by Nicky Moreton | Oct 10, 2024 | 2024 News, 2024 Market Briefs, 2024
The second part of three, Simmental market briefs for September featuring snippets from a mighty 33 markets around the UK and where Simmentals continue to ‘do the business’. Markets highlighted this month include:
STIRLING; LANARK; CARLISLE; SEDGEMOOR; EXETER; THAINSTONE; DUNGANNON; HUNTLY; TIREE; TRURO; SKIPTON; BALLYMENA; MELTON MOWBRAY; BAKEWELL; GISBURN; CASTLE DOUGLAS; HEXHAM; LANCASTER; DUNGANNON; FROME; AYR; SALISBURY; HAILSHAM; DUMFRIES; HULL; SWATRAGH; PORTREE; MARKET DRAYTON; HOLSWORTHY; GARSTANG; TAVISTOCK; DARLINGTON; & QUOYBRAE
The Simmentals bread and butter is there well established maternal qualities of fertility, easy calving, milk in abundance, and ability to rear a quality calf year on year. As one commercial producer recently said: “Simmental is the ‘Tesla’ of upland suckler beef production!’
Establishing evidence based facts of the breed’s abilities, economic performance, and green credentials, analysis of AHDB data has shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading age at slaughter whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, significant reduction in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges.
The ‘ultimate combination’ for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Natives sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams.
These latest market briefs again highlight the all-round added value Simmentals can deliver as they top prime, store, breeding, suckled calf, rearing calf, and cull sections at the respective sales. Many of the other market leaders will be out of Simmental, and Simmental X dams.
Given these tremendous economics for beef producers, BSCS Norman Robson said in his recent report to breeders: “Our realistic aim should be to have a bit of Simmental in every suckler cow in the country.” There’s More to Simmental!
At Thainstone on 20th September, Aberdeen & Northern Marts had a sale of 213 store cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to £1,970 gross for a 676kg Simmental from J & J Fraser, Feaval, Birsay. Heifers sold to £1,700 gross for a 576kg Simmental from D P Nicholson & Co, Quoys, South Ronaldsay.
Again at Thainstone on 20th September, Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 1250 store cattle, young bulls, and weaned calves. 594 Store Cattle sold to a top of £1970 for a Simmental Cross which scaled 676kg consigned by Messrs Fraser Feaval, Birsay.
In a sale of 200+ rearing calves at Gisburn on 19th September, Simmental X bull calves sold to £490 from J&RJ Parsons to feature in the leading prices.
On 19th September and a sale of prime cattle at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, prime heifers sold to 319p per kg for a 665kg Simmental Cross from Blackhillock, Millbrex
In a sale of OTM cattle at Lancaster on 19th September, the top grossing beef cow was a Simmental achieving £1770.
At Dungannon farmers Mart on 18th September, dropped calves sold to £580 for a Simm Bull presented by a Ballygawley producer.
In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 18th September, Simmental heifers to 274p/kg, and a top gross of £1723 from AC CA Alvis.
In a sale of store cattle for Shetland consignors at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, on 17th September, bullocks sold to £1,695 gross for a 630kg Simmental from A H & J Davidson, Sunshine Cottage, Wester Quarff. Heifers sold to £1,550 gross for a 540kg Simmental from the same vendor.
At Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd’s sale of calves and stirks on 17th September at Ayr, the heifer stirks led the top price per head at £840 for a Simmental Cross from Barrachan.
At Salisbury Livestock Market on 17th September and a sale of Barren Cows (57 forward), top price went to cows which were assured, smart Simmentals from James Foot, P & S Foot, and made 210p on two occasions.
SIMMENTALS TOP HEIFERS & YOUNG BULLS AT SEDGEMOOR
On 16th September at Sedgemoor’s sale of prime cattle, heifers to a tremendous £2,051.51 for a Simmental (779kg) from CHJ Atwell & Sons, who sold more Simmentals at £1,833.98 (627kg) £1,719.83 (622kg) and £1,690.16 (639kg). Young bulls to 257.5ppk for a Simmental (15m) from J Drew, Cardiff, which returned at £1,843.70 (716kg).
At Hailsham’s sale of store cattle on 16th September, quality cattle made quality prices, great results no matter the age. A smart young consignment of Simmental x steers from PW Taylor & Son’s, Houseden rocketed to a top of £1540 at 14/15 months.
C&D Auctions held their Annual Rood Fair sale of Store Cattle with 450 forward on 16th September at Dumfries. H Gillan, Mossburn sold Simm heifers to the day’s top price of £1600, with others at £1340.
At Hull Livestock Markets sale of fatstock and store cattle on 16th September, a pen of four strong Simmental Heifers from M D Reeves, Brocklesby set the pace in the store heifers at £1,220.
In a sale of 134 barren, OTM, and feeding cows at Bakewell on 16th September, the top grossing cows were Simms from BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor at £1962.24, and £1934.40.
Swatragh Livestock Market saw a super entry of 220 top quality cattle presented for sale on 16th September. Beef bulls were topped by a Kilrea producer, with a 820kg Simm at £2070.
At Portree on 16th September, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd sold 1,357 weaned calves and store cattle at their annual direct ballot sale. Young Bulls sold to 338.0pp per kg and £810 gross for a 240kg Simmental cross from 3 Totescore, Portree.
Market Drayton’s sale on 16th September saw the best sucklers to 218p for a Simmental cow weighing 904 kilos to accumulate £1,970.72 for A.P. Day & Sons, Outwoods. Others to mention : £1,796.76 (868kgs) Simmental JB.&P. Thompson,£1,523.58 (758kgs) Simmental JB. & P. Thompson, £1,433.12 (676kgs). In the sale of stores, great numbers forward and trade continued to march on. Just over thirty feeding bulls on offer topped at £1,200 for Simmental eleven months from Mr Andrew Martinez, Malpas. Yarding cattle still ringing the bell and topping at £1,740 for Simmental steers from Edwards Farming Ltd, Eccleshall.
In a sale of 1063 store cattle at Sedgemoor on 14th September, a record trade saw Simmentals feature in the top prices. Simmental to £1765 from RW Moore, Buckland St Mary. Fleshed Simmentals £1700 from C Barnes, Bridport. Well grown Simmentals £1650 from B & P Horsey & Son, West Hatch and £1630 from Messrs Snook Ltd, East Coker.
On 13th September at Thainstone, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 401 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Bulls sold to £1460 gross for a pair of 510kg Simmental’s from Dundurcas, Rothes. On the same day and a sale of 150 store cattle for Orkney consignors, bullocks sold to 323.1p per kg for a pair of 390kg Simmentals from JM & JA Brown, Howally, Twatt. Heifers sold to £1,830 gross and 341.4p per kg for a pair of 536kg Simmentals from A T Annal & Son, Myres, South Ronaldsay.
On 13th September at Frome’s sale of store cattle, a good selection of younger feeding cattle forward met a strong, competitive trade. The stronger forward heifers on offer met an exceptional demand with fleshed heifers selling to a top of £1630 for Simms from Small Bros of Charterhouse.
At Lancaster on 13th September, 88 OTM cattle were forward. Cows sold to 249.5p/kg and 239.5p/kg both for Simmentals, with these achieving top grossing cows at £1796 and £1793.
At Huntly on 12th September, United Auctions sold 136 Store cattle and OTMS. Heifers (84) averaged 280p per kg, selling to a top gross of £1410 for a pair of 517Kg SimX’s from WhitehilL, Grange.
On 11th September at Market Drayton and a sale of clean cattle and young bulls, the top gross price was £20240 for a Simmental steer from R. & E. Kennerley Ltd, Church Eaton.
by Nicky Moreton | Sep 16, 2024 | 2024 News, 2024
- Official Simmental Society Sales in the Year Gross £2,167,231, up by £75,825
- Pedigree Registrations up for the Third Consecutive Year
Record pedigree sale averages, a strong performance in UK wide commercial sales, and for the third year in a row increases in both pedigree sales gross and pedigree registrations, are just some of the high points in the annual report to members from British Simmental Cattle Society President, and Ballyclare based breeder, Norman Robson.
46,000gns Overhill House Neo
A feature through the report is the strong year of Official Society Pedigree Simmental Sales that saw a total sales gross of £2,167,231 up by £75,825, and an increase for the third consecutive year. All three major sales at Stirling in the year saw new record average marks, with the all-sales Simmental breed record being broken in October 2023 with a sale average of £7,594 for 53 bulls. That fixture also saw new record top prices set for both a Simmental bull at 46,000gns, and for a female at 32,000gns. In what is establishing as the breed’s premier Female Sale, the Next Generation III Sale at Carlisle in December is noted as continuing the sale trend with a top price of 26,000gns being a new centre record for the breed, and with record heifer averages sharply up on the year.
Keeping in line with the performance at sale, Simmental pedigree registrations and birth notifications have also increased for the third year in a row and to an annual income figure of £206,345, up on the previous year by just under £2000. This increase, coupled with ‘solid financial management,’ sees the annual accounts show a positive net movement in funds on the year of £73,042, with a surplus of £28,115 in income over expenditure.
BSCS President Norman Robson
In an upbeat report to members, in what is his second and final year as BSCS President, Norman Robson who runs the noted Kilbride Farm herd at Doagh, Ballyclare, said: “I feel truly honoured to have had held this office through a period where the Simmental breed’s popularity has continued to rise within both the commercial beef and pedigree sectors.”
“Backing up the breed’s consistent performance in the field and at the point of sale, I have been delighted that we have been able to establish evidence based facts of the breed’s abilities, economic performance, and green credentials. In analysis of AHDB data we have shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading at age at slaughter whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, significant reduction in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. Add that to the breeds well established maternal qualities and it’s tremendous economics for beef producers. The ‘ultimate combination’ for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Natives sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams. As I have said previously, our realistic aim should be to have a bit of Simmental in every suckler cow in the country.”
In closing his remarks Norman Robson congratulated breeders for the quality of stock they are bringing forward, both bulls and females, and urged that they take aim at ongoing and continuous breed improvement: “Collectively we must use the knowledge, science and technologies available to keep driving on, taking the breed forward, and providing the cattle the commercial producer and market requires.”
The 54th British Simmental Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place on Sunday 20th October at United Auctions, Stirling, and prior to the October Pre-Sale Show of 118 bulls on the same day. The sale of bulls will be held on Monday 21st October at 12.30pm, and will be followed in Ring 2 by the full Dispersal Sale of the noted Broombrae Herd of Gordon Clark, Auchtermuchty, Fife, and a Production Sale from the noted Denizes Herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland.
by Nicky Moreton | Sep 13, 2024 | 2024 Other Sales, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News, 2024
- 7 Simmental bulls make £7000 and over
- 14 Simmental bulls average £6586
The Working Genes production sale from the McGowan family at Incheoch, Perthshire met a keen trade for an entire clearance, and with a strong demand and average for the Simmental bulls offered.
Incheoch Patrick 23 (PP) £10,200
Topping the trade at £10,200 was the dark red, homozygous polled Incheoch Patrick, with his attractive EBV profile including trait-leading calving ease and top end muscle and maternal (milk). A popular bull out in the field, this Auroch Deuter son was snapped up by James Hamilton, Aikengall, East Lothian, who over a combined three farms, Aikengall, Nunraw, and Barney Mains carry 900 spring calving Simmental cross suckler cows and accompanying finishing unit, and run some 25 Simmental bulls.
A three quarter brother to Patrick also sold at £8400 to Bruce Hogg, Birkenside. Incheoch Piccine is a single poll, with an equally impressive set of stats.
Incheoch Paragon 23 (P) £9,000
Another high seller was Incheoch Paragon P, a top 1% growth figured polled bull and son of the powerful homebred Incheoch Keystone 19 (PP). He was the pick of William Young, Skerrington Mains, Hurlford, Kilmarnock at £9000.
Incheoch Panama 23 (P) £7,800
A further four Simmental bulls sold for £7000 and over. Aikengall took another red, polled bull with a good maternal history, the Gibby’s Real Deal son, Incheoch Panama (P) for £7800. At £7600 was the homozygous Incheoch Porthos PP, a homozygous polled Incheoch Keystone 19 (PP) son from a particularly fertile and efficient cow line, who sold to Janice Laird and Alpha Simmentals.
Incheoch Porthos 23 (PP) £7,600
A Slievenagh Joker son, the easy-fleshing Incheoch Percy (P), was knocked down for £7400 to Jamie Gilchrist, buying for Ettrickshaws Farm. The McRae family at Tillyfour took Incheoch Polestar (PP), a son of Dirnanean Apostle for £7000.
Incheoch Percy 23 (P) £7,400
Commenting at the end of the sale, Neil McGowan said: “The online bidding format allowed many of the buyers to bid from home on a rare decent harvest day, though most had previously viewed the bulls. A good crowd on the day were particularly impressed with the temperament of these Simmental bulls, as they gently grazed and lazed in the paddocks next to the sale yard on the farm.”
Incheoch Polestar 23 (PP) £7,000
by Nicky Moreton | Sep 11, 2024 | 2024 Other Sales, 2024 Northern Ireland News, 2024 News, 2024
- Five animals make 5000gns and over
- Ranfurly maiden heifers average £4646
- Joint sale grosses £128, 416
There was a strong demand for Simmental females with prices reaching a top of 8,000gns at the fourth joint production sale from the noted Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe & Alan Wilson, Newry, County Down, and the noted Ranfurly herd of David & Jonny Hazelton, Dungannon, Tyrone.
The sale took place at Rathfriland Farmers’ Co-op on Saturday 7th September and attracted strong interest from breeders throughout the UK and Ireland with lots selling to buyers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and with exports to the Republic of Ireland.
Ranfurly Weikel 52nd topped the joint production sale at 8,000gns.
Topping the trade at 8,000gns was the much-admired show heifer Ranfurly Weikel 52nd from David and Jonny Hazelton’s 20-cow Ranfurly herd. This fifteen-month-old heifer was sired by the home-bred Auchorachan ACDC son, Ranfurly Limelight, the reserve intermediate champion at Stirling in October 2022 and which sold for 16,000gns. Her dam Ranfurly Weikel 18th is by Raceview King and was female and reserve supreme champion at the NI Simmental Club’s National Show in 2019.
Auctioneer David Lowry in the rostrum at Rathfriland Farmers’ Co-op.
Ranfurly Weikel 52nd is bred from three generations of EX cows. She was junior champion at the NI Four Breeds Calf Show in 2023; reserve junior champion at Balmoral in May 2024 and a first prize winner at the National Show, held in Antrim. This heifer came under the hammer of guest auctioneer David Lowry, and was sold to John Warnock’s Templefyn Herd based at Carrowdore in County Down.
Ranfurly Weikel 47th came under the hammer at 6,000gns.
Two heifers shared the day’s second highest bid of 6,000gns. First to sell was the January 2022 born in-calf heifer Ranfurly Weikel 47th. Sired by Samark Superman, she was bred from the Raceview King daughter, Ranfurly Weikel 33rd VG87 – a maternal sister to Auchorachan ACDC and the 15,000gns Ranfurly Formula One – supreme champion at Stirling in October 2015. In-calf to Clonagh Tiger Gallant and due in February 2025, she sold to the Bowhill Herd owned by David Smith and Rachael Reid from Low Bowhill Farm, Newmiln, Ayrshire.
Ranfurly Stella 15th shared a joint price of 6,000gns.
Also selling at 6,000gns was the November 2022 born Ranfurly Stella 15th ET, a Woodhall Ferrari daughter, bred from Raceview Fancywinty 652 ET EX93. She sold to pedigree breeder John Byrne from Ballinaskeagh, Banbridge.
The Woodhall Ferrari daughter Ranfurly Stella 16th came under the hammer at the herd’s joint 4th production sale.
Her full sister, Ranfurly Stella 16 ET, born in February 2023, sold to James Mullan’s Carrowcladagh Herd in Garvagh for 5,200gns.
These ET heifers are maternal sisters Ranfurly Stella 12th who was reserve supreme champion at Balmoral Show in 2022; and Ranfurly Stella 13th sold at the Next Gen sale in Carlisle for 5,000gns. Maternal brothers, Ranfurly Jackpot sold at Stirling in February 2020 for 9,000gns; while her full ET brother Ranfurly Nunez sold privately to the Fairhurst Herd.
The April 2023 heifer Ranfurly Weikel 51 attracted a bid of 5,000gns, selling to John Moore’s Omorga Herd at Beragh, County Tyrone. She was sired by the Team Celtic son, Ranfurly Masterpiece – sold at Stirling last year for 6,200gns. Her dam is the Raceview King daughter, Ranfurly Weikel 23rd VG86, reserve female champion at the 2019 NI National Simmental Show.
Ballinalare Farm Polly came under the hammer at 4,900gns.
Leading Joe Wilson’s Ballinalare Farm line-up at 4,900gns was the January 2023 born Ballinalare Farm Polly. Sired by the Carnkern Titan son, Curaheen Wakeman, she is out of Ballinalare Farm Ladybird, who is a daughter of the herd’s 10,000gns stock bull Denizes Fantastic. Buyers were Messrs P and R Murtagh from Newry.
Next best at 4,600gns and also selling to John Byrne from Banbridge, was the April 2023 Ranfurly Beauty 18th. This one is by the Team Celtic son, Ranfurly Klinker – sold privately to the Boyerstown in ROI and widely available through AI. Her dam, Ranfurly Beauty 10th EX90, is a Samark Superman daughter bred from Ranfurly Beauty 8th ET.
The October 2022 Ranfurly Kleeb 47th sold for 4,300gns to the Dodd family, William, Jane, Jamie and Lewis, for their Craigy Herd at Saintfield. Sired by Curaheen Bandit, she is bred from the Whitemire King Kong daughter, Ranfurly Kleeb 32nd EX92 – who will be twelve-years-old in November and has reared 12 calves, including three sets of twins.
Next best at 4,200gns was Ranfurly Weikel 50th, a March 2023 Ranfurly Limelight daughter, bred from Ranfurly Weikel 33rd VG87. She sold for export to online bidder Simon Powell, owner of the Burlane Herd based at Shrewsbury in Shropshire.
Ten-month-old heifer Ballinalare Farm Paris ET sold for 4,200
Also selling at 4,200gns was Joe Wilson’s Ballinalare Farm Paris ET. Born in November 2023, she is by Kilbride Farm Bantry and bred from Ballinalare Farm Evita – a daughter of the 20,000gns Perth champion, Auchorachan Wizard. This heifer is a full sister to the 28,000gns Stirling supreme champion and NI-record price bull Ballinalare Farm Masterpiece. Buyers were David Smith and Rachael Reid for their Bowhill Herd.
Pat Kelly, and son Frank, from the Ashland Herd in Tempo, County Fermanagh, paid 4,100gns to secure the eight-month-old Ranfurly Weikel 53rd ET. Sired by Salisbury Challenger, she is bred from the noted South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd EX93.
Next best at 4,000gns was Ballinalare Farm Princess, a February 2023 born heifer by the €11,000 Roscommon junior champion, Bighill Magic. She was the first daughter to be offered for sale from the €11,500 Lissadell Krystal Special. Buyers were Kieran and Delia Fitzpatrick, owners of the Birtrees Herd based at Rathfriland, County Down.
The Ranfurly Herd offered two seventeen-month-old bulls for sale. First into the ring was Ranfurly Principal who won a number of championship awards during the show season, including the interbreed beef honours at Clogher Show. This one is by Ranfurly Limelight and bred from the Raceview King daughter, Ranfurly Weikel 13th EX90. He failed to meet his reserve and is destined for Stirling in October.
The home-bred Ranfurly Limelight was also behind the breeding of Ranfurly Powerhouse who came under the hammer at 4,000gns, selling to Cameron and Rachel Jackson for their Future Livestock Herd at Galston in Ayrshire.
A much-anticipated star of the catalogue was the multi-award-winning show heifer Ballinalare Farm Nikita, a February 2022 Saltire Impressive daughter bred from Ballinalare Farm Ilyssa. She has enjoyed overwhelming success in the showring, winning RUAS Balmoral Show and NI Simmental National Show supreme champion two years in succession, as well as a number of interbreed honours. Bidding reached 10,000gns which fell short of the Wilson family’s expectations and this heifer returned home unsold.
AVERAGES:
Ballinalare Farm:
2 heifers with calf at foot £3,412
19 in-calf and maiden heifers £2,990.
Ranfurly:
2 in-calf heifers £4,515
12 maiden heifers £4,646.
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