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SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK AND INCLUDING: PRESTON; MARKET DRAYTON; FROME; DUMFRIES; HOLMFIRTH; DINGWALL; AYR; SEDGEMOOR; CARLISLE; DUMFRIES; HUNTLY; EXETER; ABERDEEN; TRURO; LANARK; DARLINGTON; WORCESTER; LUDLOW; OSWESTRY; DUNGANNON; AND ANGLESEY

SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK AND INCLUDING: PRESTON; MARKET DRAYTON; FROME; DUMFRIES; HOLMFIRTH; DINGWALL; AYR; SEDGEMOOR; CARLISLE; DUMFRIES; HUNTLY; EXETER; ABERDEEN; TRURO; LANARK; DARLINGTON; WORCESTER; LUDLOW; OSWESTRY; DUNGANNON; AND ANGLESEY

Playing a little bit of catch up but see the first of two market briefs reports, firstly up to the 6th April, of the Simmental breed topping commercial sales, across all classes of stock, at livestock markets around the country. Look out for a further Simmental market briefs round up coming soon.


In the sale of cull cows, heifers and bulls at Brockholes Arms Auction Mart on 6th April, Preston, the cow section was topped by Ron Loftus with a Simx to 197p/kg. At the same sale S Phoenix had another Simx cow at 180p/kg.

At Market Drayton’s store cattle sale on 6th April, steers sold to £1,340.00 for 588kg Simmentals from D. & A. Swift & Son
On 6th April at Frome’s sale of prime cattle, a good show of heifers saw Messrs LJ Curry’s outstanding Simmentals roar to a huge £1707 top gross price or 229.50p/kg and £1638 or 227.50p/kg.

At Dumfries on 6th April, prime cattle were topped per head £1569.80 by a Sim from East Langate.
On 5th April, Holmfirth Market’s OTM trade was topped at 203p/kg (Avg 158.03p/kg) for a Simmental (£1898) from ID & R Jones sold to JB Eastwood & Sons.

In a small sale of prime cattle on 5th April, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd saw Prime bullocks average 232.0p and sell to 232.0p per kg and £1,682.00 gross twice for 725kg Simmental crosses both from Balnageith, Forres.

At Ayr’s breeding cattle sale on 5th April, in-calf cows were topped by Simmental X’s at £1400 and £1350 from Turnberry Lodge. Bulls sold to 2200gns for a Simmental off Messrs Drummond, Skeoch.

Sedgemoor’s sale of barren cows and cull stock bulls on 4th April saw a centre record for a cull bull of £1896.60 and paid for a Simmental from BJ Stephens & Sons, Weston Super Mare. At the same sale, a ‘feeding’ Simmental made 191.5ppk from FA Kingcott & Son, Clevedon. In the sucklers a ‘feeding’ Simmental rose to £1,426.68 from FA Kingcott & Son.
Monday 4th April, Simmental bulls were ‘doing the business’ at Carlisle’s primestock sale. A shapey Skerrington Iceman son from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire weighed in at 891kgs and sold for £2392.94 and 268.5ppkg. Meant for breeding the bull was sold through the prime ring due to injury and went on to realise a tremendous trade.

C & D Auction Marts held their fornightly sale of store cattle in Dumfries on Monday 4th April 2022. Bullocks averaged 239.3p/kg to 305.9p/kg and sold to a top of £1655 for a Simmental from RB Oliphant, Shawfield. The same seller also sold Simm bullocks at £1555, £1465, & £1280.

At Sedgemoor’s store cattle sale on 2nd April, Simmental steers featured in the top prices when peaking at £1650 for JR Westcott & Son, Willand. Dairy bred steers saw a tremendous trade to £1270 for a fleshed Fleckvieh from A Baker, Meare.

At United Auctions April Show & Sale at Huntly, OTMs sold to average 171.2p per kg selling to a record £1920 or 201.1p per kg for a SimX from Pitgaveny, Farms, Elgin.

In a sale of mainly dairy bred stirks, and suckled calves at Exeter on 1st April, Joe Maule across from Okehampton showed a cracking run of well farmed stirks topping at £780 for 10-month-old Simmental crosses (10m).

On 31st March, Thainstone witnessed a phenomenal trade with a new achievement of 16 cows and bulls, including Simmentals, surpassing the £2,000 bracket. Beef Finished Cows sold to £2250 including one from Drumfober, Laurencekirk. Beef Feeding Cows sold to £1450 for a Sim from Drumneachie, Birse. Bulls top prices included a Sim at £1890 from Mains of Cowie, Stonehaven. On the same day, a sale on behalf of Orkney consignors saw prime cattle (30-48 Months) sell to £1,408.35 gross and 229p per kg for a 615kg Simmental heifer from Glebe Farm. The Glebe, Grimbister.

At Truro Livestock Market’s store cattle sale on 30th March the 1 year old heifer section was led by a Simmental x at £905 for Mr L Vague of Baldhu, Truro.

At Ayr on 29th March, clean cattle sold to a top price per kg of 229.5p for a Simmental Heifer off Drumjargon.

At Lanark’s sale of store cattle on March 29th, 301 bullocks were topped at £1425 by a Sim x from Parklea. Sim Bullocks from Overcairn also featured in the top prices pence per kilo when selling at 250p.

Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of Cast Cattle, Store & Breeding Stock on Monday 28th March 2022. In the cast cows, the top gross valued cow was a hefty Simmental from C & E Gaskin of Marwood at an impressive £1613.

At Worcester Store Market Sale on 26th March, store steers sold to a remarkable 366ppkg for 11month old suckler bred steers from R M Phillips 7 Partners!!

In a sale of calves at Exeter on 25th March, young Simmental bulls featured in the top prices when selling to £375 & £345 for Messrs WJ & J Snell & Son of South Molton.

At Ludlow on Friday 25th March, some very good young, fit, suckled type feeding bulls saw Simmental X Bulls sell to £1225 x2 & £1200.

At Ayr’s store cattle sale on 24th March, the top price per kilo was 284.7 for Simmental bullocks from Figgitoch.

At Oswestry’s store cattle sale on 23rd March, the top price per kilo of two or more steers 13m and over went to Llangedwyn Home Farm with a bunch of 19mo Simmentals weighing 460kg and making 267.4p/kg.

At Frome’s prime cattle sale on 23rd March, EM Horn & Sons, Swanmore, exceptional Simmental raced to 229.50p/kg or £1445, with others from Waddon Farm Ltd selling to 215.50p/kg.

At Dungannon Farmer’s Mart on 23rd March steer prices peaked at £1600 for a 695kg Sim (230.00) presented by A Robinson.

At Anglesey’s Gaerwen Auction Centre store cattle sale on 22nd March, the heifer trade was topped at £1250 for Simmentals from E Jones, Cott Farm, and followed by further Simmentals at £1210 from M Roberts, Glascoed Hall.

SIMMENTAL SETS A CENTRE RECORD AT SEDGEMOOR

SIMMENTAL SETS A CENTRE RECORD AT SEDGEMOOR

Skerrington Iceman

Simmental that set a market record for a cull bull of £1896.60 at Sedgemoor today, Monday 4th April.

Simmental bulls were also ‘doing the business’ at Carlisle’s primestock sale. A shapey Skerrington Iceman son from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire weighed in at 891kgs and sold for £2392.94 and 268.5ppkg. Meant for breeding the bull was sold through the prime ring due to injury and went on to realise a tremendous trade.

SIMMENTALS ‘DOING THE BUSINESS’ AT COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK AND INCLUDING: SELBY; HUNTLY; HALLWORTHY; STIRLING; SKIPTON; RUGBY; HEXHAM; LANCASTER; THAINSTONE; DINGWALL; FROME; CARLISLE; MALTON; MARKET DRAYTON; EXETER; & PENRITH

SIMMENTALS ‘DOING THE BUSINESS’ AT COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK AND INCLUDING: SELBY; HUNTLY; HALLWORTHY; STIRLING; SKIPTON; RUGBY; HEXHAM; LANCASTER; THAINSTONE; DINGWALL; FROME; CARLISLE; MALTON; MARKET DRAYTON; EXETER; & PENRITH

See the latest market briefs here of the Simmental breed topping commercial sales, across all classes of stock, at livestock markets around the country.

At Selby Market’s store cattle sale on Saturday 19th March, the trade for bulls was led by a ten and a half month Simmental X at £1330 from WJ Hollingsworth, Midhope. In the steers, Simm steers from RD Green sold to £1320, with further Simm steers at £1280 from Simons Bros.

At UA’s sale of store and OTM cattle at Huntly on 17th March, OTMs sold to 195.1p per kg for a 810kg SimX from Corskie, Garmouth. Top gross was £1710 for an 895kg Sim also from Corskie, Garmouth.

In a sale of stirks and rearing calves at Hallworthy Market, a seven month old Simmental steer made £605 for regular consignor Toby Dance.

At Stirling on 16th March, United Auctions sold 1679 store cattle and young bulls, 157 cast cows, bulls and out of spec cattle and 62 rearing cattle. Heifers (750) sold to £1570 for a 760kg SimX from Fernie Mill.

At Skipton’s show and sale on 16th March, the section of breeding cattle was topped at £2200 for a pedigree Simmental heifer with her Simmental bull calf at foot from David Loftus of Singleton on the Fylde Coast.

On Monday 14th March at Rugby Farmers Mart sale, the top gross for prime bulls was £1584 to C H Evans for a Simmental.
Hexham & Northern Marts sale of store cattle on 11th March saw the 17-22 months section topped by Simmental x steers at £1660 from £1660 Dunns Houses who sold further steers to £1560. Simmental x steers from Satley Farm sold to £1550 & £1430.

At NWAs sale of Calves, OTM, and Store cattle on 11th March, Lancaster continues to boast a strong trade for store cattle, as short keep cattle continue to be a strong trade. Simmental steers led the way selling to £1560, with others to £1420 from EJ Burrow, Milnthorpe.

At a sale of cast cows and bulls at Aberdeen & Northern Marts Thainstone sale centre on 10th March, Beef Feeding Cows (70) averaged £1,224.73 (+£33.73) and sold to £1,430 for a 784kg Simmental Cross from Strathmore, Coull. Boning Cows (39) averaged £847.82 (+£11.57) and sold to £1,060 for a 626kg Simmental Cross from Overhill, Whitecairns. Dairy Cows (12) averaged £977.50 (+£141.25) and sold to £1,310 for a 714kg Fleckvieh Cross from Flotterston House.

A flying trade for prime bulls at Darlington Mart on 9th March saw the top Simmental price being £2300 for a ‘super Simmental’ from G & A Christie, Mid Town of Glass, Aberdeenshire.

In the store cattle sale at Hallworthy on 10th March, the ‘Cows and Fats’ section was topped by A R Martin of Liskeard with a Simmental x Cow to £1170.

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, sold 717 store cattle, 43 adult head of breeding cattle and 61 OTM cattle on 9th March. Avoch. Heifers (314) averaged 236.4p per kg and sold to £1,400 gross for a 625kg Simmental cross from Hatton Cottage, Dallas.
Simmental steers were to the fore in a sale of prime cattle at Frome Market on 9th March. Two ‘corking’ Simmentals from EM Horn of Southampton soared to 229.50p/kg and 225.50p/kg or £1589 and £1491.

On Wednesday 9th March Harrison & Hetherington had 1247 cattle forward at their weekly sale at Carlisle comprising of 500 Store Cattle, 247 store bulls and weanlings, and 500 calves. Featuring in the top prices, Simmentals cross steers from Messrs Wigham, Cold Shields, Haltwhistle sold to £1560.

At Malton on 8th March, Simmentals featured in the top prices when a 595kg Sim X from W & L Thompson topped at 291.50ppk (£1734.43).

In H&H’s sale of prime bulls at Carlisle on 7th March, Messrs Currie, Pinclanty Farm, Girvan made their debut selling in Borderway a worthwhile journey selling the top priced Simmental to £2341.28 weighing 1007kg. Messrs Gwynne, Castlewigg, Newton Stewart to £2268 for their 1024kg Simmental.

In a sale at Market Drayton on 7th March, younger stock bulls sold to 185p (£1,217.30) for a Simmental from Mr Darren Young, Balterley. In a sale of 370 weanlings, continental bulls sold to £450 for 3.5 month Simmentals from Benbow Bros, Market Drayton. Simmentals were in high demand with 4 month models selling to £540 for H.&C. Bloxham & Co, Stafford. The continental heifers followed the same vein as the steers with size and weight being the call. Top price went to Simmental heifers from D.&A. Warrington, Uttoxeter at £650 with 3 to 5 months models selling at £450 to £500.

At Exeter’s sale of prime cattle on 7th March, well finished heifers of note included a cracking Simmental from Andrew and George Palk of Paignton which grossed £1369 (572kg x 240ppk).

At Huntly on 5th March, United Auctions sold 1205 cattle. 522 bullocks sold to average 248.6pp and selling to a top gross of £1580 for a SimX from Mains, Huntly. 683 Heifers sold to average 237.4p per kg and selling to a top gross of £1580 for a SimX from Nether Kirkton, Barthel Chapel.

Thainstone’s sale of adult breeding cattle on 4th March saw In Calf Heifers sell to £1,600 for a Simmental cross from Lochiepots, Elgin. In Calf Cows (85) sold to £1,720 for a Simmental cross from Lochiepots.

Exeter hosted a spring show and sale of continental store cattle on 4th March. Having placed second in the pre-sale judging, Andrew and George Palk saw bunches of ‘glorious Simmental heifers’ (18m) sell to £1320 and £1270. In a sale of calves on the same day, the decent quality sold well and topped at £380 twice for two smart 8 week old Simmental bulls from Malcolm Pring & Family of Broadclyst.

On 4th March, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of 130 Rearing Calves and Stirks. An extended ringside of buyers was forward to a much larger entry of youngstock, with demand across the board proving to be much sharper, and some strong prices were achieved throughout the sale. Topping the sale at £1000 was an eleven-month-old Simmental cross bullock from Mr J Harrison, Penny Hill Park, Penrith, bought by Mr J Linsley.

At a sale at Thainstone on 3rd March for Orkney consignors, prime Cattle (30-48 Months) Sold to £1,431.65 gross and 209p per kg for a 685kg Simmental Heifer from D P Nicholson & Co, Quoys, South Ronaldsay. Ata general sale of prime cattle on the same day, 30 to 36 Month sold to a top gross of £1775.06 for a 818kg Simmental from Overton of Bruxie, Maud. Heifers (13) averaged 213p and sold to 235p per kg for 630kg Clashendamer, Fordyce, and £1,573.80 gross for a 732kg Simmental from Ardhuncart, Kildrummy.

On 2nd March United Auctions sold 2135 store cattle, 159 cast cows, bulls and out of spec cattle at Stirling. Beef Cows and Bulls (132) averaged 171.73p to 220.60p per kg for a SimX from Kirkton of Lundie.

In a small sale of prime cattle at Frome on 2nd March, the OTM’s on offer were led at 210.50p/kg or £1376 for Messrs BK & A Garrett’s Simmental heifer. Leading the bulls, a senior Simmental bull sold to an impressive 129.50p/kg or £1451 from Scott Shergold.

At Thainstone on 25th February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1,502 Store Cattle and Young Bulls incorporating BVD Virus Free and Vaccinated Bulling Heifers. Heifers (555) averaged 245.7p and sold to £1,600 gross (twice) firstly for a pen of four 582kg Simmental crosses from Thurdistoft, Castletown also for a pen of four 680kg Simmental crosses from Drumneachie, Birse. Bulls sold to 237.8p per kg for a pair of 410kg Simmental crosses from Wairds Farm, Dyce.

8000GNS ISLAVALE LOKI LEADS ABERDEEN SIMMENTAL SPRING SALE

8000GNS ISLAVALE LOKI LEADS ABERDEEN SIMMENTAL SPRING SALE

• Backmuir Lewis sells to 7800gns
• Nine Simmental bulls average £5471
• Islavale & Backmuir bulls place Champion & Reserve

Islavale Loki

Islavale Loki, from Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith made 8000gns to lead the Society’s Aberdeen Sale held within the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s Spring Show & Sale at Thainstone today, Wednesday 2nd March.

March 2020 born, Islavale Loki is by Corskie Highlander 16 EX 92, and out of Islavale Fashion EX92, a Curaheen Bandit Daughter. Earlier he had been placed as Champion Simmental in the pre-sale show judged by the well-known Liam Muir, Stenness, Orkney. Purchasing the day’s top price Simmental was commercial producer R&E Chapman, West Cockmuir, Strichen Fraserburgh.

Backmuir Lewis

Placing as the Reserve Champion was Backmuir Lewis who went on to make the second top price of 7800gns for breeders Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Buying this bull was W&V Leith, North Crannoch, Crossroads, Keith. March 2020 born, Backmuir Lewis is by Islavale Imperial 17, and is out of the Team Celtic daughter Wolfstar Islay.

Other leading prices saw Corskie sell to 6500gns, and Pitmudie sell to 6000gns. In all, nine of the thirteen Simmental bulls forward sold and to average £5471.

30,000GNS DENIZES LANCELOT LEADS RECORD BREAKING SIMMENTAL SALE AT STIRLING

30,000GNS DENIZES LANCELOT LEADS RECORD BREAKING SIMMENTAL SALE AT STIRLING

  • 30,000gns is the second top price for a Simmental bull sold at auction in the UK
  • Sale average sets a new breed record of £6835, up by £353
  • 89 bulls sell, up by 25 on the year, and with a clearance rate of 86%
  • Eight bulls made over 10,000gns, with 25 in all making 7000gns or more.
  • Orkney buyers purchase ten bulls
  • Brandane leads the females at 6000gns
Denizes Lancelot 30,000gns

The May 2020 born Denizes Lancelot from Lancashire breeders MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes Walton Lane, Leyland, sold for 30,000gns to lead an electric Simmental bull trade at United Auction’s Stirling Agricultural Centre on Monday 21st February.

Under the gavel of auctioneer Raymond Kennedy, some fierce bidding saw the bull race to 30,000gns before being knocked down to Richard McCulloch for his noted 160 cow Overhill House Simmental herd at Armadale, West Lothian.  Commenting on Denizes Lancelot after the sale Richard McCulloch said: “Very much a modern Simmental he’s a tight, clean bull with a great top and plates, and with the pedigree and figures to match.  Just full of style with a beautiful head, and the red colour I was looking for, I think he’s an all-round breeders bull and he continually caught my eye as I went through the bulls in the lines.”  Speaking of the 30,000gns price, the second highest paid for a Simmental at auction in the UK, Mr McCulloch went on to say: “There was a lot of competition for the bull and as a breeder I think this is the level of investment that you have to pay to secure an all-round breeders bull of this quality.”  Later in the sale Richard McCulloch also purchased the September 2020 born Corskie Lambe for 5550gns from Mr WJ & J Green.

Prolific sellers at the Stirling Simmental Sales, the Barlow’s 30,000gns sale of Denizes Lancelot smashed the 70-cow herd’s previous top price at sale of 17,000gns.   Commenting after the sale a ‘buzzing’ John Barlow said: “It’s been a great sale for the Simmental breed and we’re delighted to sell this bull to a top breeder and very much hope that he goes on to do well at Overhill House.  As a herd our primary aim is to produce first quality Simmental bulls for the commercial producer.  In type we’re trying to breed bulls with no extremes that are long, clean through the front with no middle, have a good top line and plates, and with good locomotion.  Within that aim to sell bulls to breeders is a real bonus on top.” 

Denizes Lancelot, who stood second in his class, is one of the first bulls offered at Stirling by the homebred sire Denizes Impeccable 17.   He is out of Denizes Hannadante 9th, at 13 years old one of the oldest cows in the herd who has previously bred bulls to 15,000gns and who is back in calf to Denizes Hamish.  On the day the Denizes herd sold four bulls to 30,000gns; 10,000gns (Intermediate Champion); 9500gns; and 4000gns respectively.

With a bit of fizz and pop in the trade, as commercial buyers competed with pedigree breeders, the sale saw 89 bulls sell in all, up by 25 on the year and to a new Simmental breed record sale average of £6835, which was up by £353 on the previous year. The strong demand saw an 86% clearance rate of the 103 bulls forward. Trends in the sale saw ten bulls in all sell to Orkney buyers, and with seven bulls heading to England and Wales. Speaking after the sale, the British Simmental President Stewart Stronach said: “There was a tremendous atmosphere in and around the Simmental sale and that’s underpinned the day and realised a record breed average with a tremendous clearance rate. We’re seeing consistently strong sales for the breed and I think commercial producers are really looking for the double-barrelled advantages of the Simmentals. The modern Simmental maintains it renowned maternal qualities and crossing ability with any breed. If you add into that the tremendous growth rates in progeny, and number one age at slaughter capabilities I think there’s real recognition of Simmentals efficiency and profitability in the industry.

Ranfurly Limelight 16,000gns

 Northern Irish bulls were to the fore throughout the sale, and the second top price of the day was the 16,000gns Ranfurly Limelight from the 20-cow herd of WD and J Hazelton, Cohannon House, Dungannon.  This much-admired July 2020 bull is an Auchorachan ACDC son out of the noted cow Raceview Goldie Dreamer who was yearling Champion at Roscommon in 2016 before being purchased for 9000 Euros, and then NI Female of the Year in 2017.   In the pre-sale show, Ranfurly Limelight had been placed as Reserve Intermediate Champion by the judge Andrew Clarke of the noted Breaghey herd, Tynan, Co Armagh.  Purchasing the second top price.  Purchasing this bull was E&M Fairhurst, Bankend Farm, Austwick, By Lancaster, for their newly establishing Fairhurst pedigree herd.    Commenting Mr Fairhurst said: “This bull just had a bit of everything for me.  I like the breeding on both sides of the pedigree and the bull in himself has a lot of style and presence and is very correct.”  For the Ranfurly herd, the 16,000gns marked their top price at sale for a pedigree bull to date and eclipsing their previous mark of 15,000gns.

Wolfstar Loose Cannon 13,000gns

Having a track record of the top two prices at this corresponding fixture in 2020 the Wolfstar herd of Mr A King, Wolfstar, Ormiston, East Lothian, again produced another impressive double when selling bulls to 13,000gn and 12,500gns.  Leading the way at 13,000gns was the April 2020 born Wolfstar Loose Cannon who had stood second in the third class of the day.  By Team Celtic 11 and out of Wolfstar Ellie, this bull is a full brother to the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo the Champion and top price at the aforementioned 2020 Stirling Sale.  This bull was purchased by JC MacIver for his Coltfield pedigree herd at Wester Coldfield, Forres, Moray.  Coming to the sale, Mr McIver had seen the Wolfstar bull on Facebook and had also looked at his pedigree and performance figures. “We were looking for a bull that was long, clean, and with good conformation.  The breeding of the bull was important and we know previous Wolfstar bulls have gone on to breed well.  We have just over 20 pedigree cows at present and are looking to increase that to around forty.  The aim is to use him from May and we think he’s a bull that will complement our females.”

Wolfstar Las Vegas 12,500gns

From the same class, and selling one lot before, was Wolfstar Las Vegas who made 12,500gns when selling to commercial producer JH Logan & Co, Dalfask Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire.  A well-fleshed dark red bull, Las Vegas is by Islavale Guy and is out of the Team Celtic daughter Wolfstar Gladrags.  Running some 250 cows the Logans selected the Wolfstar bull for his length and shape and with the Islavale and Team Celtic breeding on either side of his breeding.  

Islavale London 12,000gns

The prolific Islavale herd of WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith had another strong day’s trading with their team of seven bulls grossing £56,100 and to average a mighty £8014.  Having won the Supreme Championship some eight times in previous pre-sale shows, Islavale pulled off a herd ‘first’ when on this occasion they won both the Senior Championship and Reserve Senior and with both being by Corskie Highlander who is classified EX92. Lifting the Senior title and taking the herds to price on the day of 12,000gns was the March 2020 born Islavale London.  This big upstanding bull, with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +8 is out of the growthy cow Islavale Benita VG 88.  Buying the Senior Champion was Reece & Andrew Simmers for their 50-cow Backmuir pedigree herd at Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire.   In addition to the pedigree Simmentals, the Simmers run a large-scale cattle enterprise featuring some 600 cows in all and heavily influenced by Simmental genetics.

Islavale Leonardo 9000gns

The Reserve Senior Champion, who stood second in his class to the section Champion was Islavale Leonardo.  Again March 2020 born this bull is out of Islavale Mistress who is classified VG 89.  Purchasing this bull at 9000gns was the commercial producer C&G Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Midmar, Aberdeenshire. Mr Thomson had not seen the bull before Stirling but was impressed with him at first sight describing him as a long, clean bull and ‘just perfect’ for their commercial cows.  Previously Mr Thomson has purchased Islavale Kacy from the Stronachs for 11,500gns at an October Stirling Sale.

Islavale Lockdown 10,000gns

 Continuing the run of prices from the Islavale herd, the May 2020 born Islavale Lockdown sold for the five-figure price of 10,000gns.  This calf is by the herd sire Shacon Hannibal and is out of 16 (ET) EX 94 and is out of Islavale Teresa.  Shacon Hannibal is also the sire of the 8000gns Islavale Lullaby who was the Champion Female at the Society’s successful Next Generation Sale in Carlisle in December 2021.  Purchasing this calf was AJ Bulmer for his quickly establishing Habton pedigree herd at Coultas Farm, Great Habton, Malton, North Yorks.  In what was only his second trip to Stirling, Mr Bulmer was ‘thrilled’ with his purchase and very impressed with his purchase describing him as ‘really stylish, solid straight through, with plenty of width and backend’.  The aim from here is to use the bull from May and across both pedigree and commercial cows.

Ballinalare Farm Legacy 10,000gns

First in class four was Ballinalare Farm Legacy from Mr J & Mr A Wilson, Dorans Hill, Newry, Northern Ireland.  May 2020 born, this calf is by Kilbride Farm Bantry and is out of the Auchorachan Wizard daughter Ballinalare Farm Evita who is a full sister to the noted AI sire Ballinalare Farm Galaxy.  Buying this bull at 10,000gns was R&N Barclay, Harestone, Insch, Aberdeenshire.  Commenting, Mr Barclay said:  “We had seen a video of this bull on Facebook and had been very impressed by the class of the bull and the power behind him and which was confirmed when we saw him.  Ballinalare Farm Legacy will join the herd as a junior stock bull and will begin working in the middle of May.”  The Barclays run a noted herd of some 280 cross cows.

Denizes Logic 10,000gns

By the same sire as the day’s top price, the Intermediate Champion Denizes Logic from the Barlows sold for 10,000gns.  Combining breeding and performance, this July 2020 born bull is by Denizes Impeccable and is out of Raceview Fenella Beauty who is from the highly noted Matilda cow family.  Featuring good calving figures, this bull was bought by Strathisla Farms, Strathisla, Moolies, Meigle, Blairgowrie and which runs the pedigree Strathisla herd of 60 cows along with 150 suckler cows.  Commenting, Adrian Ivory said:  “I liked this bulls length and soft fleshing, and he’s from a female line that’s bred consistently well and through many generations.  I look for a combination of colour, figures, breeding, locomotion and looks, and this bull ticks a lot of those boxes.”

Denizes Lord 9500gns

Continuing their run of prices, the June 2020 born Denizes Lord made 9500gns and was another bull to go to Orkney when selling to JI & WN Stout, Whitehall, Stronsay.  This calf, is by the increasingly prolific Denizes Hamish whose first ten calves sold, prior to the sale, have averaged 5500gns.  Combining shape, pedigree, and figures, Denizes Lord is in the breed’s top 5% for calving ease.  Lord is out of the Ashland Tornado daughter Denizes Melody 11th.

Kilbride Farm Lucky Strike 9000gns

A strong team of five bulls forward from WH Robson & Sons, Kilbride Farm, Doagh, Ballyclare, saw a top price of 9000gns and with the five in all grossing £35,904 to average £7181.  Leading the way was the August 2020 born homozygous polled bull Kilbride Farm Lucky Strike PP.  This calf by Kilbride Farm Gruffalo (P), placed first in his class in the 2021 Virtual Simmental Show.  His dam Kilbride Farm Iris 22JP is noted as breeding well in the herd and with his Grand dam Kilbride Farm Iris 17F having been voted third best Simmental cow in Europe in 2020. This bull sold north to Caithness and to the Ackergill pedigree herd of W&J Coghill, Ackergill Mains, Wick.  Commenting Mr Coghill said: “We are delighted to get the bull.  We had seen him online prior to the sale and were very interested in him as he is homozygous polled and this is a route we want to go down with the herd.”  The Robsons sold further bulls at 8500gns; 6200gns; 6000gns; and 5500gns respectively.

Ballymoney Leonard 7,800gns

The pre-sale Supreme Champion came in the shape of the winner of Class 10, and also the Junior Champion, Ballymoney Leonard from Mrs MH Kilpatrick, Banbridge, Northern Ireland.  September 2020 born, this bull is by Saltire Impressive 17 and is out of Ballymoney Orla from the noted Ballinalare Farm Beauty line.  Ballymoney Leonard sold for 7800gns to the noted commercial producer JM McIntosh, Genoch Mains, Dunragit, Stranraer.

Brandane Laura 6000gns

In the small show of females, the Overall Champion came in the shape of the very stylish April 2020 born heifer Brandane Laura from Mr J McMillan, Wagon Lodge, East Church, St Kenninghall.  Full of breeding this heifer is by Atlow Dixon and is out of Sterling Bacardi’s Funky and described as one of the best female lines from the noted Sterling herd dispersal sale in 2017.  Buying the female Champion at 6000gns was PA&SM Cade for their Cade pedigree herd at Paddock Farm, Buckden, East Anglia.

AVERAGES:

89 Bulls (+25)             £6835 (+£353)

13 Females                 £2423

OTHER LEADING PRICES:

8500gns Lot 467 Corskie Leopold, sold to  A H Smith

8500gns Lot 499 Kilbride Farm Lord of the Ring, sold to Lour Farms

8500gns Lot 507 Auchorachan Longshot, sold to W Dunlop & Son

8500gns Lot 510 Braidwood Luke, sold to Garvald Mains Farm

8200gns Lot 490 Pitmudie Lancelot, sold to G A & H M Francis

8000gns Lot 504 Corrick Logic, sold to C & M Bruce

8000gns Lot 531 Broombrae Loon, sold to M M & A Campbell

7800gns Lot 535 Ballymoney Leonard, sold to Genoch Mains Farms

7500gns Lot 449 Popes Lucifer, sold to C & G Thomson

7500gns Lot 454 Rockytop Lacoste, sold to H MacDonald

7500gns Lot 479 Lagavaich Lewie, sold to A & B Kerr

7500gns Lot 554 Islavale Libra, sold to D Hodgson