by Nicky Moreton | Jul 8, 2024 | 2024, 2024 Market Briefs, 2024 News
SEDGEMOOR; ABERDEEN; GISBURN; STIRLING; DUNGANNON; CARLISLE; MONMOUTHSHIRE; TRURO; AYR; SALISBURY; MARKET DRAYTON; LANARK; FROME; SKIPTON; OSWESTRY; BAKEWELL; PENRITH; SEDGEMOOR; THAME; BALLYMENA; EXETER; ST BOSWELLS; DARLINGTON; AND DALMALLY.
In this latest set of market briefs, hard-working Simmental sired cattle are continuing to do the business and top store, prime, breeding, and calf sales around the UK. Where they are not Simmental sired, many other sale top prices are out of Simmental females! Simmental genetics continuing to add value, flexibility, efficiency, and profitability for commercial producers.
Here’s the first part of three posts covering the month of June:
At Sedgemoor on 29th June and a sale of calves, a superb run of Simmental bulls for DE Down & Son reached £425 at 1m, when others sold to £405 (2x) for the same vendor. Simmental heifers from the same vendor sold to the joint heifer top price of £365 for a 1m calf.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 371 Store Cattle, Young Bulls, Young and Weaned Calves and Breeding Cattle at Thainstone on 28th June. Bulls sold to £1340 gross for a 526kg Simmental Cross from Candyglirach, Drumoak. Cows with Calves at Foot sold to £1750 for a Simmental Cow with twin calves from Candyglirach, Drumoak.
In a sale of breeding cattle at Gisburn on 29th June, bulls were first in the ring and sold to a high of £2250 for a 16mo Simmental from R & L Loftus.
In a sale of prime cattle at Caledonian Marts, Stirling on 27th June, Young Bulls sold to £2198 for a Simm from W Young, Templehall.
Gisburn’s sale of stirks on 27th June, saw the top of the trade being Thomas Atkins with his Fleckvieh and Simmental bullocks realising £900 at just 6–7-month-old.
SIMMENTALS TOP BULLOCKS & YOUNG BULLS AT UA, STIRLING
On 26th June at Stirling, United Auctions sold 291 store cattle & young bulls, 78 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Bullocks (114) – Averaged 279.5p to 318.3p per kilo for a 333kg SIMX from Eden and £1860 for a 680kg SIMX from Harestonhill. Young Bulls averaged 245.15p to 266.3p per kilo for a 383kg SIMX from Mosston Muir.
Dungannon Farmers Mart on 26th June saw steers sell to £1980 for a 705kg Sim (281.00) presented by J Eakin.
On 26th June, Harrison and Hetherington held their monthly Beef Breeding sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle of heifers with calves at foot, breeding bulls, and bulling heifers. Bulling heifers topped at £1750 for a Simmental from Messrs Carter, Gerrard House. Messrs Morton, Church Farm sold a Simmental cross heifer for £1720 and £1700. At a sale of calves on the same day, two month Simmental Bulls sold to £630 from Messrs Roan, Boreland of Colvend, Dalbeattie.
On 26th June and a sale of young stirks/stores at Monmouthshire Livestock Auctioneers, an excellent entry of 118 young stores sold to a top in the steers from CD Cometson, Senghenydd, with 11 month Sim X steers (£1460-490kg).
At Truro on 26th June, cows and calves saw a fiery trade, with Simmental outfits leading the way at £1920 for Mr A Kemp of Truro.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 80 prime and cast cattle at their sale in Ayr on 25th June. Cows were topped at £1820 by a Simmental from Auchtygemmell.
At Salisbury Livestock Market on 25th June, and a sale of barren cows and bulls, beef cows topped the sale at up to 209.5p for a Simmental from Roly James off the Isle of Wight.
At a sale of store cattle on 24th June at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, bullocks sold to £1630 for Simmentals from A McKenzie, Ardgate.
Market Drayton’s sale of 185 store cattle on 24th June saw Cows and calves topped at £1,420 for a Simmental from JW.&PE. Painter, Howle. Heifers were led by a 656kg Simmental at £1,670.00 from Mr G. Martinez. A nice show of weanlings included 6 month Simmental steers to £780 from Graham Ward Farms, Madeley.
On 24th June Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 141 cattle comprising of 35 bullock and heifers, 50 cast cows and 56 calves and stirks at Lanark Market. Beef cows sold to £2110 per head for a Simm from Taylor, Skirling Craigs Farm, or to 236p/pk from the same home.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 20th June sold 34 Cows and Bulls to average £1459.12. Beef Feeding Cows averaged £1220 and sold to £1530 for a 692kg Simmental Cross from Haddoch Farm, Cairnie.
On 19th June, United Auctions, Stirling sold 230 store cattle & young bulls, 386 Breeding Cattle & 122 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. OTM Bulls averaged 192.24p to 253.3p per kilo for a 754kg SIM from Kirkton of Mailler In the sale of breeding cattle, Simm stock cows with heifer calves at foot sold to £2450, and Simm cows with bull calves at foot to £2350, from Floors Farming. A stock bull from the same home made £3800.
by Nicky Moreton | Jun 25, 2024 | 2024 Royal Highland Show, 2024, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
• Super Simmental Saturday Sees The Breed Win Overall Individual, And Junior Interbreed Titles!
• Delfur Nifty Wins Junior Interbreed Championship, a first for the breed
• Backmuir win third consecutive Simmental Championship
• Corskie Namenco Takes Overall Reserve
• Simmental Places Overall Reserve in Interbreed Team of Four
• Delfur Nifty and Delfur Number1 Place Reserve in Interbreed Pairs
• Pitmudie Princeton Takes Reserve in Beefbreeder Interbreed
• Annick bred cattle win Both Male and Female Championships
Simmentals led the way at the 2024 Royal Highland Show with five Champion and Reserve awards secured in the Interbreeds from what was a terrific breed entry of animals in both strength and depth. On what will be remembered as a ‘super Simmental Saturday’ both the Overall Individual Interbreed, and also the Junior Interbreed awards were won in front of a packed ringside, on the third day of the show held between 20th – 23rd June.
Overall Individual Interbreed & Simmental Supreme Champion, Annick Ginger’s Lucia
It’s huge congratulations to Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, who secured the show’s blue riband Overall Individual Interbreed award with Annick Ginger’s Lucia, shown with her bull calf Backmuir Pompeii, sired by Backmuir Marksman. On the shows’ opening day, this 2020 born cow had successfully defended her Overall Simmental Championship in front of the judge Michael Durno of the noted Auchorachan herd, Glenlivet, Banffshire. In an incredible run at the Royal Highland for the Backmuir Herd, this win also secured a hat-trick of consecutive Simmental Championships initiated in 2022 by Islavale Lullaby, and remarkably where Annick Ginger’s Lucia was first ‘spotted’ when standing Overall Reserve.
Judging the Individual Interbreed was Mr Peter Watson, Banchory, Aberdeenshire and in tapping out Annick Ginger’s Lucia as his Champion, it marked the first time the Simmental breed had won this award since Robert Crawford with Tillylair Angela in 1995! Speaking afterwards Mr Watson said: “The Simmental was an easy first in my eyes, being a super powerful maternal cow, full of breed character. She’s an excellent advocate for the breed, and if you want a Simmental she has everything you are looking for.”
Individual Interbreed Championship Presentation
Pair of Simmental Aces! The Individual Interbreed Champion Annick Ginger’s Lucia (right), and the Individual Junior Interbreed Champion, Delfur Nifty.
Annick Ginger’s Lucia bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September 2022 for 16,000gns. In a testament to the quality of this herd, the Male Champion at the 2024 was Annick Nazareth 22, exhibited by Jim & Elizabeth Dyet, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, and who was also purchased as a calf at foot at the aforementioned sale.
2024 Royal Highland Simmental Judge, Michael Durno
In the Simmental judging Annick Ginger’s Lucia had initially come through a high-powered class to nudge her stablemate Brandane Lu Lu, purchased for 18,000gns at the Next Gen II Sale in Carlisle in 2022, into second place before moving on to win the Female Championship, and then the Overall. Commenting on his Overall Simmental Supreme Championship the judge Michael Durno said: “My choice of Champion is just everything you look for in a show cow. She has size and scale, width, and with soft fleshing. With a great udder, she’s very flashy, has such a presence, and just displays all of the maternal attributes of the Simmental breed.” More generally Michael Durno went on to add: “It’s been a great honour to have judged what was a tremendous show of Simmentals throughout the classes, many of whom went on to meet with well-deserved Interbreed successes. I’d like to congratulate the Simmers in winning the prestigious Individual Interbreed award, and to say a big well done to all of the exhibitors. The Simmental breed is in very good shape and is clearly improving year on year.”
For the Simmers family the Individual Interbreed title added to what is a truly incredible Royal Highland Show record. In only four showings with Simmentals at Ingliston the Backmuir herd now has three Overall titles, and one Reserve! Commenting on winning the Individual Interbreed, and the Simmental Championship, Reece Simmers said: “The Royal Highland Show is the pinnacle of pedigree showing. To win the Individual Interbreed title of a show with some 180 years history, and to have the Backmuir name sit alongside some of the most recognised names in pedigree cattle history is quite humbling and just everything you dream of. We are personally over the moon and really delighted for the Simmental breed at the same time. There’s a tremendous standard across the show and within the Simmental classes which is just great to see.”
Of the Champion Reece went on to say: “Annick Ginger’s Lucia has just matured into herself, continued to improve, and we think has moved to another level this year. She’s a great example of a modern type of Simmental and an aspiration for us to breed and build on this type of quality. We’ve met with great success in recent years and a next challenge for us will be to try and have a further win at some point with a homebred animal. We’d also like just to acknowledge and recognise the ability of Lachlan Quarm and the achievement for him in having the breeding behind both the Overall, and Male Champion at this year’s show, it’s a great credit to the memory of him.” As things stand, the plans are that Annick Ginger’s Lucia will now head to Turriff and the Scottish Simmental National Show in August.
At last year’s show, Annick Ginger’s Lucia was shown with her heifer calf at foot Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P). Roll on twelve months and this September 2022 born heifer was shown in her own right and picked up the Reserve Junior Female award and also featured in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Four. With a show track record behind her, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), by Kilbride Farm Karl (P), won the Overall Senior Interbreed & Simmental Senior Champion awards at the 2023 Stars of the Future Calf Show.
Reserve Junior Female, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia
Described by many observers as perhaps the most successful Royal Highland Show the breed has enjoyed, the Simmental breed secured the following awards: The Overall Individual Interbreed; the Junior Interbreed; Reserve in the Interbreed Team of Four; Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs; and Reserve in the Beefbreeder Interbreed. A tremendous achievement by all of the exhibitors, and reflective of the quality and continuous improvement within the Simmental breed.
Corskie Namenco, Reserve Overall Supreme
The Simmental classes and Championships proved to be very much a ‘ladies day’ with a fantastic show of Simmental females throughout. Taking the Overall Reserve Supreme, and Reserve Overall Female Championship was the classy Corskie Namenco from another strong show team forward from WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers. April 2022 born, Corskie Namenco by Kilbride Farm Haka and out of Corskie Framenco, had placed as the Reserve Junior Female at last year’s show. Of his Overall Reserve, the judge Michael Durno said: “This is a really long, complete, smooth fleshed Simmental. With a lovely head, and full of breed character, she’s just full of forward potential and is a tremendous heifer.”
Junior Interbreed Champion, and Simmental Junior Champion, Delfur Nifty
It was a stellar show for Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, and herd manager Garry Patterson, who on the Thursday secured the Overall Simmental Junior award with their November 2022 born heifer, Delfur Nifty. Nifty is by Ballymoney Larry, a Saltire Impressive son, and is out of Delfur Joyful, an Islavale Cassius daughter. Come ‘super Simmental Saturday’ Delfur Nifty won the coveted Junior Interbreed title, a first for the Simmental breed, from the judge Robert McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee. Bagging a haul of show titles Delfur Nifty had partnered team mate Delfur Number1, who had himself stood second in his class to the Male Champion, to place Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs on Friday. Both of these animals also featured in the strong Simmental Team of Four alongside Annick Ginger’s Lucia and Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), and who picked up the Reserve Overall Interbreed Team. A little further icing on the cake saw Delfur Nifty, Delfur Number1, and Delfur Weigela N12 team up to win the Group of Three.
Winning Delfur Group of three
Having awarded the Junior Interbreed title to Delfur Nifty, the judge Robert McNee said: “This is a really smart young heifer. I liked her overall balance, correctness, and her evenness of flesh throughout, without being too extreme. She has all the makings of being a tremendous brood cow.”
Another with a show pedigree behind her, Delfur Nifty had previously won the Overall Pedigree Championship at LiveScot in November 2023, the Reserve Senior Female at Stars of the Future, and prior to that the Simmental Youngstock Championship at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.
Speaking afterwards, Delfur Herd Manager Garry Patterson said: “It’s amazing to have a few days like this at such a prestigious show as the Royal Highland and with there being such a high level of competition. It’s still very early days for me at Delfur so I feel very proud that we’ve managed to achieve so much this year. This is only the second time Delfur have ever been to the Royal Highland with the previous occasion being 2005 and where I believe the herd may also have won the Simmental Male Championship and the Group of Three.”
With specific regard to Delfur Nifty Garry went on to say: “Delfur Nifty was a stand-out calf from day one but for her now to win the Junior Individual Interbreed is quite special. I hope that’s a benchmark and that we can go on to breed many more like her at Delfur. With her featuring in the Reserve Interbreed Pair with Delfur Number1, and again in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Four, it all just added up to being a fantastic show and great experience.” From here, there are still a few shows this summer for Delfur Nifty to take aim at.
The Overall Male Champion, Annick Nazareth 22
In the bulls it was a fantastic win for Scottish Simmental Club Chairman Jim Dyet, and his wife Elizabeth, of the Merkland Herd, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire who won the Male Championship with Annick Nazareth 22. Purchased as a calf at foot for 7500gns (for the unit) at the Annick Dispersal Sale, Annick Nazareth 22 is out of Annick Fresias Kiki who herself was Female and Reserve Overall Champion at the Royal Highland in 2021. Commenting on his Male Champion, the judge Michael Durno said: “This is just a really good, smooth fleshed bull, and very correct on his legs. He’s a bull with no extremes but with a real carcase quality.”
A delighted, and a wee bit emotional, Jim Dyet firstly paid a fitting tribute to the breeder Lachlan Quarm and commented: “Lachlan was so good at turning out young cattle and this one along with the Champion, and this show, will be part of his legacy. I’m sure there will be a few further Annick bred cattle to be seen in the show ring in years to come. We took Annick Nazareth to the Scottish National Show at Dumfries last year and where he achieved the Reserve Junior Male. He’s been out once this year at a local show where Wee John (9) showed him in the Young Handlers and that’s how good a temperament this boy has. We’ve only shown a few times at the Highland and go as much for the fun and enjoyment of meeting great people and seeing great cattle. To win the Male Championship at the Highland is by far the highlight of our showing career and it really doesn’t get much better than this!”
Reserve Male Champion, and Junior Male Champion, Corskie Puma 23 (P)
Winning the Reserve Male Championship and also the Junior Male Championship was another from the Corskie team in the shape of Corksie Puma 23 (P). This January born bull, with length, width, and shape, is by Rathnashan Kellogg’s (ET) (P) EX94, and is out of Corskie Kit, an Auchorachan Farmer daughter. This was Corskie Puma’s first show outing, and he will enjoy the summer show season before being aimed at the Stirling October Bull Sale.
Reserve Junior Male Champion, Backmuir Pegasus
The Reserve Junior Bull came from the same class in the form of Backmuir Pegasus 23, and again from the Backmuir team of Reece & Andrew Simmers. January 2023 born, this calf by Atlow Dixon and out of the 18,000gns Brandane Lu Lu, had previously stood Junior Male Champion at the 2023 Stars of the Future Calf Show.
Pitmudie Princeton, Overall Reserve in the Beefbreeder Interbreed
Keeping the Simmental Interbreed successes going, the young April 2023 bull Pitmudie Princeton from Heather Duff, Pitmudie Farm By Brechin placed Overall Reserve in the Beefbreeder Interbreed held on Friday morning. April 2023 born, Pitmudie Princeton is by Hiltonstown Irish 17, and is out of Pitmudie Babe, who has produced a number of good bulls for the herd. Combining performance figures with phenotype for this Interbreed, Pitmudie Princeton was described as: “A muscly type of bull with good growth, Princeton is very clean, with good lines, and has plenty of breed character.” Immediate plans ahead will see Pitmudie Princeton aimed at a few further summer shows in the season.
It was a truly memorable five-star 2024 Royal Highland Show for the Simmental breed. It’s a huge congratulations to the Simmers for their tremendous success, and to all of the Interbreed winners and Simmental exhibitors across the board for putting on a fantastic promotion of the qualities of the British Simmental breed.
Overall Champions Presentation with Annick Ginger’s Lucia, and Corskie Namenco
Male Champion Annick Nazareth 22, and Reserve Male Corskie Puma 23 (P)
Junior Champion Delfur Nify, and Junior Reserve Annick Lucia’s Nicosia
Junior Male Champions Corskie Puma 23 (P), and Reserve, Backmuir Pegasus
Reserve Interbreed Pair, Delfur Nifty & Delfur Number1
Reserve Interbreed Team Champions
Interbreed Pairs Reserve Champions Delfur Nifty & Delfur Number1 with Iain Millar (judge), on the right.
Royal Highland Show
Thursday 20th June 2024
Simmental Judge: Mr Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindaloch
Results
Class 263 Female, born on or after 1st April 2023
1st J H & V G Wood Popes Trixies Pearl
2nd Heather Duff Pitmudie Primrose
3rd W J & J Green Corskie Private Eyes
4th The Burns Family Islavale Peaches
Popes Trixies Pearl
Class 264 Female, Born between 1st January and 31st March 2023
1st J H & V G Wood Popes Trixies Prudence
2nd Heather Duff Pitmudie Pandora
3rd W J & J Green Corskie P-Enna
4th Croft Livestock Clonagh Regal Fortune
Popes Trixies Prudence
Class 265 Female, born on or between 1st July and 31st December 2022
1st Delfur Farms Delfur Nifty
2nd R & A Simmers Annick Lucia’s Nicosia
3rd Delfur Farms Delfur Weigela N12
4th Laura Green Garmouth Fame’s Nicole
Class 266 Female, born on or between 1st January and 30th June 2022
1st W J & J Green Corskie Namenco
2nd J H & V G Wood Popes Princess Noor
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Eva’s Neva
4th J & E Dyet Merkland Tooty 3rd
Corskie Miley
Class 267 Female, calved before 3 years or due to calve before 3 years old, in milk or in calf born in 2021
1st W J & J Green Corskie Miley
2nd J & P Goldie Newbiemains My Girl
Class 268 Female, Born in 2019 or 2020 in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st R & A Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd R & A Simmers Brandane Lu Lu
3rd Gavin Brown Islavale Liquorice
Newbiemains Icandy
Class 269 Female, born on or after 31st December 2018, in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st J & P Goldie Newbiemains Icandy
2nd 2910 W J & J Green Corskie Jasmine
Female Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Female Champion
Corskie Namenco W J & J Green
Junior Female Champion
Delfur Nifty Delfur Farms
Reserve Junior Female Champion
Annick Lucia’s Nicosia R & A Simmers
Strathisla Pentagon
Class 270 Bull born on or after 1st April 2023
1st Strathisla Farms Strathisla Pentagon
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Power
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Princeton
4th Gerald Smith Drumsleed Paddy
Class 271 Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie Puma
2nd R & A Simmers Backmuir Pegasus
3rd J H & V G Wood Popes Power
4th Heather Duff Pitmudie Pitcairn
Class 272 Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st December 2022
1st J & E Dyet Annick Nazareth
2nd Delfur Farms Delfur Number1
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Nightrider
Male Champion
Annick Nazareth J & E Dyet
Reserve Male
Corskie Puma 23 (P) WJ&J Green
Champion Junior Male
Corskie Puma 23 (P) W J & J Green
Reserve Junior Male
Backmuir Pegasus R & A Simmers
Overall Supreme Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Overall Champion
Corskie Namenco W J & J Green
Group of Three Delfur Farms
by Nicky Moreton | Jun 14, 2024 | 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News, 2024
Here we feature Michael Durno, who along with his wife Morag, and father Leslie, run the noted pedigree and commercial Auchorachan Simmental herd at Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Banffshire.
Michael Durno with some of the spring calving herd
Whilst the type of cattle have changed over time to meet market demands, the basis of the cattle system at Auchorachan Farm in Glenlivet, has remained the same for 40 years – putting Simmental cross cows to Charolais and Simmental bulls, to produce quality store calves to sell through the market at a year old. It’s a system that works and it’s one that the Durno family do very well.
Michael Durno is now the third generation of his family to farm at Auchorachan, a 2800-acre Crown Estate farm, which his grandfather Duncan first took on the tenancy of in 1953. There, with his wife Morag, he runs 160 cows, alongside his father Leslie, who mainly manages the sheep flock of 600 Perth-type Blackfaces. Full time employee Peter Tinney is also part of the team.
“We have 450 acres of grass here at Auchorachan and the rest is heathery hill which the Blackies graze. We breed 450 of them pure and the other 150 go to Texel tups, with all the lambs fattened and sold through Woodhead. We manage to grow 30 acres of barley each year, which is always a challenge – the farm is very steep and we have long, harsh winters and a short growing season,” explains Michael.
On the cattle side, the herd comprises 75 pedigree Simmentals, small herds of pedigree Charolais, Aberdeen-Angus and Salers, and 65 commercial suckler cows (mainly Simmental crosses).
Michael says: “We’ve used Simmental bulls for breeding replacement females for as far as I can remember. We had a great old bull called Cloford Kernel, which bred really well – we had great females off him. That’s probably what got us hooked on the Simmentals.”
It wasn’t until 2002 that the Auchorachan pedigree herd was established though, with the purchase of four heifers from the Ravensworth dispersal.
“We initially bought those heifers for the commercial herd, but we were so pleased with them that we decided to keep them pedigree. So, I registered with the Society at that point and the herd was built from there,” explains Michael.
Other early purchases included two from Hector McCaskill’s Woodhall herd, one from Delfur and another, Greenlea Hilly, from a local on-farm dispersal. The five main breeding families in the herd today, stem from these original purchases, with the ‘Hilly’ family being the most numerous. The Ravensworth Madie family has probably been the most successful at breeding bulls, such as Wizard, Winger, AC/DC, Hercules and Landmark.
“Those families are very milky lines, so we were lucky with the start that we got. The four Ravensworth heifers were bought and delivered home for £520 per head – a bargain now that we know how they’ve bred,” says Michael.
“A main focus for us has been breeding cattle that are good on their legs. Our cows normally average 820kg, which is not huge for a pedigree cow, but we don’t want them any bigger than that on our ground, which sits at 1000ft. We aim for softer fleshed females that will carry flesh at grass with no extra feeding.
“The female classification scheme has been a great addition to the Simmental Society and I think it is more relevant than any other figures in the breed. We now have 54 VG or Excellent cows within our herd. I think it gives buyers confidence that the bulls they are buying are out of good, structurally correct, milky female lines,” says Michael. “Also, EBVs are not that well suited to beef herds in the UK in my opinion, as we have so many different herd sizes and so many totally different rearing systems. For example, in my herd, it suits our system to bull any poorer females with the Charolais bull, to produce an excellent commercial animal, but this takes out the bottom end of the contemporary group of calves being recorded and so disadvantaging the top end calves in their EBVs,” he adds.
Bulls have been carefully selected over the years to compliment the female lines at Auchorachan. Early on, Saltire Talent, bought from Perth, and the Irish-bred Clonagh Tiger Gallant, ran in tandem with each other. Michael says the shape and carcase of Tiger, combined with the length and height of Talent, proved a winning combination. The Saltire Talent son, Auchorachan Wizard, was placed overall champion at Stirling in 2010 and sold for 20,000gns, while Auchorachan Winger, by Clonagh Tiger Gallant, made 10,000gns the same day.
Another Irish purchase, Rawbawn Caesar King, bred particularly good daughters, and then Team Fergus, produced both sons and daughters of note. He was a show winner himself, standing reserve male at the Royal Highland in 2015.
Auchorachan Hercules
Currently, the home-bred bull Auchorachan Hercules is ticking all the boxes. He is a son of Auchorachan AC/DC, another by Saltire Talent, which sold for 12,000gns at Stirling in 2011. Michael had taken semen off the bull prior to his sale, which is how the story of Hercules starts: “I kept AC/DC semen for my own use, but David Hazelton of the Ranfurly herd was keen to use him, so he did so on the condition that I got a fertilised embryo back, out of his show cow, South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd.”
The results of that transaction was Hercules, which Michael kept to use himself. That proved a wise decision, as Hercules sons averaged £10,500 in 2021, selling to a top of 18,000gns for Auchorachan Landmark.
One of Michael’s favourites, Auchorachan Holly, mother of the 18,000gns Auchorachan Landmark with his full sister
Michael has recently been dabbling with polled genetics. Auroch Hudson, a heterozygous polled bull from Ireland, has been used in conjunction with Hercules, and this year, the homozygous polled Jaegergard Quebec, has been imported from Denmark.
“Both of these bulls boast different bloodlines and the fact that they are polled and also look the part, is quite exciting. I’ve been out to Denmark and have seen that bull’s sire, dam and granny, a top show cow, so I know it has quality breeding behind it,” he says.
Another exciting recent purchase is Greencap Kane, bought for 9000gns in 2020 – which Michael describes as being ‘typical’ of the type of bull he likes. “He is long, correct on his legs, well-muscled, with character too. His first calves are on the ground now and looking very promising.
Auchorachan Emily EX94 with her AC/DC bull calf Malcolm
“With both the pedigree and commercial herd, it’s always worth investing in a good quality bull. My Grandfather always used to say that when buying a bull, you should expect to pay the price of 10 of your best bullocks – and I think that should still be the case.”
While Michael takes a great interest in the pedigree breeding lines, in practise, the pedigree cattle are run very much commercially, along with the entire herd. The bulk of the cows (110) calve in the autumn and the rest from January through to May.
“We have a good array of sheds here on the farm, but we’re at capacity with the number of cattle we have. Outwintering is not an option here as the winters are long and unforgiving. Having the cows in at calving time works well for keeping an eye on them, but luckily we have very few calving problems that require assistance.”
Autumn calves are creep fed through the winter and go out to grass with their dams in May, where they get no further feeding before being weaned in July and they are then sold in September through Thainstone Mart. Last September, the batch of Simmental, Charolais and Salers cross 12-month-old bullocks, averaged £1470 at 477kg, while Charolais and Simmental twin heifers sold to average £1355, weighing 450kg at 12-months.
The calves born in the spring, meanwhile, are introduced to creep feeding from August that year. For the past few years, the cross-bred spring calves that are not being kept as replacements, have all been sold in November to local finisher and Simmental enthusiast Danny Leslie, Redhill, Elgin, who is particularly keen on the high-health status of the herd and the fact they’re Level 1 Johne’s. It’s an arrangement that works well for both – as it means they don’t take up valuable shed space through the winter at Auchorachan.
10 – 12 month old steers are sold in September through ANM Thainstone
Within the pedigree herd, demand for Auchorachan Simmental bulls is always strong, between private sales and those through Stirling and Thainstone Marts. Until recently, the best of the females have mainly been kept for breeding, but with numbers at capacity, Michael is now able to offer select heifers for sale. In December last year, the Auchorachan herd supported the newly established Next Generation Sale of Simmental Females & Weaned Calves at Carlisle and at which they sold Auchorachan Liqueur Madie, a grand daughter of the aforementioned Ravensworth Madie, for 5000gns to Ryan Morgan in Orkney.
“I think the breed has improved a great deal in recent years. There used to be two distinct types of Simmentals – bigger, plainer ones and smaller, thicker ones. Now, they have met somewhere in the middle, which is a good place to be.
“It is a really versatile breed, in that a Simmental-sired female will breed a very marketable calf off any breed or sire. Likewise, a Simmental bull onto any breed of cow can leave great replacement females and also very efficient and profitable males, as shown by the recently published data on days to slaughter statistics,” adds Michael.
by Nicky Moreton | May 21, 2024 | 2024, 2024 Market Briefs, 2024 News
SALISBURY; RUGBY; THAINSTONE; FROME; EXETER; HALLWORTHY; THIRSK; BENTHAM; PRESTON; SEDGEMOOR; HOLMFIRTH; CARLISLE; LOCKERBIE; BALLYMENA; LANARK; CASTLE DOUGLAS; HUNTLY; LUDLOW; CROOKLANDS; ST BOSWELL; GISBURN; MELTON MOWBRAY; DUNGANNON; DINGWALL; TRURO; AYR; SHREWSBURY; DUMFRIES; QUOYBRAE; DARLINGTON; WHITLAND; MARKET DRAYTON; SKIPTON; AND MONMOUTHSHIRE
Hard-working Simmental sired cattle continuing to do the business in store, prime, breeding, and calf sales around the UK. Where they are not Simmental sired, many other sale top prices are out of Simmental females! Simmental genetics continuing to add value, flexibility, efficiency, and profitability for commercial producers.
See here the final of three bumper parts covering Simmental sale toppers through April (19th to 30th):
Salisbury Market on 30th April held a sale of finished cattle and barren cows. Beef cows (assured and non-assured) saw a top price of 208p or £1672.32 going to a grand Simmental from the Hicks family, Burghclere with another from the same stable at 206.5p. In the OTM clean cattle, a strong Simmental x from Philip Samways which was assured and under 36 months topped at 237.5p or £1638.75.
At Rugby Farmers Mart Prime Cattle Sale on 29th April the trade for cows was topped by a 858kg Simmental from FI & EJ Barnes, which sold for £2128.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1133 Store Cattle, and Young Bulls at Thainstone on 26th April. Bulls averaged 292.4p sold to 279.4p per kg for a 494kg Simmental Cross from Feolquoy, Stromness. On the same day, a total of 116 store cattle were forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks sold to a top of £1,710 gross for a 664kg Simmental from D W Sinclair & Co, Unigarth, Sandwick.
In Frome’s store cattle sale on 26th April, young continentals were topped by a grand consignment from James Foot of Weymouth with his usual outstanding Simmental steers and heifers (11-12 mo) topping at £1170 for the best pen of steers and £995 for heifers.
In a sale of store cattle at Exeter on 26th April, a pair of well covered Simmental’s from Jeremy Brown topped the grazing cows coming back at £1660 each. On the same day and a sale of stirks and suckled calves, heifers topped out at £850 for the Moysey Family, Ivybridge, presenting Simmental cross heifers.
Hallworthy’s sale of 300 store cattle on 25th April saw a top of £1830 twice for PJ & JA Rogers of Tavistock including a pair of cracking long shaped and fleshed Simmental x Steers.
At Thirsk and a sale of cull cattle on 25th April, top price cow was 217.5p for a Simmental X from Amblers Lodge, Shipton purchased by JA Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor.
At Bentham’s sale of rearing calves on 24th April, younger continentals, around a month old, saw Simmentals from Cote Farm Partnership to £370, others £340, £350 x2 and £360.
In a sale of cull cows at Brockholes Arms Auction Market on 24th April, beef cows sold to a top of 195 p/kg for a Simmental that grossed at £1813 from C & J Bennett.
In a sale of store cattle at Sedgemoor on 24th April, steers sold to £1270 for some smart, suckler bred Simmentals x 7 from V Young & Sons, Redhill.
At Holmfirth on 23rd April, prime cattle overall averaged 278.73p/kg. Top price at 295p/kg, was a Simmental steer from D Pearson sold to JB Eastwood & Sons.
On 24th April Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of calves at Carlisle. Connell Farm Ltd, East Drummodie, Newton Stewart, topped the sale today at £730 x 2 with their Simmental bull calves.
In the sale of store cattle at H&H’s Lockerbie Mart on 23rd April, a Simmental bullock from Messrs Howatson, Heithat sold for 347ppkg to feature in the top prices.
In a sale of store cattle at Ballymena on 23rd April bullocks sold to £1670 for a 570kg Simm presented by TH McDowell, Dundonald.
In a sale of breeding bulls, dropped calves, suckler cows, and weanlings at Ballymena on 22nd April the suckler cows were topped by D Morrow, Glenarm, with a Simm with heifer calf at foot selling for £1680.
At Rugby Farmers Mart on 22nd April, the trade for steers and bulls was topped by a 668kg Simmental from BT Caswell & Sons at £1750. 309ppk was the joint top mark in the heifers and for a Simmental also from BT Caswell & Sons.
On 22nd April at Lanark Market, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 110 cattle comprising of 30 bullock and heifers and 80 cast cows. Beef cows sold to £1990 per head for a Simm from Browntod Farm, Hamilton.
The Borderway Primestock Sale at Carlilse on 22nd April saw Messrs Trafford, Springfield, Cockermouth sell a 771kg Simmental prime bull to £2054.72 and to feature in the leading prices.
Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas, had forward OTM Cattle and Store Cattle on 22 April. OTM cattle topped at 273ppk for a Simmental Bull from Messrs Craig, Craigton.
In a sale of 303 non export calves at Sedgemoor on 20th April, top of the day was £485 for a super 1m Simmental bull for KP Silverthorne & Partners.
At Huntly on 20th April, United Auctions sold 572 cattle at their sale which incorporated Young Farmers Overwintered Cattle. OTMS sold to 266.1p per kg for SimX from Wester Elchies, Aberlour also to £1990 also Wester Elchies, Aberlour.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 19th April at Thainstone sold 1,041 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Bulls sold to £1690 gross for a 690kg Simmental Cross from Mains of Newton, Craigellachie.
At a sale of TB restricted store cattle at Ludlow on 19th April, Simmental X’s topped the heifer section when selling to £1500.
Pics from the Simmental library.
by Nicky Moreton | May 20, 2024 | 2024 Balmoral Show, 2024, 2024 Northern Ireland News, 2024 News
- Lisglass Prince takes Overall Simmental Reserve
- Ballinalare Farm Nikita places Reserve in Individual Interbreed
- Ballinalare & Lisglass take Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs
- Simmental Team Wins Interbreed Stockjudging
Roll on twelve months and the now 27-month-old heifer Ballinalare Farm Nikita from Mr J & Mr A Wilson, Newry, Co Down, came back to defend her title and win the 2024 RUAS Balmoral Show on the opening day at Balmoral Park, Sprucefield, Lisburn.
Ballinalare Farm Nikita Supreme Champion
Played out in the sunshine with a hint of a breeze, a small but quality show of Simmentals held the crowd and in front of the judge for the day in the shape pf BSCS President Norman Robson of the noted Kilbride Farm Herd at Doagh, Ballyclare. A prolific show year in 2023 had seen this young heifer lift the Balmoral Show title along with the top award at the NI National Simmental Show later in the summer. These award also saw her crowned NI Simmental Female of the Year. Having now defended her Balmoral Show title some aim is being taken at the ‘double-double’ of retaining the National Show title which is due to be competed for at the Randox Antrim Show at the end of July.
Ballinalare Farm Nikita is sired by the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive who was also the sire of the 2022 RUAS Balmoral Show Champion. She is out of Ballinalare Farm Ilyssa whose Granddam is a full sister of the noted Ballinalare Farm Nightrider. Commenting on his Champion, who was of course also the Female Champion, Norman Robson said: “A terrific animal, Ballinalare Farm Nikita is a young heifer with immense power. Her shear scale, size and quality would make her hard to beat on any day and she is a worthy Champion.”
BSCS President & judge for the day, Norman Robson
Father and son team Joe and Alan Wilson have been long term supporters of the RUAS Balmoral Show. Multiple titles have been highlighted by a hat trick of wins between 2004-2006 for the homebred Ballinalare Farm Money Penny, and now Nikita defending her title. A delighted Joe Wilson speaking after the show said: “Over the year she has grown on , and matured. She’s got size and power but kept her femininity and is full of style. The herd is having an export sale on 7th September at Rathfriland with around 25 head for sale including full embryo siblings to today’s Champion and also to the 28,000gns Banhill Farm Masterpiece. We’ll have some ‘contemplation’ time now regarding entries for that sale!” Flushed in January, Ballinalare Farm Nikita was AI’d two months ago to Omorga Murray.
With the quality of Ballinalare Farm Nikita there was a measured anticipation heading to the Interbreeds and this striking heifer didn’t disappoint when lifting the Overall Reserve in the Individual Interbreed in front of the judge, Stewart Stronach, of the Islavale Simmental herd at Berryleys Farm, Keith Banffshire. Not quite finished there, Ballinalare Farm Nikita then teamed up with the Male Champion, Junior Champion, and Overall Reserve, Lisglass Prince, to win the Overall Reserve in the Interbreed Continental Pairs.
Lisglass Prince Reserve Supreme, Male & Junior Champion
Shown by JL & CJ Weatherup, Irish Hill, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, the March 2023 born Lisglass Prince is by Omorga Jaguar 18, and is out of Lisglass Lulu, a daughter of the aforementioned Saltire Impressive 17. Of his Reserve Champion Norman Robson said: “Lisglass Prince is a very smart, correct, and modern young bull with a good future ahead of him. He is the ideal example of the style of Simmental bull we should be producing for the commercial farmer. I think he’s a bull we will definitely be hearing more from throughout the year.” The Weatherups are themselves multi title winners at Balmoral Show and were again delighted with their breed and Interbreed successes over the show. Commenting, Chris Weatherup said: “Lisglass Prince just caught your eye from being a young calf and we think he just has a lot of style and length, with a tremendous backend. He’s tentatively aimed at the October Sale in Stirling.” Omorga Jaguar 18 was purchased as a ten-month-old calf and he was also the sire of Lisglass Panther, the Male Champion at the recent Swatragh Club Sale.
Dermody Princess Reserve Female Champion
The Weatherups also had the Reserve Female Champion in the shape of Dermody Princess. Bred by Mr N Jagoe, this September 2002 heifer is another by Saltire Impressive and is out of Dermody Kandy, a Glebedale Tyson daughter. Speaking of his Reserve Female the judge said: “There was not a lot between the Overall and Reserve. This is just a very sweet and feminine heifer and a good example of the types we are looking for in the Simmental breed.”
Seaview Patriot Reserve Male Champion
Lifting the Reserve Male Championship was the August 2022 born bull Seaview Patriot, owned and exhibited by Esther O’Neill, Navan Fort Road, Armagh, and bred by Messrs G&A O’Leary. This bull, purchased as a year-old calf at the 2023 Tullamore Show, is a son of Woodhall Ferrari 14, and is out of the Kilbride Farm Newry daughter Littlerock Dervela Annie. For the O’Neill’s Drumcoote herd, which comprises of some 30 pedigree Simmental breeding females, this was a first time showing at Balmoral for some eight years. From here Seaview Patriot will be shown again through the summer before being used as the herd’s stock bull.
Ranfurly Weikel 52nd Reserve Junior Champion
Ranfurly progeny were again in the ‘limelight’ when Ranfurly Weikel 52nd P18 23 from David and Jonny Hazelton, Cohannon House, Dungannon, won the Reserve Junior Championship, and Junior Female title. June 2023 born, this stylish young heifer, got by AI, is by the 16,000gns Ranfurly Limelight L11 20, and is out of Ranfurly Weikel 18th H2 EX 90, a Raceview King daughter. Further Ranfurly Limelight L11 20 progeny will feature in a sale of 20 breeding females, including 14 or 15 heifers, which will be held alongside the Ballinalare Farm herd offering, on September 7th at Rathfriland.
Winning Interbreed Stockjudging team
There was more Simmental success when the high-powered combine team of Andrew Clarke (Breaghey); Ryan Gilmour (Gillview); Jonny Hazelton (Ranfurly); and Chris Weatherup (Lisglass), combined to win the Interbreed Stockjudging title. Sponsored by Dunbia, and judged by Meurig James, the competition saw teams of four persons placing classes of beef cattle (no age limits). There were four classes each consisting of four cattle, with cattle provided on a rotation basis and featuring this year the Charolais, Simmental, Limousin and British Blonde breeds. Well done Team Simmental!
Overall Championship
Female Championship
Male Championship
Junior Championship
Balmoral 2024 Simmental Results
Heifer born on or after 1st Jan 2022 and on or before 30th June 2022
1st J & A Wilson 146 Ballinalare Farm Nikita
2nd Noel Kilpatrick 147 Ballymoney Nancy
Heifer born on or after 1st July 2022 and on or before 31st Dec 2022
1st JL & CL Weatherup 149 Dermody Princess
2nd J N Glasgow 148 Bridgewater Farm Evie 5th
3rd J N Glasgow 150 Raceview PCH Vivkim ET
HEIFER, born on or after 1st January 2023.
1st WD & JD Hazelton 155 Ranfurly Weikel 52nd P18 23
2nd Andrew Clarke 152 Breaghey Class P477
3rd JL & CL Weatherup 153 Lisglass Primrose
4th Andrew Clarke 154 Breaghey Vida P504
Bull, born on or before 31st December 2022
1st Mr Shane O’Neill 156 Seaview Patriot
Bull, born on or after 1st January 2023
1st JL & CL Weatherup 159 Lisglass Prince
2nd WD & JD Hazelton 163 Ranfurly Principal P12
3rd N & N Abraham 158 Corholland Peter
4th N & N Abraham 164 Corholland Phoenix
Pair of animals, bona fide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the classes for which they are eligible
1st JL & CL Weatherup
2nd J N Glasgow
Supreme Champion
Ballinalare Farm Nikita J & A Wilson
Reserve Supreme Champion
Lisglass Prince JL & CL Weatherup
Junior Champion
Lisglass Prince JL & CL Weatherup
Reserve Junior Champion
Ranfurly Weikel 52nd P18 23 WD & JD Hazelton
Female Champion
Ballinalare Farm Nikita J & A Wilson
Reserve Female Champion
Dermody Princess JL & CL Weatherup
Male Champion
Lisglass Prince JL & CL Weatherup
Reserve Male Champion
Seaview Patriot Shane O’Neill
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