Quality and breeding was to the fore when the maiden heifer Ballinalare Farm Nikita from Mr J & Mr A Wilson, Newry, Co Down lifted the Simmental Overall Supreme Championship at the 2023 RUAS Balmoral Show, Balmoral Park, on Wednesday 10th May.
A small but strong Simmental section was presented before the judge on the day, Stewart Stronach of the prolific Islavale herd, Berryleys Farm, Keith on the opening afternoon of what was the 154th staging of Northern Ireland’s blue riband agricultural show.
The fifteen-month-old Ballinalare Farm Nikita took first prize in the second class of the day before moving on to win the Heifer Championship, the Overall Female Championship, and getting the judge’s final tap out as the day’s Overall Supreme Champion. February 2022 born, Ballinalare Farm Nikita is sired by the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive who was also the sire of last year’s RUAS Balmoral Show Champion. She is out of Ballinalare Farm Ilyssa whose Granddam is a full sister of the noted Ballinalare Farm Nightrider who was bought by Iain Green, Fochabers and went on to breed well in the noted Corskie herd.
Female & Overall Champion Ballinalare Farm Nikita
Commenting on his Champion, the judge Stewart Stronach said: “Ballinalare Farm Nikita was an outstanding animal. Long and clean, she just oozed breed and show character. A really modern Simmental heifer and a very worthy Champion.”
Long term exhibitors, the Wilsons have been showing at the RUAS Balmoral Show for over 30 years and with many Championship wins in that time. Perhaps most notably is Ballinalare Farm Money Penny who won in 2004 as a heifer, before repeating the win in 2005 with her first calf, and completing the hat-trick in 2006 with her second calf! This is a feat never completed previously with a homebred animal.
From here the aim of the Wilsons is to continue to show Ballinalare Farm Nikita throughout this summer and to help with the promotion of the fourth Production Sale from the Ballinalare herd, and along with the Ranfurly herd, planned to be held in September 2024.
The Championship win continued what has been a terrific 2023 year to date for the Ballinalare Farm father and son team Joe and Alan Wilson. In February, Alan Wilson’s Bannhill Farm Masterpiece lifted the Supreme Championship at the Stirling Simmental Bull Sale before going on to sell for 28,000gns, and set a new record top price for a Simmental bull from Northern Ireland.
Following the Champion through the female section, and lifting the Reserve Overall Supreme title, and Reserve Overall female was the winner of the first class of the day, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14 from David and Jonny Hazelton’s Dungannon based 20-cow herd. October 2021 born, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st is out of Ranfurly Lady Diana 33rd J5 18 VG88, a Raceview King daughter, and whose pedigree goes back to the renowned Salisbury Guinevere, the foundation female of that line. Lady Diana 41st is by the prolific Auchorachan Hercules who himself was bred from a Ranfurly embryo and which in itself is a great source of pride for the Hazeltons. Again, regular exhibitors at Balmoral over a number of years the Ranfurly herd won back to back Championships in 2018, and 2019, and lifted the Reserve Overall title last year.
Reserve Female & Reserve Overall Champion Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st
Commenting on Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14, David Hazelton said: “We’re delighted to win both the Reserve Overall and Reserve Female titles at this prestigious show. This heifer has always had that bit of star quality and she was shown successfully as a calf last year at both Armagh and Dungannon. At this point we have plans to take her to one or two further summer shows this year.” Later in the show there was further success for the Ranfurly herd when Ranfurly Weikel 45th M11, who placed second to the Reserve Overall in her class, took Reserve in the Interbreed Continental Heifer – Beef Recorded Championship. In the Interbreed Exhibitor Bred Pairs, judged by George Harvey, Perth, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14 teamed up with Ranfurly Notorious 22, the February 2022 born Auchorachan ACDC son, to take a very creditable third in the Interbreed Exhibitor Bred Pairs.
Michael Durno’s Auchorachan breeding was again evident in the bulls with the Male Championship being awarded to Auchorachan Majestic 21 entered and shown by William & Jane Dodd who run the Craigy pedigree herd at Saintfield, Co Down. This September 2021 born bull was purchased at Stirling in February this year with William Dodd saying; “We just thought this bull had something special when we saw him as he was just full of style and not too extreme. We were delighted to get him and now to win the Male Championship at Balmoral with him is just a fantastic bonus. However his showing days are now over as he is the herd’s new stock bull and will soon be going out with the cows!”
Male Champion Auchorachan Majestic
In what is only the Craigy herds second year showing at Balmoral this is their second Male Championship in a row and following on from the homebred Craigy Max’s win last year. Rounding off a cracking show day for the Dodds, the February 2022 born Craigy Notorious also won his class before placing Reserve Junior Champion to the Overall Supreme. Craigy Notorious is by Keeldrum Fabregas 14, and is out of the Popes Barclay daughter Craigy Violet G6. Very much a family affair, Notorious was ‘picked from the pens’ by Jamie and Lewis, William and Jane’s sons who spotted his potential from being a young calf. Both keen cattle men in their own right, Jamie and Lewis took turns to show the bulls on the day.
Reserve Male Champion Craigy Notorious
Come the Interbreeds the Simmental entries more than held their own and with the Simmentals taking the Reserve Overall in the Interbreed Group of Three in front of the judge Andrew Hughes, Halifax. The Simmental team comprised of Ballinalare Farm Nikita; Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st; and Auchorachan Majestic.
Congratulations are extended to all exhibitors at the 2023 RUAS Balmoral Show who represented the Simmental breed so well.
The Bobbie Dickson Perpetual Championship Trophy for the Champion: Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita Reserve: WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14.
British Simmental Cattle Society Engraved Crystal Glasses for the Champion: Alan Wilson
Imex Perpetual Cow Bell for the Female Champion: Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita Reserve: WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14
Bangor and Six Road Ends Farmers’ Union Perpetual Trophy for the Female Champion: Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita Reserve: WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14
Bobbie Gamble Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Best Heifer: Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita Reserve: WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14
NI Simmental Club Trophy for the Exhibitor-bred Male Champion: William and Jane Dodd, Auchorachan Majestic 21. Reserve: William & Jane Dodd, Craigy Notorious 22.
William Black Memorial Perpetual Cup for the Male Champion: William and Jane Dodd, Auchorachan Majestic 21. Reserve: William & Jane Dodd, Craigy Notorious 22.
News Letter Shield for Junior champion: Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita . Reserve: William & Jane Dodd, Craigy Notorious 22.
Silver Award for the best exhibit bred in Northern Ireland: Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita.
Classes
Cow or heifer, born between 1 July 21 & 31 December 21 – 1, WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Lady Diana 41st M14. 2 WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Weikel 45th M11. 3, Connor Wilkinson, Mount Natalia.
Heifer, born on or after 01/01/22 – 1, Alan Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Nikita; 2, Andrew Clarke, Breaghey Vida N435; 3, Andrew Clarke, Breaghey Nadine. 4 Molly Bradley, Clonagh Posh Pixie.
Bull, born on or before 31/12/21 – 1, William and Jane Dodd, Auchorachan Majestic 21.
Bull born on or after 1st January 2022 – 1 William & Jane Dodd, Craigy Notorious 22. 2 WD and JD Hazelton, Ranfurly Notorious N2. 3 Mrs Julie Wallace, Ashfurly Notorious
Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, WD and JD Hazelton; 2, William & Jane Dodd; 3, Andrew Clarke.
Feature on James McKane, Spring Farm, Ballymena, and where the performance efficiency of the Simmental breed is the backbone of the farm’s commercial suckler herd. Spring Farm will host a NI Simmental Breeders Club Open Day, in conjunction with the British Simmental Cattle Society, on Saturday 20th May 2023.
James McKane
Fact file
• 100 acres grassland • 55 cow commercial Simmental herd • 6 pedigree Simmental cows • 15 months, 350kg age and weight at first breeding • 24 month age at first calving • 100% herd calving within three months • 100% calves reared • 380kg dwt in 14 months, weight and age of finished bulls, majority grading U bracket, remainder R3
Suckler producers searching for an efficient and profitable cow need look no further than the Simmental, says James McKane who has a lifetime’s experience working with the breed. “Simmentals are future fit; we’ve adopted a relatively low input high output system and they tick all the boxes. They’re fertile, have ample milk, great growth rates from forage-based diets, and equally important, they’re docile.” Add together the herd’s performance efficiency and it has the hallmarks of contributing to reduced emissions.
“We’ve a 55-cow herd of predominantly Simmental genetics run with two Simmental stock bulls, and usually end up averaging 100% calves reared. We’re achieving our target for the entire herd to calve from mid-February within a 12-week block. Cows and calves are turned out as soon as the weather permits, and they look after themselves eating nothing but grass, supplemented with magnesium licks, throughout the season which we like to extend to at least seven months,” explains James who farms at Laymore, near Ballymena in partnership with his wife, Laura and with help from brother, Bill.
Six-week old Simmental calves
“The cows and heifers milk like trains right through to the bitter end without any meal and they keep themselves in body condition score 3 to 4 right round the year. Furthermore, we’ve never fed creep to the calves; it’s another expense, results in poaching and what’s more, we don’t need to, their mothers have plenty of milk.” Following weaning, the herd is housed and thrives on pure silage diets, without any supplementary feed, until turn out.
James explains replacement heifers are sufficiently well grown to serve at 350kgs and calve at two years. “They’re bred to the Angus and we synchronise. Since we strive to be more and more efficient, there’s no way we would think about keeping them on for another year grazing valuable grass.”
The commercial Simmental herd thrives on a forage diet throughout the housing period
While a few of the later born male calves are steered and sold as stores, most are kept entire and are currently finishing within an average 14 months at 380kg and sold deadweight on to a rising late spring market. The majority are grading within the U bracket, the remainder R3. “On housing, these bulls are introduced to a diet of first cut grass silage and meal, and after a settling down period, by the turn of the year we finding they’re averaging 1.7kg DLWG.
“In fact, we’ve just started to weigh the bulls on a monthly basis – it was something the NI Simmental Club has encouraged us to do, and its proved to be an eye opener finding out how they’re really performing. I would never have picked out some of those bulls that are doing up to 2.0kg DLWG.”
James’s Simmental journey began in 1971 when he saw the breed for the first time pictured in Farming Life accompanying an article marking one of the initial Simmental importations to the province made by W David Perry, Killane. “David was a friend of the family, so I asked my Dad if we could visit and ended up bringing home a Simmental heifer; she was my 13th birthday present. She cost £40 which was a lot of money at the time, however she turned out to be an investment for life.”
Since then, James says it’s been a slow road to success. “I’m a first-generation farmer and made sacrifices to save up pocket money sufficient to buy one pedigree heifer from Killane in 1978, before growing the herd to stocking capacity on our 100-acre grassland unit. We’ve now got six pedigree cows registered under the Springfarm prefix and are presently hoping to introduce ET to help expand the herd. It’s a development that’s been inspired by daughter, Megan’s love of the breed and interest in showing at local agricultural shows.
“I’ve also got a contracting business so I’m away from the farm a lot, particularly during spring and summer. Again, that’s where Simmentals score, they’re so quiet and easy to handle, and we’ve always been confident our cattle are safe for our two daughters, Megan and Ruth to work amongst.”
He adds: “For this unit to have a future, then we’ve to keep costs down, be as efficient as possible and only keep low input high performance cattle. Our Simmentals are ticking all the boxes.”
Hiltonstown Indiana exhibited by James McKane & Balmoral Show Simmental Champion
• If you are interested in attending the Simmental Open Day at Spring Farm on Friday 20th May, then you can ‘register your interest’ by clicking: https://britishsimmental.co.uk/open-days-farm-walks/ This would be a huge help in allowing us to anticipate the number of attendees and to organise accordingly.
• Please also keep an eye on the NI Simmental Breeders Club, and British Simmental Cattle Society’s Facebook pages; and also www.britishsimmental.co.uk
• 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
Strong demand for Simmental breeding females Simm X Heifers & bull calves to £3400 Simm cows & bull calves to £3400 Simm cows & heifer calves to £3300
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! Two of the heifers were by Islavale Huntly, and with the third being by Skerrington Gambler. 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.
With an increasing cost base, efficiency and all-round added value is key to the forward industry. Quiet, easy calving, easy keep, milky Simmental females, who can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days, are ticking a lot of added value boxes for commercial producers. There’s more to a Simmental!
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.
Charles Gordon (right), Lost Farm, Strathdon, receiving the Champion Simmental award, for the second year in a row, from BSCS Chairman of Shows & Sales North, Stewart Stronach.
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.
This was the second year in a row that Lost Farm has topped the Simmental prices and lifted this award at the corresponding sale. The Gordons are well recognised for selling strong consignments of well-bred outfits to returned buyers at both the spring and autumn Thainstone fixtures, and from their 50-cow suckler herd of mainly Simmental cross females.
Class 1 Simmental Sired Heifer with Male Calf 1st – C & G Gordon Lost Farm Strathdon £3,700 2nd – C & G Gordon Lost Farm Strathdon £3,500 3rd – A Prentice The Bungalow New Noth Gartly £3,600 Class 2 Simmental Sired Heifer with Female Calf 1st – C Malone Pitcairn Cardenden £3,500 2nd – W J Morrison Fairburn Longmannhill £3,450 3rd – C Malone Pitcairn Cardenden £3,750
• 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.
Newton House Moneymaker 5800gns
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.
Thorncliff Monty 5500gns
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.”
Blue Cedar Majestic 5500gns
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.
Midhope Megan 4200gns
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.
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