5800GNS NEWTON HOUSE MONEYMAKER LEADS THE SIMMENTAL BULLS AT WORCESTER

by Nicky Moreton | May 2, 2023 | 2023 Worcester Sales, 2023 Midlands News, 2023, 2023 News

• Homozygous polled bulls sell to 5800gns, and 5500gns
• Eight bulls average £4699, up by £703 on the year
• Midhope lead the females at 4200gns

The British Simmental Cattle Society’s annual show and sale at McCartney’s Worcester Livestock Market on Saturday 29th April, saw a top price of 5800gns attained by first time exhibitor John Gosmore, Newton House Farm, Tattenhall for his September 2021 born bull Newton House Moneymaker.

Polled genetics were again to the fore and in demand with Newton House Moneymaker being a homozygous polled bull by Kilbride Farm Hans 16 (PP). His dam, Lissadell Luxury VIP (P), was bought in October 2020 at the Premier Sale in Roscommon for 8000 Euros. With a combination of breeding, polled genetics, and good performance figures, Newton House Moneymaker was sold to commercial producer Messrs Gowling, Little Oxendon Farm, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The Gowlings, who run Simmental cross cows, were attracted by the polled genetics, the milk within the Simmental breed, and will use the bull to breed female replacements.

Commenting afterwards John Gosmore said: “We were delighted to achieve the day’s top price at what was our first Society Sale. Newton House Moneymaker was just a very correct bull with a nice head and character. He walks well and has a very good temperament. There’s an interest in polled Simmental genetics, and we trust that this bull goes on to do well for the Gowlings.” Newton House Moneymaker was shown on the day by Paul Mullarkey of Lissadell Simmentals and who had come over from the Republic of Ireland to help the Gosmores.

In all, eight Simmental bulls were sold on the day to average £4699 which was up by £703 on the year, and with three bulls at 5500gns and more.

Another first-time exhibitor was Wayne Mosley, Thorncliff, Chelmorton, Derbyshire who sold Thorncliff Monty for the joint second top price of 5500gns. Earlier in the day, and capping a fine debut for the Thorncliff herd, this May 2021 born bull had been placed Overall Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show and in front of the judge Dafydd Jones who runs a 250 cow Simmental based commercial suckler herd, along with the Tywi pedigree herd, at Danycapel, Dryslwyn, Carmarthen. Thorncliff Monty, a twin to a male, is by the AI sire Woodhall Ferrari and is out of Higherem Hayley, a Banwy Wonderboy. At the fall of the hammer, the day’s Champion was purchased HJ Marklove, Hansells Farm, Purton, Swindon. Commenting, the judge Dafydd Jones said: “My choice of Champion was in my opinion a modern type of Simmental bull. He’s a smart, clean bull, not too heavy through the front, is very well muscled, and has good locomotion. I’ve no doubt he’ll breed good carcase animals in addition to the typical Simmental maternal traits.”

Also at the 5500gns mark was another homozygous polled bull in the shape of Blue Cedar Majestic 21 (PP) from Nigel Darling, Intwood Farm, Norwich. Fully homebred, this March 2021 born bull is by Blue Cedar Kelso 19 (PP), a Sneumgaard Imperator (PP) son, and out of Blue Cedar Wendy 2nd (PP), a Celtic Comet (P) daughter. At the fall of the hammer this bull was purchased by Ian King who runs the Pinkmead pedigree herd at Curbridge, Southampton. Speaking after the sale breeder Nigel Darling said: “We’re seeing a good interest in homozygous polled genetics and this bull also had good performance figures for calving ease and growth. This sale comes on the back of Melton where we sold another homozygous polled bull and who was sired by Imperator.”

With over forty cows and calves to sell in the herd’s Reduction Sale following the bull sale, it was a busy but successful day for the Wroxall herd of CH Evans & Son, Kington Grange Farm, Claverdon, Warwickshire who made 4500gns when selling Wroxall Milky Bar Kid 21 for 4500gns. August 2021 born, this calf is by the heterozygous polled bull Coose Gambler, and is out of Wroxall Hartpury, a Wroxall Electric (P) daughter. With a calving ease figure in the top 10% of the breed, this bull was purchased by Richard Bell, for the 300-cow Bowley Herd of CM Mercer, Bowley Court Farms, Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster, Herefordshire, and who run up to 12 Simmental bulls.

Selling at 4200gns was Key Marvel 21 from Messrs GD Key & Sons, Abbey Farm, Loddon, Norwich. This August 2021 born bull is by Islavale Jupiter, and is out of Innerwick Genesis, a Castlegale Titan daughter. Key Marvel was knocked down to CR Bayliss, Moorend Farm, Weston Beggard, Herefordshire.

In the small show of females the top price of 4200gns went to regular Worcester consignor Mr WJ Hollingsworth, Midhope Hall Farm, Sheffield, for his Reserve Female Champion, Midhope Megan. This January born heifer, scanned two months in calf to Strathisla Mandarin, is by Delfur Chas 11, and is out of the Woodhall Everhart daughter, Midhope Indigo. Buying the top price female was Mr S & Mrs D Shapland, for their Brynsworthy pedigree herd at Brynsworthy Farm, Barnstaple, Devon.

Averages:

8 Bulls £4699
6 Females £2467.50

WROXALL SIMMENTAL COW & CALF SELLS TO 6000GNS AT WORCESTER

by Nicky Moreton | May 2, 2023 | 2023 Worcester Sales, 2023 Midlands News, 2023, 2023 News

• Wroxall Sale grosses £120,000
• Top price in export sale to the Coose herd, Republic of Ireland
• Cows and calves sell to length and breadth of the UK

The genuine reduction of the noted Wroxall Simmental herd of CH Evans & Son, Kington Grange Farm, Claverdon, Warwickshire saw a more than solid trade throughout gross just over £120,000 for the 32 cows forward with calves at foot, along with five cows in calf, and three in-calf heifers.

Leading the way at a combined 6000gns was the homozygous polled Wroxall Iona Zilla at 1800gns and with her stylish heifer calf Wroxall NII-Zilla at 4200gns. This unit was snapped up by the noted Coose herd of John Tuohy, Whitegate, Co Galway, Republic of Ireland. Wroxall Iona Zilla PP is February 2017 born and is by Losning Iver (P) and is out of Wroxall Daisy-Zilla. PD’d in calf to Forsdale Gallipoli, Wroxall NII-Zilla (P), is her fourth calf. This September 2022 born heifer is by Wroxall Jerome 18.

The Wroxall Sale came about due to the end of the family’s tenancy at Abbey Farm, Kenilworth after more than some ninety years, and the consolidation of the herd at its new new home at Claverdon. Founded in 1969 the Wroxall Simmental herd was based around initial importations from Switzerland. Increasingly the herd has concentrated on the polling gene and as such the sale at Worcester offered functional, working cattle with a high health status, and a catalogue packed with a great selection of modern-day Simmental, and polled genetics. A packed ringside, and buyers online and on the telephone, ensured a strong trade with exports sales and animals selling to all corners of the UK. Some 40 lots, mainly pedigree Simmental cows with Simmental, and Blue calves at foot, grossed over a very healthy £120,000.

Selling at a combined 4600gns was another homozygous polled female Wroxall Jazz Superior PP, and with her third calf, the heifer calf Wroxall Nautical-Superior (P) at foot. January 2018 born, Wroxall Jazz Superior is by Wroxall Electric (P), and is out of Wroxall Gertrude-Superior (P). PD’d in calf to Coose Gambler, Wroxall Jazz Superior made 2900gns when selling to the north of Scotland and R&N Barclay, Harestone Farm, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Her September born heifer calf Wroxall Nautical-Superior, sired by Forsdale Gallipoli, made 2700gns when also purchased by the Barclays.

Wroxall Jessica Lilly (P), sold with her heifer calf at foot Wroxall Nilly-Lilly (P), made a combined 3500gns. March 2018 born, Jessica Lilly is sired by Wroxall Cocker-Leeky-Soup (PP), and is out of Wroxall Forget Me Not-Lilly. PD’d in calf to Wroxall Maxi Power, she was bought for 2300 by AD Heath for the Eaton pedigree herd at Eaton House, Market Drayton, Shropshire. The September 2022 born Wroxall Nilly-Lilly (P), sired by Wroxall Cocker-Leeky-Soup then made 1200gns when selling to Paul Rowden, Simboro House, Totnes, Devon.

Also at the 3500gns mark was the first calved heifer Wroxall Janie Patience (P), who was sold with her January 2023 born heifer calf Wroxall Pamela (P) at foot. Wroxall Janie Patience (P) is by Wroxall Electirc 13 (P), and out of Wroxall Gabriella-Patiance (P) was sold PD’d in-calf to Wroxall Maxi Power. Her calf at foot, Wroxall Pamela (P), was sired by Coose Gambler. This outfit was another to be snapped up by R&N Barclay, Harestone Farm, Insch, Aberdeenshire.

The averages in the Wroxall sale were as follows:

12 cows with autumn born calves £3537
18 cows with spring born calves £2867.08
5 Cows-in-calf £2310
3 In-calf heifers £2800
2 Unregistered cows with calves at foot £3035

Auctioneers: McCartneys