It’s the first ‘big reveal’ of this years Simmental Virtual Show, and we are delighted to announce the results for Class One -Bull Calf born on or after 1st August 2022.
1st Place, class 1 – Kilbride Farm Norton P
Congratulations go to the Kilbride Farm herd of WH Robson & Sons, Ballyclare, Co Antrim whose October 2022 born bull Kilbride Farm Norton P has been awarded first place. Norton is sired by the imported bull Flop Agrochyt, bred in the Czech Republic, and is out of Kilbride Farm Jolly 17G (P).
This first class had a great entry of 74 bulls and the top eight places have been awarded by the judge Harry Houldey of Manor Fields Simmentals, Lockerbie, as follows:
1st Kilbride Farm Norton P 2nd Lisglass Nugget 3rd Mixbury Hall Pioneer 4th Auchorachan Noble P 5th Omorga Nashville 6th Oaktree Farm Pablo 7th Cladymore President 8th Kilbride Farm Nebulus 22
Please look out for a short video clip from Harry and with his general comments around this first class.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered Class One. We have been thrilled with the quality of the entries and have had some terrific comments and feedback.
Producing quality Scotch Beef to a high standard by utilising home-grown cattle is the name of the game for the Smith family from Laurencekirk, who’s Simmentals are tickling the tastebuds of consumers from across the UK.
Douglas Smith opened the shop in 2020
Passionate about producing sustainable & traceable beef products, while making extra income from the farm, Doug Smith of Drumsleed Farm with the help of his wife, Fiona & mum Morag, has opened his own honesty shop which is fully stocked by their own Drumsleed cattle – a herd comprising 240 suckler cows, which is an even split of 110 pedigree cattle & 130 commercials.
“Following Covid-19, we opened up our little beef shop which is situated on Drumsleed Farm. It’s an honesty shop so there’s no one there manning what is sold, it is just filled with freezers & fridges which are packed with our own beef products that are made available to customers at any time of the day,” explained Doug.
A snapshot of tasty products available from Drumsleed Meats
“Our main driving force behind the shop was to improve the traceability of our meat & cut out the middlemen in regards to supermarkets, as well as to interact more with our customers. There are not so many cattle in the area & people in our local villages love being able to see the cattle in fields, so we have always wondered if locally sourced beef would be of interest to them – which it has.
“My wife also runs an honesty shop – Farm to Table – selling her own vegetables & potatoes from her family farm, so I jumped on the back of that idea. We’re continually being encouraged to reduce food mileage & you can’t get anymore sustainable or locally sourced beef than this,” he added.
With the Drumsleed herd being well known within the breed for producing quality pedigree stock – annually selling bulls at United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales & Thainstone’s Spring Show – it is, however, the commercial heifers which are proving to be the ultimate when it comes to producing quality prime cuts of beef.
“Our commercial herd is made up of mostly pure Simmentals that don’t meet the pedigree standard we are looking for, with a small selection being Saler & Beef Shorthorn crosses. We prefer to rely on heifers for our meat business as we believe the beef is sweeter & more tender than bull beef, which can be tougher with a little bit more testosterone through it.
Typical Simmental Heifers destined for the Farm Shop
“At the moment we are putting away around one heifer every three to four weeks for the shop & we would like to increase this over the next few years on the basis that the demand for our beef continues to be there,” he said.
“We have no real checklist for picking our meat heifers, but they have to be quiet in regards to temperament & have a good shape & fat cover on them’” commented Doug.
In order to produce alternative cross cattle on the farm & reduce the herd from becoming too pure, a Saler bull is used over the younger Simmental heifers at two years old with a small selection being crossed to the Beef Shorthorn in order to provide some replacement females.
Heifers which are selected to be butchered for the shop are reared on a 90% grass-based diet having been grazed out on grass throughout the summer months, as well as fed a silage & straw mix when indoors, which is also mixed with homegrown cereals to improve fat cover on the cattle.
“We hold back between 12 & 15 heifers per year for the shop & aim to be killing out those heifers between 16- & 20-months old at around 700kgs, with any other surplus stock being sold store or for breeding females,” stated Doug.
“Our breeding females are sold privately to repeat customers at one year old & we aim to retain around 20 commercials & 20 pedigree females for replacement purposes too,” he added.
Within the shop itself, beef products on offer include burgers, sausages, all cuts of steak, roasting joints & beef olives – all of which are made by Allan Rennie of Rennies Butchers, based in Forfar.
“We have a good relationship with Allan Rennie having used him for private kills beforehand, so when it came to sourcing a butcher for the shop, there was no doubt he was our first pick. He is very flexible with us, which is a huge bonus as our customers have the option to phone in & pre-order specific cuts of meat, so Allan is always keen to help us meet the requests of our customers & keep them returning,” said Doug.
The heifer beef is hung for a minimum of three weeks before it is vacuum packed & returned to Drumsleed to be sold.
“Allan Rennie is an Aberdeen-Angus man but there’s nowhere within the area that is specifically dedicated to one breed. We have sold some of Allan’s Angus meat through the shop if we are in short supply & it’s great meat but it’s all down to how the meat is hung & if it is the right carcass’” explained Doug.
“We like a bit of fat cover on our meat which we believe brings flavour to it, & it helps that the heifer meat is really tender. Overall, we are receiving some really great feedback about our Simmental beef & our customers seem to love the marbling content through the cuts.”
As well as selling their own beef through the shop, Doug is also providing Simmental mince & steaks to a local restaurant – Gannets of Laurencekirk – who transform the meat into their own pies which are then sold on.
“We team up with Gannets of Laurencekirk to run a hot food stall at some of the farmers’ markets & local events, where we used our own supply of burgers & beef. We are aware that there are a lot of small & local businesses within our area & it’s important that we support on another as much as possible, so we hope to continue with this venture later in the year,” he said.
“Consumer demand for beef is always dependant on the time of year & you tend to find that through the summer, demand outstrips supply as it’s barbecue season, whereas it can be quieter over the winter months. However, we can’t fault the support of the local community who have been fantastic at keeping us in business & we really do appreciate them,” added Doug.
The Smith’s little farm shop is also gaining popularity with customers further afield, which has been aided with the help of social media.
“Social media has been the only form of advertisement we have relied on when it comes to promoting our products. One of our Valentine’s boxes was bought by a customer in Wales so that goes to show how far social media has promoted our little business, but we are aware that it costs a lot to deliver straight to the doorstep & we do want to try & keep costs as low as possible. However, the next step is to hopefully get a website set up & running in order to try & sell beef to customers online too,” he stated.
Looking to the future of their little shop, Doug has big plans for extending the meat options available for his customers.
“Ideally, we would like to add in lamb or pork to the meat line and preferably would like to do this ourselves and invest in fat lambs or pigs in the future, but this is a long-term goal and not something that will happen any time soon – so watch this space! I’m passionate about the low food miles aspect with our meat & I will continue to promote this aspect as I believe it’s a real driving force behind gaining the consumers attention.
“It’s really enjoyable to engage with the public & allow them to see what we do here at Drumsleed. When it comes to running an additional business like this, you really do need to dedicate time to do it properly, which is probably something I didn’t fully appreciate with ties to the farm & my family. However, my advice to anyone thinking about diversifying in some way would be to just do it! Don’t be scared to try it out & if it doesn’t work then try something else. From start to finish, it really has been one of the best decisions we have made & I’m looking forward to what the future holds for our wee shop.”
This article by Kathryn Dick, and use of the pictures by Rob Haining, is republished with the kind permission of The Scottish Farmer (TSF). Our thanks are extended to both Drumsleed Simmentals and TSF.
The April 2021 born Hollybrook Maximum from Chris & Zara Curson, Hollybrook Farm, Welbourne, Dereham, Norfolk sold for 3900gns to top the small section of Simmentals at the fledgling Melton Mowbray Multi Breed Sale on Saturday, 25th March.
Hollybrook Maximum, Overall Reserve Interbreed, Overall Simmental Champion and Top price of £3,900gns
Earlier in the day this bull had been placed as the Simmental Overall Champion by the judge, John Barlow of the noted Denizes herd, before going on to lift the Overall Reserve Interbreed in front of all seven of the breed judges. Commenting, John Barlow said: “This is just a natural Simmental bull with plenty of length and a good second thigh. He’s a good commercial Simmental bull ready to work.” Hollybrook Maximum, got by AI, is sired by Clonagh Diehard Gallant, and is out of Williams Vikki’s Blossom. Purchasing the Champion online, and one of two bought on the day, was the significant Simmental based commercial enterprise in the shape of Fristling Hall Farm, Swan Lane, Ingatestone, Essex. Melton Mowbray represented only the second Society sale for the Cursons who run a 20-cow pedigree herd alongside a 60 cow Simmental based suckler herd.
Selling at 3200gns was the homozygous polled bull Blue Cedar Mungo from Nigel Darling, Intwood Farm, Intwood, Norwich. This January 2021 born bull is by the Danish bred AI sire Sneumgaard Imperator, and is out of Blue Cedar Edwina, with both parents being homozygous polled. With both calving ease, and gestation length figures in the top 1% of the breed, Blue Cedar Mungo was purchased by H Catlin, Leylandii Farm, Boston, Lincolnshire.
Selling two bulls at 3000gns was CH Evans & Son, Kington Grange Farm, Claverdon, Warwickshire. The first of these was the red ticket winner Wroxall Marmite. Heterozygous Polled, this January 2021 born bull is by Forsdale Gallipoli, and is out of Wroxall Esprit-Zilla. Arriving with a show track record that had seen him win breed championships at the Three Counties and Staffordshire Shows respectively in 2022, Wroxall Marmite was another bull to be snapped up by Fristling Hall Farm, Essex. Following directly on was the March 2021 born Wroxall Meatball. This March 2021 born calf, who stood second in his class to the Champion, is by Coose Gambler (P), and is out of Wroxall Favour-Patiance (P). With Calving Ease figures of +3.6 placing him in the top 15% of the breed, Wroxall Marmite was purchased by GT Hall & Son, Dudley Wood Farm, Atherstone, Warwickshire.
Champion, Hollybrook Maximum and Reserve Champion, Key Marvel with Judge John Barlow
Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik continued his strong run at the 2022 winter calf shows when he picked up both Simmental Champion and Reserve at the fledgling Pedigree Calf Show held within the Live Scot event at Lanark Agricultural Centre on Friday 25th November.
Springfield Moss, Overall Senior Champion and Overall Senior Male
Lifting the Championship award was the July 2021 born Springfield Moss. Sired by Islavale Jabba and out of Cleenagh Eliza, a Drumlone Anchor daughter, this latest title follows on from the recent Stars of the Future Show and where Springfield Moss won both the Overall Senior Championship and Overall Senior Male.
The judge at Live Scot was Garry Patterson of the noted Aultmore herd at Upper Forgie, Keith, Moray and who commented on his Champion: “Springfield Moss is a good, correct bull with fantastic style and I look forward to seeing what he can achieve in the future.”
Springfield Moss will now be aimed at the February 2023 Stirling Simmental Bull Sale.
Making it a Springfield one-two was the April 2022 born heifer Springfield Nita who lifted the Simmental Overall Reserve Championship. Again by Islavale Jabba, this calf is out of Springfield Goldie, a Popes Barclay daughter. Of his Reserve, Garry Patterson said: This is a very young, sweet heifer full of potential, and just the kind of heifer that I like”.
Springfield Moss, Overall Champion & Springfield Nita, Overall Reserve Champion with the Springfield Team
‘A superb heifer and the type of animal that every pedigree herd owner aspires to breed’, is how Scottish judge and BSCS President Stewart Stronach described Ashland Topaz Lopez, the Supreme Overall Champion at the NI National Simmental Show held within the Armagh County Show on Saturday 11th June.
Frank Kelly, Tempo, exhibted Ashland Topaz Lopez, the female and supreme overall champion at the NI National Simmental Show, held at the 175th Armagh County Show. Picture: Mullagh Photography
Born in September 2020 Ashland Topaz Lopez was bred by Pat Kelly, and son Frank, from Tempo, County Fermanagh. She is a daughter of the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive, and is bred from the Ashland Brandy daughter, Ashland Topaz 2nd, one of ten cows in the herd.
Stewart Stronach added: “The Female and Supreme Champion is an exceptional heifer. She is very correct, square and long, and has great breed character and ring presence. This is a once in a lifetime heifer!”
Ashland Topaz Lopez was Senior Champion at the inaugural Four-Breeds Calf Show at Dungannon last November. Her latest success comes hot on the heels of winning the Simmental Championship, Beef Performance Heifer Interbreed Championship, and the Reserve Interbreed honours at Balmoral Show in May.
Stewart Stronach, who runs the 160-cow Islavale Herd alongside a 40-cow commercial enterprise, said it was a great honour to judge the NI National Show.
“It has been an amazing show, with quality entries in all classes. I have really enjoyed judging, and I’d like to thank the exhibitors for putting on such a great show. One of the highlights for me was the pairs class. Seven top-quality pairs filled the ring, and it was a tremendous spectacle. The Simmental breed is definitely in good hands in Northern Ireland!”
Principal sponsors Mark Forsythe and Rodney Brown, Danske Bank, and Scottish judge Stewart Stronach, president, British Simmental Cattle Society, congratulate Frank Kelly on winning the supreme championship, and Shane McDonald, winner of the reserve championship at the NI National Show, held at Armagh.
The one-day event, held in conjunction with the 175th Armagh County Show attracted a good turnout of exhibitors and spectators from across the Province and further afield.
The Kelly family’s Ashland prefix was also behind the breeding of the Junior Champion, Reserve Female and Reserve Supreme Champion Ashland Topaz Mair. Born in January 2021, this heifer was purchased privately last autumn by brothers Shane and Paul McDonald for their Tempo-based Coolcran Herd.
Again sired by Saltire Impressive, this one is bred from the Whitemire King Kong daughter Ashland Topaz 3rd – maternal sister to the dam of the Supreme Champion. She was Junior Champion at Balmoral Show, and went on to secure the Reserve Junior Interbreed honours.
Stewart Stronach commented: “This is another very correct and stylish heifer. Similar to the Champion, there isn’t much between them.”
Shane and Paul McDonald had a memorable day at the NI National Show, also chalking up the Male Championship and Reserve Junior award with the home-bred bull Coolcran Maximus.
Coolcran Maximus, male Champion and Reserve Junior Champion
This September 2021 bull is by Wolfstar Elusive, and is bred from the Ashland Brandy daughter Coolcran Lady Erin – Reserve Female Champion at Balmoral Show in 2015.
“The is a super young bull with a lot of potential for the future. He boasts great shape and length, and is square over the plates,” added the judge.
Claiming the Reserve Male Championship was Ballinalare Farm Mack, a yearling entry bred by Joe and Alan Wilson, Rathfriland. He is by the 8,200 Euro stock bull Rabawn Ernie, and is out of a home-bred dam by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion Auchorachan Wizard. This young bull also secured the reserve male title at Balmoral Show.
“Another wide and correct young bull. There is very little between the male champions,” concluded Stewart Stronach.
The young handlers’ classes were judged by Fiona Sutherland. The top placed junior handler was Jamie Dodd from the Craigy Herd based at Saintfield. The senior handling class was won by Thomas Mcaliser from the Ranfurly Herd in Dungannon.
Junior Handler class winner, Jamie Dodd with Judge Fiona Sutherland and Trevor Nesbitt, Fane Valley Stores; Picture: Mullagh Photography
Thomas Mcalister, Dungannon, won the senior handler class at the NI National Simmental Show. He was congratulated by judge Fiona Sutherland, Scotland; and Trevor Nesbitt, Fane Valley Stores. Picture: Mullagh Photography
NI Simmental Club Chairman Keith Nelson thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the show. “Special mention to our judges, Armagh County Show, principal sponsor Danske Bank, and the numerous agri businesses and local companies who sponsored the various classes at the show.”
Results from the judging ring…
SPECIALS
Supreme Overall Champion: Pat and Frank Kelly, Ashland Topaz Lopez. Reserve: Shane and Paul McDonald: Ashland Topaz Mair.
Female Champion: Pat and Frank Kelly, Ashland Topaz Lopez. Reserve: Shane and Paul McDonald: Ashland Topaz Mair.
Male Champion: Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran Maximus. Reserve: Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Mack.
Junior Champion: Shane and Paul McDonald, Ashland Topaz Mair. Reserve: Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran Maximus.
DANI Rosebowl, for the best performance recorded bull: Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran Maximus.
Premier Exhibitor, sponsored by Moocall: Shane and Paul McDonald.
CLASSES
Cow, any age, sponsored by Biocell Agri Ltd – 1, Gavin Hayes and Sons, Corbally Goddess by Hillcrest Champion.
Senior heifer, born between 01/01/20 and 30/06/20, sponsored by Thompsons – 1, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Ladybird by Denizes Fantastic; 2, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Lizabel by Denizes Fantastic.
Intermediate heifer, born between 01/07/20 and 31/12/20, sponsored by ABP Food Group – 1, Pat and Frank Kelly, Ashland Topaz Lopez by Saltire Impressive; 2, David and Jonny Hazelton, Ranfurly Stella 12th by Whitemire King Kong; 3, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Lisglass Lollipop by Dermotstown Delboy; 4th Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Lucky Lady by Denizes Hamish.
Junior heifer, born between 01/01/21 and 30/03/21, sponsored by Noel Kilpatrick Financial Services – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald, Ashland Topaz Mair by Saltire Impressive; 2, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Lisglass Marigold by Omorga Jaguar; 3, Brian O’Hare, Clonguish Nova by Raceview King; 4, Keith Nelson, Scribby Farms Matilda by Dermotstown Delboy.
Junior heifer, born between 01/05/21 and 31/08/21, sponsored by Yara Fertilisers – 1, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Medusa by Ballinalare Farm Galaxy; 2, Keith Nelson, Scribby Farms Molly by Atlow Dixon; 3, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Majesty 2nd by Kilbride Farm Bantry; 4, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Moneypenny 2nd by Denizes Fantastic.
Junior heifer, born between 01/09/21 and 31/12/21, sponsored by T-Met – 1, David and Jonny Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st by Auchorachan Hercules; 2, Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran Mystic Royal Beauty by Islavale Echo 2; 3, Mrs E O’Neill, Drumcoote Sasha by Curaheen Drifter.
Junior bull, born between 01/01/21 and 30/04/21, sponsored by Animax – 1, Mrs MH Kilpatrick, Ballymoney Martin by Saltire Impressive; 2, William Dodd, Craigy Max by Longbeach Darius.
Junior bull, born between 01/05/21 and 31/08/21, sponsored by George Hamilton Machinery – 1, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Mack by Rabawn Ernie; 2, Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Hiltonstown Magnificent; 3, Mrs MH Kilpatrick, Ballymoney Mick by Saltire Impressive; 4, Mrs MH Kilpatrick, Ballymoney Mark by Saltire Impressive.
Junior bull, born between 01/09/21 and 31/12/21, sponsored by IrwinsFeed – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran Maximus by Wolfstar Elusive; 2, Nigel Glasgow, Bridgewater Farm Major by Saltire Impressive; 3, Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Mr Magic by Denizes Hamish; 4, Nigel Glasgow, Bridgewater Farm Maximus by Saltire Impressive.
Bull calf, born in 2022, sponsored by British Simmental CattleSociety – 1, Mark Cutler, Gortdonaghy Norman by Anatrim Bodybuilder; 2, Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Hiltonstown Nevada by Mullyknock Gallant.
Pair, property of exhibitor, sponsored by Countyside Services – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald, Ashland Topaz Mair and Coolcran Maximus; 2, Richard and Rhys Rodgers, Hiltonstown Magnificent and Hiltonstown McGregor; 3, Joe and Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Majesty 2nd and Ballinalare Farm Medusa; 4, Keith Nelson, Scribby Farms Matilda and Scribby Farms Molly.
YOUNG HANDLERS
Young handler, aged 8 to 12 years-old, sponsored by Fane Valley Stores – 1, Jamie Dodd; 2, Rhys Rodgers; 3, Phelim O’Rourke; 4, Joseph McKearney.
Young handler, aged 13 to 18 years-old, sponsored by Fane Valley Stores – 1, Thomas McAlister; 2, Erin Nelson.
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