EFFICIENT, FLEXIBLE SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP LIVESTOCK SALES AROUND THE UK!

EFFICIENT, FLEXIBLE SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP LIVESTOCK SALES AROUND THE UK!

THE LATEST MARKET BRIEFS WITH SIMMENTAL SIRED CATTLE TOPPING SALES AT DARLINGTON; QUOYBRAE; STIRLING; FROME; LANCASTER; HALLWORTHY; GISBURN; LONGTOWN; TRURO; MARKET DRAYTON; LLANDOVERY; DUNGANNON; DINGWALL; MELTON MOWBRAY; HOLMFIRTH; LOCKERBIE; CARLISLE; WORCESTER; ABERDEEN; LANCASTER; ST BOSWELL; CARLISLE; OSWESTRY; BAKEWELL; DUMFRIES; HUNTLY; SEDGEMOOR; & AYR


Efficient and flexible, Simmentals complement all breeds; are easy calving maternal, milky mothers; produce beef from grass and are easy fleshing, fast growing and the UK’s leading continental beef breed for age at slaughter! This all-round ‘efficiency package’ continues to tick the boxes with commercial beef producers and seeing the breed performing where it matters, on farm and in commercial sale rings, for all classes of stock, at markets around the country and from Caithness to Cornwall!


Leek auction mart had a sale of 163 calves on 18th April. Good calves good to sell with the top seven over £315 and with a top price of £395 for a superb Simmy bull from Messrs Higginson, Knutsford.

At Darlington’s sale of store cattle on 17th April, the feeding buyers were extra keen to step on, with the thirty-three offered levelling well over £1000 with an average age of just 10 months; best of all were a quality quintet of 8–10-month-old Simmental bulls from regular consignor E Parsons, Newstead Farm which sold for a wonderful £1460 per head.


At Quoybrae on 17th April, Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 585 store cattle. Store heifers (241) sold to £2,000 gross for a 719kg Simmental from Mavsey, Lybster.


Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling had 537 Cattle Forward at their fortnightly sale on 17th April. Bullocks sold to £1960 for a pen of Simmentals from J & J Brown, Loanrigg, Slamannan.


In Frome’s sale of store cattle on 14th April, a really good show of younger continentals were forward, and with single suckled well shaped sorts again on fire. Good runs of Simmentals presented by RM & JE Brown IOW, PJ & PP Samways, Swanage and P & S Foot, Weymouth all produced wonderful prices. Phil Samways saw his homebred outwintered steers 11mo at £1060, 9mo at £880 and heifers to a marvellous £820. Sam Foot of P & S Foot continuing to produce the very best of cattle seeing bunches of 12mo steers at £1172, £1090 and £1050. 12mo heifers from the same home to £1115, £1012 and £960. Quality Simmental steers and heifers from Westcourt Farm again from IOW saw bunches at £1100, £925 while their smart heifers topped at £900.


In a sale of cast cattle at Lancaster on 14th April, beef cows sold to 249.5p/kg for a Simmental x from JE&AC Clarke & Son, Melling. Top grossing beef cow was a Simmental from Barlow Bros, Croston, achieving £1973 with a further Simmental from the same home at £1897. AJ&AC Clarke & Son, Melling achieved £1739 also for a Simmental.


£1850 CENTRE RECORD AT HALLWORTHY
Simmentals were setting new market records at Hallworthy’s sale of store cattle on 13th April. Some real deep bodied and tremendously well fleshed cattle from AP & DJ House of St Issey, saw a pair of Simmental x with depth and width at a new centre record mark of £1850, with another pair of Simmental x to £1765. In the heifers, AP & DJ House were on top again with an absolute stunner of a pen of four Simmental x Heifers, deep muscled and wide as a house to a top of £1630, with a second pen of four to £1505.


In a sale of rearing calves at Gisburn on 13th April, Graham Billington’s trio of Simmental bulls all one month eight days old sold very well indeed at £412 a piece heading up to the North East.


Another good entry of cast cows forward at Longtown on 13th April met with a competitive ringside of purchasers. The sale peaked at £1,590 for a Simmental shown by DR & E Nichol, Gowanburn, Kielder, with others to £1,325 from A Maclean, Killeonan, Campbeltown. Top per kilo of 248p for Simmentals from Gowanburn.


In a sale of prime cattle at Truro on 12th April, Simmentals featured in the top prices with Messrs R E, G L & M R Body of Hayle marketing a fine Simmental steer at 268p/kg, with a larger Simmental following on at 257p/kg. On the same day in the sale of store cattle, a 15 month old Simmental from Messrs D R & J C Vincent and Son of Tregavethan, Truro, sold to £1110. A good pair of 1 year old Simmental steers from Messrs L E C White and Son of St Buryan, Penzance marketed at £1105.


In Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 12th April, prime bulls in short supply but very much wanted with Simmental bulls from LJ & AJ Curry to 258p/kg for 675kg, grossing a top price of £1738. The same vendor also led the cull cow trade at £1679 for a Simmental.


Market Drayton’s sale of clean cattle and young bulls on 12th April saw the top headage being £2,025.10 for a Simmental heifer weighing 770kgs from A.J. Warner & Sons, Woodseaves. In the store sale on the same day, Simmentals sold to £1,700 for a 690kg steer from DE&SE Furnival Ltd.


United Auctions, Stirling on 12th April sold 1530 store cattle, young bulls and 104 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Simmentals featured throughout with leading bullock prices including: Yonderhaugh £2000 & £1840, Balquhatson 334.40p; Leaston £1575, Cockerstone 314.00p; Strath £1550 & £1545, Overton 308.50p; Wester Highgate £1440, Mount 305.10p; South Kirklane £1400, Killnochonoch 304.10p; Cockerstone £1400, Craegorry 298.10p; Craegorry £1350, Strath 297.10p. Simmental heifer prices included: Strath £1650, £1520 & £1500, Balwherrie 308.60p & 298.10p; Balwherrie £1500, Balquhatson Mains 294.60p; Wester Mye £1470, Strath 294.00p.


At Dungannon on 12th April, suckled cows and calves sold to £1470 for a 2014 born Sim Cow with AA Bull Calf at foot presented by N Berry, and £1380 for a 2015 born Sim Cow with an AA Bull Calf at foot.


Dingwall’s sale of store and OTM cattle on 12th April saw OTM prime & feeding cows average 197.4p per kg and sold to 239.5p and £2,060 gross for a 860kg Simmental cross from Kinnahaird Farm, Contin.


Melton Mowbray’s sale of prime cows on 12th April, saw the top cow being a heavy weight Simmental from James Griffin Farming which sold to £1804.96. In the sale of breeding cattle on the same day, Simmental cows & calves from Kingarth farms sold to £2220, £2020 and £1750 respectively. In the store ring, Howard Farms sold yearling Simmental heifers to £1290 ahead. In a bumper sale of calves, Chandler & Dickman had 3 week old Simmental x bull calves to £285, with heifers from the same run to £250.


At Holmfirth on 11th April, the top price in the cows with calves at foot was £1430 for a Simmental outfit from G Ellis and sold to L Broster.


Lockerbie Auction Market saw a blinding trade for store cattle at its fortnightly sale on 11th April. Buyers came from far and wide in search of all types but especially grazing cattle. Simmental bullocks sold to 375.5ppk from Messrs Robson, Laverockhall.


In a sale of prime bulls at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 10th April, an 840kg Simmental from Ward Farms, Westmains Farm, Lanark sold to £2633.40 to feature in the leading prices.


At Worcester’s sale of store cattle on 8th April, Simmentals took the top two prices in the continental heifers with a Simmental X at £1305 (264ppkg) from T Barbour & Son, and a further Simmental X from DJ & M Edwards at £1000. A 13-month old Simmental X at £1055 took the second top price in the steers and again from DJ & M Edwards.


At Thainstone on 7th April, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of Cast Cows and Bulls on behalf of Orkney consignors. Beef Cows sold to 280.5p per kg for a 638kg Simmental from Holland Farm, Stronsay.


On 7th April and a sale of cull cows at Frome, RM & JE Brown led the way at 220p/kg grossing £1470 for a Simmental X.


In a sale of OTM cattle at Lancaster on 7th April, steers sold to to 259.5p/kg and £1925 for a Simmental from A Kirkby & Co, Pilling.


At Gisburn’s sale of rearing calves on 6th April, Jonathan Peel’s month old Simmental bulls sold to £400 and to feature in the leading prices.


At St Boswells sale of store cattle on 6th April, Simmental bullocks from South Common sold to 338.7ppkg to feature in the leading prices.


In a sale of store cattle at Truro Market on 5th April, young steers sold well with Messrs A M & V R Pascoe of Gweek, Helston featuring in the top prices when they sold five 14 month old Simmentals at £940 and a trio of 13 month old Simmentals at £930.


On Wednesday 5th April, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of Store Cattle at Carlisle. Dairy bred bullocks sold to £1940 for a Simmental x from Auchengray Farm, Dumfries.


In a sale of calves at Oswestry on 5th April, Simmental heifers aged 2-3 months sold for £358 & £320 from J R James & Son, Church Farm.


UA’s sale of 43 rearing cattle on 5th April at Stirling, and consisting of mainly stirks, was topped at £740 for a SimX heifer from JCN & Sons.


Market Drayton’s sale of clean cattle and young bulls on 5th April saw the young bull trade race away to 326p (£2,092.92) for a Simmental from distant traveller Mr Richard Taylor, Park Lane. In the sale of store cattle, a 548kg Simmental from Mr David Swinson led the steers at £1390.


At Llandovery’s feeding cow sale on 4th April, Simmentals sold to a top of 205.70ppk or £1730 from MO Jones, Pantyrefail.


On 4th April Lawrie and Symington sold 920 Store Cattle at their April Show and Sale at Lanark. 590 bullocks were sold to a top of £1900 for 2 Simmental’s from Messrs Gilmour, Broomknowes.
In a sale of store and breeding cattle at Bakewell on 3rd April the trade for bulls was led at £2550 for a Simmental from WHI Mellor, Hazel Grove.


In a sale of weanlings at Market Drayton on 3rd April, heifers topped at £750 for 11-month Simmentals from R.W. Adams & Son, Stoke-on-Trent.


In a sale of store cattle at Dumfries on 3rd April, bulls topped at £1490, & £1450 for Simmentals from Lantonside, and to £1360 for Simmentals from Abune the Brae.


At UA’s Huntly Mart on 1st April, 905 cattle were sold. OTMs sold to average 215.7p per kg selling to 253.2p per kg or £2220 for SimX from Corskie, Garmouth.


At Gisburn’s sale of rearing calves on 30th March, J & RJ Parsons, Barnoldswick had the second top price of the day with a beautiful Simmental bull calf, 1 month and 21 days, at £445.


In a sale of calves & stirks at NWA’s J36 Crooklands auction mart on 29th March, a run of suckler bred six month old Simmental bullocks from A&M Carter, Witherslack topped at £870.


At Dungannon 29th March, suckled stock saw in-calf heifers top at £1320 for a Sim presented by B Sheridan.


At Borderway, Carlisle’s sale of weaned cattle on 29th March saw the trade of bulls up massively on the week. Leading the sale was Simmental bulls sold to £1580 from Messrs Tallentire, High Griseburn, with further Simmentals sold to £1400 from Messrs Skelton, Waterloo.


Market Drayton’s sale of clean cattle and young bulls on 29th March saw a blistering trade. Distance traveller Richard Reynolds sold Simmental bulls to 313p (£1,740.28), 306p (£2,001.24), & 290p (£1,629.80). In the heifers, the Warner Family’s Simmental returned at £1,974.46.


In the sale of prime cattle at Frome on 29th March, some cracking well fed steers from EM Horn & Son topped at 262p/kg and £1974 for a Simmental x at 18mo. Others from the same good home returned at £1931, £1863.


At Oswestry’s sale of calves on 29th March, J R James & Son, Church Farm sold smart Simmental heifers aged 2-3 months for £392, £390 & £385.


At Sedgemoor’s sale of prime cattle on 27th March, heifers rose to £1,786.05 for a quality pure bred Simmental from R Bigwood, Burnham on Sea, who sold another at £1,726.46.


On Monday 27th March, Lawrie & Symington Ltd had forward 139 cattle comprising of 52 bullocks and heifers and 87 cast cows at Lanark. Beef cows sold to 274p/pk for a Simmental from Messrs Lowry, Newsteadings Farm, Lanark.


A flying sale of store cattle at Darlington on 27th March saw bulls around 12 months of age impress as local producer E Parsons sold Simmental’s to £1430 and to feature in the top prices.


Market Drayton’s sale of cull bulls on 27th March saw Simmentals lead the way at £2168 from Paul Mullee & family.


At Gisburn on 25th March, feeding cows were a flyer, selling to a high of £1260 for a Simmental X from Stephen Duckworth.


On 23rd March, at Market Drayton’s Orange Market Sale, a strong trade saw the best yarding cattle top at £1480 for a 548kg Simmental steer.


At a sale of 603 store cattle at Ayr on 23rd March, 250 Heifers Averaged 269.2p or £1147.64. Heifer prices topped at £1850 for a Simmental off Laigh Drumdow.


In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 22nd March, Simmental heifers with shape and cover from Waddon Farm sold to 257p/kg and to lead the gross prices at £1603.

‘BUMPER’ MARKET BRIEFS!! SIMMENTALS TOPPING UK COMMERCIAL SALES AND INCLUDING AT: FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; BAKEWELL; SEDGEMOOR; HEXHAM; WORCESTER; BALLYMENA; EXETER; ABERDEEN; HUNTLY; GISBURN; STIRLING; SKIPTON; OSWESTRY; PENRITH; NEWTON STEWART; LANCASTER; HALLWORTHY; DUMFRIES; MARKET DRAYTON; CARLISLE; AYR; DUNGANNON; & THIRSK.

‘BUMPER’ MARKET BRIEFS!! SIMMENTALS TOPPING UK COMMERCIAL SALES AND INCLUDING AT: FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; BAKEWELL; SEDGEMOOR; HEXHAM; WORCESTER; BALLYMENA; EXETER; ABERDEEN; HUNTLY; GISBURN; STIRLING; SKIPTON; OSWESTRY; PENRITH; NEWTON STEWART; LANCASTER; HALLWORTHY; DUMFRIES; MARKET DRAYTON; CARLISLE; AYR; DUNGANNON; & THIRSK.

The commercial trade for all classes of cattle continues to be on fire at sale centres around the UK and Simmentals are featuring strongly within that. This latest ‘bumper issue’ of market briefs feature 24 markets around the UK where Simmental sired cattle having been topping sale sections over this last month. There’s many more market topping prices not covered here where the sale leading cattle are bred out of Simmental females!


Milk and maternal are the Simmental signature traits. Backed up with growth rates and age at slaughter, the modern British Simmental is adaptable to all geographies and systems around the UK. Remember, Simmental is the no-nonsense beef breed! Easy to look after, efficient, flexible, giving you added value, and with a hard-working ethos that gets the job done!


In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 22nd March Simmental heifers with shape and cover from Waddon Farm sold to 257p/kg grossing £1603 and featuring at the top of the prices.


At Melton Mowbray’s sale of store, and breeding cattle on 22nd March, breeding and feeding cows yet again saw a tremendous trade, with G Saxelby & Son leading the day’s trade for cows topping at £1845 for a pure Simmental.


Bakewell’s sale of 63 barren, OTM and feeding cows on 20th March saw an overall average of 201.86p /kg or (£1,332.00). Leading the way at £1759.50 was a Simm from P Cafferty, Ashover.
In a sale of barren cows at Sedgemoor on 20th March, a smart red and white purebred Simmental cow topped the day at 203.5ppk from R Bigwood. Others at 201.5ppk for a well fleshed Simmental cross from AJ & TLJ Hawkins.


Hexham’s sale of store cattle on 18th March saw the trade for young bulls led at £1390 for a Simmental from Messrs JA & L Ogle, Wydon.


Buyers simply queuing up for cattle at Worcester on 18th March. Stronger cattle are hitting heights never experienced in the store ring. Strong Steers sell to £1600 (yes £1600!), and led by Simmentals from AV Verity.


At Ballymena’s sale of calves on 17th March, the trade for younger bulls saw a 2-month-old Simmental top at £520.


A big entry of calves at Exeter on 17th March saw the top bull calf being £305 for a super Simmental bull from Messrs MR & KM Pring of Broadclyst.


Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of cast cows and bulls on 16th March from Orkney. Beef Cows sold to £2,030 gross for a 1020kg Simmental Bullock from D Petrie, Westhouse, Warth, Twatt.


At a sale of cast cows and bulls at Thainstone on 16th March, beef finished cows (109) averaged £1836.14 and sold to £2350 for a 1016kg Simmental cross from Nittanshead, New Pitsligo.


On 16th March, United Auctions had a sale of store cattle and OTMs at Huntly. OTM’s sold to a top of 226p per kg for a 770kg SimX from Whinbrae, Huntly. Top gross being £2420 for a 1320kg Sim bull from Tillyminate, Gartly.


A fantastic entry of 246 rearing calves were forward at Gisburn on 16th March, and simply put were ‘a right’ trade! David Mattinson sold the highest price calf of the day, a beautiful Simmental bull calf at £460.


At Stirling on 15th March, United Auctions sold 1459 store cattle, young bulls and 125 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Out of Spec Cattle averaged 232.69p and to £2190 for a SIMX from Abbey. OTM cows were led by Linross with a Simm at £2270, whilst OTM bulls were topped by Neuk with a Simm at £2170.


On 15th March at Melton Mowbray, a sale of calves and weanlings saw a tremendous run of Blue and Simmental sired calves from the regular supporters see Chandler & Dickman take the days leading prices; with a Simmental Bull calf away to £365 and more from the same good home to £350.
Skipton’s sale of feeding cows on 15th March saw a nice run of Simmental cross Cows from RD Elliott Tadcaster feature in the top prices, with 8 selling from £1560 to £1790 and 3 of them being £1700 plus.


In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 15th March, the top price was £2045 for a Simmental from EM Horn & Son, Swanmore. On the same day in a sale of prime cattle, Simmental steers with shape and cover from RE & AM Hicks sold to 266p/kg, and 262p/kg from JC Stainer. Simmental heifers from RE & AM Hicks sold to 258p/kg and £1545.


A sale of calves and weanlings at Oswestry on 15th March, saw a ‘good show of weanlings’ with C A Wildbore, Carreghofa topping with his Simmental steers aged 9-12 months selling to £630, and also £590 & £565.


Melton Mowbray saw a large yarding of rearing calves and weanlings forward with 164 rearing calves on offer on 14th March. A tremendous run of Blue and Simmental sired calves from the regular supporters saw Chandler & Dickman take the days leading prices; with a Simmental Bull calf leading the way at £365 and more from the same good home to £350.


On 13th March, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of 82 OTM Cattle. An excellent number of cast cows was forward to a very active ring of buyers. An overall sale average of 193ppk was achieved, topping at 287.5pk from first time vendor Messrs J G & S M Tallentire, High Griseburn, with a Simmental cross British Blue young cow totalling £1837.30 with this consignment averaging 258ppk/£1466.61. At the same sale, a TB exempt Simmental X, 6 year old cow from Messrs R W Sowerby & Son, Sycamore Rise made £2036.96.


At Craig Wilson Ltd’s sale of store cattle at Newton Stewart on 10th March, 70 Heifers averaged 270.2p k/g peaking at £1420 for a pen of Simmental Crosses from A Henry, Barrachan.


Young bulls are becoming ever frequent in the Hexham ring now on a Friday, and on 10th March, Messrs JA & L Ogle, Wydon sold two lots of Simmental cross bulls to the day’s top price of £1400.


A sale of store cattle on 10th March at Lancaster commenced with an entry of young feeding bulls. Yearling Simmentals from Barlow Bros, Croston sold at £1320. In the steers, Nether Kellett also sold Simmentals at £1680.


SIMMENTAL STEER SETS EXETER RECORD OF £2010
Exeter on 10th March saw close to 600 store cattle and stirks penned and sold with demand as strong as ever for all types on offer. Steers topped at a very impressive South West high and market record of £2010 given for a Simmental from Robert Hawkins of Ottery St Mary whilst much later born (15m) Simmental bullocks still saw a notable £1500 for Andrew and George Palk of Marldon. The same vendors saw their Simmental heifers (21m) sell to £1500 for a super bunch of five.


At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone on 9th March, 30 to 36 Month bullocks sold to 287p per kg for a 690kg Simmental Cross from Denhead of Muiresk, Turriff. Heifers sold to 283p and £1850.82 gross for a 654kg Simmental from Denhead of Muiresk. Denhead of Muiresk also sold young Simmental bulls to 287p, 284p, and 279p. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, boning cows averaged £1034.36 and sold to £1345 for a 718kg Simmental. Dairy cows averaged £1590 and sold to £1790 for a 816kg Fleckvieh from 4 Sibster, Wick.


412 Stores at Hallworthy on 9th March saw top spot going to A Hart of St Austell with a 23 month Simmental steer, deep bodied and well fleshed to £1735. W E Uglow of Trelash sold a super young Simmental x to £1445. Heard Bros of St Issey in close with a super pen of four Simmental x Steers to £1295. Younger Steers from J Buckland & Son of St Buryan saw his pair of 10 month Simmentals to £1200. W E Uglow saw a single Simmental x Heifer away at £1445.


C&D Auction Marts, Dumfries held their sale of primestock on 8th March. Dairy cows of all classes met a competitive trade selling to 208p/kg for a Fleckvieh from Slacks.


In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 8th March, Simmentals from CSA Holdings, Trowbridge led the way at 235p/kg.


On Wednesday 8th March, Market Drayton’s sale of store cattle saw the steers topped by a 652kg Simmental at £1,670.00 from Mr David Bradshaw.


In a sale of calves and stirks at Craig Wilson Ltd’s Ayr market on 7th March, Simmental Cross: £1260 Lochridgehill, heifer stirks were led at £1260 by Simmental X’s from Lochridgehill. In a sale of breeding cattle on the same day, the cow and calf trade was led by a Simmental and Heifer at £1800 from Fowler. In-calf females were topped by a Simmental at £1450 from Holmes.


At Hexham’s Primestock Sale on 7th March, making a very successful first trip, and featuring in the very top end of prices, was Messrs T M Lough & Son, Whittle, Shilbottle who sold Simmental cross cows to £1825.13. The same home sold a Simmental Bull to £1730.58.


On Monday 6th March and a sale of store cattle at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, heifers averaged 270 ppkg and selling to £1610 for a pen of Simmentals from A l & J Blair, East Kerse, Lochwinnoch.


Exeter’s sale of prime cattle on 6th March saw Keith and Hilary Harvey lead the way in the heavy heifer section with a dairy crossbred Simmental grossing £1514 (660kg x 230ppk) with beef bred Simmentals making to 246ppk and 244ppk for Adrian and Bradley Bowden and John Cullen respectively. The OTM primes on offer saw the best coming from Chris Stacey of Buckfastleigh with his Simmental heifer reaching £1381 (638kg x 217ppk).


C & D Auction Marts held their fortnightly sale of store cattle in Dumfries on Monday 6th March 2023. Bulls per kg were led by a Simm at 301.20ppkg from Abune The Brae.


United Auctions sold 1045 cattle at their sale at Huntly on 4th March. OTMs sold to average 191.9p per kg and a top gross of £2000 for a Simm from Whinbrae, Glens of Foundland.


The store cattle sale at Worcester on 4th March saw another ‘rip roaring’ trade and led by Simmental X’s at £1525 from G L Bomford & Son.


At Thainstone on 3rd March a sale of 145 store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors saw heifers sell to a top of £1,760 gross for a 644kg Simmental from J & E Miller, Nigley, Evie.


The sale of stirks and calves forward at Exeter on 3rd March saw the 170 forward meet with a solid trade. Top of the day was a trio of fantastic Simmental x steers (11m) from Richard Beckley down from Black Dog topping at £1025. Best of the heifers topped out at £850 again for Richard Beckley presenting Simmental crosses (12m).


At H&H’s Primestock Sale at Carlisle on 6th March, topping the prime bulls and the sale overall at £2423 was the heaviest animal of the day a 1038kg Simmental from Messrs Houldey, Kirtleton House, Lockerbie and purchased by Alan Jarvis. Black & White sold to £1733.15 for a 681kg Fleckvieh of Bluestone Farming, Nethermains Farm, Duns purchased by Jewitt Meats.


At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of cast cows, bulls, and prime cattle on 2nd March at Thainstone on behalf of Orkney consignors, beef cows sold to £2,270 gross for a 888kg Simmental from Firm of Paterson, Veltigar, Tankerness.


Gisburn’s sale of prime cattle on 2nd March saw heavier bulls sold to a high of 281ppk for a 796kg Simmental from H & F Eccles & Son.


At the sale of store cattle at Hallworthy on 2nd March, younger steers from J Noy of Helston with a cracking run of Simmental x Steers at 12 months saw his best to £1230 x3 and a pair of ‘posh Simmental steers’ to £1100.


C&D Auction Marts held their weekly sale of Primestock on Wednesday 1st March 2023 at Dumfries. Beef cows sold to 278p/kg for a Simm from Millhill.


At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 1st March, weanling prices remained brisk and peaked at £1170 440kg for a Sim Male presented by J Toland. Suckled Cows & Calves sold to £1760 for a Fleckvieh Cow with a Bull Calf at foot.


On Wednesday 1st March, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of weaned cattle at Carlisle. Topping the sale at £1460 was a Simmental bull from Messrs Cowx, Town End with another from the same home at £1440.


In a sale of store cattle at Ballymena on 28th February, the trade for heifers at over 500kgs was topped by P Brankin, Aghalee with a Sim at £1590.


At Thirsk on 28th February, 197 store cattle were forward. Young bulls sold beyond expectation making up to £1520 including Simmental X from R Inglis, Howden.


SIMMENTAL TOPS CARLISLE’S PRIMESTOCK SALE AT £2759!
The Primestock sale at H&H’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle, was topped by a 19-month old Simmental bull at £2759 from Messrs Houldey, Kirtleton House, Lockerbie on 27th February, and which sold for £315 more than the next top price beast.


Exeter on 24th February saw the show of stirks and suckled calves meet another fantastic trade for all types forward. Top of the day was Simmental cross steers (11m) from the Morris Family of Northlew topping at £1030.


On 24th February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1523 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves at Thainstone. Young bulls sold to 289.9p per kg for a 238kg Simmental cross from Aulton, Craigellachie and £1300 gross for a pair of 510kg Simmental from Peasiehill, Arbroath. On the same day at a sale of store cattle on behalf of Shetland consignors, bullocks sold to 311.7p per kg for a pen of three 348kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. Heifers Sold to £990 gross for a pair of 360kg Simmental and 275.1p per kg for a pen of three 338kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. Cull Cows sold to £1545 & 220p per kg for a 702kg Simmental from P & E Anderson, East Gate, East Burrafirth.


On 23rd February, at Aberdeen and Northern Marts Thainstone centre and a sale of cast cows and bulls on behalf of Orkney consignors, beef cows sold to £1,790 gross for a 758kg Simmental from B Ridland, Aikerness, Evie.


At Ballymena on 23rd February, an 8-year-old Simmental cast cow from Ranfurly grossed £2289.50 at £2.41ppkg and was bought for further feeding for a specialist French market.


At Huntly on 23rd February, United Auctions sale of store cattle and OTMs, saw the OTMs sold to a top of 246.8p per kg for a 770kg SimX from Haddo Estates, Tarves.


At a sale of prime cattle on 23rd February at Stirling’s Caledonian Marts, bulls (under 30 months) sold to 275ppkg on two occasions for a Simmental from J & S Barr, Leyden, Kirknewtonand, and to £2040 for a Simmental from P J & W Cameron, Woodhall, Innerwick.


On 23rd February at Ayr, Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 729 Store Cattle. A packed ringside of buyers witnessed an animated trade from start to finish. Top Price of the day was £1900 for a Simmental off Auchengarth. The Simmental bullock prices included: £1900 and £1740 Auchengarth, £1810 and £1750 Muirlaught, £1700 Cloquhairnan, £1530 West Newton, £1510 Dykefield. Simmental heifer prices included: £1690 and £1595 East Kerse, £1650 Coilsholm, £1450 Overtoun.


Sedgemoor’s sale of store cattle on 22nd February saw a good entry of 148 head meet a superb trade. Top was £1330 for Simmental steers from KA Cook, Morebath, who sold others at £1155.


On 22nd February, United Auctions, Stirling sold 1953 store cattle, young bulls and 166 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Bullocks (1054) averaged 288.88p to 332.50p per kg for a pen of 397kg SIMX from Clunoag.


Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 22nd February saw the heifer trade led by a well-fed Simmental x heifer from JD & JS Padfield at 251p/kg, grossing £1578.


At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 22nd February, suckled cows and calves sold to £2000 for a Sim Cow with a Bull Calf at foot presented by W Murphy; while springing Heifers sold to £1800 for a Sim presented by E Hagan.


In a sale of feeding bulls at Bakewell on 20th February, the top price was £1500 for a nine-month-old Simm X from Mosley & Co, Chelmorten. Second top price was another nine-month-old Simm X from the same home at £1400.


On 20th February at Market Drayton, the small sale of cull bulls was led at £2,175.62 by a Simmental from JH.&JE.Sands & Son, St Martins.

Photos from BSCS library

SIMMENTAL STEER SELLS FOR A £2010 CENTRE RECORD AT EXETER!

SIMMENTAL STEER SELLS FOR A £2010 CENTRE RECORD AT EXETER!

• Ant Hart tops Hallworthy Market with a Simm steer


A strong week of sales across their Exeter and Hallworthy centres saw Kivells auctioneers selling 1312 store cattle and 381 stirks in all with Simmentals leading the way at both centres. On 10th March, and with a South West high and an Exeter market record of £2010, was a Simmental (25m) from Robert Hawkins of Ottery St Mary, whilst much later born (15m) Simmental bullocks saw a notable £1500 for Andrew and George Palk of Marldon. More good Simmentals from Andrew and George Palk saw their heifers (21m) sell to £1500 for a super bunch of five.


On the previous day at Hallworthy and a sale of 412 stores, Simmentals again topped the trade. Top sale spot went to Ant Hart of St Austell with a 23 month Simmental Steer, deep bodied and well fleshed to £1735. W E Uglow of Trelash had a super young Simmental x to £1445. Heard Bros of St Issey also in close with a super pen of four Simmental x Steers to £1295. Younger Steers from J Buckland & Son of St Buryan saw his pair of 10 month Simmentals to £1200. In the heifers, W E Uglow had a single Simmental x Heifer away at £1445, and feature at the top of the prices.
It’s great to see commercial Simmental bred cattle continuing to sell so well in both Devon and Cornwall and a big well done to all the vendors involved.

‘HARD WORKING, NO NONSENSE’ SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AROUND THE UK AND AT GISBURN; FROME; DARLINGTON; CARLISLE; STIRLING; MELTON MOWBRAY; BENTHAM; MARKET DRAYTON; DUNGANNON; LOCKERBIE; BAKEWELL; QUOYBRAE; WHITLAND; ABERDEEN; SEDGEMOOR; THIRSK; DUMFRIES; MARKET DRAYTON; SKIPTON; AYR; LANARK; PENRITH; & LANCASTER

‘HARD WORKING, NO NONSENSE’ SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AROUND THE UK AND AT GISBURN; FROME; DARLINGTON; CARLISLE; STIRLING; MELTON MOWBRAY; BENTHAM; MARKET DRAYTON; DUNGANNON; LOCKERBIE; BAKEWELL; QUOYBRAE; WHITLAND; ABERDEEN; SEDGEMOOR; THIRSK; DUMFRIES; MARKET DRAYTON; SKIPTON; AYR; LANARK; PENRITH; & LANCASTER

Renowned for its milk and maternal traits, backed up with growth rates and age at slaughter, the modern Simmental has a distinct British signature with the breed showing its adaptability to all geographies and systems around the UK. Here we have the latest Simmental market briefs with Simmentals consistently featuring at the top end of some 21 markets in what is a strong cattle trade for all classes.


Simmental is a no-nonsense beef breed! Easy to look after, efficient, flexible, giving you added value, and with a hard-working ethos that gets the job done!


20 MIXBURY HALL SIMMENTAL STEERS AVERAGE £1272 (Pictured)
Vernon & Jon Bailey, Mixbury Hall sold their annual consignment of pure Simmental steers 10-12 months old at Thame on 10th February. 20 steers sold to £1290.00, £1285 and £1270, and to average £1272. The steers topped the trade in price for age by some distance.

Simmental steers from the Baileys, Mixbury Hall, Northants


Gisburn’s sale of prime cattle on 9th February saw trade up a gear and young bulls selling to a high of £2075 for a 607kg Simmental from JE Bracken.


On 9th February at Darlington Gary Christie sold the 17-month-old Rockytop Milton as a prime bull. Weighing in at 854kg he sold for £2,245.56 (276ppk), to feature amongst the leading prices.
Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 8th February saw a demand for heifers with shape and finish. Top gross price UTM heifer at £1655 was a Simmental x from RMJ & AL Robinson.

Rockytop I’m Yer Man – sire of Rockytop Milton


At H&H’s sale of weaned cattle at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 8th February, ‘you have to see it to believe it’ was the auctioneers comment on the trade. Simmentals led the breed averages for young bulls at £1133.75 and with a top of £1480 from Sloan, Stockbridgehill.


At Stirling on 8th February, United Auctions sold 1096 store cattle, young bulls and 165 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, 4 Breeding cattle & 43 Rearing cattle. Heifers (389) – averaged 268.08p and to £1830 for a 700kg SIMX from Greenshields. Young Bulls (61) averaged 256.73p and to £1380 for a SIMX from Hole O Clean. OTM bulls were topped by a Sim from Springfield at £2020.


‘Can this trade get any dearer’? was the question asked by Melton Mowbray auctioneers at their sale of stores & breeding cattle (156) on 8th February. Top in the breeders went to S & E Dow with in-calf Simmental X heifers at £1620 with others to £1570 and £1500.


At Bentham on 8th February a busy ringside of both travelled and local buyers descended on Bentham ensuring that all classes were in strong demand and met a fantastic trade throughout. Strong feeding cattle generally £1550-£1700 with other notable prices including £1750 to regular vendors P & JM Wilson with Simmentals.


Market Drayton’s sale of store cattle on 8th February saw a ‘serious trade in front of a ring full of hungry buyers’! Right at the top end of prices, a 538kg Simmental from H Kelsall & Son made £1,490.00.


The sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart on 8th February saw in-calf cows sold to £1660 for a 2016 born Simm presented by D Scott.


At H&H’s sale of store cattle at Lockerbie on 7th February, trade was ‘up, up, & up”! The heifer trade was led at £1350 by a Simmental from Maxwellbank. In the steers, Simmentals from Messrs Rae, Muirhead, made 301.4p.


SIMMENTALS TOP RECORD BREAKING SALE AT BAKEWELL MARKET
• Simmental cow to a new market record high of £2459.20
‘Ripping up the record books’ was how auctioneers Bagshaws described the commercial cattle sale at Bakewell Market, Derbyshire, on February 6th and with Simmentals leading the way. ‘Every cow today was beyond all expectations’ was the quote, with a Simmental cow from David Donnelly, Hulland Ward setting a record price when selling at £2459.20. A 734kg Simmental cow also topped the pence per kilos when Harold & Brian Ponsonby, Tidswell Moor, sold a four year old Sim to 244p/kg. OTM Bulls were also topped by a Simmental and to £1930 for an entry from Thorp Farms, Baslow. Young bulls were a strong trade and a 780kg Simmental from S&D Fearn, Wardlaw Mires made £1996.80 or 256p/kg. 280 steers averaged £1019 and Simmentals featured at the top end of prices with DC&ME Andrews, Flash realising £1620 for a Sim X.


At Quoybrae on 6th February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 257 Store & Breeding Cattle. The small sale of breeding cattle sold to £1280 for a Simmental Cross from Elzy Farm, Staxigoe.
At Whitland Marts sale on 4th February, barren cows and overage saw a strong trade with tested cows selling to a top of £1,610 for a Sim from Blaeneifed Farms Ltd, Llangoedmor also sold Simms to £1,280 & £1,230.


At Sedgemoor’s store sale on 4th February, heifers topped at £1600 for a red Simmental from GB Tuttiett, who sold more at £1450 and £1350. More Simmentals £1240 x2 The Clarence Herd, Shillingford.


Aberdeen and Northern Marts on Friday 3rd February 2023 sold 952 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves, at Thainstone. Bullocks up to 300kg sold to £910 or 329.7p for a SimX from Craggan View. Bullocks 701-750kg sold to a top of £1900 and 269.1p for a SimX from Feaval, with a SimX from Essil at £1,820. Heifers up to 300kg were led by Craggan View with a SimX at £980, and bulls up to 350kg were topped by Cuttlehill with a Sim at £870. Bullocks 301-350kg sold to a top of 318.8p for a SimX from Cuttlehill (SimX). Heifers up to 300kg were topped by Craggan View with a SimX at 331.1p. On the same day and a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors, bullocks sold to a top of £1,900 gross for a pair of 706kg Simmentals from J & J Fraser.


At Thirsk Market’s weekly Primestock Sale on 2nd February, the best grossing steer was £2243.58 for a Simmental X from Chester & Dale, Helperby purchased by J Penny & Sons, Rawdon.


On 1st February at Dumfries Livestock Mart’s Primestock Sale, the beef cows comprised of predominantly feeding cows to ave 178.4p/kg to 215p/kg and £1795. Simmentals from Newbie Mains topped at £1795.25 per head, and to 215p.


Market Drayton’s sale of 279 store cattle on 1st February saw Simmentals lead the way at £1,570.00 and 550kg from Mr C.H. Forrester. Further Simmentals from the same home made £1,560.00 at 570kg.


SIMMENTAL HEIFER SETS MARKET RECORD AT FROME!
Frome’s prime cattle sale on 1st February saw heavy Simmental heifers to £1971 from E M Horn & Son and which the auctioneers believe is a new market record for a commercial heifer! Charlie Butcher had a fantastic consignment with Simmentals trading to 246.5p/kg, 245.5p/kg (twice), 245.5p/kg and 238.5p/kg or £1606.


At Melton Mowbray’s sale of Prime Cows, Stock Bulls & OTM Cattle on 1st February trade was described as ‘simply ballistic’! Top grossing cows included Chandler & Dickman selling Simmentals to £1859.44.


At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 1st February, a good entry of dropped calves sold to a height of £380 for a Fleckvieh bull calf presented by F Collins.


On 1st February at Skipton, Simmentals had the joint top average of £1252 for store heifers which was £44 above the continental breeds average, and £245 above the native breeds average. Simmental store heifer prices included: £1350 JF&C Saunders; £1290 £1190 Brian Kaye; £1270 Williamson Bros.


At Ayr on 31st January Craig Wilson Ltd had a sale of prime and cast cattle and where bulls sold to a top of £1800 including a Simmental from Dalfask.


On 30th January at Lanark, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 111 cattle comprising of 32 bullocks and heifers, 79 cast cows. Beef cows sold to £2080 per head for a Simmental from Messrs Taylor, Heatheryhall Farm, Lanark.


On 30th January, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of 251 Store Cattle. Strong cattle were presented to an eager ringside of buyers. Topping the sale at £2,055 was a cracking Simmental X bullock from Messrs A & S Robley, Nelson Hill Farm, purchased by Mr D Barker. The same home sold other Sim bullocks to £1925, and £1875.


Gisburn’s sale of breeding cattle on 28th January saw in-calf heifers top at £1320 for a Simmental from S Pepper.


At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of cattle from Shetland Consignors on 27th January, store cattle bullocks sold to £1,045 gross and 281p per kg for 372kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae. Heifers Sold to £860 gross and 266p per kg for 324kg Simmentals also from Scatsta. At a sale of store cattle on the same day from Orkney consignors, bullocks 401-450kg were led by Maesquoy with a Sim to £1,290 and 290.5p.


On sale day at Lancaster Auction Mart on 27th January, another strong entry of 120 cull cows sold to an exceptionally fast trade with an overall market average of 184p/kg. Heavy well fleshed beef cows sold to 264p/kg for a Simmental from C & AJ Woodhouse, Millom who sold others at 249.5p/kg.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts on 26th January held a sale on behalf of Orkney consignors. Beef Cows sold to £1,890 gross and 236.8p per kg for a 798 kg Simmental from T & G Ritch, Kastal, Langskaill, Birsay.


Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 611 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 26th January. All classes sold firm again with 335 Bullocks averaging 260.8p or £1198.12. Top Price of the day was £1800 for a Simmental bullock off Ravenslie.


At Stirling on 25th January, United Auctions sold 1140 store cattle, young bulls and 222 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Young Bulls averaged 258.02p to 287.20p for a SIMX from Philiphaugh. Out of Spec Cattle sold to £1550 for a SIMX from Mount Lothian. OTM Bulls topped at £2610 for a Sim from Balbuthie.


Dungannon Farmers Mart on 25th January saw fat cows sell to a height of £1420 for a Fleckvieh presented by a Dungannon producer.

SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK INCLUDING AT: DARLINGTON; ABERDEEN; ST. BOSWELLS; LANCASTER; STIRLING; CARLISLE; DUMFRIES; DUNGANNON; HEXHAM; MELTON MOWBRAY; AYR; MALTON; LANARK; MARKET DRAYTON; GISBURN; THIRSK; PRESTON; HUNTLY; SEDGEMOOR; EXETER; & HOLSWORTHY

SIMMENTALS CONTINUING TO TOP COMMERCIAL MARKETS AROUND THE UK INCLUDING AT: DARLINGTON; ABERDEEN; ST. BOSWELLS; LANCASTER; STIRLING; CARLISLE; DUMFRIES; DUNGANNON; HEXHAM; MELTON MOWBRAY; AYR; MALTON; LANARK; MARKET DRAYTON; GISBURN; THIRSK; PRESTON; HUNTLY; SEDGEMOOR; EXETER; & HOLSWORTHY

Here we go with more Simmental Market Briefs, and the first round-up post in 2023. The calendar may have ticked over but it’s more of the same as Simmental cattle again show their versatility, flexibility, and efficiency, in topping commercial sales around the UK. Please see here snippets from some 21 UK livestock markets as Simmentals top store, prime, breeding, cast, and calf sections.


At Darlington on 23rd January, the ‘brilliant store trade bounds along merrily’. Featuring at the very top end of prices, a trio of young Simmental bulls from E Parsons, Newstead Farm made £1300.


Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 20th January sold 765 store cattle and young bulls and with tremendous averages. Heifers (301) averaged 267.9p and sold to £1840 gross for a 604kg Simmental from Wester Coltfield, Kinloss. Bullocks at 651-700kg were led by Loanend with a SimX at £1860.

Backmuir led the heifers up to 250kgs with a Sim at £570, and also the heifers between 250-300kg with another Sim at £700. Heifers at 551-600kg saw Wester Coltfield top again with a SimX at £1720 with heifers at 601-650kg topped by Mill of Gellan with a SimX, and Wester Coltfield with a Sim, at £1780. At the same sale, R&A Pettit, Den Farm, Fochabers had Sim x steers at 295ppkg.


On 20th January Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a store cattle sale for Orkney Consignors. Bullocks sold to a top of £1,710 gross for a 626kg Simmental from J & M Smith, Lower Cornquoy, Holm. Heifers sold to a top of £1,660 gross for a 656kg Simmental from E Hourston, Mucklehouse, Swannay.


On 19th January Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 339 Cows and Bulls to average £1478.42. Boning Cows averaged £882.50 and sold to £1010 for a 576kg Simmental cross.


Harrison & Hetherington held a sale of store cattle at St Boswells on 19th January. Trade was buoyant throughout with the bullocks per kilo topped at 256.1p for a Simmental from Midburn. Heifers per head were topped at £985 and again for Simmentals from Midburn.


At NWA’s sale of calves and stirks on 19th January at Jct 36 Crooklands, bull calves achieved a top price of £390 for a Simmental x from Langley Park Firms, Millom who sold others at £350 and £340.
United Auctions on 18th January at Stirling sold 980 store cattle, young bulls and 180 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, 24 breeding cattle & 76 rearing cattle. Out of Spec Cattle sold to 240.60p per kg for a SimX from Holms of Caaf. The breeding cattle were led by a pure Sim cow with heifer calf at £2600 from Powblack. In Calf Heifers saw pure Sims top at £2000 & £1800 also from Powblack. The sale of rearing cattle saw a strong show of stirks forward with the trade led at £650 from Messrs Yorke, Holmes of Caaf, for a SimX Bullock.


At the sale of store cattle and weaned calves on 18th January at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, Simmentals featured in the top end of prices with steer calves from Church View making £1140, and £950.
At Dumfries on 18th January, C&D Marts Primestock Sale saw Simmentals from Cormaddie lead the per head, and per kilo trade at £1519.80, and £1491.50, and 190p, and 184p per kilo. Simmental heifers sold to 260p/kg from Low Three Mark to W. Lindsay, Butchers, Creetown.


Dungannon’s sale on 18th January saw the dropped calf trade for heifers top at £265 for a Sim presented by R Fields.


Hexham’s sale of cast cows and OTMs on 17th January saw Simmentals feature in the top end of prices with cows at £1914.03 High Keenley Fell, and 208.5p.


Malton Livestock Market’s sale on 17th January saw young bulls top at 223.50ppk (£2246.18) for a 10005kg Sim X from SF Stubbings.


At Ayr on 17th January, Craig Wilson Ltd held a sale of calves and stirks. In the stirks, Simmentals topped the trade for both bullocks and heifers. Leading the bullocks was Simmental X’s at £1150 from Auchentibber, with further from the same home at £1030 and £930. Heifer Stirks top price per head was a Simmental X at £960 from Boydston.


In a sale of calves at Melton Mowbray on 17th January, a handier show forward with increased buying power for all goods showed calves to be a strong trade. Top in the week was J Darlington & Son hitting highs for Simmentals at £305.


On Monday 16th January at Lanark’s Primestock Sale, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 119 cattle comprising of 40 bullocks and heifers, and 79 cast cows. Continuing a fine run of market topping sales, beef cows sold to £2100 per head for Simmentals from Messrs McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm, Armadale or to 232p/pk from Messrs McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm. On the day Overhill House had four other Simmentals to £1800!


Mr Charles Forrester, Northwood with a Simmental to £1,532.52 topped a small section of cull bulls at Market Drayton on 16th January.


On 13th January, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle for Shetland consignors. Bullocks sold to £980 and 264.8p per kg for 370kg Simmentals from A & D Hunter, Scatsta, Brae.
At NWA’s sale of calves, OTM, dairy and store cattle on Friday 13th January, the trade for Fleckvieh cattle stood out. Once again strong calves were in most demand with a couple of consignments of weaned calves leading the way. Sale peaked at £535 and £515 for Fleckvieh bulls from JR Newsham & Son, Conder Green. Dairy cows sold to a top price of 231p/kg for a young Fleckvieh from JS&KM Wilson & Son, Kendal. In the dairy cattle, a top price of £2000 was achieved including a Fleckvieh x from R&K Jenkinson, Pilling who sold others at £1900.


Aberdeen & Northern Marts on Thursday 12th January had a total of 80 Cast Cows and Bulls forward from Orkney consignors. Beef Cows Sold to £1,910 gross for a 930kg Simmental from J & E Miller, Nigley, Evie.


At Gisburn Markets sale of primestock and cast cattle on 12th January, a cracking show of cast cattle saw 131 forward and a red-hot trade. Beef bred cows sold to a high of 242ppk for a 710kg Simmental from David Pawson.


Thirsk Market held a primestock sale on 12th January. The best grossing bull was £2024.75 for a Simmental from JT Harker & Son, Upsall, purchased by RM Helliwell, Rochdale.


At a sale of adult breeding cattle on 11th January at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, the leading prices saw Simmental heifers from North Crannoch at £2450, £2380 (X8), & £2280. A SimX from Backhill of Seggat sold to £1980. Heifers with bull calf at foot sold to £1,850 for a Simmental with Simmental calf from Backhill of Seggat, Auchterless.

James Turner – Stoneacton Farm, Church Stretton, Shropshire


At Dungannon on 11th January, dropped Calves sold to £410 for a Sim Bull presented by R Fields. The same vendor also topped the heifers at £360 with a further Sim.


United Auctions on 11th January at Stirling sold 1421 store cattle, native bred cattle and young bulls and 176 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Heifers (604) averaged 245.76p to 274.10p per kg for a 405kg SIMX from West Muirhouse.


On 11th January at Melton Mowbray’s sale of prime cows, stock bulls, and OTMs, the auctioneers described the trade as ‘simply on fire as Melton firms its position on the map as the cull cow centre of the Midlands’! Leading the way was P Wright with a Sim X cow at £1906.94.


C & D Auction Marts held their opening 2023 sale of store cattle in Dumfries. All vendors delighted with returns as buyers competed fiercely for both suckler and dairy bred cattle. Bulls to £1160 for Simmentals from J Goldie Newbie Mains and to 293.8p.


At Brockholes Arms Auction Mart, Preston, on 10th January, a terrific sale of store cattle saw top spot in the steer section go to Mark Heap with an excellent 20mth Sim x realising £1,560.


On Monday 9th January, Lawrie and Symington Ltd had forward 162 cattle comprising of 70 bullocks and heifers, and 90 cast cows at Lanark. Beef cows sold to £1930 per head for Simmentals from Messrs McCulloch, Over Hillhouse Farm, Armadale. Overhill House also had the second top price in the fat heifers with a Simmental at £1914.


At Huntly on 7th January, United Auctions sold 715 cattle at their first sale of 2023 where prices rocketed to record levels. OTMS saw a Sim at £2030 or 230.7p from Corskie, Garmouth; with a SimX at £2020 or 226.4p from Upper Blairnain, Aberlour.


In a sale of 656 store cattle at Sedgemoor on 7th January, heifers soared to £1400 for a forward Simmental from EMC Bax.


On 6th January and a sale of store cattle and stirks at Exeter, the top price in the heifers, and the joint top price on the day, was a tremendous pair of pure bred Simmental females from Keith White and Family of Sandford which went on to make £1380 each. In the stirks & suckled calves, the best topped out at £795 for Trevor Chugg down from Chulmleigh presenting Simmental cross steers (9m) with others a little younger off the same good farm to £670.


Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 149 Cows and Bulls to average £1499.21 on 5th January at Thainstone. The phenomenal trade for Beef Finished Cows saw 77 average £1678.83 and led at a tremendous £2210 for a 1018kg Simmental from Upper Woodside, Rothiemay.


United Auctions on Wednesday 4th January at Stirling sold 1280 store cattle, young bulls and 97 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Young Bulls averaged 251.17p to 274.70p per kg for a SIMX from Philiphaugh.


Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling sold 158 Cattle comprising of 71 Bullocks and Heifers, and 87 OTM Cattle on 5th January. Dairy Bulls forward all over 16 months sold to 222ppkg for a Fleckvieh from R Nelson, Blairmains, Culross and to £1281 for the same beast.


At Borderway Market, Carlisle on 4th January, H&H’s sale of store cattle and weanlings saw Simmentals feature in the top prices. Simmental bulls sold to £1140 from Messrs Skelton, Waterloo Farm at just 12 months of age.


Melton Mowbray’s sale of store and breeding cattle on 4th January saw larger yarding type cattle hitting the leading prices and well in demand. Topping was K J Heaps at £1235 with a pair of Simmental sired bullocks.


At Dungannon on 4th January, dropped calves cleared to a height of £400 for a Sim Bull presented by E Speers.


At C&D Auction Marts, Dumfries, opening sale of 2023 on 4th January, OTMs cashed in at 182p having sold to a top of £1621.50 and 230p for a Simmental from Newbie Mains.


In a sale of store cattle at Holsworthy on 4th January, a small entry was forward but with a tremendous trade! Up £100-£150 for most of the stronger, wintering cattle. Top price being £1305 for a 15-month Simmental steer from Messrs BG & DM Ley of Langtree with other Simmental steers from the same farm £1240-£1150. Lean, outlying 20-month Fleckvieh steers from Mr C McWhirter, High Bickington to £1140 with others to £1020.


Market Drayton’s sale of store cattle on 2nd January saw Simmentals leading the heifers at £1,190.00 (556kg) from H.A. Barber&Son.


On Monday 2nd January Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of primestock at Carlisle. A good entry of 72 prime bulls saw a very strong trade with ten bulls selling for over £2000. Messrs Hyslop, Gillrig, Lockerbie featured with Simmentals to £2110.58 for 789kgs.