CORRICK MAJOR MARCHES TO 4800GNS TOP PRICE AT THE AUTUMN NORTHERN IRELAND SIMMENTAL CLUB SALE

CORRICK MAJOR MARCHES TO 4800GNS TOP PRICE AT THE AUTUMN NORTHERN IRELAND SIMMENTAL CLUB SALE

Solid trade driven by commercial demand.

The Autumn Northern Ireland Simmental Club sale took place on Friday 21 October at Dungannon Mart, where five bulls sold, all going to commercial homes, to a top price of 4,800gns and an average of £3,003.

Corrick Major – 4,800gns Top Price & Reserve Male Champion

Top of the lots at 4,800gns was the Reserve Male Champion Corrick Major from Cecil and Scott Mcilwaine, Newtonstewart, Co Tyrone, whose 20-cow pedigree herd was established in 1979. Corrick Major, is a June 2021 born lad sired by Seafort Gill, who also sired the herds March Dungannon Male Champion Corrick Laird, and the 8,000gns Corrick Logic, sold at Stirling in February this year. In total, Seafort Gill’s five Corrick sons sold to date have averaged £4851.20 apiece. Bred out of Corrick Heidi, who goes back to the 12,000gns Kilbride Farm Bantry, Major was purchased by F Watson, who runs a 150 strong suckler operation in Kircubbin, Co Down. Commenting on his purchase Mr Watson said “I was delighted to secure Major, for me he ticked all of the boxes. A good balanced bull from front to back, he carried himself very well. We breed all our own replacements and finish all our other calves for beef and the Simmental is the perfect breed to produce good mothers and as a terminal sire”.

Dressogue Mario – 2,500gns Supreme & Male Champion

The pre-sale show judge Paul McArdle travelled from Co Monaghan, Eire, where his Broomfield Simmental herd is based. His pick for the Supreme and Male Champion, Dressogue Mario, was next in the trade stakes, and the first of a trio of bulls to be knocked down for 2,500gns. The May 2021 born Mario, is out of the 8,000gns Delfur Decider-sired Dressogue Gloria and by the herd sire Clonagh Fifty Shades who has bred over 70 sons and daughters into the Dressogue herd since his purchase in 2015. Bred and exhibited by Seamus O’Kane, Mario is the first Dungannon champion for the 35 cow Dressogue herd based in Omagh, Co Tyrone, and on only his third visit to the sale. Most of the family’s sales from their closed herd are made from the farm gate to repeat customers. E McMenamin, Kesh, Co Fermanagh, was the man with his hand in the air as the hammer went down.

Judge Paul McArdle, Co Monaghan, Eire

Matching the 2,500gns price tag was Phillip Robb’s 19-month-old bull Slieve Croob Magnificent, from Ballynahinch, Co Down. Sired by the homebred Slieve Croob Juggernaut, his dam is Kilbride Farm Fanni 54h, a third time calving daughter of the 7,000gns Stirling Reserve Senior Champion Corskie Damario. Mark Fawcett, of the Rushlin Simmental herd, Gortadrehid, Co Fermanagh was the lucky purchaser and commenting on his purchase Mr Fawcett said, “I was really pleased to secure Magnificent, as I need a durable bull to work on my hill farm. We have a 20 head Simmental cross suckler herd which we run alongside our Marina and Caravan park and I was looking for a bull which is going to get the job done without me having to watch over him”.

Cladymore Mr Muscle – 2,500gs Junior Champion

The other bull to secure 2,500gns, was Cladymore Mr Muscle, who had been tapped out as the Junior Champion and first in his class in the presale show. Offered for sale by AW Reaney and Sons, Mowhan, Co Armagh, and purchased by Thomas Hall, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, he is the eighth calf to be bred out of the Ashland Brandy daughter Cladymore Edel, and with the popular AI bull Auchorachan Hercules being the sire of this August 2021 born bull.

The final bull sold was the blue ticket winner Camus Macduff, who was purchased by Edgar Cumins, Lisburn, Co Antrim, for 2,000gns. A 17-month-old, who was offered for sale by Mr J Campbell, Strabane, Co Tyrone, Macduff is by the 8,500gns Islavale Cracker, and is out of Camus Imprint, who goes back to the Eire bred Ex92-rated Dermotstown Delboy, the Balmoral Champion in 2014 and 2015.

Corrick Luma – 3,700gns Reserve Female Champion

There were seven quality Simmental females on offer and with five sold to average £2,772. The top priced at 3,700gns was Corrick Luma, the Reserve Female Champion from Cecil and Scott Mcilwaine, who had also secured the top price in the bull section. Luma is a September 2020 born daughter of the 2013 Ploughing bull champion Curaheen Dickens and Corrick Francis 14, who goes back to the Roscommon Premier Show junior bull champion Carbery Carribbean. She was purchased by Ian MaGill, who takes her back to join his Ballyrolly Simmental herd in Newtownards, Co Down.

Just behind at 3,600gns was D McElmurry’s 23-month-old heifer Wellbray Diana Kim, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, who caught the eye of Chris Traynor of the Kilmore Simmental herd, Armagh, Co Armagh, when she placed second in her class earlier in the day. The popular AI bull Samark Superman is the sire here, and Kim is bred out of the first calving Raceview K Diana Kim, who is a daughter of the prolific AI bull Kilbride Farm Newry, who has bred over 1200 progeny into the national herd.

Two lots then went on to sell for 2,000gns a piece. The first being the Dressogue Maisie, a blue ticket winner bought forward for sale by Seamus O’Kane, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Sired by the 11,000gns Islavale Invincible, her Dam is Dressogue Irish Lady, who goes back to the Eire bred Clonagh Fifty Shades. Edward Henry, Newtownards, Co Down, was the purchaser of this March 2021 born heifer.

Breaghey Vida-M420 – 2,000gns Reserve Supreme & Female Champion Female

The Reserve Supreme and Female champion and 19-month-old Breaghey Vida-M420, was the other heifer to be knocked down at 2,000gns. Bred and exhibited by Andrew Clarke, Tynan, Co Armagh, she was snapped up by Connor Wilkinson, Lisburn, Co Antrim, to join his Killultagh Simmental herd. She is out of the Breaghey Vida 1, who goes back to the aforementioned Dermotstown Delboy, and  sired by Omorga Regan.

Selling for 1,900gns and completing the Simmental lots was Rehall Majesty, a heifers calf bred out of the 8,000gns Delfur Decider-sired Rehall Kerry. Sired by Rehall Karl, the July 2021 born Majesty, who stood third in her class, was presented by W and K Stubbs, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh and purchased by P Woods, Collone, Co Armagh.

LISGLASS BULL SELLS TO 3,500GNS AT DUNGANNON SIMMENTAL SALE

LISGLASS BULL SELLS TO 3,500GNS AT DUNGANNON SIMMENTAL SALE

Simmental bulls sold to a top of 3,500gns at the British Simmental Cattle Society’s regional show and sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Friday 25th March.

Lisglass Leo

Sale leader was the first prize winning Lisglass Leo TSI+77 SRI+90, bred by the father and son team of Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare. Sired by Islavale Frontier, his dam is the home-bred Liglass Iona – one of 35 cows in the herd. This eighteen-month-old bull is no stranger to success, having won the Reserve Senior Championship at the inaugural Four Breeds Calf Show at Dungannon in November last year.  Ranked in the breed’s top five per cent for eye muscle area at +5.5, he sold to JA Humphrey from Coleraine.

Corrick Laird, Male Champion

Second highest price of the day 3,000gns was paid to Cecil McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, for the Male Champion Corrick Laird TSI+77 SRI+81. Sired by Seafort Gill, this nineteen-month-old bull is the first calf bred from the Omorga Tarbuck daughter Corrick Jenny. He sold to B McDermott from Fintona, County Tyrone.

Founded over 40 years ago, the Corrick herd comprises of 20 pedigree cows.  The McIlwaine’s have sold Seafort Gill sons to a top of 8,000gns, with three averaging £5,250 per head at Stirling and Dungannon.

Irish judge Sean McGarry from the 8-cow Clonguish Herd in Longford said the Male Champion stood out. “There were quality entries at the top of each class, but the male champion really caught my eye. He is a stylish bull with excellent conformation, and is very correct throughout.”

Coolcran Lambrini

Two lots came under the hammer of auctioneer Trevor Wylie at 2,900gns each. First to sell was the third placed Coolcrannel Mighty TSI+68 SRI+85, consigned by William Phair, Lisbellaw. This fourteen-month-old bull was sired by the 2014 and 2015 Balmoral Show champion Dermotstown Delboy, and is bred from the home-bred Curaheen Apostle daughter Coolcrannel Holly. He was snapped up by Danny McLaughlin from Dungiven.

William and Keith Stubbs, Irvinestown, realised 2,900gns for the first prize winning Rehall Moneymaker TSI+84 SRI+97.  This polled bull was born in January 2021, and is by Curaheen Gunshot; while his dam is the home-bred Rehall Flower. With an eye muscle area of +5.6 placing him in the breed’s top five per cent, he sold to WJ Simpson from Killyleagh, County Down.

First bull into the salering Dressogue Legacy TSI+86 SRI+98 came under the hammer at 2,600gns for Seamus O’Kane and Sons from Drumquin, Omagh. Born in May 2020, he is by the herd’s 11,000gns stock bull Islavale Invincible; and his dam is the home-bred Dressogue Goldie. In the top five per cent for milk +12, he sold to Patrick Quinn from Stoneyford, Lisburn.

Claiming the day’s Reserve Male Championship award was the seventeen-month-old Coolcran Lambrini TSI+91 and SRI+98 bred by brothers Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo. Sired by Ashland Brandy, he is bred from Coolcran Juliet’s Ella – one of 20 cows in the herd founded in 2006. Buyer at 2,500gns was C McKeeman from Bushmills.

Drumacritten Lily

Female trade peaked at 2,600gns, paid to William Nelson, and son George, Rosslea, for the September 2020 born Drumacritten Lily. She caught the judge’s eye to claim the Female Championship plaudits. Sired by the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive, this heifer is bred from the Raceview King daughter Drumacritten Wanda EX91 – one of ten cows in the County Fermanagh-based herd. Buyer was Ian Magill from Millisle who has recently established the Ballyrolly Herd.

The Nelson duo also secured a bid of 2,000gns for the second placed Drumacritten Louise. Born in September 2020, she is by Dermotstown Delboy, and out of a home-bred Curaheen Dickens dam. Buyer was pedigree herd owner Ashley Bowden, owner of the Legmurn Herd based at Stewartstown.

Averages:

6 bulls £3,045
6 heifers £1,601