The inaugural Pedigree Calf Fair @ Beef NI Expo, held at the Balmoral Showgrounds in Belfast, was an unqualified success according to event organiser and Chairman David Connolly.
“We had a tremendous turnout of stock and visitors on the day,” he said.
“I had predicted beforehand that the event would represent a showcase for the pedigree beef champions of tomorrow. And given the views expressed by the judges, who were busy from 10.00am until 5.30pm on the day in question, this was undoubtedly the case.
David Connolly confirmed that the event will be repeated in 2016. “The initial feedback from exhibitors, sponsors, commercial trade and the paying public has been very positive. And, on that basis, we most certainly will look at hosting a similar event next year.
The strong entry of Simmentals was judged by Scotsman Hector MacAskill from the noted Woodhall Herd based at Dunbar, East Lothian.
Taking the senior championship award was Lisglass Fortune, a fourteen-month-old bull from Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s 35-cow herd at Ballyclare. He was sired by stock bull Dermotstown Delboy, and is bred from Lummin Bronte.
Runner-up was the yearling bull Drumlone Fabulous, a Carnkern Titan son, bred by Kenneth Veitch who runs 5 pedigree Simmental cows at Lisbellaw.
Brothers Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, secured the junior championship plaudits with their ten-month-old bull Coolcran Gladiator. He was sired by former stock bull Kilbride Farm Ahoghill, and is a full brother to the February 2014 Stirling intermediate champion Coolcran Dazzler sold for 7,000gns.
Standing reserve in the junior championship line-up was Cleenagh Good Girl, a nine-month-old Ashland Brandy daughter bred by Adrian Richardson from Maguiresbridge. She was the winner of the Dale Cup at Enniskillen Show in August.
English breeder Lizzie Harding from the Hallway Herd was assisting the Ranfurly herd at the show. She was placed second in the class for young handlers aged 12 to 14-years-old.
Results from the judging ring include:
Bull, born between 01/09/14 and 31/12/14 – 1, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Lisglass Fortune; 2, Kenneth Veitch, Drumlone Fabulous; 3, John Moore, Omorga Falcon.
Heifer, born between 01/09/14 and 31/12/14 – 1, Duncan McDowell, Castlemount Bianca 2; Cecil McIlwaine, Corrick Faith; 3, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Lisglass Fabulous.
Bull, born between 01/01/15 and 31/03/15 – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran Gladiator; 2, Pat and Frank Kelly, Ashland Google; 3, Noel Kilpatrick, Ballymoney Garfield.
Heifer, born between 01/01/15 and 31/03/15 – 1, Adrian Richardson, Cleenagh Good Girl; 2, Adrian Richardson, Cleenagh Glenda; 3, WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Weikel 16th.
Bull, born after 01/04/15 – 1, Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh, Derrycallaghan Gambler; 2, Joe Wilson, Ballinlare Farm Goldenballs; 3, Ryan Gilmour, Gillview General.
Heifer, born after 01/04/15 – 1, WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 26th; 2, Andrew Patterson, Wilandale Glenda; 3, Duncan McDowell, Castlemount Chrissie 2.
Simmental senior champion was Lisglass Fortune shown by Christopher Weatherup.
Kenneth Veitch exhibited the reserve senior Simmental champion Drumlone Fabulous.
Adrian Richardson exhibited the reserve junior Simmental champion Cleenagh Good Girl.
Paul McDonald exhibited the junior Simmental champion Coolcran Gladiator.
Duncan’s McDowell’s first prize winning heifer Castlemount Bianca 2.
David Hazelton’s Ranfurly Lady Diana 26th was the winner of the baby heifer calf class.
Alan Burleigh with his first prize winning baby bull calf Derrycallaghan Gambler.
English breeder Lizzie Harding was placed second in the showmanship section at the Pedigree Calf Fair @ Beef NI Expo. She is pictured with Ranfurly Weikel 16th.
Pictured on the Simmental stand at the Pedigree Calf Fair @ Beef NI Expo are, from left: Robin Boyd, society vice presdient; Richard Rodgers, NI Club chairman; and committee member Conrad Fegan.
Photographs can be purchased on-line from Richard Hodgson Photography
The first prize winning Derrycallaghan Fancy Me sold at 4600gns.
Third prize winner Omorga Fabia attracted a bid of 3,200gns from the Barlow family’s Lancashire based Denizes Herd.
Second reserve champion at the 45th Anniversary elite female show and sale was Ballinlare Farm Elegance from Joe Wilson.
John Moore’s Omorga Faith sold for 3,100gns.
Auctioneer Michael Taaffe, and clerk Brian Taaffe, in the rostrum at the 45th Anniversary elite female show and sale, Moira.
Supreme champion was Lisglass Emerald exhibited by Christopher Weatherup. From left: club chairman Richard Rodgers; Ian Cummins, Irwins Feed sponsor; and judge David Donnelly.
Matthew Robson exhibited the reserve champion Kilbride Farm Eunice 169E. Pictured, from left: Richard Rodgers, chairman, NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club; Ian Cummins, Irwins Feed, sponsor; and judge David Donnelly.
Bidding reached a ceiling of 6,600gns at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s 45th Anniversary Elite Female Show and Sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at Moira.
Hitting the headlines in both the show and sale rings was the much-admired Lisglass Emerald, an August 2013 born heifer consigned by Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare. Sired by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion (Feb 2010) Auchorachan Wizard, she is bred from the Kilbride Farm Newry daughter Lisglass Babe – one of 35 cows in the County Antrim herd.
She stood second in the intermediate heifer class at Balmoral Show in May, and caught the eye of breed society president and judge David Donnelly, Derbyshire, to secure the supreme championship ribbons at the anniversary event.
Mr Donnelly who runs the 10-cow Atlow herd said:”The champion looks a million dollars. She has length, top, a great backend, and oozes femininity and breed character.”
After spirited bidding from the packed ringside audience, auctioneer Michael Taaffe brought the hammer down at 6,600gns, with the successful bid coming from Simmental breed stalwart Thelma Gorman, who founded her select Woodford Herd at Armagh almost 40 years ago.
Next best at 5,600gns was the day’s reserve champion Kilbride Farm Eunice 169E from the Robson family, Billy, Michael and Norman, who run 90 pedigree cows at Doagh, County Antrim. This two-year-old heifer was sired by Kilbride Farm Warren, and is out of a home-bred Carnkern Titan daughter.
Scanned in-calf to Danish stock bull Sneumgaard Imperator, she sold to County Londonderry breeders Roger Henderson, and son Jonathan, who established the Drumsamney herd in 2011.
Claiming the day’s second reserve award was Ballinlare Farm Elegance, a July 2013 Auchorachan Wizard daughter from Joe Wilson’s herd at Newry, County Down. She is out of a home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry daughter, and is scanned in-calf to Curaheen Apostle. This one failed to meet her reserve and was unsold.
County Fermanagh’s Harold Stubbs, and grandson Alan Burleigh, realised 4,600gns for the first prize winning Derrycallaghan Fancy Me. Born in April 2014, her sire is the 21,000gns Corrick Kentucky Kid, while her dam is the Popes Laird daughter Corskie Vesna .
She was runner-up at the Woodcraft Kitchens (Kilrea) junior heifer derby at Lurgan, and was placed second in her class at Enniskillen Show. This one joins Gareth Wilson’s Hillhead Farm Herd at Garvary, Enniskillen.
David Hazelton’s fourth prize winner Ranfurly Lady Diana 24th by Raceview King attracted considerable attention, including interest from a telephone bidder, but was withdrawn from the sale ring unsold at 4,500gns.
The Robson family’s Kilbride Farm Herd which dates back to the breed’s importation 45 years ago, sold four heifers to average £3,426 per head. Selling for export to Patrick Hogan, County Carlow, at 3,500gns was Kilbride Farm Eunice 168E. This fifth prize winner is a daughter of the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, and is bred from a Kilbride Farm Newry dam.
Harry Moore, and son John, Beragh, County Tyrone, sold four heifers from their noted Omorga herd to average £2,992 each. Their best at 3,200gns was the third placed Omorga Fabia, a June 2014 Ashland Brandy daughter, bred from a Blackford Explosion dam. This one goes back to the noted Cleenagh Daffodil, and caught the eye of John Barlow from the Denizes Herd based in Lancashire.
The March 2014 Omorga Faith sold at 3,100gns. She is by Dermody Butcher, and is out of a home-bred dam by Glebefarm Future. This one joins Cecil McIlwaine’s Corrick Herd based at Newtownstewart, County Tyrone.
David Donnelly thanked the NI club for inviting him to judge “I love Simmental females, and the quality of the heifers on show today makes me proud to be president of the society. It has been a great show, and the cattle are a credit to the breeders involved.”
The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club is indebted its sponsors: Irwins Feed, Tulivin, Bimeda, Animax, T-Met, Comfort Mats, Ag-Con Products Ltd and Crystalyx.
Average: 14 heifers £3,282.
Results from the show ring include:
Heifer, born between 08/03/13 and 21/08/13 – 1, and supreme champion, Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare, Lisglass Emerald from Auchroachan Wizard; 2, and second reserve champion, Joe Wilson, Newry, Ballinlare Farm Elegance by Auchorachan Wizard; 3, Keith and Andrea Nelson, Rosslea, Scribby Farms Elegant by Drumlone Anchor; 4, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Lady Diana 21st by Seabank Flint.
Heifer, born between01/09/13 and 01/12/13 – 1, and reserve champion, WH Robson and Sons, Doagh, Kilbride Farm Eunice 169E by Kilbride Farm Warren; 2, Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge, Cleenagh Easypeasy by Whitemire King Kong; 3, Stephen Millar, Irvinestown, Glenock Eggbrit by Curaheen Vio ; 4, Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, Coolcran Susie’s Erica by Raceview Nigel.
Heifer, born between 02/01/14 and 30/04/14 – 1, Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh, Lisnaskea, Derrycallaghan Fancy Me by Corrick Kentucky Kid; 2, William and George Nelson, Rosslea, Drumacritten Frances by Drumlone Anchor; 3, WH Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Dora 71F by Crugmelyn Brenin; 4, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 24th by Raceview King.
Heifer, born between 14/06/14 and 16/10/14 – 1, Eamon and Michael McCloskey, Kilrea, Drumagarner Finna by Kilbride Farm Bantry; 2, Archie Reaney, Markethill, Cladymore Felicity by Omorga Baldwin; 3, WH Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Eunice 185F by Crugmelyn Brenin; 4, Harry and John Moore, Beragh, Omorga Fabia by Ashland Brandy.
The Armagh-based Kilmore Simmental Herd scored a hat-trick at Fermanagh County Show, scooping the breed’s supreme and reserve overall championships, and the prestigious Ivomec Super Pair of the Year award.
Owned by County Armagh businessman Chris Traynor, the Kilmore Herd was founded five years ago and currently consists of 24 breeding females.
Breeders braved the wet conditions to attend the show season finale judged by Scotsman Michael Durno. “It has been an excellent show, with a strong turnout of quality Simmental cattle,” said Mr Durno, whose 40-cow Auchorachan pedigree herd is managed alongside more than 100 commercial Simmental cows.
“I was really pleased with the junior bull class. It was a strong class with 10 good bulls, many of which I am sure will be destined for the forthcoming sales in Stirling.”
The junior bull line-up was led by Chris Traynor’s sixteen-month-old Kilmore Floyd. “He is an outstanding winner, and I had no hesitation in making him the day’s male and supreme overall champion. This bull has it all – power, length, super confirmation, and his dark red coat completes the package!”
The second placed class winner Kilmore Fitz caught the judge’s eye to secure the reserve male and reserve supreme awards. “He is a very similar bull with slightly more flesh, but lacking the power of the champion.” Kilmore Fitz was the winner of the coveted DANI Rosebowl, awarded to the highest placed weight recorded bull.
Both bulls were born in April 2014, and are sons of the herd’s 12,000gns stock sire Kilbride Farm Bantry – purchased at Stirling in February 2012.
Mr Traynor made his show ring debut earlier this year, winning the junior championship at Balmoral with Kilmore Franko; and the supreme championship at the club’s Ballymena show and sale with Kilmore Finlay sold for 4,400gns. Both were sons of Kilbride Farm Bantry.
Leading the female line-up was the February 2014 born Mullyknock Forget-Me-Not bred by Robert and Lorna Forde, Tempo. She was sired by Anatrim Bodybuilder, and is out of a dam carrying the Glenturk prefix. “This is a big growthy heifer, and I’m sure she will mature into a good breeding cow,” added the judge.
The reserve female championship went to Andrea and Keith Nelson, Rosslea, who exhibited the May 2013 Scribby Farms Elegant. She is a daughter of the herd’s jointly owned 10,000gns stock bull Drumlone Anchor.
The hotly contested Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition also reached a climax at Fermanagh County Show. Now in its 10th year, the competition is sponsored by Merial Animal Health, and attracts qualifiers from nominated provincial shows.
Merial’s Philip Clarke said: “We are proud of our long association with the NI Simmental Club. It has been another fantastic competition, with six exceptional pairs of cattle competing at today’s final.
Firm favourites for the 2015 Ivomec Super title were Chris Traynor’s Kilmore Floyd and Kilmore Fitz. They qualified at Clogher Valley Show, where Floyd also took the reserve male and reserve supreme championship awards. “They are an outstanding and perfectly matched pair of bulls,” commented the judge.
Claiming the runner-up award were the Castlewellan Show qualifiers Ballinlare Farm Edelweiss and Ballinlare Farm Esmeralda from Joe Wilson’s 60-cow herd at Newry, County Down. Born in October 2013 they were sired by the herd’s 20,000gns stock bull Auchorachan Wizard – 2010 Perth junior and supreme overall champion. Michael Durno added: ”They are two lovely heifers, like peas in a pod.”
Philip Clarke congratulated the winners and presented the qualifiers with 200ml packs of Ivomec Super injection. “In warm wet weather it is vitally important that cattle producers use Ivomec Super endectocide to control fluke, worms and external parasites.”
Rounding off the Simmental showcase was the presentation of Danske Bank’s Male and Female of the Year Awards. This prestigious competition has been running since 1997, and the winners are determined using a scoring system which is collated at nominated shows throughout the season.
The 2015 Male of the Year award went to Ranfurly Formula 1 ET, a sixteen-month-old Carnkern Titan son from David Hazelton’s herd at Dungannon. Bred from South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd, he was supreme champion at Clogher, male champion at Lurgan and Castlewellan, and reserve male champion at Ballymena and Armagh.
Reserve Male of the Year was Dermotstown Delboy ET, stock bull in Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s 35-cow Lisglass herd at Ballyclare. He was supreme champion at Balmoral and Ballymena shows.
Andrea and Keith Nelson, Rosslea, claimed the Female of the Year title with the May 2013 Scribby Farms Exquisiter. Sired by Drumlone Anchor, she is out of the Celtic Rock daughter Scribby Farms Cathy. This much admired heifer was first at Balmoral, supreme champion at Lurgan and Omagh, reserve champion at Armagh, female champion at Clogher, and reserve female champion at Ballymena.
Wesley Abraham from Irvinestown won the Reserve Female of the Year award with his September 2011 cow Raceview Cindy Matilda ET. This Kilbride Farm Newry daughter was supreme champion at Armagh, reserve champion at Balmoral and Ballymena, reserve female champion at Clogher, and a class winner at Omagh.
The crystal awards and commemorative rosettes were presented by John Henning, head of agricultural relations at Danske Bank, who was accompanied by Enniskillen agri-business managers Matthew Johnston and Rodney Brown.
NI Simmental Club chairman Richard Rodgers presented the Young Stockperson of the Year Award to Jason Whitcroft from the Whitdrum herd at Middletown in County Armagh. Jason is an enthusiastic young breeder who has won numerous prizes in the young handlers’ classes throughout the show season.
Richard Rodgers concluded:”Its been a great show despite the weather, and I am delighted to see such an excellent turnout of cattle. Enniskillen Show attracts spectators from all over the country, and I was pleased to see several breeders making the trip from County Cork.
“Shows are a tremendous shop window for our breed, and I would like to congratulate all of the exhibitors on their achievements this year, especially Chris Traynor who has had a tremendous first year in the show ring. Finally, a special word of thanks to our sponsors for their continued and generous support. “
Male and supreme overall Simmental champion at Fermanagh County Show was Kilmore Floyd bred by Chris Traynor, Armagh.
Simmental Female of the Year was Scribby Farms Exquisiter owned by Andrea Nelson, Rosslea. Adding their congratulations are Rodney Brown, agri-business manager, Danske Bank Enniskillen; and John Henning, head of agricultural relations, Danske Bank.
Danske Bank Simmental Male of the Year was Ranfurly Formula 1 exhibited by Jonny Hazelton, Dungannon. Adding their congratulations are Matthew Johnston, agri business manager, Enniskillen; and John Henning, head of agricultural relations, Danske Bank.
Rodney Brown, agri-business manager, Danske Bank Enniskillen, presents the Reserve Female of the Year award to Stephen Millar, handler, and Wesley Abraham, Irvinestown, owner of Raceview Cindy Matilda ET.
Leslie Weatherup, right, Ballyclare, receives the Danske Bank Reserve Simmental Male of the Year award for his senior bull Dermotstown Delboy, from club chairman Richard Rodgers, and Matthew Johnston, agri-business manager, Danske Bank.
Robert Forde, Tempo, exhibited the female champion Mullyknock Forget-Me-Not.
Simmental judge Michael Durno from Ballindalloch.
Philip Clarke, Merial Animal Health, sponsor, presents the runner-up award in the 2015 Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition, to Neil and Alan Wilson, Newry, who exhibited Ballinlare Farm Edelweiss and Ballinlare Farm Esmeralda.
The 2015 Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year are Kilmore Floyd and Kilmore Fitz bred by Chris Traynor, Armagh. Pictured from left: judge Michael Durno, Scotland; Chris Traynor and Richard McKeown; Philip Clarke, Merial Animal Health, sponsor; and club
Kilmore Fitz bred by Chris Traynor, Armagh, was the reserve supreme Simmental champion and winner of the DANI Rosebowl for the highest placed weight recorded bull at Fermanagh County Show.
Andrea Nelson’s Scribby Farms Elegant was reserve female Simmental champion at Fermanagh County Show
Young stockperson of the year Jason Whitcroft receives his award from club chairman Richard Rodgers.
The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has announced details of its forthcoming Elite Female Show and Sale.
The one-day event is scheduled to take place at the Pedigree Sales Arena near Moira on Saturday 5th September, and has been organised to mark the 45th anniversary of the breed’s importation into the UK.
Club chairman Richard Rodgers said: ”Plans are well underway for the sale, and I am pleased to announce that the catalogue will include 32 heifers from many of the province’s leading herds. The heifers range in age from March 2013 to October 2014, and have been individually inspected on-farm by Irish breeder Peter O’Connell from the noted Raceview Herd based at Mallow, County Cork.
“The sale is a significant milestone in the history of the breed, celebrating 45 years of Simmental breeding in the UK.”
Judging commences at 10.30am, with all entries coming under scrutiny from British Simmental Cattle Society president David Donnelly, who runs the Atlow Herd in Derbyshire. The sale gets underway at 1.00pm and will be conducted by Taaffe Auctions.
Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said: “Buyers will be spoilt for choice, and all prospective purchasers are assured that the catalogue comprises of one of the most exclusive selections of Simmental females to be offered in the UK and Ireland.
“All entries come from high health status herds, and will be inspected by a veterinary surgeon prior to the sale. They will be sold under the auspices of the National Beef Association.
“He continued: ”Vendors will carry out the necessary pre-movement tests, and all animals will be eligible for immediate export at the fall of the hammer.”
Richard Rodgers added:” The sale boasts a super selection of maiden and in-calf females, and will offer breeders from throughout the UK and Ireland a unique opportunity to purchase the cream of Northern Ireland’s genetics.
“Local Simmental breeders are among the best in the UK, and are continually hitting the headlines in the show and sale rings at national events such as the Stirling Bull Sales. Our Elite Female Show and Sale will act as shop window for NI-bred genetics, and we look forward to showcasing our cattle on September 5th.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement
1 year
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Recent Comments