by Nicky Moreton | Sep 17, 2025 | 2025 Scottish News, 2025 Market Briefs, 2025 News, 2025
Simmentals continuing to do the business at commercial sales around the UK. Here we take a snatch look at a few sales over the last few weeks at Thainstone, Aberdeen & Northern Marts. There’s more to Simmental!
At Thainstone on 5th September, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 746 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Heifers (195) averaged 407.5p and sold to 463p per kg for a 432kg Simmental Cross from Burnside Croft, Torphins. A Simmental from Drumsleed, Fourdoun topped the bulls at £2680 gross.
On 29th August and a sale of 425 store cattle, young bulls, and weaned calves. 196 heifers averages 415.3p and sold to 525.4p per kg for a pen of three 472kg Simmental cross from Cottown, Rhynie.
At a sale of 146 cast cows and bulls on 28th August, Dairy Cows (29) averaged £1575.34 and sold to £2370 for a 764kg Fleckvieh Cross from Quendale, Dunrossness.
135 cast cows and bulls on 21st August saw beef feeding cows (49) average £2025 and sell to £2430 for a 750kg from Simmental from Carbrotack, Cairnie. Boning Cows averaged £1305.83 and sold to £1550 for a 590kg Simmental. Bulls (12) averaged £2150.83 and sold to £2690 for a 1130kg Simmental from Shank of Glenbarry, Knock.
In a sale of 111 cast cows and bulls on 14th August, bulls sold to £2690 for a 1275kg Simmental from Auquhorthies, Oldmeldrum.
A sale of 388 store cattle, young bulls, weaned calves, and breeding cattle on 8th August saw breeding cattle sold to £2580 for in calf Simmental cows from Milton of Collieston, Ellon. A sale of 146 cast cows and bulls on the same day saw beef feeding cows sell to £2290 for an 804kg Simmental Cross from Gladhill, Garmouth. Berryleys sold Simmental beef finished cows to £3080, and £2990.#
On 7th August, and a sale of 99 prime cattle, young bulls were topped at £2963.10 gross for an 830kg Simmental from Berryleys, Grange.
A sale of 746 store cattle, young bulls, young and weaned calves on 25th July saw 259 bullocks top at £2740 gross for a pair of 736kg Simmental crosses from Stoneyhill, Longhaven. Bulls sold to 440.7p per kg for a pen of three 236kg Simmentals from Dundurcas, Rothes. Breeding cattle sold to £4000 for a Simmental Cow with Simmental Bull Calf at foot from Cairnhill, Huntly, then followed by £3950 (x2), & £3700, all from Cairnhill.
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 18, 2025 | 2025 South East News, 2025 News, 2025 Virtual Show, 2025
- 429 Simmentals entered in this year’s competition over six classes.
- 2020 born cow wins Overall Supreme Champion
- Vale Royal North Star wins Male Championship and places Overall Reserve
- Champion and Reserve both from the Mixbury Hall herd
The 2025 British Simmental Virtual Show reached a thrilling conclusion on “Simmental Super Sunday”, 17th August, with Mixbury Hall Lucinda, a 2020-born cow from Vernon and Jon Bailey, Mixbury Hall Farm, Brackley, Northants, being crowned Overall Supreme Champion.
This year’s staging, the sixth edition of the UK’s largest online pedigree cattle show, attracted a mighty 429 Simmentals from 89 breeders, competing across six classes, over six weeks.
Lucinda, sired by the herd’s noted Tilbrook Frank (himself Virtual Show Male Champion in 2021) and out of Mixbury Hall Damelsa, emerged victorious after winning the Female Championship. In a first for the competition, both the Female Champion and Male Champion came from the same home, the 70 breeding female Northamptonshire based Mixbury Hall herd. The Male Championship title went to Vale Royal North Star, bought in a private deal, and who was also named Overall Reserve Supreme Champion.
Video from judge
Supreme Championship judge David Hazelton of the renowned Ranfurly herd, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, said of his Supreme Champion:
“Mixbury Hall Lucinda just oozes Simmental breed character, with a lovely feminine head, a great top line, real stature to her, and with tremendous length from hook to pin. She has a snug udder with ideally sized teats – perfect for what I call a ‘hands free calf’, able to suckle unaided from day one.”
Lucinda initially topped a highly competitive class of 60 cows in milk, judged by Heather Duff, Pitmudie herd, Brechin, Angus, before being awarded the Female Championship by Vikki Wood, Popes herd, Lancashire.
With regards to the Male Champion, and Overall reserve Supreme, Vale Royal North Star, the judge David Hazelton praised the bull as being: “Just a terrific Simmental bull with exceptional length, easy fleshing, and with a great carcase.” North Star won through a strong section of 141 males, including 27 senior bulls judged by Neil McGowan of the Incheoch herd, Alyth, Blairgowrie. The Male Championship was later awarded by Cornish breeder Steve Gummow of the Killiworgie herd. 2022 born, Vale Royal North Star is by the noted AI sire Auchorachan Hercules 16 (ET) EX 92, and is out of Vale Royal Annie who herself won the 2023 Simmental Virtual Show Championship for breeder James Arnold, Tarporley, Cheshire.
Speaking immediately at the close of the ‘Simmental Super Sunday’, and after receiving the Championship awards, an ‘over the moon’ Jon Bailey said:
“As a family we are absolutely delighted to have won both the Male and Female Championships, and the Overall Supreme – it’s incredible. The Virtual Show has been brilliant for showcasing our stock at Mixbury Hall, and for promoting the Simmental breed across the UK. At Mixbury Hall, we strive to produce quality cattle – good, milky, feminine, easy-fleshing cows that start breeding young and continue breeding well. We feel Simmental really is the breed that does it all.”
Jon also praised the wider competition and went on to say: “A huge well done to all breeders who entered, and to the judges for their time and effort. The Virtual Show is a fantastic event – great fun to take part in and to watch.”
On behalf of the British Simmental Cattle Society, the BSCS President Chris Martindale, of the Forsdale herd, Shropshire, said:
“Many congratulations to the Bailey family – winning a clean sweep of Championships from an entry of 429 quality Simmentals is a remarkable achievement. The Virtual Show continues to be an outstanding platform to promote the maternal and terminal qualities of British Simmental. Above all, it brings people together, showcases cattle on an inexpensive platform, and delivers a lot of fun along the way. It’s a competition that is very much anticipated and is now a firm fixture in the Simmental calendar.”
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 18, 2025 | 2025 Virtual Show
It’s the second ‘big reveal’ of Simmental Super Sunday and the 2025 Simmental Virtual Show as we now turn to the ladies.
A mighty 288 super Simmental females were entered across three classes as this competition continues to go from strength to strength. Taking an incredible second Championship of this year’s competition is the Mixbury Hall herd of Vernon and Jon Bailey, Mixbury Hall Farm, Brackley, Northants with their 2020 born Mixbury Hall Lucinda VG 87. Lucinda, by the herd’s noted sire Tilbrook Frank, and out of Mixbury Hall Damelsa, was up against two heifers in the final in the shape of Corskie Pink, and Corskie Role Play both from WJ & J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers.
Judging the Female Championships was Vikki Wood of the noted Lancashire based Popes herd, and please see here Vikki’s video with her comments on these terrific Simmental females.
What an incredible achievement by the Baileys to win both the Male and Female Championships and in the face of such tough competition! So we’re down to a straight shootout between Vale Royal North Star, and Mixbury Hall Lucinda to see who will be crowned as the 2025 Simmental Virtual Show Champion!
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 18, 2025 | 2025 Virtual Show
Here we go on ‘Simmental Super Sunday’ with the Championships of this year’s Simmental Virtual Show!
From over 140 Simmental bulls entered in this year’s competition, the 2025 Male Champion is Vale Royal North Star from the Mixbury Hall herd of Mr VC Bailey, Mixbury Hall Farm, Brackley, Northants. North Star prevailed over his fellow finalists in the shape of Kilbride Farm Rebel (P) from WH Robson & Sons, Kilbride Farm, Doagh, Ballycare, Co Antrim, and Tillyeve Rocco from Messrs C&M Bruce, Udny, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
So it’s a massive well done to Vernon and Jon Bailey, and please see
here the video of the Male Championship judge Steve Gummow, of the noted Cornwall based Killiworgie herd, giving his thoughts on his Championship pick.
Vale Royal North Star, an Auchorachan Hercules 16 (ET) EX 92 son out of Vale Royal Annie, now takes his place in the Overall Supreme judge off, but who will he be up against?
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