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
It was a day to remember for young Simmental breeder Finlay Soutter (17), Yew Tree Farm, Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire who carried all before him to win the Royal Norfolk’s prestigious Young Handler competition on the second day of the show on Thursday 29th June. Presenting the trophy to Finlay, in front of a truly packed ring side crowd was William, Prince of Wales!
Throughout the competition Finlay was parading the classy heifer Brandane Millie who is the foundation female in his newly established Millennium Simmental pedigree herd, and who was bred by well-known breeder and stockman Jimmy McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds.
Against a huge entry of Young Handlers across all breeds in the show, Finlay was required to parade Millie around the ring then walk her up to the judge where he was asked various questions on how she had been prepared for the class, what feeding she was on, and general questions about Millie herself just to test general knowledge. Thereafter he was placed into the lineup and was further judged on how Millie was stood and presented, and Finlay’s ability to settle her.
Of winning the competition and having Prince William present the trophy to him, Finlay said: “First of all it’s a great honour to have won the Champion Young Handler award. I have won young handlers’ Championships before but never at a Royal Show. To do that and have the trophy presented by Prince William is just really special and a memory I’ll never forget.”
“Prince William was so easy to talk to. He asked me how old Brandane Millie was and also about the Simmental breed. He also asked if I had shown at the Royal Norfolk Show before and why Brandane Millie was so special,” Finlay continued.
February 2021 born, Brandane Millie is full of breeding being sired by the AI bull Sterling Gino 15, and out of the noted Sterling Candy’s FCUK, a female bought at the Sterling Sale. Last year as a young heifer Brandane Millie was successfully shown by Jimmy McMillan and picked up a hatful of awards including the Junior Female Championship at the Royal Highland.
Picking up the story, Finlay went on to say: “Millie was purchased privately by my grandad (Doug Mash, Chesham, Bucks) and was gifted to me as a birthday present. It was a great boost to start my own herd of pedigree cattle with such a great heifer. I greatly admire Millie as she has style, shape and muscle, with femininity to complement, and has incredible blood lines. This year I plan on showing her at the Great Yorkshire, and the Royal Welsh as they are two shows I’ve never exhibited at.”
Beyond the upcoming shows Finlay has clear aims for the future and said: “Ambition for my newly established Millennium Simmental herd is for it to slowly expand to more females, and hopefully to attend show and sales with their progeny. The main focus will be on obtaining and breeding quality foundation female lines. I like the Simmental breed as they’re known for their maternal traits, producing plenty milk and having a great temperament. I think these qualities make them ideal females for the future in both pedigree herds and commercial breeding.”
Commenting, the British Simmental Cattle Society General Manager Iain Kerr said: “On behalf of all members, the Society warmly congratulates Finlay on this fantastic personal achievement, and outstanding promotion of the Simmental breed. Across all of the many young handlers taking part it was great to see both the enthusiasm and ability on show.”
Cursons take the Male Championship with Cade Nugget
Popes Princess Noor lifts the Overall Junior Championship
Wacton herd wins most points across the show classes
Cade Nugget wins Male Continental Interbreed
Finlay Soutter wins Royal Norfolk Young Handlers Championship
The high-quality Simmental summer road show moved to the Royal Norfolk which provided the platform for the 2023 Simmental English National Show held on Wednesday 28th June. Close on sixty pedigree Simmentals put on a super breed spectacle in front of the judge John Moore of the highly noted Omorga herd, Omagh, Co Tyrone. After some strong competition across the classes it was the six-year-old cow Popes Princess Immie, with her bull calf at foot Popes Premier, who took the Overall Supreme Championship title, and Champion Female title, for Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Preston, Lancashire.
Popes Princess Immie
For the Popes herd of some 50 cows and followers, and which is synonymous with producing quality Simmental females and bulls from high end cow families, this was a remarkable two in a row, and three out of the previous four, Overall Supreme Championships at the breed’s English National Shows! There’s clearly something in the Norfolk air that brings the best out of Popes Princess Immie as she won her class as a heifer in 2019 at the last English National held at the Royal Norfolk, and in what was her only previous show outing other than being shown as a calf at foot in Interbreed winning teams with her mum in 2017! Full of breeding Popes Princess Immie is by the 20,000gns stock bull Kilbride Farm Comber who the Woods say is ‘really stamping some quality females through the herd’ and is out of the noted Popes Princess Cleo EX95. This highly decorated show cow in her own right was also the dam of last year’s English National Show Champion, Popes Princess Lumi, and the dam of Popes Princess Hettie, the mother of the 2023 Junior Champion at the English National Show, Popes Princess Noor. For good measure, Popes Princess Immie’s cracking bull calf at foot, the January born Popes Premier by Popes Lethal Weapon, went on to win the prize for the Best Simmental Calf at Foot.
Commenting at the close of the judging, John Moore said: “Popes Princess Immie is just a very modern Simmental cow. She’s a super easy fleshing female with a lovely second thigh, is full of milk, and is a working Simmental mum rearing a really good calf at foot. Across the classes there’s been a terrific show of Simmentals, particularly the females, and the standard is a great credit to all of the exhibitors who I warmly congratulate.”
Speaking to this further Championship win, Jimmy & Vikki Wood said: “It’s really fantastic, and a great honour, to win the Simmental English National Show. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into the cattle by all in the Popes team and days like this continue to make it all so worthwhile. There have been some tremendous Simmental cattle on show this summer and today very much continued that trend. The local breeders in the East Anglian area are producing some great cattle and the quality of Simmental stock across the show was of a really high standard. We’ll continue to be very loyal to both the Simmental breed and to the English National Show as we feel it’s a terrific shop window.”
The aforementioned Popes Princess Noor cemented another top day for the Popes Herd when she won the Overall Junior, and Junior Female Championships. 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 Champion Popes Princess Lumi, and a half sister to this year’s Champion. Again, this was a first show outing for this stylish young heifer.
Popes Princess Noor
Lifting the Reserve Overall Supreme, and the Female Overall Reserve, was the senior cow Sterling Celia’s Fifi who is ‘multiply owned’ by the Cade herd of Paul & Sharrie Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden; the Brandane herd of Jimmy McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds; and the Key herd of GD Key & Sons, Loddon, Norwich. It was very much a high powered ‘shoot out’ in the classes as this nine-year-old cow, shown with her February heifer calf Cades Fifi’s Patience, placed second to the Supreme Champion in the class and followed her all the way through to the Overall Reserve. Sterling Celia’s Fifi, bred by Boddington Estates, by Sterling Cotswold, and out of Sterling Delores Celia, is a past winner of the English National Show having lifted the title in 2017 as a calved heifer at the Three Counties Show. Later that same year she was sold for 22,000gns, a then albeit briefly held Simmental female record, at the Boddington Estate Herd Dispersal Sale and to Harte Farms, Republic of Ireland. Roll on to 2021 and the animal in herself allied to the know depth of breeding and performance, saw the consortium put together buy Sterling Celia’s Fifi for 6200 Euros at the Harte’s online Dispersal Sale.
Sterling Celia’s Fifi
It was a major show debut to remember for local breeders Chris & Zara Curson of the Hollybrook herd, based some ten minutes from the showground, at Hollybrook Farm, Dereham, who lifted the Overall Male Championship, and Junior Male Championship with their February 2022 born bull Cade Nugget. Purchased privately in March this year from Paul & Sharrie Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden, this bull is by Sacombe Jameson, and out of Brandane Kathleen, a Blackford Hurricane daughter. On the day the bull was shown by the Cade’s daughter Erin who was also the person who originally halter trained Nugget! On the second day of the show, and drawing an emotional tear or two from the exhibitors, Cade Nugget was tapped out as the show’s Interbreed Male Continental Champion by the judge Mary Cormack. Commenting firstly on the purchase of the bull Chris Curson said: “We first saw the bull in January this year before buying him in March. I liked the breeding behind him with Sterling Gino and the bull in himself is just very correct with great lines, he’s good on his plates, walks well and just carries a bit of style. He’ll be used on both our 20-cow-pedigree herd and also in the 40 cow suckler herd which is predominantly Simmental based.” More generally on their fantastic showing debut, Chris went on to say: “Living just ten minutes away this is a show I grew up with and have been to over many years. To now meet with this success is truly amazing and just a tremendous honour. With the English National on our doorstep we really wanted to support the show. There’s some great Simmental cattle in this area as we’ve seen today from a number of breeders and the show was really competitive but in such a friendly environment amongst supportive exhibitors.”
Cade Nugget
Following the Male Champion through from his class to take the Reserve Overall Male, and Reserve Junior Male, was the February 2022 born Grangewood Nobel from the Leedham team of Andrew & Yvonne, and their son Callum, from Rowan Farm, Pickering, North Yorkshire. This calf is by Ranfurly Impeccable and is out of Grangewood Polly’s Girl from the herd’s noted Grangewood Polly female line. Later in the day, the Leedhams met with further success when winning the Best Pair bred by exhibitor. Grangewood Nobel teamed up to win this section with the second prize heifer Grangewood Tollie’s Millie. This September 2021 born heifer is also by Ranfurly Impeccable and is out of Grangewood Tollie’s Iris, a daughter of Grangewood Glenlivet who had bred to price sale bulls for the herd. Rounding off a cracking day for the herd, Grangewood Tollie’s Natasha took the red rosette in the strong second heifer class of the day. January 2022 born this heifer is again By Ranfurly Impeccable and is out of Grangewood Tollie’s Hope, an Omorga Volvo daughter.
Grangewood NobelGrangewood Tollie’s Natasha
Back in the females and taking the Senior Heifer title was Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th from the Wacton herd of another local breeder RE & SHW Steggles, Fieldings, Honingham, Norfolk. This heifer purchased for 8000gns at the Next Generation II Simmental Sale at Carlisle in December 2022 from breeders MA Barlow & Son, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, is full of breeding with both parents being Royal Highland Show Champions. Denizes Eve’s Beauty is by Blackford Galaxy and is out of the herd’s famous Auroch Eve. Arriving at Norfolk with a little show record behind her, Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th had previously been Breed Champion at the recent Royal Suffolk Show and where she also featured in the winning Simmental Interbreed Pair. The Wacton herd was originally established in the early 1970’s by Russell Steggles one of the breed’s pioneering importers, before being sold in the mid 1980s. A mini revival by Russell’s grandson Sam saw the herd last show at the Royal Norfolk some 25 years ago. Roll on to the present and the family Steggles in the shape of Sam, and his wife Caroline, and children William and Polly have their sights on fully re-establishing the herd and with ambitions to grow it from its present seventeen head to some 50 cows built upon cornerstone females with proven quality bloodlines. The 2023 Simmental English National Show proved to be a hugely successful one with the Wacton herd perhaps most noticeably winning the award, the Imex Plate, for the breeder and herd winning the award for the most points in the classes. Four first prizes, a second, and a third, went a long way to securing that, and accompanied by a host of titles for pairs, groups, and exhibitor bred in a remarkable day! Speaking afterwards Sam Steggles said: “Norfolk is our home show and we could just about walk the cows here. With it being combined with the English National Show, and to meet with the success we’ve had, has been a truly mind blowing experience and is now a very high bar to exceed. To win the ‘most points’ award with the esteemed breeders and enthusiasts that were here is amazing and an emotional phone call has been shared with my grandmother!
Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th
A huge shout out also to young breeder Finlay Soutter whose outstanding heifer Brandane Millie stood second in another high-quality class to Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7th. On the second day young Finlay swept all before him when he won the prestigious Overall Championship for Young Handlers and was presented with his prize by William, Prince of Wales! Please look out for a further post on this fantastic achievement!
• 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.
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 MiamiGroup 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 NamencoReserve 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 ChampionOverall & Female Champion & Male ChampionJunior Female & Junior Male ChampionMale 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
A bumper set of Simmental market briefs covering May through to the first week of June sees Simmental cattle continuing to top a range of sale sections and at some 29 livestock markets around the United Kingdom and from the very North of Scotland to Cornwall!
Commercial producers see that there is more to a Simmental! A hard working, no nonsense beef breed, Simmentals efficiency, outstanding milk, fertility and maternal qualities, combined with growth, leading age at slaughter, and carcase traits, gets the job done and adds up to production and profit in a cost conscious industry. Latest market briefs include:
At Thame Market on 9th June, the sale of 117 store cattle saw heifers topped at £1395 for Simmental x heifers from P W & M E Jones.
At Frome on 7th June, UTM steers were topped at £2161 by Simm x from EM Horn & Son Southampton.
At Quoybrae on 5th June, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 106 store cattle. Heifers (55) averaged 250.3p and sold to 299.2p for 244kg Simmental crosses from Bowertower Mains Bower and £1,495 gross for a 617kg Simmental cross from Ritchies Croft, Brawlbin.
In a sale of calves at Bakewell on 5th June, a ‘blistering trade’ saw bulls top at £340 for a Simm from M & K Roworth, Beerwoodcote.
In a prime cattle sale at Rugby Farmers Mart on 5th June a small show of cows was led by a 752kg Sim from Woods farm, Meriden Ltd which made 242ppkg or £1819.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 2nd June sold 635 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Heifers (238) averaged 293.7p and sold to 377.9p per kg for a pen of two 434kg Simmental Cross from Fintry, Turriff. Bullocks 251-300kg – topped by SimX at £1035, from Glebe of Deisher. Bullocks 301-350kg – topped at £1280 by SimX from Fintry.
In a sale of OTMs at NWA’s Lancaster market on 2nd June, the top grossing cow was a Simmental achieving £2012.
At a sale of OTMs at Malton on 2nd June, the trade for cows )all over 72 months), was led by a Sim X 880kg, from SF Stubbings, Sledmere topping at 244.50ppk (£2151.60).
In a sale of store cattle for Shetland consignors also on 2nd June at ANM’s Thainstone centre, bullocks sold to 354.4p per kg for a pen of five 292kg Simmentals from D G Flaws, Fleck, Dunrossness. Heifers Sold to £1,160 gross for a pair of 372kg Simmentals and 320.6p per kg for 262kg Simmentals from D G Flaws, Fleck. On the same day and a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors, a total of 110 head were forward. Heifers Sold to a top of £1,340 gross for a pair of 408kg Simmentals from A D Miller, Spring Valley, Stronsay.
At a sale of cast cows and bulls at Thainstone on 1st June, Beef Feeding Cows (81) averaged £1426.36 and sold to £1850 for a 824kg Simmental Cross from Dorsell, Alford. Bulls averaged £1979.17 and sold to £2870 for a 1410kg Simmental from Fallaw Farm, Inverkeilor. At a similar sale from Orkney consignors on the day, beef cows sold to £2,170 gross for a 844kg Simmental from A T Annal & Son, Myres, South Ronaldsay.
The strong trade for Simmental rearing calves at Gisburn market continued on 1st June with the top price being £470 for a Simmental calf from D Calvert & Son.
At Frome’s sale of prime cattle on 31st May, heifers with good meat and finish sold to a top of 259p/kg for a handy weight Simmental from L Symes, Southampton.
In a sale of rearing calves at Market Drayton on 31st May special mention goes to £455 L.E. Weston&Sons who sold Simm bull calves at £455, and £395.
Wednesday, 31st May Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly Store Cattle sale at Carlisle. A seasonal entry in terms of quantity and quality saw another electric trade with values staying at similar levels per head as the quality declines. Sale header at £1770 was a cracking Simmental x from Messrs Potter, Cardew House, Dalston.
United Auctions sold 553 store cattle, native bred & young bulls, and 106 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls on 31st May at Stirling. Heifers (266) sold to £1840 for a 692kg SIMX from Tillyrie.
A seasonal entry of stock on 31st May at Dungannon saw all classes of stock continue to sell sharply. Heifers topped at £1640 for a 595kg Sim (276.00) presented by D Nelson; Weanlings sold to £1290 for a 460kg Sim (280.00) presented by Owenreagh Farms.
On Tuesday 30th May 2023 Lawrie and Symington sold 310 Store Cattle at Lanark. 151 bullocks sold to 336.5p for a Simx off of Skipness Estates.
On 30th May at Holmfirth a small sale of store cattle saw a Simmental heifer from S&M Thackery lead the trade at £1190 and when selling to J Hobson & Son.
At Worcester’s sale of 144 store cattle on 27th May, the steers were led by a 16-month-old Simm X at £1345, from A Verity.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 723 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves on 26th May. Heifers (252) averaged 301p and sold to 369.4p per kg for a pen of three 268kg Simmental and £1980 gross for a pair of 548kg Simmental both from New Barns, Forfar.
At Lancaster livestock auction on 26th May, heifer stirks sold to £1240 for a Simmental x from AJ Metcalfe, Out Rawcliffe.
Aberdeen & Northern Marts on 26th May saw a total of 125 Store Cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to a top of 357.5p per kg for 386kg Simmental from I D Sinclair, Upper Heads, South Ronaldsay.
In a sale of stirks and suckled calves at Exeter on 26th May, the top of the day in the heifers saw the Chugg Family down from Chulmleigh present Simmental crosses (6m) to £730 with others to £690 & £640.
On 25th May and a sale of store cattle at Rugby Farmers Market, a run of quality Homebred Simmental Bulls sold to 286ppk and a market topping £2349 for CH Evans & Son.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 24th May, Fat Cows Fat Cows cleared to £1690 for a 735kg Sim (230.00) presented by J Casey.
In a sale of calves at Melton Mowbray on 24th May, kicking off the day saw a whopping Simmental month old bull calf to £470 on behalf of local vendors, Chandler & Dickman, with another Simmental heifer calf from the same pen at £335.
At Skipton Auction Marts Fortnightly Sale of Young Feeding Bulls, Store Bullocks & Heifers, and Breeding Cattle on 24th May, Simmentals led the averages for young bulls at £1560 and against the continental average of £1438, and the native average of £1255. RD Elliott sold Simms at £1690, £1620 and £1450.
At Dingwall on 24th May, at Dingwall & Highland Marts sale of store cattle and OTMs, OTM prime & feeding bulls were led by a Sim from Meikle Ussie at £,2360.
💥WESTER BLEATON SELLS TO £3450 TO LEAD STRONG TRADE FOR SIMMENTAL HEIFERS AT THAINSTONE On 23rd May at Thainstone’s special sale of breeding cattle, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 183 head. Breeding cattle continued to meet a brisk demand and with Simmentals featuring throughout. Cow with Heifer Calf sold to £3450 for a Simmental Cross with a Lim cross calf from Wester Bleaton, Bridge of Cally. Other strong Simmental prices saw Simm and SimmX Heifers with bull calf prices include: Simm – Pitgersie £3550, £3500, £3250, Towiemore £3500, South Blachrie £3350, Bankhead £3350, Wester Bleaton £3300; SimX – Pitgersie 3500, £3350, £3250, Towiemore £3500, £3450, Wester Bleaton £3500, £3400, £3350, £3300, £3250, Mains of Drumdollo £3250. Heifer with Heifer Calf Simm prices included: SimX – Pitgersie £3550, £3400, £3100, Wester Bleaton £3250, £3100, £3050, Bankhead £3300; Mains of Drumdollo £3100. Cow with Bull Calf was led by Sim from Bankhead at £2900 and who had further Simms at, £2550, £2400; and a SimX at £2850. Cow with Heifer Calf was led by a SimX from Wester Bleaton at £3200 (X2). Further SimX Cow with Heifer Calf included: Glenlea £3100, Bankhead £2300, Knowes, Birkenhill £1800; Bankhead had a Sim Cow with Heifer calf at £2950. Harrison and Hetherington fortnightly sale of store cattle on 23rd May at Lockerbie Auction Market saw a busy ringside of buyers and a good show of cattle. Cattle remained highly sought after with especially cattle for grass being in extremely high demand. 12-month-old Simmental cattle sold to 292ppk from Mr Harrison.
On 22nd May Bakewell Market sold 115 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows. All buyers were fighting hard to secure numbers with all of the best cattle comfortably over £2/kilo including 14 over 220p/kg and a top of 268p for 518kg Sim cow from Messrs Powell, Hundall.
On 20th May at Stirling, United Auctions sold 448 breeding cattle with Simmentals featuring in the quoted prices and including: Porterstown (SIM) £3200×2. Heifers and Heifer Calves: Porterstown (SIM) £3200. Cows and Bull Calves: Mains of Craigisla (SIM) £2700; Cows and Heifer Calves: Lochlane (SIM) £2850 & £2700.
At Thainstone on 19th May, Aberdeen & Northern Marts had a total of 102 Store Cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to a top of 349.7p for a pen of 406kg Simmentals from A & D Clark, Stratheast, Holm.
On 18th May at Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone, a Simmental X heifer sold to 253p per kg and £1973.40 gross from Tillyeve, Udny. On the same day, a sale of Beef Feeding Cows (93) averaged £1488.80 and sold to £1870 for a 750kg Simmental Cross from Essil, Garmouth. On 18th May at Stirling, Caledonian Marts sold 134 Cattle comprising of 64 Bullocks, Heifers and Young Bulls, and 70 OTM Cattle.Prime. Heifers averaged 297p and sold to £2273 for a Simmental from J Brown, Greencraig, Slamannan.
💥MAINS OF TARRYBLAKE SELL SIMMENTAL HEIFERS TO £3500 AT HUNTLY At Huntly on 18th May, United Auctions held a sale of Store, Breeding and OTM cattle. Store cattle met a keen enquiry yet again. Breeding cattle sold to a large ringside where some top-end Simmental cross heifers were easily sold. In the sale of breeding cattle, Heifers with male Calves at foot saw SimX at £3500 from Mains of Tarryblake, with a Sim from the same home at £3400. In the Heifers with Heifer calves at foot Mains of Tarryblake again doubled up with a Sim at £3500, and a SimX at £3400. In the store sale, bullocks sold to a top of 321.2p per kg for a 330kg SimX from Corskie, Garmouth. Heifers sold to a top gross of £1320 for a 480kg SimX Auchinclech, Grange. OTMS sold to a top gross of £2240 for a 900kg SimX from Wester Elchies, Aberlour.
At Stirling, and United Auction’s sale of young bulls on 17th May, the trade was topped at 257.70p for a SIMX from Hole O Clean. In the store sale, Simmental heifers from Leyshade sold to £1800 & £1790. C&D Auction Marts held their weekly sale of Primestock on Wednesday 17th May at Dumfries. Leading the way at £1950.50, and £1878.75 was Simms from Dalswinton.
In a sale of 315 calves and stirks at Holsworthy on 17th May, the stirks sold to £530 (6m) for a Simmental steer in from GG Smale, who sold heifers to £500 (5m).
On Wednesday, 17th May Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly Store Cattle sale at Carlisle with another fantastic entry of 548 Store cattle forward at Borderway. A tremendous trade for all classes was witnessed with strong cattle in particular a flying trade. A Simmental bullock from TH & PA Johnston, Westray, Cockermouth led the days trade at £1980.
On 17th May at Truro, the sale of UTM prime cattle steers, saw the top gross price of £1968.4 being paid for a Simmental x (760kg) from Messrs R E, G L & M R Body of Hayle. In the cull cows, topping the section was a Simmental x for Mr B Cowell of Wendron, Helston at 226p/kg away to Dawn West Devon of Hatherleigh.
In a sale of 370 weanlings at Market Drayton on 15th May, in the younger weanlings, top prices were a six month old Simmental bull from Mr S.R. Nash, Leigh at £660. In the steers a 10-month-old Simmental topped at £960 Harold Davies & Ptns.
On 15th May at Sedgemoor, young bulls 12m to 13m sold to a top of £1,897.88 twice (both 723kg) and £1,802.50 (700kg) for Simmentals from R Bigwood.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 10th May, dropped Calves continued to sell briskly to peak at £390 for a Sim Bull presented by E Speers.
In a sale of rearing calves at Holsworthy on 10th May, special mention goes to the Wearing Family, Tavistock who sold a one month old Simmental to an impressive £480.
Oswestry’s sale of store cattle on 10th May saw £1270 (343p/kg) paid for Simmental steers aged 19 months and sold by Llangedwyn Home Farm, to feature in the top end of prices.
In a sale of store cattle on 10th May at Market Drayton, the steers were led at £1795 by a Simm from RJ Litchfield & Son who had further Simms at £1600.
In a sale of store cattle at Truro on 10th May, a fast trade for all on offer from start to finish saw strong types well placed. Steers sold to a top of £1760 for a 20-month-old Simmental x for Mrs B Baxter of Porkellis, who went on to sell a further Simmental x of the same age to £1565. A single 22 month old Simmental steer for Mr G L Budge of Baldhu realised £1645. Truro Market witnessed a Beef Type average for cull cows of over 200p/kg for the first time ever. Top price was for a smart Simmental heifer from Mr N Doble of St Agnes which sold to Messrs W A Rapson & Sons of Milton Abbot at 230p/kg,
On Wednesday 10th May, Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of weaned cattle at Carlisle. Young cattle through the roof as Ring 4 was packed to the rafters with bidders for grass cattle. Simmental steers sold to £1280 from Millisle Farm to feature in the leading prices.
💥TOWIEMORE SIMMENTAL HEIFERS WITH CALF AT FOOT SELL TO £4350 AT THAINSTONE SALE OF BREEDING CATTLE! Towiemore Simm heifers with bull calf at: £4350; £4200; £4050 x2; £4000 Towiemore Simm heifers with heifer calf at: £4050 x 2; £3950; £3900 x 2;£3800 Towiemore Simm cow with bull calf: £3950; £3650 Towiemore Simm cow with heifer calf: £3050 90 Towiemore females, almost all Simmentals, with calves at foot averaged £3453! At Thainstone on Tuesday 9th May, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 227 head of adult breeding cattle and with Simmental females again on fire, in big demand, and meeting with an excellent trade. Featuring strongly throughout the sale was the Smith family at Towiemore Farm, Keith, Banffshire who had a number of Simmental heifers and cows with calves at foot well over the £4000 mark and topping at £4350. In all 90 Towiemore females, almost all Simmental, averaged a remarkable £3543! Leading Simmental Prices included: Heifer with Bull Calf: SimX – Towiemore – £4350, £4200, £4050 (X2), £4,000, Wester Bleaton – £3950; Sim – Towiemore – £4300, £3950. Heifer with Heifer Calf: Sim – Towiemore – £4050, £3900; SimX – Towiemore £4050, £3950, £3900, £3800, £3750; Cow with Bull Calf: SimX – Towiemore £3950, £3600; Cow with Heifer Calf: Sim – Towiemore £3050; SimX – Sillerton £2550, £2300.
On Monday 8th May and a sale of 112 cattle forward at Rugby Farmers Mart, the trade for cows was led at £2051 for an 892kg Simm from CH Evans & Son.
United Auctions sold 651 cattle at Huntly on 6th May. 265 Heifers sold to average 295.6p per kg selling to 380.1p per kg or £2250 per head on three different occasions for seven SimX’s from Connachie, Elgin.
On Friday 5th May and a sale of store cattle at Exeter, an army of buyers in from all parts of the country pushed store cattle prices for all types on offer to new heights. Steers topped at £1860 for a grand, smart Simmental steer (26m) from William Cross of Huntsham with other Simmentals off the same farm going down in age reaching £1780 (24m) and £1760 (22m).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 448 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 4th May. Leading the bullocks at 340p, the top price per kg, was a Simmental from Cleeves.
In a sale of calves and weanlings on 5th May at Lancaster Auction Mart, heifer calves sold to £470 twice, with another four at £450 for well reared Simmental x from JR Newham & Son, Conder Green. At Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd’s sale of Store Cattle at Newton Stewart on 5th May, a nice show for quality forward met a good demand. Topping the trade at £1350 was a pen of tremendous outwintered Simmental bullocks from A & MA Henry , Barrachan. Simmentals also led the per kilo this time for a pair of beauties from H Milroy, Mid Gleniron that made 325.9p k/g.
At Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of prime cattle at Thainstone on 4th May, 30 to 36 Month Heifers sold to 265p per kg for a 535kg Simmental from Backhill Clackriach, Maud and £1,743 gross for a 700kg Simmental from Raefin, Keith.
At Caledonian Marts sale at Stirling on 4th May, OTM’s sold to 290 ppkg for a Simmental from Glenside Farms, Stirling.
💥SIMMENTAL HEIFER AND CALF SELLS TO £3700 FOR THE GORDON FAMILY, LOST FARM, STRATHDON AS SIMMENTALS FEATURE THROUGHOUT IN NUMBERS AND LEADING PRICES AT THAINSTONE Simmentals were again to the fore in numbers and leading prices on 3rd May at Thainstone as Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 503 head of adult breeding Cattle. The British Simmental Cattle Society’s award for the best sired Simmental Heifer and Calf went to The Gordon Family, Lost Farm, Strathdon with the 1st prize Simmental Heifer with Bull Calf which sold for £3700. Bulling Heifers met a fantastic demand selling to a top of £2600 for a pair of tremendous 19-month-old Simmental Heifers from D & G Manson, Brodieshill Farm, Alves. *The Mansons will host a Simmental Open Day on 8th July. Over 90% of the bulling heifers forward were Simmental sired. The section for Cow with Bull Calf sold to £3,150 for a Simmental Cross with a Limousin Cross from Rennieshill, Newmachar.
The commercial demand for Simmental females continued unabated with a strength in depth throughout the entry and a strong trade to match. Leading Simmental prices included: Heifer with Bull Calf: SimX – Lost Farm £3750, £3700, £3600, £3500, South Blachrie £3650, £3600, Bungalow, New Noth £3600 (X2), £3550 (X2) Heifer with Heifer Calf: SimX – Pitcairn Farm £3750, £3500, South Blachrie £3650, £3450 Lost Farm £3650, Farirburn £3450, Bungalow, New Noth £3400. Leading Bulling Heifer prices: 351kg – 400kg – Culnoag (Sim) £1300; 401kg – 450kg – Connachie (Sim) £1550 451kg – 500kg – Berryleys (Sim) £1850, Connachie (Sim) £1800 501kg – 550kg – Berryleys (Sim) £2250, £2150, Connachie (SimX) £2100, £2020 (X2), £2000 (X3), Culquhassen (SimX) £2000; 551kg – 600kg – Connachie (Sim) £2250, Brodieshill (SimX) £2150, Connachie (Sim) £2100 (X5), £2050, Coldhome (Sim) £2050; 601kg – 605kg – Brodieshill (SimX) £2550, £2450, Bankhead (SimX) £2300, Connachie (SimX) £2100, Bankhead (Sim) £2050. At Stirling on 3rd May and United Auctions sale of store cattle, and young bulls, the young bulls sold to a top gross of £1450 for a SIMX from Easterton. In the store sale, 805 heifers were sold with the leading Simm prices including: Lochlane £1870 & £1820; Bargany 331.60p; Barabarafield £1800; Forestmill 322.20p.
A sale of UTM heifers at Frome on 2nd May was led by a Simm at 256ppkg from JC Stainer, Semington.
💥MERKLAND SIMMENTAL BULLING HEIFERS SELL TO A CRACKING £3650 AT STIRLING! The trade for commercial Simmental breeding cattle was on fire at United Auctions – Livestock Auctioneers, Stirling on Monday May 1st with quality Simmentals in demand throughout the categories. Leading the way was Jim & Liz Dyet, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire who topped the sale of bulling heifers with three 16 to 18-month-old Simmentals each making a tremendous £3650! All three heifers were purchased by Alastair Mitchell, Victoria Farm, Muthill, Crieff. Further Merkland Simmental x heifers on the day made £2200, and £2000 on the day when selling to Milton Farmers. The strong trade for Simmentals continued when Simm X heifers & bull calves from Kirkton made £3400. In the cows & bull calves, Simm X’s from Beannie made £3400, and £3300 respectively. The same vendor led the cow & heifer calf trade with their Simm X’s making £3300, and £3100.
At Quoybrae on 1st May, and Aberdeen & Northern Marts sale of store cattle, Heifers (57) averaged 300p per kg and to £1590 gross for a 542kg for Simmental from Hunster, Bower.
Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, had forward 542 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale on May 1st. Bullocks averaged 291 ppkg selling to 340 ppkg for a pen of Simmentals from J Lambie, Knockdaw, Ballantrae.
On Monday 1st May at Market Drayton and a sale of 322 weanlings, the steer trade was led by ten- month-old Simmental steers which sold for £710 for C.&B. Slater, Whitmore.
2023 Competition to be held from July – mid August
Back with a summer bang, the fourth staging of the British Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show has been announced and will take place over a six-week period through July to mid-August.
Initiated in 2020 when there were no summer shows, this picture-based competition has caught the imagination and proved to be hugely popular with participating breeders having a go, and through the power of social media, an audience stretching across the UK and around the globe.
To date the competition has attracted some spectacular entries and with the 2021 edition seeing a remarkable 754 animals entered from breeders across the four home nations. Class and Championship winners have reflected the strength in depth of British Simmental cattle across the country and with he first three overall winners being from Cheshire, Moray, and Cornwall!
First and foremost it’s a fun competition and an opportunity for Simmental herds, large and small, to participate. We again hope that the ‘Virtual’ Show provides a very visible window through which to promote British Simmental genetics to fellow breeders, potential buyers, commercial producers, the UK industry in all its parts, and to a global online audience interested in good cattle. Previous editions of the event, and now in harness with the summer shows, have also highlighted animals with forward Simmental sales potential.
Last year, and in recognition of the live summer show season being back, the classes were tightened to six in all, and followed by the Overall Championships. We’ve stuck with that again this year and with the schedule as follows:
2023 BRITISH SIMMENTAL ‘VIRTUAL’ SHOW
Class 1: Bull Calf born on or after 1st August 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 30th June Entries Close: 7th July
Class 2: Heifer Calf born on or after 1st August 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 8th July Entries Close: 14th July
Class 3: Bull born between 1st January 2021 to 31st July 2022. Bull name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 15th July Entries Close: 21st July
Class 4: Heifer born between 1st January 2021 – 31st July 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 22nd July Entries Close: 28th July
Class 5: Bull born before 1st January 2021. Bull name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 29th July Entries Close: 4th August
Class 6: Cow any age, In milk. Udder must be seen in picture, no calf to be seen in picture. Cow name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 5th August Entries Close: 11th August
Special 1: Male Champion Announced w/c 15th August.
Special 2: Female Champion Announced w/c 15th August.
Special 3: Overall Champion Announced w/c 15th August.
So, the sun is presently shining, the die is cast, and it’s now over to you! We very much hope you’ll take full aim at the 2023 British Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show and once again, let’s see if we can ‘wow the online crowds’ with another showcase of quality British Simmental genetics.
Keep an eye on Facebook for updates and reminders of the respective classes.
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