure of +9, was bred and exhibited by Mr R J Macgregor, Perth, Perth and Kinross.
A small but high-quality offering of Simmental females averaged £3,045 for the eight sold. Topping the lots at 6,000gns was the stylish Springfield Minstrel from Gavin Brown, Penicuik, Midlothian. A 15-month-old heifer out of Woodhall Cheeky and sired by Islavale Jabba, Springfield Minstrel was purchased by JH and VG Wood, Dutton, Lancashire for their noted Popes herd. Commenting, Vikki Wood said: “This is just a dark red heifer with a lot of class and the type of female that we feel we could breed from for progeny aimed at the Stirling market.”
The Woods went on to purchase four heifers in all from Gavin Brown, with Springfield Melody and Springfield Meg, being knocked down for 4,800gns and 4,000gns respectively, and Springfield Magic at 2600gns. Melody, a July 2021 born lass, is by the same sire as her 6,000gns shed mate Minstrel, Islavale Jabba, but this time bred out of Springfield Imogen, who goes back to the Irish-born Shiloh Freedom. Springfield Meg, who has been running with Kilbride Farm Landmark, is sired by Team Celtic and is out of Springfield Ivory, who also goes back to Shiloh Freedom. In the pre-sale show of bulls the Springfield herd had one red ticket and went on to sell bulls at 5,500gns, 5000gns and 4,000gns.
AVERAGES:
45 Bulls £7559 (+£1579)
8 Females £3045
OTHER LEADING BULL PRICES:
7,500gns Lot 646 Corskie Meldrew, sold to M Cruickshank
7,000gns Lot 688 Backmuir Mustang, sold to J & R Stanger
7,000gns Lot 691 Backmuir Macallan, sold to I J Blackhall & Sons
7,000gns Lot 731 Strathisla Mandarin, sold to W J Hollingsworth
6,5000gns Lot 647 Overhill House Marshall, sold to McKenzie Craiglands Ltd
6,500gns Lot 668 Auchorachan Malcom, sold to C & V Fraser
6,500gns Lot 680 Broombrae Monty, sold to A D Sutherland
6,500gns Lot 682 Auchorachan Magic, sold to A P Whyte
6,500gns Lot 733 Corskie Megastar, sold to C H Evans & Sons
6,000gns Lot 694 Islavale Merlin , sold to J Walker & Sons
6,000gns Lot 706 Blackford Mustang, sold to P & M Grant
£3250 LOST FARM HEIFER WITH CALF AT FOOT LEADS STRONG SIMMENTAL COMMERCIAL DEMAND AT ABERDEEN & NORTHERN MARTS SALE OF BREEDING CATTLE
Aberdeen & Northern Marts annual show and sale of breeding cattle at Thainstone Agricultural Centre, held on Tuesday 28th September saw strong outfits easily cashed and with a noticeable demand for the quality lots featuring Simmental breeding. 136 head of adult breeding cattle were sold on the day.
Topping the Simmental trade at £3250 was Charles & George Gordon, Lost Farm, Strathdon with a Simmental heifer and bull calf which was purchased by W J Jack & Son, Woodend, Muir of Ord. This outfit in the pre-sale judging lifted the prize for Champion Simmental sired heifer with calf at foot and presented by the British Simmental Cattle Society.
Over the past 20 years, 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.
Highlighting the depth of Simmental sale influence, other breed sale highlights included:
• Heifer with Bull Calf (57) sold to £3,150 for a Simmental cross with Limousin
cross from Lost Farm, Strathdon.
• Other leading Heifer with Bull Calf Prices: Sim – Lost Farm £2,900; SimX – Auchtygall £2,850,
£2,650; Towiemore £2,800, £2,700 (twice), £2,600 (twice); Wester Bleaton
£2,700; Lost Farm £2,650, £2,600 (four); South Blachrie £2,500.
• Heifer with Heifer Calf: SimX – Lost Farm £2,650, £2,500, £2,400; Towiemore £2,600, £2,400; Auchtygall £2,550, £2,500, £2,450; Wester Bleaton £2,200, £2,150; South Blachrie £2,150, £2,100.
• Cow with Heifer Calf (10) sold to £1,820 for a Simmental cross with
Charolais cross from Battlefield, Aberchirder.
SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK AND AT ABERDEEN; LANCASTER; THIRSK; MARKET DRAYTON; HUNTLY; STIRLING; HOLSWORTHY; CARLISLE; DUMFRIES; PRESTON; MELTON MOWBRAY; DINGWALL; SEDGEMOOR; OSWESTRY; DUNGANNON; FORT WILLIAM; SKIPTON; EXETER; SHREWSBURY; HUNTLY; TRURO; LANARK;
The UK’s leading continental beef breed for age at slaughter Simmental sired progeny are fast growing, have a terrific weight for age, and leave a high yielding, profitable carcase. Simmental females are naturally efficient, healthy, easy to manage, and just full of milk. Adding value to any cross, they are maternal mainstays of the commercial suckler herd providing value and profit.
This base of female quality, efficiency and performance, rounded up with terrific terminal abilities, sees Simmental providing future fit genetics for an industry where natural efficiency and dual-purpose value will be at a premium. Please see here the latest market briefs of Simmentals continuing to do the business at commercial sales around the UK.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts (Friday 23rd September 2022) sold 1,337 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Heifers (315) averaged 246.4p and sold to 292.6p per kg for a pair of 458kg Simmental crosses from Lochend. On the same day a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors saw the heifers top at 292.5p per kg for a pair of Simmentals from J W S Logie & Co, Lochend, Westray. Young Bulls sold to 210.7p per kg for a 446kg Simmental from S Mainland, Skiddy, Rendall.
At NWA’s sale on 23rd September at Lancaster, the strongest store cattle maintained the high prices of recent sales. Simmental x steers led the way achieving £1620 for a pair from TJ Lloyd, Settle. OTM heifers sold to 244.5p/kg from a Simmental from Mason & Gardner, Ingleton.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts (Thursday 22nd September 2022) Sold 210 Cows and Bulls at Thainstone. Beef Feeding Cows (74) averaged £1251.28 (+67.44) and sold to £1530 for a 806kg Simmental from Sauchenbush, Echt.
In a sale of 186 cattle at Thirsk Market on 22nd September the best grossing cow at 1690.74 was for a Simmental x from R Inglis, Howden purchased by RM Helliwell, Rochdale.
An electric trade for yarding cattle at Market Drayton’s store sale on 22nd September topped at £1350 or 2.56p per kilo for Simmental steers with majority trading at 2.00-2.20p per kilo.
At Huntly, United Auctions on 22nd September sold 629 store cattle, weaned calves and OTMs at the annual Weaned Calf Show and Sale. OTMS sold to average 176p per kg selling to 208.6p per kg for a SimX from Burnside, Marypark. Top gross being £1930 for the same animal.
Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling on 22nd September had forward 121 Cattle comprising of 67 Bullocks, Heifers and Young Bulls, and 54 OTM Cattle. Prime Bullocks sold to £2034 for a Simmental from H A Brown, Molemount, Galston purchased by S McGimpsey.
The sale of store cattle at Holsworthy on 21st September saw a cracking run of single suckled Simmental steers 14-17mths from Messrs Baily & Son of Beaworthy meet with a strong trade topping the day at £1385 with others to £1350.
At H&H’s sale of store cattle and weanlings at Carlisle on 21st September, a show of 210 weaners were on offer with a keen ring side of buyers ensuring a great trade. Messrs Wigham, Riggshields sold a Simmental bull to the top price of £1290.
United Auctions on 21 September at Stirling sold 1131 store cattle and young bulls and 223 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Heifers (499) – averaged 229.82p to 275.70p per kg for a 457kg SimX from Ormsary, and to £1640 for a 682kg SimX from Stoopshill.
C&D Auction Marts held their weekly Primestock sale in Dumfries on Wednesday 21st September 2022. Beef cows to 223p/kg and £1906.60 for a Simm from Maxwellbank.
At Brockholes Arms Auction Mart, Preston, sale of store cattle on 20th September, overall top spot in the steer section went to M Sacker with Simx Steers to £1440.
At Melton Mowbray on 20th September, a grand show of strength on a busy day welcomed by a ringside packed with buyers saw vendors returning home grinning from ear to ear with well-earned rewards. Cattle across from Ely saw £1425 for a Simmental x heifer at 22 months.
At a small sale of prime cattle at Dingwall on 20th September, prime heifers sold to 245.0p per kg and £1,323,00 gross for a 540kg Simmental cross from Easter Sheeppark, Balblair selling to Messrs John M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.
Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling had forward 247 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale on 19th September. Heifers averaged 226ppkg and to £1200 for a Simmental from W & E I Brown, Laigh Drumbow, Turnberry.
Sedgemoor’s store sale on 17th September saw Simmental heifers at £1255 (only 17m) from N Jamieson, Taunton feature in the top end of prices.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts (Friday 16th September 2022 at Thainstone) Sold 975 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Bulls sold to 242.2p per kg for a pen of three 510kg Simmental crosses and £1,305 gross for a 566kg Simmental cross from Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.
SIMMENTALS LEADING LANCASTER’S STORE TRADE IN NUMBERS
The weekly sale of store cattle at Lancaster on 16TH September had an entry of in excess of 200 forward that saw strong short keep cattle in big demand selling to a strong trade. Simmental bullocks led the way selling to £1630 from TJ Lloyd Farm, Settle with other Simmental bullocks to £1600 from Cowell & Moore, Woodplumpton. This was followed by other Simmental bullocks to £1500 from T&M Halhead, Priest Hutton. Cull cows sold to an overall market average of 167p/kg with 80% of the sale being dairy cows. The sale peaked at 209.5p/kg for a Fleckvieh from B&AC Barnes, Kirkby Lonsdale who sold others at 207.5p/kg,
A small sale of weanlings at Oswestry on 14th September saw the top price being for Simmental Heifers to £300 from I G & G M Evans & Sons Pendugwn.
At H&H’s sale of store cattle at Carlisle on 14th September, another good entry of 600 Store Cattle forward selling to yet another cracking trade for all best shaped and fleshed steers and heifers. Simmental steers peaked at a sale top price of £1760 from Messrs Stamper.
Dungannon Farmer’s Mart on 14th September saw fat cows sold to £1720 for an 850kg Sim (202.00).
United Auctions on 14th September at Stirling sold 1458 store cattle, native bred cattle and young bulls and 181 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Bullocks (745) -averaged 239.42p and to £1770 for a 719kg SimX from Auchenwincie.
At Fort William, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd (September 14th) sold 551 Weaned calved, store, breeding and OTM cattle. Bullocks (319) averaged 282.2p per kg and sold to £1,360 gross for a 615kg Simmental Cross from Ardtornish Farms, Morven.
Skipton’s sale of 550 cattle on 14th September saw Simmentals lead the breed averages for beef bred feeding cows to average £1170. Simmental store bullocks averaged £1300 with Simmental store heifers selling to £1200.
At Thirsk’s sale of 236 store cattle on 13th September, trade was bouyant with strong competition for all classes. Steers sold to £1390 and including Simmental X from D Ashton & Son, Spaldington.
Dingwall & Highland Marts Sale of prime cattle on 13th September saw prime bullocks average 229.2p per kg and sold to 238.0p per kg for a 600kg Simmental from Allanglach, North Kessock selling to Messrs J M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.
At Exeter’s sale of prime cattle on 12th September, Simmentals from Douglas Horton and Family up from Kingsbridge reached £1460 (610kg x 240ppk). Further Simmental bred heavy heifers ran to £1342 (598pk x 225ppk) for Adrian and Bradley Bowden.
Simmental heifers sold to £1295 from EJ Harding, Weston-Super-Mare, with other Simmentals sold at £1235 from R & J Cook, Bridport and £1225 from FW Batten at Sedgemoor’s store sale on 10th September.
At a sale of store cattle from Orkney consignors on 9th September at Aberdeen & Northern Marts Thainstone centre, heifers sold to a top of 261p per kg for a 504kg Simmental from A T Annal & Sons, Myres, South Ronaldsay.
At the sale of store cattle at NWA’s Lancaster market on 9th September, numbers are increasing week on week with 348 forward, the sale peaked at £1800 for a trio of cracking Simmental x steers from RH Dodgson, Burton in Lonsdale who sold another trio at £1760.
SIMMENTALS LEAD RECORD STORE AVERAGE AT SHREWSBURY!
A wonderful line up of cattle ON 8TH September, with a lot of forward cattle and suckler breds on offer resulted in a RECORD AVERAGE for a Store Cattle sale in Shrewsbury for both the gross value and per kilo returning at £1083 and 230ppk. The forward Cattle today topping at £1490 (685kg) for a 22mo Simmental Steer from P & C E Davies of Four Crosses who sold 3 further Simmentals in excess of £1400!!
At Huntly on 8th September, United Auctions sold 65 store and OTM cattle. BLKS (20) sold to an average 223p per kg and with the top price being £1165 for a 495kg SimX from Auchinclech, Grange. HFRS (42) sold to average 227p per kg selling to a top gross of £1160 for a 500kg SimX from Clerkseat, Grange.
On Wednesday 7th September at Carlisle, Harrison & Hetherington conducted their weekly sale of calves with an entry of 299 forward. Topping the sale was a Simmental bull from Haregills, Lockerbie selling for £565.
Dungannon Farmer’s Mart on 7th September saw suckled cows and calves sold to £1950 for a Sim Cow with a Sim Hfr Calf at foot.
At Truro livestock market’s sale of store cattle on 7th September, a superb consignment from Messrs I D & S S Backway of St Eval, Wadebridge, topped at £1150 for a trio of 16 month old Simmental x steers.
Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 675 store cattle to the fortnightly sale on 6th September at Lanark. Heifers peaked at £1370 for a 674kg Simmental heifer from Kilblaan.
Exeter’s sale of prime cattle on 5th September saw Over Thirty Month prime cattle sold readily and to £1537 (734kg x 210ppk) for CS and K Hoskin of Christow with an aged Simmental Heifer.
On Monday 5th September 2022 at Carlisle, Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of Primestock. A much larger entry of over 100 prime bulls sold to a fantastic trade throughout. The day’s trading topped at £2618 for a 914kg Simmental from Messrs Lowry, New Steadings Farm, Lanark and was purchased by Mr Bill Howard.
Caledonian Marts Ltd had forward 378 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale on 5th September at Stirling. Cows and Calves sold to £2450 for a 7-year-old Simmental Cow with Charolais Calf from G & A Munn, Mid Auchencarroch, Alexandria.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts (Friday 2nd September 2022 at Thainstone) Sold 894 Store Cattle, Young Bulls, Young and Weaned Calves and Breeding Cattle. Heifers (294) averaged 244.4p and sold to £1,750 gross for a 584kg Simmental from Milton of Noth, Rhynie. Bulls (14) sold to 226.2p per kg for a 210kg Simmental cross from Thorax Farm, Cornhill. On the same day, at a sale of store cattle for Orkney consignors, heifers sold to a top of £1,255 gross for a pen of three 512kg Simmental cross Luing from T Lyth, Heatherhouse, Tankerness and to 255.1p per kg for a pair of 448kg Simmentals from J W S Wishart, Knockhall, South Ronaldsay.
At NWA’s sale of store and OTM cattle on 2nd September Simmentals featured at the top end of prices. OTM steers led the way selling to 234.5p/kg or £1648 from H Birkett & Son, Overton with a Simmental. In the stores the bullock trade saw Simmentals to £1640 from H Morgan, and to £1520 from T&M Halhead, Priest Hutton.
A packed calf shed at Melton Mowbray on 31st August saw the 200 barrier bracket broken! The trade seen week in week out brings both the rearing calves and the weanlings forward with some super runs of farming cattle from across the counties for buyers to get stuck into. Pick of the calves this came from weekly supporters Chandler and Dickman who saw Simmental bull calves top the trade at £260.
Dungannon Farmer’s Mart on Wednesday 31st August saw dropped calves peak at £345 for a Sim Bull presented by J Robinson.
LATEST SIMMENTAL MARKET BRIEFS SEES THE BREED TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AROUND THE UK AND AT GISBURN; HUNTLY; NEWTON STEWART; LANCASTER; FROME; ABERDEEN; SHREWSBURY; HALLWORTHY; DUMFRIES; DUNGANNON; TRURO; STIRLING; CARLISLE; SELBY; EXETER; THIRSK; HOLSWORTHY; DINGWALL; SEDGEMOOR; AND LUDLOW.
Simmental females are naturally efficient, healthy, easy to manage, and just full of milk. Adding value to any cross, they are maternal mainstays of the commercial suckler herd providing value and profit. The UK’s leading continental beef breed for age at slaughter Simmental sired progeny are fast growing, have a terrific weight for age, and leave a high yielding, profitable carcase. This base of female quality and performance, rounded up with terrific terminal abilities, sees Simmental providing future fit genetics for an industry where natural efficiency and dual-purpose value will be at a premium.
Please see here the latest market briefs of Simmentals ‘doing the business’ at commercial sales around the UK.
At Gisburn’s sale of breeding and store cattle on 13th August, breeding cattle remained a flying trade with stock bulls making to £2200 for a three-year-old Simmental from Peter Howarth.
At Huntly on 12th August, United Auctions sold 338 store, breeding, and OTM cattle. Breeding cattle cattle sold to £2050 for a SimX cow with SimX steer calf at foot from Whitehills, Grange. Bulls sold to a top of £1720 for a Sim from Whitehills, Grange.
Craig Wilson Ltd had a sale of 304 store cattle at Newton Stewart on 12th August. More numbers forward and more buyers present all classes easily cleared. 136 Beef sired Steers averaged 234.2p k/g peaking at £1185 for a pair of Simmental Crosses from A Henry, Barrachan.
In a sale of cast and OTM cattle at NWA’s Lancaster Market on 12th August, beef cows saw Simmentals sell to 219.5p/kg or £1738 from Barlow Bros, Crosston.
Cast cows at Frome on 12th August sold to a top price per kg of 180.5p/kg (£1390) for Simmentals from Tuckmarsh Farm Ltd.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle on 11th August, under 30 month prime bullocks were led by Newtonhill with a Simm X at £1,750.75. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, beef finished cows topped at £1910 for a Simm X from Cortiecram, Auchnagatt.
In a sale of store cattle at Shrewsbury on 11th August, bulls sold to a top price of £1300 for a 12mo 535kg Simmental X from R & J Hill.
A decent entry of 126 Store cattle at Hallworthy on 11th August with over 200 in all including the Stirks. The dry weather making a difference on the trade but a sharper trade was seen. Top was £1,395 for two tremendous Simmentals (23m) in from AP & DJ House of St Issey, who sold other Simmentals to £1,255 (23m). Other Simmental Steers sold to a grand £1390 (26m) for WA Williams & Sons, Mullion. Heifers sold to a top of £1205 (23m) for a smart Simmental in from the same vendor, who had other Heifers to £1100 (23m), £1070 (23m).
At C&D Auction Marts, Dumfries, sale of primestock on 10th August, Simmentals from North Bowerhouses led the trade per kilo at 209p.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 10th August, a larger entry of stock saw prices continue to remain steady with steers selling to £1740 for a 755kg Sim (231.00) from I Trainor with further Simms at £1390 590kg (236.00), and £1300 565kg (230.00).
At Holsworthy on Wednesday 10th August, there was an enormous August entry of 370 calves penned and the best quality calves met a scorching trade, a bit like the weather. Top of the day was £550 for a reared Simmental steer in from Dave Fowler of Whitstone.
At Truro on 10th August quality continued to sell with Mr R T Dunn of Par, St Austell, once again setting the pace at 197p/kg for a great 777kg Simmental x, purchased by Dawn West Devon of Hatherleigh.
In a sale of calves on 9th August at Shrewsbury, weaned sorts met an electrifying trade topping at £620 for a bunch of three 5 month old Simm Bulls from Beddoes & Sons, with a further two from the same home at £610. On the same day the barren cow trade was topped by a Sim x at 176p to £1355.20 for R & J Hill.
On Monday 8th August 2022 Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling had forward 289 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale. Bullocks averaged 221ppkg selling to 250ppkg for a pen of Simmentals from Your Local Farm, Slamannan.
In a sale of prime bulls at Harrison & Hetherington’s Carlisle market on 8th August, Messrs Taylor, Skirling Craigs, Lanark reaped the reward for his first venture to Borderway selling a a 848kg Simmental to £2064.88 to feature in the leading prices.
C & D Auction Marts held their fortnightly sale of 324 store cattle in Dumfries on Monday 8th August 2022. A grand show of stronger cattle were presented to a full ringside of buyers activley seeking more numbers. Simmental bullocks topped the sale at £1465 from Ramsay Dunbae and who had further Simms at £1465, £1350 & £1265.
At Selby Livestock Market on 6th August, the cattle trade was led by a Simx at £1095 from Tim Lewis.
At Thainstone on 5th August, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1,121 Store Cattle, Young Bulls, Young and Weaned Calves and 24 Breeding Cattle. Bullocks (537) averaged 238.2p and sold to £1,710 gross for a 732kg Simmental cross from Hallbreck, St Margarets Hope.
At Frome Market’s sale of prime cattle on 5th August, UTM heifers sold to a top price of 218p/pkg for Simmentals from S Dyer, IoW.
Store cattle saw no less money at Exeter on 5th August with some of the better sorts looking a little dearer. Featuring in the top prices were strong Simmental bred steers (all around the 21 month old mark) which sold to £1,280 for both John and Helen Keep of Moretonhampstead and J and J Britton of Tiverton. Continental bred heifers saw a pair of 24-month-old Simmentals from the Shervington Family of Hittisleigh come back at £1090 apiece.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of cast cows and bulls on 4th August at Thainstone. Leading the beef feeding cows at £1450 was a Simm from Mansons, Brodieshill.
The August sale of beef breeding cattle at NWA’s Lancaster Market on 4th August saw a top price £2220 achieved for a Simmental x heifer with a Lim x heifer calf from R&E Ladds, Kendal.
At Thirsk on 4th August the cull cattle trade saw the top price cow & best grossing be 215.5ppk or £1848.99 for a Simmental X from R Elliott, Tadcaster purchased by RM Helliwell, Rochdale.
370 Store Cattle at Hallworthy on 4th August saw a tremendous standard of cattle with fleshy types sold with ease. Amongst the top prices were a sweet pair of 22 month Simmental x Steers which sold to £1240 for B & B Facey of Bodmin.
At Stirling on 3rd August, United Auctions sale of store cattle and young bulls saw young bulls average 207.04p and to £1320 for a SimX from East Overton.
In a sale of store cattle and weanlings at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart on 3rd August, bulls and weaning cattle were once again up significantly on the week. All types of cattle extremely well bid for with buyers looking for a lot more numbers on the day. Simmental bulls topped at £1290 from Gerrard House, Wigton.
There were 250 calves and stirks forward at Holsworthy on 3rd August, with Simmentals selling to £270 for PF and MW Fishleigh, Broadwoodkelly.
Up in the leading prices for the beef cows at Truro on 3rd August, Simmental x’s sold to 186p (617kg) for Messrs J & RJ Nankervis of Zennor, St Ives. Simmental cross cattle sold well in the store sections with two-year-old steers selling for £840 for Mr J Penhaligon of Portscatho, Truro & 1 ½ year olds selling to £765 for the same vendor. A reasonable entry of 50 stirks were also on offer with the top of the day being £710 for a neat Simmental x Steer at only nine months old, in from SP & DA Ovens of Camelford.
At Dingwall’s sale of prime cattle on 2nd August bullocks averaged 257.0p per kg and sold to £1,464.90 gross for a 570kg Simmental cross from Groam, Kirkhill selling to Messrs John M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.
Sedgemoor on 1st August saw a good entry of finished cattle at 95 head, and with a pure Simmental steer at 230 pence per kilo from BA Sweet, Congresbury featuring in the very top prices.
Sedgemoor on Saturday 30th July saw another excellent entry in terms of numbers with 532 stores and with quality Simmental steers to £1365 for four 15 month-olds from EA & DA Ellis. Simmental heifers sold to £1,230 for a pair of 26 month-olds from H Attwell, Walton. There was a much better show of stirks on the week with the top priced being £920 for seven 13 month-old Simmental steers from Hensons Farming Ltd. Two further 10 month-old Simmentals steers sold for £735 each and two more 10 month-olds steer sold for £665 apiece from BK Hockey, while Simmental heifers topped at £715 for a 10 month old from JM Tratt.
At Exeter on 29th July, Simmental bred steers sold well topping at £1.495 for a 29-month-old from Cyril Emmett and a pair of well reared and fed dairy crossbred Simmentals (20m) realised £875 each for Jeff Harvey of Hennock.
Finally one that we hadn’t picked up and from Ludlow’s store cattle sale on 22nd July where there was a firm trade on the steers forward with stronger feeding types the most in demand. The top price was Simmental x steers at £1190 or 250p/pkg against an average of 204p/pkg.
Pics from Simmental archive.
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