SIMMENTAL BULL CORSKIE NUTMEG SOLD IN PRIVATE DEAL FOR £32,000 TO THE DENIZES HERD

SIMMENTAL BULL CORSKIE NUTMEG SOLD IN PRIVATE DEAL FOR £32,000 TO THE DENIZES HERD

• £32,000 is the second highest price paid for a Simmental bull in the UK

Corskie Nutmeg, the January 2022 born Simmental bull from WJ & J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers has been sold privately for £32,000 to the Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire.

At this year’s Royal Highland Show in June, Corskie Nutmeg put himself firmly in the shop window when winning the Simmental Junior Male Championship; Reserve Overall Male; and Reserve Overall Junior; and before going on to win Reserve Overall in the Beefbreeder Interbreed. Immediately catching the ring side eye of John Barlow, an approach to the Green family was made and after a few days discussion and consideration the deal was done. Beyond heading home to Corskie and passing all the usual tests, the bull was picked up in mid-August and has now joined the 80-cow pedigree Denizes Simmental herd in Lancashire.”

The £32,000gns price is the second highest paid for a Simmental bull in the UK and sitting only sitting behind the 45,000gns the Greens themselves paid for Bel Dhu Capercaillie at Stirling back in February 2013. With a breeding connectivity, Capercaillie is the sire of Corksie Nutmeg’s dam, Corskie Jasmine EX92.

Commenting on the purchase John Barlow said, “We didn’t go to the Highland with a view to looking for a bull but Corskie Nutmeg just had that x-factor and we couldn’t miss the opportunity. Dad (Michael) and I moved quickly for him because he has everything we look for in a Simmental stock bull and with his quality we knew there had to be a lot of interest in him! Nutmeg’s got length, power, muscle, and with a real sweetness and style. He comes from a foremost herd with proven cow families, has a real depth on both sides of his pedigree, and has top performance indexes. We have Denizes Hamish, Saltire Impressive, and Coose Gambler as stock bulls and all bringing something different to the herd. Nutmeg adds to that and we’re excited about the prospect of him clicking with these other lines.”

Of the £32,000 sale price, John Barlow went on to say, “This is a purchase to take that next step for the future of the Denizes herd. If he breeds to his own quality then he’ll prove to be a real value investment.”

Corskie Nutmeg is sired by the herd’s stock bull Kilbride Farm Haka who the Greens purchased for 10,000gns at Stirling in 2018. The herd enjoyed a ‘stellar’ 2023 Royal Highland Show that saw them win six classes and a host of Championship titles. Three of the class winners were sired by Kilbride Farm Haka including the January 2021 born heifer Corksie Mimic who was the day’s Reserve Supreme Overall Champion. Nutmeg is out of the aforementioned Corskie Jasmine, who herself was a first prize winner at this year’s Highland and Reserve Interbreed at the Black Isle Show, and whose classification of EX92 is the highest ranking a third-calving female can attain.

Speaking of the private sale Laura Green said, “In going to the Highland we had no thought of selling Nutmeg and the plan was very much to use him within the herd and on females that we felt he would really click with. John approached us at the show and there was also significant subsequent interest from a number of breeders. This led to a fair bit of family discussion and the decision was made to sell him. Nutmeg’s always been one of my favourites and is a total sweetheart with a terrific temperament and all the attributes both terminally and maternally. We’re really delighted that he’s going to a renowned herd like Denizes. Everyone at Corskie wishes Michael and John all the best with him and very much look forward to seeing his progeny in due course.”

For the noted 180-cow Corskie herd the £32,000 was their top sale price received to date and eclipsing the 25,000gns mark attained for Corskie Gingersnap in 2016. The Corskie herd has eight bulls entered at the upcoming October Stirling Sale and four of which are Kilbride Farm Haka sons.

POPES PRINCESS IMMIE POWERS THROUGH TO WIN 2023 SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW!

POPES PRINCESS IMMIE POWERS THROUGH TO WIN 2023 SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW!

• Backmuir Overall Reserve with Annick Colleen’s Ginger
• Popes Princess Immie wins Overall Individual Interbreed

Supreme Champion Popes Princess Immie

Dumfries Show provided the setting for the Simmental breed to put on a fantastic 2023 Scottish Simmental National Show on Saturday 5th August. The forecast rain just about held off long enough for the exhibitors from the north of England, along with exhibitors from the north, central belt, west, and south west of Scotland, to put on a collective quality promotion of Simmental cattle across the classes. Both sections saw some heavyweight shootouts as high performing summer show cattle came together for the first time, combined with new lines and new faces at this years’ shows.

Judge Bridget Borlase in action

At the end of some three hours of intense judging by Bridget Borlase of the noted Sacombe herd, Watton, Hertfordshire, it was the six-year-old Popes Princess Immie, with her bull calf at foot Popes Premier, from Messrs JH & VG Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston, Lancs who got the Championship tap forward to win the Overall Supreme Championship. Following straight on from the Simmental judging, Popes Princess Immie moved straight to the head to head with the other breed Champions and where she powered through to win the Overall Individual Interbreed and this time in front of the judge Stephen Illingworth, Howgillside Farm, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie.

These latest wins capped a remarkable showing year for Popes Princess Immie as she added the Scottish Simmental National Show, and Dumfries Show Interbreed titles, to the Simmental Supreme at the English Simmental National Show, and Reserve Continental Interbreed, at the Royal Norfolk; and the Simmental Supreme and Overall Individual Interbreed titles at the Great Yorkshire Show. At the Scottish Simmental National Show the Popes herd roll call of prizes included: Simmental Supreme Champion, Dumfries Show Interbreed Champion, Overall Simmental Female, and with Popes Princess Noor winning Junior Female, and Reserve Junior Champion. Quite a show and quite a summer!

Sired by Kilbride Farm Comber, Popes Princess Immie is out of the herd’s heralded show cow Popes Princess Cleo who herself secured a number of ‘major’ show Interbreeds in 2017, also as a six-year-old, and with Immie as her calf at foot! Immie has also had a tremendous calf at foot herself in the shape of the January born Popes Premier sired by Popes Lethal Weapon.

Commenting on her Champion, the judge Bridget Borlase said: “This is just a super cow and I feel a very worthy winner amidst some really strong competition and a tough but very enjoyable one to judge. Immie’s not overly big but is very well balanced and has a tremendous show ring presence. She’s just full of flesh and carries herself ever so well. With plenty of sparkle she oozes femininity and is doing a great job of what is a terrific calf at foot.” Of the day generally, the judge wen on to say: “I’d firstly like to thank the Scottish Simmental Club, Dumfries Show, and the British Simmental Cattle Society for the great honour of being invited to judge this year’s high profile show. I’d also like to congratulate the breeders and the stock people for the breed spectacle they put on today, you’d go a long way to see a better show! The line up of prize winners from across the female classes was outstanding and a great credit to all. As the judge watching class after class, I can say the breed in general is in a really healthy place which is great to see.”

Overall Championship – Popes Princess Immie & Annick Coleen’s Ginger

For the Wood family of Jimmy, Vikki, Harry, and Hannah,and all the supporting team the win at Dumfries ensured what has been a marquee show year for the 50-cow Popes herd.  Speaking afterwards Vikki Wood said:  “We are all absolutely thrilled to win the Scottish Simmental National Show to cap what has been an amazing summer show season for us.  The standard here at Dumfries Show was so high and I’d really like to congratulate all of the exhibitors.  Achieving these wins is of course fantastic for the Popes herd but the shows are really all about putting good quality cattle in front of people and flying the Simmental flag.  I think all of the breeders here really collectively achieved that.”  Continuing Vikki went on to say: “We’ve had some tremendous Popes females at shows in past years and I think Immie is now right up there.  She’s more than done her bit and will now gracefully retire from the show ring.  The Popes herd is all about females and families, strong, proven female lines breeding the next generation of replacement females, and bulls for sales.  The shows continue to be a tremendous and important shop window for breeding lines and forward sales.”

The much anticipated senior cow class provided a bit of a clash of the titans with Popes Princess Immie narrowly pipping the rising eight-year-old Annick Colleen’s Ginger from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, Annick Colleen’s Ginger is by Corskie Callum and out of Annick Prudence’s Colleen EX95. She was bought by the Simmers at the Annick Herd Dispersal Sale in Stirling in September last year for a combined 23,000gns with her calf at foot, and a Simmental sale breed record for an outfit. From the class, Annick Colleen’s Ginger followed the Champion all the way through to take the Overall Reserve Supreme title. Ginger was shown with her February 2023 born heterozygous polled heifer calf at foot, Backmuir Ginger’s Paprika (P). Of her reserve Overall, Bridget Borlase said: “Again, the reserve was an extremely well balanced cow, showed herself extremely well, and was just that bit older than the Champion. Another super outfit and it was a very close run competition between Champion and Reserve with both just full of quality.”

Underlining the quality factor, the very next class saw the three year old Annick Ginger’s Lucia, this year’s Overall Simmental Supreme at the Royal Highland Show, win the class for cow’s born between 1st January 2020 and 31st January 2020. Also bred by Lachlan Quarm, Ginger’s Lucia was another to be purchased at the Annick Dispersal Sale and where she made 16,000gns. Annick Ginger’s Lucia is out of the aforementioned Annick Colleen’s Ginger and is sired by Wolfstar Golddigger.

Backmuir Eva’s Neva Reserve Junior Female

Making a long journey very worthwhile the Backmuir team also picked up the Reserve Junior Female title with their January 2022 born heifer Backmuir Eva’s Neva who won the class for heifers born between Ist January and 31st March 2022. Also a class winner at this year’s Royal Highland, Eva’s Neva is by Islavale Imperial and is out of Starline Eva 25th.

Popes Princess Noor Junior Female & reserve Junior Champion
Junior Female Championship – Popes Princess Noor & Backmuir Eva’s Neva

Another star from the Popes team this summer has been the heifer Popes Princess Noor and she was at it again in Dumfries when lifting the Junior Female and Reserve Junior Championship. Again, with a connectivity in breeding, this April 2022 born ET calf is by the noted Team Celtic and out of Popes Princess Hettie making her a full sister to the 2022 English Simmental National Champion Popes Princess Lumi, and a half sister to Popes Princess Immie. These titles added to the Junior Championship win at the Royal Norfolk, the Reserve Junior Championship at the Great Yorkshire, and being part of the winning Junior Interbreed Team of Four also at Harrogate, for this stylish heifer.

Male Champion Overhill House Niko
Junior Championship – Overhill House Niko & Popes Princess Noor

In a good show of bulls it was Overhill House Niko from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian, who proved to be the day’s star turn in this section when winning the Male Championship, Junior Male Championship, and Overall Junior Championship. Entirely homebred, Niko is by Overhill House Enhance, a Banwy T-Rex son. His granddam on the sire line is Ranfurly Weikel 6th who was purchased as an in-calf heifer from David Hazelton and who herself had a strong show record behind her. Overhill House Niko is out of the cow Overhill House Keelo. Commenting on her Male Champion, Bridget Borlase said: “I really liked this bull. He’s just full of breed character, has plenty of length, and has a lovely quality, soft flesh to him.” This Male Championship comes on the back of a strong sales year for the Overhill House team that saw them take the top price at the Simmental sales at both Stirling and Carlisle in May, and with Stirling seeing a top all -breeds price of 16,000gns for Overhill House Neil. Speaking afterwards Richard McCulloch said: “We’re delighted to win the Male Championship and it’s been a tremendous show of Simmental cattle, maybe the best I’ve seen at a one day show.” The plan from here is that Overhill House Niko will be aimed at the Stirling Simmental Sale in October.

Reserve Male & Senior Male Champion Islavale Jabba
Male Championship – Overhill House Niko & Islavale Jabba

It was great to see some senior Simmental bulls in the show ring and from this section came the Reserve Male Champion in the shape of the winner of Class one, Islavale Jabba from Gavin Brown’s Springfield herd at Penicuik, Midlothian. Bred by WS Stronach, Keith Banffshire this bull was originally purchased for 6000gns in 2020 through United Auctions. A prolific breeder in the 30 cow herd he has sired some 40 calves in this last two years. With a show track record behind him Islavale Jabba, ‘a well muscled senior bull that has retained his sweetness’, took Reserve Senior Bull and Reserve Overall Male at the 2021 Live Streamed Royal Highland Show. This year he has won the Overall Championship at Dalkeith Show. a has taken Overall Champion at Dalkeith Show this year. At the 2021 Live Streamed Royal Highland Show, he took Reserve Snr Bull and Reserve Overall Male.
Standing Reserve in the Senior Males was Auchorachan Kennedy from local breeders Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan. This four year old bull, bred by D&R Durno & Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, was purchased for 9000gns at Stirling in February 2021. 2019 born he is a son of the prolific Auchorachan Hercules, and is out of Auchorachan Gypsy EX92, a Rabawn Caesar King daughter.

Junior Male Championship – Overhill House Niko & Annick Nazareth


Taking the Reserve Junior Male was Annick Nazareth from the Merkland herd of Jim & Liz Dyet, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven. This April 2022 born bull was also bred by Lachlan Quarm and was a further purchase at the Annick Dispersal Sale when he made 7500gns as part of the outfit with his dam, Annick Friesia’s Kiki VG85. Sired by Kilbride Farm Karl, Annick Nazareth has this year been Champion at Neilston, and Ayr Show respectively, and was Reserve Champion at Newmilns Show. Described as a bull with ‘tremendous length and plenty of shape’, Annick Nazareth will be used as a stock bull in the Merkland pedigree herd.

In the Pairs, it was Lindsay Currie, along with his son Robert, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan, Ayrshire who took first prize with two very smart heifers, Braegarrie Nadia, and Braegarrie Norma who had both placed second in their respective classes.  The April 2022 born Nadia is by Woodhall Ferrari and is out of Braegarrie Julia, a Keeldrum Geronimo daughter.  The August 2022 born Braegarrie Norma is by Overhill House Link 20, and is out of Braegarrie Giselle.  Overhill House Link was purchased for 7500gns at the Stirling October Bull Sales in 2021 and is the stock bull in the fifteen cow Braegarrie pedigree herd.  Commenting, Lindsay Currie said:  “It’s the first time we’ve shown in a while but we were thrilled to support the Scottish Simmental National Show at a venue close to home.   The heifers behaved really well in the ring considering it was their first time out and Robert and I are delighted to have won the Pairs class with them.”

Lindsay Currie, who along with his son Robert, won the Pairs Class with Braegarrie Nadia & Braegarrie Norma

The Scottish National Simmental Show

Kindly hosted by Dumfries & Lockerbie Agricultural Society

Saturday 5th August, 2023

Judge: Ms Bridget Borlase, Watton At Stone

Results

Class 107 Bull Born before 31st December 2021

1st 159 Islavale Jabba, Gavin Brown

2nd 158 Auchorachan Kennedy, Jim & Patricia Goldie

3rd 160 Springfield Masterclass, Gavin Brown

4th 161 Westridge Matty, Mr & Mrs M Ward & Sons

Class 108 Bull born between 1st January 2022 and 31st March 2022

1st 164 Newbiemains Nightrider, Jim & Patricia Goldie

Class 109 Bull born between 1st April 2022 and 30th June 2022

1st 166 Overhill House Niko, Richard McCulloch

2nd 169 Annick Nazareth,J & E Dyet

3rd 177 Denzies Neff, Barlow Brothers

4th 175 Popes Nami, J H & V G Wood

5th 173 Springfield Niagra, Gavin Brown

Class 110 Bull born between 1st July 2022 and 31st December 2022

1st 184 Denzies Nacho, Barlow Brothers

2nd 217 Kennox Nero, David Craig

3rd 182 Braegarrie Nugget, D L & S Currie

4th 183 Braegarrie Nero, D L & S Currie

Class 111 Cow, born before 31st December 2019

1st 189 Popes Princess Immie, J H & V G Wood

2nd 185 Annick Coleen’s Ginger, Reece Simmers

3rd 187 Newbiemains Just a Star, Jim & Patricia Goldie

4th 186 Drumsleed Flick, J & E Dyet

Class 112 Cow born between 1st January 2020 & 31st December 2020

1st 190 Annick Ginger’s Lucia, Reece Simmers

2nd 191 Islavale Liquorice, Gavin Brown

Class 113 Heifer born between 1st January 2021 & 30th April 2021

1st 198 Popes Trixies Mikala, J H & V G Wood

2nd 193 Merkland Mandy, J & E Dyet

Class 114 Heifer born between 1st May 2021 & 31st August 2021

1st 196 Newbiemains My Girl, Jim & Patricia Goldie

2nd 201 Merkland Marie, J & E Dyet

3rd 194 Merkland Myra, J & E Dyet

Class 115 Heifer born between 1st September 2021 & 31st December 2021

1st 203 Grangewood Tollie’s Millie, A S & Y A Leedham

2nd 204 Coltfield Martha, J Cameron MacIver

Class 116 Heifer born between 1st January 2022 & 31st March 2022

1st 205 Backmuir Eva’s Neva, Reece Simmers

2nd 162 Annick Fresia’s Neomi, J Cameron MacIver

3rd 207 Grangewood Tollie’s Natasha, A S & Y A Leedham

4th 208 Future Newgirl, C A Jackson

Class 117 Heifer born between 1st April 2022 and 30th June 2022

1st 216 Popes Princess Noor, J H & V G Wood

2nd 213 Braegarrie Nadia, D L & S Currie

3rd 211 Backmuir Kreole’s Natasha, Reece Simmers

4th 209 Skerrington Faith, William Kirk

Class 118 Heifer born between 1st July 2022 & 31st December 2022

1st 218 Annick Lucia’s Nicosia, Reece Simmers

2nd 220 Braegarrie Norma, D L & S Currie

3rd 221 Braegarrie Nigella, DL & S Currie

4th 226 Grangewood Nicole, A S & Y A Leedham

5th 222 Newbiemains Nap, Jim & Patricia Goldie

Class 119 Calf born in the year of the Show on or after 1st January 2023

1st Reece Simmers

2nd J H & V G Wood

3rd J & E Dyet

Senior Male Champion

159 Islavale Jabba, Gavin Brown

Reserve Senior Male Champion

158 Auchorachan Kennedy, Jim & Patricia Goldie

Junior Male Champion

166 Overhill House Niko, Richard McCulloch

Reserve Junior Male Champion

169 Annick Nazareth, J & E Dyet

Overall Male Champion

166 Overhill House Niko, Richard McCulloch

Reserve Overall Male Champion

159 Islavale Jabba, Gavin Brown

Junior Female Champion

216 Popes Princess Noor, J H & V G Wood

Reserve Junior Female

205 Backmuir Eva’s Neva, Reece Simmers

Overall Junior Champion

166 Overhill House Niko, Richard McCulloch

Reserve Junior Champion

216 Popes Princess Noor, J H & V G Wood

Senior Female Champion

189 Popes Princess Immie, J H & V G Wood

Reserve Senior Female Champion

185 Annick Coleen’s Ginger, Reece Simmers

Overall Female Champion

189 Popes Princess Immie, J H & V G Wood

Reserve Overall Female Champion

185 Annick Coleen’s Ginger, Reece Simmers

Overall Champion

189 Popes Princess Immie, J H & V G Wood

Reserve Overall Champion

185 Annick Coleen’s Ginger, Reece Simmers

‘TENDER AND TASTY’ SIMMENTAL STEAK WINS TESCO COMPETITION AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW!

‘TENDER AND TASTY’ SIMMENTAL STEAK WINS TESCO COMPETITION AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW!

• A further Simmental steak takes third prize.

Firming up its eating quality credentials, Simmental steaks took first and third at this year’s prestigious Tesco Sirloin Steak competition held in conjunction with Kepak MacIntosh Donald, at the Royal Highland Show, Ingliston.

Eric Scott (centre, light blue polo shirt receiving his award at the Royal Highland Show).

The winning entry came from first-time exhibitor Eric Scott, Mains of Kindrought, Strichen with a 382kg, 25-month Simmental cross heifer which graded at R4L, and which was bred by W&A Oag, Scrabster Farm, Caithness. Typically Mr Scott finishes around 750 store cattle bought from Thainstone and Huntly each year. In all the competition saw a mighty 160 entrants from across Scotland, with all of the sirloins matured for 30 days after being processed at the Portlethen site.

Whittle down to a final twelve, the sirloins were selected as part of the Tesco Finest range and preliminary judged by the company’s technical manager Max Tooley, who said all entries were ”fantastic” examples of Scotch beef. Come the Royal Highland itself the finalist sirloins were all grilled on the Tesco stand. Five judges in all then presided and including the Chair of Quality Meat Scotland Kate Rowell, and previous winner Noel Gall from Mintlaw. The steaks were judged on appearance, taste, tenderness and succulence. An added element saw the producers also interviewed on sustainability, animal health and welfare, and with this also included in the scoring.

With Simmental steaks very much to the fore, third place in the competition went to J and AF Davidson, Tarbothill, Bridge of Don, who entered a nearly 18-month Simmental steer weighing 398kg, grading R4L.

Commenting, the British Simmental Cattle Society’s General Manager Iain Kerr said: “A huge well done to Eric Scott for winning this high-quality competition, and to the Davidsons for coming third, both with Simmental steaks. The Simmental breed is well recognised for its maternal traits, growth, and leading age at slaughter qualities, it’s great to see it now being top of the tree in this competition for tasty, tender, succulent steaks! There’s been plenty of ‘industry discussion’ about the forward beef grading system recognising eating quality and competitions such as this show just how well-suited Simmental cattle would be to that for producers, processors, retailers, and the consumer.”

Simmental steaks have consistently featured at the top end of these tasting competitions at the Royal Highland over the years, and internationally in similar competitions in North America, and beef and lamb trials in New Zealand.

SIMMENTALS BREEDING QUALITY FEMALE REPLACEMENTS, AND TOP QUALITY STORE CATTLE FOR THE MANSON FAMILY AT BRODIESHILL

SIMMENTALS BREEDING QUALITY FEMALE REPLACEMENTS, AND TOP QUALITY STORE CATTLE FOR THE MANSON FAMILY AT BRODIESHILL

Feature on Colin and Robert Manson, Brodieshill Farm, Alves, Forres and their 140 cow Simmental based suckler herd. The Mansons will welcome visitors this summer when they host a British Simmental Cattle Society Open Day at Brodieshill Farm on 8th July.

Fact file
1,100 acres inc 420 acres arable
140 cow Simmental based suckler herd, split calving
500 ewes
20 month, 600kg ave age and weight at first breeding
2.5 years age at first calving
800kg ave mature cow weight
92% ave heifer scan
90% ave cow scan
60% born within the six weeks
10 calf crops
Bulling heifers, 19-month-olds ave £2,368.75 (May 2023)

Since introducing the Simmental as a dual-purpose sire, the Manson family from Morayshire has been able to produce home-bred, medium sized replacements which can sustain the type of ground on their unit.

Father and son team Colin and Robert Manson, farm at Brodieshill, Alves, and have built up a good reputation for selling hi-health commercial bulling heifers and store cattle sold through Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre. The family has been at the 550-acre Brodieshill unit since 1947 and they now farm a total of 1100 acres which includes 400 acres of spring barley for malting, 25 acres of beans, 200 acres of rotational grazing and the rest permanent pasture, much of which is reclaimed hill ground.

Outwith the commercial suckler herd of 140 cows, the family also keeps 500 breeding ewes, 100 of which are Suffolk cross Mules lambed early in February. The main batch lamb in mid-March, with the first lambs away by the end of June when sold direct to Woodhead Bros at Turriff or Dunbia. Roberts’ wife Nicola has also diversified and opened a natural play area earlier this year, where she holds sessions for parents and children to explore, play and assist with animal care, and become more familiar with the farming seasons through information boards.

Colin and Robert previously used the Charolais as a terminal sire over Simmental crosses, producing bull beef and finished heifers, and bought in all replacements from other herds. “The first Simmental cross heifers were purchased 18 years ago from Bill and Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, and we’ve never looked back since,” said Robert.

“Simmentals are docile and good to work with, and we needed a big, framed female that was fit to handle bigger Charolais calves. The only downside was that we couldn’t produce our own replacements with the Charolais, and we were having some difficult calvings so that’s why we’ve now moved to Simmental bulls, with a Salers used over the heifers for easier calving.”

The first Simmental bull used was Burghbridge Ricardo, purchased on recommendation from Gibby Scott, and the family now tend to buy top-quality bulls from local herds such as Islavale, Rockytop and Blackford. One of the dearest stock bulls to date is the 11,000gns Blackford Island Warrior, which is leaving more flesh and shape, with the recent Islavale sires doing equally well and bringing size into the breeding herd.

At present, the herd includes 140 suckler cows which are split calving from the end of February onwards and then from the end of July. All heifers have been pelvic measured since 2015 to cull out any not suitable for breeding.

“We like to run a tight calving period, so bulls are out with the cows for 12 weeks and just 6 weeks with the heifers,” commented Robert. “Since moving away from the Charolais, we haven’t seen much of a difference in the weights of the calves, and we generally find that the Simmental calves are a good weight for age. The males used to be kept entire, but we soon realised that the stots could stand up to the other breeds in the store ring so that’s the system we are following now.”

“The Simmental is capable of thriving on this type of ground, but it helps that our cows are medium-sized and generally weigh around 800kg.”

The spring cows are kept outside until the end of January, before coming inside and being wormed/fluked and blood tested for the Premium Cattle Health Scheme, which the herd has been a member of since 2016. They are also vaccinated with Rotavec prior to calving at the end of February and are then housed with their calves until May time, before calves are introduced to creep feed from mid-July. These cows and calves spend all summer on the reclaimed hill ground which Robert said is old grass and tough going.

“The Simmental is capable of thriving on this type of ground, but it helps that our cows are medium-sized and generally weigh around 800kg,” said Robert. “If we were breeding bigger Simmental cows around the 900kg-1000kg mark, I don’t think they would cope as well.”

Calves are weaned in mid-October and receive the first vaccination and wormer in September when the cows are scanned, and then are brought inside one month later when they receive their second vaccination. They thrive on a mix of home-grown barley, silage, beans, and cattle 35 pellet from Harbro, before being sold in February at Thainstone, where last year’s batch averaged 502kg at £1451.92, and at 325 days.

More recently, autumn-born bullock calves have been weaned and kept inside for six weeks before being sold privately. The autumn calving cows calve outside next to the steading and they’re housed from the end of November. Only the cows and heifer calves head outside in May, with heifer calf outfits weaned from their mothers and kept inside on feed until being sold six weeks later.

With the Simmental being the only terminal sire amongst the cows, the females at Brodieshill are almost pure. Around 15 is kept for each herd, with the remainder sold to returned buyers through Thainstone in May, and at 18 to 19-months-old.
This year’s consignment (of heifers), in May 2023, averaged £2368.75 (+£743.75 on the year) and with a new top price to date of £2600.

This year’s consignment, May 23, averaged £2368.75 (+£743.75 on the year) and with a new top price to date of £2600. “We still have a fattening pen on the farm for any heifers that we don’t think would make the grade for breeding,” commented Robert. “We only sell what we would be happy to breed from ourselves.”

Robert is finding the Salers to be a successful cross over the heifers, producing hybrid vigour and females with good udders and feet.

“I think it’s important that breeders keep focus from a commercial point of view and focus on maternal traits,” concluded Robert. “When buying stock bulls, it’s important that they can produce replacements As such we look for long, deep bulls with a bit of shape that will pass through onto our females.”

Look out on the Society’s Facebook page for dates and details of the 2023 British Simmental Cattle Society Open Day at Brodieshill Farm on Saturday, 8th July, and on www.britishsimmental.co.uk

BACKMUIR ‘DOUBLES UP’ AS ANNICK GINGER’S LUCIA WINS THE SIMMENTAL SUPREME AT A ‘HIGH QUALITY’ 2023 ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW

BACKMUIR ‘DOUBLES UP’ AS ANNICK GINGER’S LUCIA WINS THE SIMMENTAL SUPREME AT A ‘HIGH QUALITY’ 2023 ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW

• Backmuir win Overall Supreme; Male; & Female Championships
• Corskie team wins Overall Junior; Reserve Supreme; Reserve Overall Junior; Junior Female; Reserve Junior Female; Reserve Overall Female; Junior Male; & Group of Three
• Corskie Nutmeg wins Reserve M&S Beefbreeder Interbreed; Overhill House Neo takes Third

Played out in some sparkling sunshine, a high-quality Simmental line up turned up the heat and dazzled the ringside crowd on day one of the 2023 Royal Highland at Ingliston, Edinburgh on Thursday 22nd June.

Overall Champion Annick Ginger’s Lucia

Judge for the day Simon Key of the noted Key herd, Abbey Farm, Loddon, Norwich was enjoyably put through his paces as the show of bulls and females through the classes put on a first-class demonstration of the modern attributes of the Simmental breed. After some four hours of judging the Supreme Championship tap forward was given to the first calved heifer Annick Ginger’s Lucia, with her classy heifer calf at foot, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), and with the outfit owned and exhibited by Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. For the Simmers the win represented the fantastic achievement of a second consecutive Royal Highland Simmental Supreme Championship and following their win with Islavale Lullaby last year.

Bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, Annick Ginger’s Lucia was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September last year for 16,000gns. At the sale this heifer had stayed at home due to having calved the day before but the Simmers had had full sight of her through the summer and particularly at the corresponding Highland where she had stood Overall Reserve to the Simmers themselves! This high-quality February 2020 born heifer Is sired by Wolfstar Golddigger, and is out of Annick Colleen’s Ginger who led the aforementioned sale at 23,000gns. Her eye-catching September 2022 heifer calf at foot is sired by Kilbride Farm Karl, a Curaheen Gunshot (P) son. Annick Ginger’s Lucia initially came through a high-powered head to head in her class against team mate Brandane Lu Lu, bred by Jimmy & Kath McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds, and who the Simmers purchased for 18,000gns at the Next Generation II Simmental Sale at Carlisle in December last year.

Commenting on the Supreme Champion, the judge Simon Key said: “My choice of Champion is an outstanding female and just full of that special Simmental ‘jazz’! She has a super breed head, a great top line, plenty of length, is tremendous on her plates with a perfect tail head setting, and was shown with a cracking heifer calf at foot. She’s everything a modern Simmental is all about, working hard, rearing a calf with a tremendous future, and whilst keeping her condition.”

It was a day of Royal Highland doubles for the increasingly prolific 80-cow Backmuir herd with the herd winning both the Male and Female Championship, to add to their back-to-back Overall Supreme titles. This was only the herd’s third time showing Simmentals at the Royal Highland and with their debut being in 2019 when they picked up the Reserve Overall with Sterling FCUK Impuls. Quite a record over three shows! Speaking afterwards, a highly delighted Reece Simmers said: “It’s very, very special to win the Royal Highland, in my eyes the leading Simmental breed show. To ‘defend’ that title this year and ‘double up’ is an amazing feeling, a great honour, and way beyond expectations. Annick Ginger’s Lucia has all the makings of being a really high-quality Simmental cow, and she’s doing a great job of her first calf who is herself a heifer full of potential. In recent years we’ve bought what we feel are cornerstone females to future proof and develop the progress of the herd. I hope these females in time will allow us to keep improving and breed first quality homebred Backmuir Simmental bulls and females.”

Male Champion Backmuir King

Keeping the theme, and winning their highest award to date at the Royal Highland with a homebred animal, the March 2019 born Backmuir King powered through against some top notch bulls to lift the Overall Male Championship. This March 2019 born bull is by Islavale Hamilton and is out of Starline Olivia 27th, a Skerrington Warlord daughter. This was a first, and likely last time, for this bull to be shown with the intention now to turn him out over this next few days with 25 to 30 cows. Backmuir King sons will be entered into the upcoming Stirling Sale in October and with the Royal Highland being the perfect vehicle to showcase the sire’s qualities. After a fantastic show, the Backmuir team headed for home and with some consideration being given to taking aim at the Scottish National Show due to be held on Saturday 5th August at Dumfries Show.

Judge Simon Key

With general reflections on the Simmental day the judge Simon Key said: “I’d like to heartily congratulate all of the exhibitors today for putting on such a tremendous show of modern Simmentals. I think that was as good a breed spectacle as you would hope to see and just look at the crowd it held at ringside through the judging. The breed has a real commercial momentum behind it and you can see why. Stylish, correct bulls with length, width, shape and good on their plates. The females were similarly just full of style, consistency and quality, and with a lot of future in the young stock. The milk in the Champion is a typical Simmental female hallmark and I think these qualities, and the natural efficiencies of the breed are just really resonating with commercial producers. At a personal level it’s both a privilege and an honour for a ‘lad from Norfolk’ to have been asked to judge at the Royal Highland. This is the breed’s ‘Champions League’, the pinnacle, and I’ve massively enjoyed the day.”

No strangers to the winners circle at the Royal Highland it was nonetheless a show day to remember for the well-known Corskie team of Iain Green, and his daughter Laura, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with their entry of seven animals winning a remarkable ‘haul’ of first prizes and Championship titles. A roll-call of the ‘prize-booty’ secured includes: Six class first prizes and a second; the Reserve Supreme; Reserve Overall Female; Overall Junior; Reserve Overall Junior; Junior Female; Reserve Junior Female; Junior Male; the Group of Three; and Reserve M&S Beefbreeder Interbreed. A truly outstanding performance given the depth of quality in the competition.

Reserve Overall Supreme & Reserve Overall Female Corskie Mimic

The sire of three of the Corskie first prize winners was Kilbride Farm Haka who was purchased at Stirling in February 2018 for 10,000gns. This included the days Reserve Overall Supreme, and Reserve Overall Female in the shape of Corskie Mimic. This January 2021 born heifer, out of Corskie Imitation, initially won the fourth class of the day for females born on or between 1st January and 30th June 2021. Last year this heifer was Overall Junior Champion at the Scottish National Show. In the previous class the first prize ticket went to the October 2021 born Corskie Miami with this heifer then going to lift the Junior Female, and Overall Junior titles. Corskie Miami is by Rathnashan Kellog’s, and is out of Corskie Hollywood (P), a Lynde General (P) daughter. Lifting the Reserve Junior Female title, and the winner of the first class of the day, was another stylish Kilbride Farm Haka daughter in the form of Corskie Namenco. April 2022 born, Namenco is out of Corskie Framenco, a Corskie Delboy daughter. In the final class of the day Corskie Namenco, and Corskie Mimic teamed up with the second prize in class two Corskie N-Enna, all sired by Kilbride Farm Haka, to win the Group of Three. At last year’s show Kilbride Farm Haka was the sire of the Reserve Junior Male Corskie Mikah and who himself later went on to sell for 11,000gns.

Junior Female & Overall Junior Champion Corskie Miami
Group of Three winners

With previous Royal Highland Championships and Interbreeds behind them over a number of years, this year’s show was arguably the 180 cow Corskie herd’s most successful to date. Commenting on a memorable day Laura Green said: “We are all really proud of this Corskie team and the success they’ve had today against such a depth of quality in the Simmental classes. It’s very much a team affair for Corskie with dad, Jemma, Hannah, our stockman Shaun Cumming, and myself all involved and with a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get to this point. We had three sires featuring in the first prize winners but with Kilbride Farm Haka coming to the fore. He’s leaving progeny male and female that are full of breed characteristic, with length, both shape and growth, and with plenty of style. There’s a lot of established, consistent, homebred breeding in the dams in this team and that’s the first foundation for the quality of the progeny. It was a super day for the breed as a whole and I really think with the young bulls on show, and with females like the Champion just full of milk and doing their calves so well, the Simmental breed is really coming into its own.”

Reserve Junior Female Corskie Namenco
Reserve Overall Male, the Junior Male & Reserve Overall Junior Corskie Nutmeg

Making a big impression on the ringside crowd, the two young bull classes provided an in- depth showcase of modern Simmental bulls full of breed character, length, correctness, shape, and style. The first class featured 13 young bulls and with a depth of quality throughout. It was from the second class however that Corskie Nutmeg, one of the stars of the day, emerged. This January 2022 born bull, again by Kilbride Farm Haka, and out of Corskie Jasmine, took the red prize ticket before moving on to secure the Reserve Overall Male, the Junior Male, and Reserve Overall Junior titles. On the Friday morning, this stylish young bull took the Reserve title in the M&S Beefbreeder Interbreed in front of the judge, William McAllister, Ballymena. Standing second in the class to Corskie Nutmeg, and following him through to take the Reserve Junior Male title, was Blackford Nimrod from the noted 30-cow herd of Anne MacPherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness. March 2022 born, an ET calf Nimrod is full of breeding being by the noted show bull Heathbrow Important (P), a past European Simmental Champion, and is out of Blackford Wagtail, a Kilbride Farm Strabane daughter and the dam of the record-breaking Bel Dhu Capercaillie. With one or two local shows possibly ahead of him, the main aim for this young bull will now be the October Sale at Stirling.

Corskie Netfiix

In the first class it was Corskie Netflix who came out on top of the mighty baker’s dozen of young bulls. Sired by the prolific Auchorachan Hercules, this April 2022 born calf is out of the Bel Dhu Capercaillie daughter Corskie Highness. Taking second in this strong class was the shapey Rockytop Novak from Gary & Angela Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly. April 2022 born, this bull is by Glenturk Kingpin and is out of Rockytop Clover’s Gwen. In third place was the eye-catching Overhill House Neo from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian. Again April 2022 born, Neo is the first calf to be shown sired by the herd’s 26,000gns sire Pistyll Kingsman, and is out of the Irish bred Seepa Daffodil. Another bull to feature in the Interbreeds, Overhill House Neo stood as second Reserve in the M&S Beefbreeder.

Overall Champion & Reserve Champion
Overall & Female Champion & Male Champion
Junior Female & Junior Male Champion
Male Champion & Reserve Male Champion

2023 ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW SIMMENTAL RESULTS

262 Female born on or after 1st April 2022
1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Namenco
2nd Richard McCulloch Overhill House Neva
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Nala
4th Mr G Smith Drumsleed Nysa
5th Gavin Brown Springfield Nita
6th Frank Gwynne Castlewigg Empire Stella 2

Backmuir Eva’s Neva

263 Female born between 1st January & 31st March 2022
1st Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir Eva’s Neva
2nd Mr W J & J Green Corskie N-Enna
3rd Future Livestock Future New Girl
4th Crudie Farming Company Crudie Natalia

264 Female born on or between 1st July & 31st December 2021
1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Miami
2nd W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Malia
3rd Mr G W Smith Drumsleed Marina
4th Strathisla Farms Rathnashan Nelly Harriet
5th Heather Duff Pitmudie Montana
6th Crudie Farming Company Crudie Miss Moneypenny

265 Female born on or between 1st January & 30th June 2021
1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic
2nd Mr G W Smith Drumsleed Mango
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Mulberry
4th Lizzie Harding Hallway Winnie’s Majesty
5th P M & R Fitton Derrycallaghan Kalamity-Jane 2nd
6th David Ireland Annick Desirees Midnight

266 Female calved before 3 years or due to calve before 3 years old, in milk or in calf born in 2020
1st Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd Reece & Andrew Simmers Brandane Lu Lu
3rd Gavin Brown Islavale Liquorice

Corskie Jasmine


267 Female born in 2018 or 2019 in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Jasmine
2nd W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Jazzy 2nd

269 Bull born on or after 1st April 2022
1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Netflix 22
2nd G & A Christie Rockytop Novak 22
3rd Richard McCulloch Overhill House Neo 22
4th Richard McCulloch Overhill House Niko 22
5th Strathisla Farms Strathisla Nightrider 22
6th Nadia Gwynne Chestermann Nick 22

270 Bull born on or between 1st January & 31st March 2022
1st Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22
2nd W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Nimrod 22
3rd Mr G W Smith Drumsleed Neymar 22
4th Heather Duff Cairnview Nick 22
5th Crudie Farming Company Crudie Napoleon 22

272 Bull born on or before 31st December 2020
1st Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir King

SP1 Best Junior Female
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Miami
SP2 Reserve Junior Female
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Namenco

SP3 Best Female
Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
SP4 Reserve Female
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic

SP5 Best cow with calf at foot
Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia

SP6 Best Junior Bull
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22
SP7 Reserve Junior Bull
W G MacPherson (A Firm) Blackford Nimrod 22

SP8 Best Bull
Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir King
SP9 Reserve Bull
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22

SP10 Breeder of Best Bull
Reece & Andrew Simmers

SP11 Best Junior Animal
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Miami
SP12 Reserve Junior Animal
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22

SP13 Best Animal of opposite sex to the Junior Champion
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Nutmeg 22

SP14 Champion
Reece & Andrew Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
SP15 Reserve Champion
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic

SP16 Best Animal bred by Exhibitor
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic

SP17 Best Group
Mr W J & J Green Corskie Mimic, Corskie N-Enna, Corskie Namenco

10,000GNS OVERHILL SIMMENTAL BULL IS THE ‘REAL’ MCCOY AT CARLISLE!

10,000GNS OVERHILL SIMMENTAL BULL IS THE ‘REAL’ MCCOY AT CARLISLE!

• Record Simmental average at Carlisle of £6519
• 100% clearance rate with all 12 bulls sold
• Eight bulls make 6000gns and more
• Midhope lead the pedigree females at 3800gns
• Auchorachan top the Simmental High Health bulling heifer sale at £3800
• Chestermann Reduction Sale tops at 3300gns

Richard McCulloch, Overhill House, Armadale, West Lothian led a terrific Simmental bull sale at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart when he took the 10,000gns sale top price with Overhill House McCoy at the breed’s May Carlisle Sale on Saturday, May 13th.

Overhill House McCoy 10,000gns


A strong demand from a packed ring side saw a 100% clearance of the 12 bulls forward and a centre record average at this May fixture of £6519. In all, eight bulls made 6000gns and more with top price bulls selling to Orkney, Aberdeen, Northumberland, Hawick, Derbyshire, and Newton Stewart. A busy Simmental day saw pedigree females sell to 3900gns, whilst the newly introduced sale of Simmental X High Health heifers saw a top price of £3800 and 33 average £1790.

Earlier in the day, the December 2021 born Overhill House McCoy had been placed as the Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show of bulls by the judge Harry Wood of the noted Popes herd, Dutton, Lancashire. Come sale time some fast bidding for this bull saw him race to 10,000gns before being knocked down to prolific Simmental bull buyer Liam Muir, Stromness, Orkney. Mr Muir was purchasing the bull for clients in the shape of Ronnie & Gladys Brown, Newhall, Stromness, and for their 60-cow suckler herd. Commenting after the sale Mr Muir said: “This is just a good Simmental bull. He has width, plenty of length, great style, and is the dark red colour I was also looking for.”

These thoughts were echoed by the judge Harry Wood who speaking immediately after the sale said: “The Champion is just what you’re looking for in a modern Simmental. He had a good top line, was good on his legs, had plenty of breed character, and is the colour that buyers are looking for.”

Judge Harry Wood Popes herd


The Supreme Championship and sale top price made it a double for the Overhill House herd who achieved the same feat at the recent Stirling Simmental Sale with the 16,000gns all-breeds top priced Overhill House Neil. Overhill House McCoy is by the 24,000gns Islavale Heston, the same sire as the herd’s Stirling topper, and is out of Islavale Caitlin a heifer bought privately as a yearling from the Islavale herd.

In all, eight bulls made 6000gns or more. Simmental bulls with polled genetics have increasingly been in demand and the second top price at Carlisle was the 8000gns paid for the heterozygous polled Auchorachan Monarch ET 21 (P), from D&R Durno & Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. This August 2021 born bull, who placed first in the first class, is by the heterozygous polled bull Lykke Iceman P, and is out of the Omorga Samson sired daughter Auchorachan Autumn EX94. A bull with length, power, and breeding, Auchorachan Monarch ET 21 (P), was purchased by the commercial producer, A&L Craig & Co, Downiehills Farm, Peterhead. A few lots later and the Durnos sold the entirely homebred Auchorachan Maserati for 6500gns to the Firm of McKinnel, Drumneil Farm, Newton Stewart. November 2021 born this bull, another with length and width, is by the prolific Auchorachan Hercules, and is out of Auchorachan Letta H2 VG88.

Auchorachan Monarch 8000gns

Two bulls made 7000gns. The first of these was the upstanding Newbiemains Mammoth from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Standing second in his class, this July 2021 bull with size and length, is by Newbiemains Jetset 18, and is out Newbiemains Joy VG 87, an Islavale Frontier daughter. Off to Northumberland, he was bought for the commercial herd of CJ Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford. Speaking after the sale, Mr Sutherland said: “I liked this bull immediately as he had size, length, wasn’t overdone and I think is a good honest bull. He’ll be put to use straight away in the commercial herd.” Mr Sutherland’s commercial herd comprises of 140 suckler cows.

Newbiemains Mammoth 7000gns

Also at 7000gns was T Hill & R Wright, Wadworth, Doncaster with the October 2021 born Scotland Hill McCoy. This bull followed the Champion through his class to take the Reserve Overall Championship in the pre-sale show. Sired by Clonagh King Eyes, and out of Scotland Hill Avril 2nd, Scotland Hill McCoy sold to the Borders and to IHG Warden, Skelfhill Farm, Hawick. Commenting afterwards, Mr Warden said: “This is the most we’ve paid for a bull at Carlisle, but we certainly think Scotland Hill McCoy will be worth it. He’ll be put to work at the end of June and will be run with 30 Luing heifers. The Simm Luing cross really works for us and we put them back to a Limousin bull. The bull had a certain finesse about him, and we think he’ll be perfect to produce nice hill females.” Strong supporters of the Simmental sales, the 65-cow Scotland Hill has previously sold bulls at Carlisle to 8800gns.

Scotland Hill McCoy 7000gns

Regular vendors at Carlisle, Mr DC Houldey, Kirtleton House, Lockerbie made 6500gns when selling their December 2021 born Manor Park Mickey. Sired by Corskie Ebay 13, and out of Manor Park Bronte, this bull had strong figures being +11 for Maternal (Milk), in the top 5% of the breed, and +82 for 400 Day Weight, within the top 10% of the breed. Purchasing this bull was TW Hamilton & Son, Kirkton of Crawford, Biggar, Lanarkshire.

Polled genetics was again to the fore when the heterozygous polled Rooklea Newyear 22 (P), the last bull in the ring, from Mrs A Trafford, Springfield Farm, Cockermouth made 6500gns when selling to Peter & Andrea Booth who run the Barleyclose pedigree herd at Gun Lane Farm, Belper, Derbyshire. A January 2022 born calf, Rooklea Newyear 22 (P) is by the imported sire Losning Iver (P), and is out of Rooklea Jasmine, a Kilbride Farm Glenhead 1 (P) daughter.

The final bull at 6000gns and over was Braegarrie Maverick from DL&S Currie, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan. October 2021 born this calf got by AI is by the well-known Woodhall Ferrari sire and is out of Braegarrie Vanessa who previously produced the 7900gns Braegarrie Bravo a Male Champion at Carlisle. From this milky dam line, and with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +9, Braegarrie Maverick was bought on the day by R McKinnel & Sons, Garrarrie Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

Midhope Matilda 3800gns


In the small show of Simmental females, the top price was 3800gns for the March 2021 born in-calf heifer Midhope Matilda from regular consignors WJ Hollingsworth, Midhope Farm, Sheffield. This heifer by Delfur Chas 11, was another to go to the Barleyclose herd of Messrs Booth, Belper, Derbyshire. From the same home, Midhope Melanie made 3500gns when selling to Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk. March 2021 born, Melanie is by Denizes Johnny

The newly introduced sale of SimmX HighHealth bulling heifers drew much attention and again met with a strong trade. Leading this sale, and rounding off a good day’s trading, was D&R Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, with a September 2021 born Simmental heifer making £3800 and being one of two purchases by James Hodge, Dreghorn, Irvine. Other leading prices in this sale saw the Houldeys, Manor Park sell heifers to £2600, and £2500 x 2. As well as the top price of £3800, the Durnos sold further heifers to £2400, £2200, £2100, and £1900 x 2. Messrs Freeman, Troutbeck Farm, Winderemere sold 14-month-old Simm x Luings to £1850 x 2, and £1800 x2. S&L Dodd, Tundergarth Mains, Lockerbie sold 12- to 14-month-old Simm x Luings to £1800 x 4; and Messrs Finlay McGowan, Incheoch Farm, Alyth sold 12 to 13-month-old Simm x Luings to £1750 x3. In all, 33 Simm X High Health bulling heifers averaged £1790.

The Simmental section also saw a major reduction sale for the Chesterman Herd of Nick & Nadia Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm, Newton Stewart. Being held due to a change in farming policy, the Chestermann herd is well recognised at Carlisle and with the herd topping last year’s bull sale at 6200gns, and 6000gns. The sale on the day saw a top price of 3300gns paid for the seven-year-old Chestermann Data Nonne 3, sold with her heifer calf at foot Chestermann Empire Nonne 4. Purchasing this outfit was Andy Wilson for his Cairnview pedigree herd at Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Four further lots made 3000gns as 12 in all averaged £2703.75.

Across the sections on the day the Simmental sale grossed £180,755.

AVERAGES

12 Bulls £6518.75
33 Simm High Health heifers £1790
4 Heifers £2756.25
12 Chesterman Reduction Sale £2703.75