by Nicky Moreton | Dec 12, 2024 | 2024, 2024 East Anglia News, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
- Backmuir take Bronze in 2024 Simmental Miss Europe
The results are in and British Simmental genetics are again to the fore in this year’s online 2024 Simmental Championship of Europe, taking silver in the Overall Champion of Europe, and bronze in the Simmental Miss Europe competition.
An increasingly high profile competition, the European Championship is held within the ‘Simmental Champion of the World Competition’ run by the Texas, USA based ‘Simmental Breeder.’
Placing as Overall Reserve Champion of Europe was the January 2023 born Simply Peter Pan, owned by RE & SHW Steggles of the Wacton herd, Honingham, Norfolk, and bred by Mr & Mrs R Fitton, Moss Hall farm, Bolton, Lancashire. January 2023 born, Simply Peter Pan is by Ashland Magic and is out of Derrycallaghan Kitkat (ET). At this year’s Simmental English National Show, held within the Royal Lancashire Show in July, this bull won the Male Championship, Junior Male, and Overall Junior titles in front of judge for the day, Stewart Stronach of the noted Islavale herd, Keith, Banffshire. The bull, the breeding, and his performance caught the eye of fellow exhibitor Sam Steggles, and a deal was done that saw the bull purchased for £11,000. Commenting on this latest accolade, Sam Steggles said: “We were delighted to buy Simply Peter Pan in the summer and he’s settled in to the Wacton herd ever so well. For him to be recognised at an international level and be placed as Reserve European Champion Simmental really is a bit of bonus icing on the cake!”
Meanwhile in the Simmental Miss Europe competition, it was a terrific bronze medal position for the prolific Annick Ginger’s Lucia from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Annick Ginger’s Lucia bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September 2022 for 16,000gns. This 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. With an amazing show record behind her, Annick Ginger’s Lucia has won back to back Simmental Championships at the Royal Highland, and this year, shown with her bull calf at foot, Backmuir Pompeii by Backmuir Marksman, won the show’s Overall Individual Interbreed title, a first for a Simmental since 1995! For good measure, Ginger’s Lucia also won this year’s Simmental Scottish National Show held within Turriff Show, and also won the show’s Overall Individual Interbreed. Quite a year!
No strangers to these awards, British Simmentals took the Overall Champion of Europe award in both 2023, and 2022, with Islavale Jabba from Gavin Brown, Penicuik, Midlothian, last year, and Drumsleed Legacy 20 from Gerald and Morag Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk in 2022.
The Simmental judges for the ‘Champion of Europe’ award consisted of:
Daniel Espinosa (Colombia); Sigi von Lüttwitz (Namibia); Andrew Hughes (England); and Rafael Ramirez (Mexico).
Tremendous achievements by the Wacton, and Backmuir herds and great to see British Simmental featuring again on the international stage.
by Nicky Moreton | Dec 9, 2024 | 2024, 2024 North West News, 2024 News, 2024 NextGen Sale News
- Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso make 9500gns
- 8500gns Islavale Raven wins Weaned Calf Championship
- Maiden heifers average £5024
- Simm X Hi Health heifers average £1823
The December 2023 born Islavale Peace from WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith sold for 15,000gns to lead the trade at the fourth staging of the Next Generation Sale of Simmental Females & Weaned Calves held at Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday, 6th December.
Overall Reserve Champion Female Islavale Peace 15,000gns
Sired by Rockytop Luca 20, and out of Islavale Foxy EX 91, this heifer had earlier taken the red ticket in the last female class in the pre-sale show before going on to take the Overall Reserve Champion Female award from judge for the day Richard McCulloch of the noted Overhill House herd at Armadale, West Lothian. Come sale time and Richard McCulloch backed up his judgement when purchasing this stylish heifer after some spirited bidding. Of buying the day’s leading priced animal, Richard McCulloch said: “Islavale Peace is a lovely heifer with a great top line. Just a smashing heifer, she’s stylish, very feminine and is a totally different bloodline being introduced into the herd. I’m delighted to have bee able to buy her.”
Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso 9,500gns
At 9500gns was the winner of the first class of the day in the shape of Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith Banffshire. This upstanding April 2022 born heifer is the first daughter to be sold off the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo, and is out of Backmuir Orlane’s Kenzie. Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso joined the top price of the day when also being purchased by the judge. Commenting, Richard McCulloch said: “As with the top price, this Backmuir heifer is a totally new bloodline and I’m excited to see what she’ll bring to the Overhill House herd in due course. She’s a feminine heifer, very square, and with a good topline. In addition to her breeding, she is the colour for the herd I look for, and is the type of female I think has the potential to go on and breed good bulls for the commercial and pedigree market. A future aim will be to put her to the herd sire Pistyll Kingsman.” Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso was sold as in-calf to Backmuir Nemo, the only son of the £25,000 Lisglass Kirk.
Judge Richard McCulloch
It was another top day for the prolific Islavale herd who with their entries took the Reserve Overall Female Championship; the Weaned Calf Championship; and the days top price in both the female section and the weaned calf section!
Weaned Calf Champion Islavale Raven 8,500gns
The win in the Weaned Calf Championship, with the youngest entry in this year’s catalogue Islavale Raven, marked a remarkable three years in a row that the Islavale herd has won this title. April 2024 born, the classy young heifer Islavale Raven is the first calf offered at sale by the herd’s junior sire Islavale McCoist, and is out of Islavale Japan EX 90, a Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 EX 94 daughter. Of his Weaned Calf Champion, the judge Richard McCulloch said: “What a beautiful, sweet heifer calf this was. Again very square with a super top line, she was very correct and just full of style. A tremendous young heifer with all the qualities to have a big future ahead of her.” Islavale Raven was purchased by Gavin Brown for his noted 30-cow Springfield herd at Penicuik, Midlothian.
Overall Champion Female Atlow Plume 6,000gns
The Overall Champion Female on the day came in the shape of Atlow Plume, the winner of class four, and from David Donnelly, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. This heifer by Dermotstown King Kong, and out of Atlow Dora’s JoJo, arrived at Carlisle with a show pedigree behind her having been Junior Female Champion at the 2024 Simmental English National Show, held at the Royal Lancashire. Commenting on his Overall Champion, Richard McCulloch said: “My Champion heifer was full of quality. She had length, width and depth, and was very square on the plates. She walked well, had a good top line, and wasn’t too extreme. Just a very stylish Simmental heifer.” Of the Next Gen Sale generally, Richard McCulloch went on to say: “It was a great honour to be asked to judge this sale and I’d like to thank the Society for asking me. In judging I was particularly looking for females with the typical breed qualities, that were easy fleshing and could go on and breed top end bulls for the commercial market. I thought the Simmentals presented today were outstanding and a great credit to the breeders.”
Purchasing the Champion Atlow Plume for 6000gns was Jimmy & Vikki Wood for their noted Popes herd at Dutton, Preston, Lancs. Speaking afterwards Vikki Wood said: “We are friends with David and as such we’ve been watching Atlow Plume throughout the summer. She really has grown on and we think is a real super heifer. We like her back breeding as she is from a strong female line going back to Kilbride Farm Dora 34A, and it is always nice to add another strong female line into the herd.”
The Next Gen IV Sale again saw animals bought by new and established breeders and with purchases going to geographies around the UK. With new construction work ongoing at Borderway Mart, the pre-sale show was held in a makeshift show ring but still held the attention of a good ringside audience. Maiden heifers averaged £5024, with heifer calves at £5075, and two served heifers at £6667.50. A new addition to this year’s sale was a section of young Simm X Hi Health Heifers with 36 in all selling to a strong average of £1824. Speaking afterwards BSCS General manger Iain Kerr said: “This is the fourth staging of this sale and breeders are working hard to bring forward animals with the quality and genetics to be ‘next generation’ cornerstone cattle in herds across the UK. The sale again offered opportunity for new and established breeders to acquire some top end pedigree Simmentals, and we were delighted to see the newly added Simm X Hi Health Heifers meet with such a good trade.”
Braegarrie Paloma 6,000gns
Also selling at 6000gns was Braegarrie Paloma from DL & S Currie, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan, Ayrshire. June 2023 born this heifer by Overhill House Link 20, and out of Braegarrie Melissa, a Denizes Hamish 16 daughter, had stood second in her class to the day’s Overall Female Champion. Braegarrie Paloma was one of two purchases on the day by Mr M Webster for his Cracoe pedigree herd at Whittakers Barn Farm, Skipton, North Yorkshire. Of his purchase Mr Webster said: “We initially saw a video of this heifer being shown at the Simmental Youngstock Show within the Borderway Agri Expo and just really liked her presence and stature. She’s a very feminine heifer, with a lovely head, and just a great example of a Simmental female.” The very next lot Braegarrie Prunella, a heifer’s calf out of Braegarrie Minella, and again sired by Overhill House Link, joined Paloma in heading to the Websters’ Cracoe herd. Building towards 15 breeding females, both of these heifers will be integrated into the herd and will be put to Drumsleed Pollock, the new stock bull purchased at Stirling in October.
Denizes Nelly 14th 5,00gns
Two heifers made 5000gns. The first of these was Denizes Nelly 14th from MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire. June 2023 born, this heifer is by Saltire Impressive and is out of the 13-year-old Denizes Nelly 4th, an Ashland Tornado daughter. Denizes Nelly 14th went south when purchased by new breeders Messrs Durrant, Dunmow, Essex. Also at the 5000gns mark was the second prize winner in class six, Newbiemains Penny from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfries. October 2023 born, Penny is out of the noted herd sire Auchorachan Hercules 16 (ET) EX 92 and is out of Newbiemains Jenna VG 87. Buying this heifer was Mr & Mrs G Burns, Tippetcraig Farm, High Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.
Newbiemains Penny 5,000gns
Champion Altlow Plume and reserve Champion Islavale Peace
Weaned calf champions Islavale Raven and Crudie Raven
AVERAGES
1 Cow with calf at foot £4725.00
2 Served Heifers £6667.50
13 Maiden Heifers £5023.84
3 Heifer Calves £5075.00
36 Commercial Heifers £1822.62
Results from the 2024 Simmental NXTGEN IV presale show on Friday 6th December’24 at Borderway Mart, Carlisle
Judge: Richard McCulloch Over Hill House
Class 2 – In calf heifers
1st – Lot 2 Backmuir Kenzies Nespresso Reece & Andrew Simmers
2nd – Lot 3 Backmuir Kendrix’s Nigella Reece & Andrew Simmers
Class 3 – Heifer born between 11/2/23 and 10/4/23
1st – Lot 6 Atlow Bella’s Pippa Mr D Donnelly
2nd – Lot 5 Islavale Piper Mr W S Stronach
3rd – Lot 7 Blair Pandora Mr C Fordyce
4th – Lot 4 Cwarre Eunice’s Pride Richard James Cumming
Class 4 – Heifer born between 4/6/23 and 3/7/23
1st – Lot 11 Atlowe Plume Mr D Donnelly
2nd – Lot 8 Braegarrie Paloma D L & S Currie
3rd – Lot 9 Braegarrie Prunella D L & S Currie
4th – Lot 14 Springfield Prada Gavin Brown
Class 5 – Heifer born between 12/8/23 and 18/9/23
1st – Lot 16 Auchorachan Popcorn Nanny D & R Durno & Sons
2nd – Lot 15 Cwarre Rosie’s Peony Richard James Cumming
3rd – Lot 18 Auchorachan Pandora Madie D & R Durno & Sons
4th – Lot 20 Denizes Rosie’s Cadette M A Barlow & Sons
Class 6 – Heifer born between 17/10/23 and 28/10/23
1st – Lot 24 Islavale Pimms Mr W S Stronach
2nd – Lot 25 Newbiemains Penny Jim & Patricia Goldie
3rd – Lot 23 Newbiemains Pippa Jim & Patricia Goldie
4th – Lot 22 Atlow Pepsi-Cola Mr D Donnelly
Class 7 – Heifer born between 5/11/23 and 20/12/23
1st – Lot 28 Islavale Peace Mr W S Stronach
2nd – Lot 26 Newbiemains Philmstar Jim & Patricia Goldie
3rd – Lot 30 Newbiemains Pattiwag Jim & Patricia Goldie
Class 8 – Weaned heifer calf
1st – Lot 34 Islavale Raven Mr W S Stronach
2nd – Lot 32 Crudie Raven Crudie Farming Company
3rd – Lot 33 Crudie Rowen Crudie Farming Company
Champion Female Atlow Plume Mr D Donnelly
Reserve Champion Islavale Peace Mr W S Stronach
Champion Weaned Calf Islavale Raven Mr W S Stronach
Reserve Champion Crudie Raven Crudie Farming Company
by Nicky Moreton | Dec 2, 2024 | 2024 Other Shows, 2024, 2024 Northern Ireland News, 2024 News
• Lisglass Heifer wins Senior Championship
• Haystar Revolver lifts the Junior Championship
Northern Ireland Simmental breeders were out in force at the fourth staging of the NI Club’s Annual Calf Show held on Saturday 30th November, at Ballymena Livestock Market. Fourteen breeders from around the province exhibited with a catalogue of close on fifty calves, and with strong support for the young handler classes. The event is held within the 4 Breed Calf Show that in addition to the Simmental breed, comprises of classes from the British Blue; British Blonde; and Saler breeds respectively.
Judge for the day was Cara Moore from Beragh ,Co Tyrone who farms at home with her parents John and Diane on their family farm, breeding pedigree Simmentals under the noted Omorga Simmental prefix. In the Young Handlers section, the judge for the day was Molly Bradley of the Dernasigh Herd, Armagh, Co Armagh.
Dermody Royal Lucy Senior Champion
Winning the first female class of the day and going on to take the Senior Championship was Dermody Royal Lucy from the Lisglass herd of JL & CJ Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. This September 2023 heifer, purchased in August at the Reduction Sale of Irish breeder Mr N Jagoe, is by the prolific Saltire Impressive and is out of Dermody Lucy 2, a Dermotstown Delboy (ET) EX 92 daughter. Commenting, the judge Cara Moore said: “My choice of Senior Champion just caught my eye immediately she came into the ring. She’s a very stylish, correct heifer and had great power.” In her class, Dermody Royal Lucy got the nod ahead of her stablemate Lisglass Panache, an October 2023 born Omorga Volvo daughter.
Lisglass Ruby
It was a strong day’s showing for the 35-cow Lisglass herd who also took a red ticket in the second heifer class with the February 2024 born Lisglass Ruby, a Mullynock Gallant 15 (ET) daughter. Ruby is a sister of Lisglass Primrose, who had a successful show season in 2023, and who herself is aimed at being a part of next year’s show team.
Haystar Revolver Junior Champion
In the Juniors it was a Championship win for ‘top gun’ Haystar Revolver from G Hayes & Son, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim. This April 2024 born bull calf is sired by Lissadell Nailer, and is the second daughter out of Raceview Lively HW Nicolet, by Clonagh Tiger Gallant, and who was purchased from a Raceview reduction sale. Of her Junior Champion, Haystar Revolver, Cara Moore said: “I thought this Junior Champion was just a super calf with plenty of shape and who moved extremely well.” Revolver is due to be weaned in the next month and forward plans include aiming him for next year’s NI Simmental National Show, and beyond that possibly the 2025 Stirling October Sale. Again in a strong class of ten calves, it was a one-two for the 15-cow Haystar herd with Haystar Round One taking second place. May 2024 born, this calf is another by Lissadell Nailer, who is producing ‘consistently good calves in the herd’, and is out of the Cleenagh Flasher daughter Haystar Wonder 6.
Judge Cara Moore
Of the overall show, and her day judging, Cara Moore went on to say: “I was delighted to be asked to judge this increasingly high profile calf show. There was a fantastic turnout of calves which is a great credit to the NI breeders and to the work and efforts of the NI Simmental Club.”
Craigy Paddington Reserve Senior Champion
Back in the seniors and lifting the Reserve Senior Championship was the winner of the day’s first class in the shape of the November 2023 born bull Craigy Paddington from Mr WJ Dodd, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co Down. This calf is another by Saltire Impressive and is out of the heterozygous polled Craigy Jessica K2 (P), a Keeldrum Fabregas 14 daughter. With a bit of a track record behind him, Craigy Paddington has met with no little success through 2024. In his first time out at Armagh Show in June he took the Simmental Male Champion at only seven-months-old. The following month he stood as Reserve Overall Simmental at Castlewellan, and on the back of these successes he also qualified for The Northern Ireland Shows competition, Young Bull of the Year for 2024. The Dodd’s plan to offer him for sale sell him at a sale in the Spring of next year if not sold privately prior to that.
Ballinalare Farm Ritz Reserve Junior Champion
Taking the Reserve Junior Championship was the winner of the day’s final class and in the shape of Ballinalare Farm Ritz from the 65-breeding-female herd of Joe & Alan Wilson, Dorans Hill, Newry, Co Down. May 2024 born this young heifer is the first calf shown by the imported Bighill Magic who was purchased by the Wilson’s for €11,000 from Rosscommon in October 2021. She is out of Ballinalare Farm Ladybird, a Denizes Fantastic 14 daughter, whose first calf Polly, was sold at the herd’s recent Production Sale for 4900gns. Still on her mother, it is very much hoped that Ritz, described as a ‘lovely, sweet female, with a good square back end, length, and plenty of style’, will be the herd’s main show heifer in 2025.
Further success for the Craigy herd came in the All-Breeds Young Handlers section when brothers, and prolific young handler winners, Lewis and Jamie Dodd, won their respective classes for eight to twelve year old, and thirteen to sixteen year old. Prolific competitors and winners, both boys ‘ love working with cattle, both the daily aspects and the showing, and they love attending the Young Handler events at the local shows’! Winning the seventeen to nineteen years of age class was Russell Kelly. Commenting, the Young Handlers judge, Molly Bradley said: “It was great to see so many young handlers being very professional in the ring, competitive, and keen to learn. Well done to all.”
NI Simmental Calf Show 2024 – Ballymena
Judge: Cara Moore, Omorga Herd
Class BS (BULL BORN 01/09/23 – 21/12/23)
1ST CRAIGY PADDINGTON
CLASS HS (HEIFER BORN 01/09/23 – 21/12/23)
1S T DERMODY ROYAL LUCY
2ND LISGLASS PANACHE
3RD HAYSTAR STELLA
4TH MILLCOMB POPPY
Drumacritten Robbie
CLASS BJ (BULL BORN 01/01/24- 31/03/24)
1ST DRUMACRITTEN ROBBIE ET
2ND DRUMAGARNER REBEL
3RD POINTFARMS RANGER
4TH POINTFARMS RUSTLER
CLASS HJ CLASS A (HEIFER BORN 01/01/24- 31/03/24)
1ST LISGLASS RUBY
2ND WHITEDRUM GOLDENGIRL ET
3RD CRAIGY BEATRICE R1
4TH CRAIGY BAMBI R3
Hiltonstown Roxy
CLASS HJ CLASS B (HEIFER BORN 01/01/24- 31/03/24)
1ST HILTONSTOWN ROXY
2ND BREAGHY VIDA R536
3RD MULLYKNOCK RUTH
4TH BREAGHEY VIDA R545
CLASS BC (BULL CALF BORN ON OR AFTER 01/04/24)
1ST HAYSTAR REVOLVER
2ND HAYSTAR ROUND ONE
3RD BRIDGEWATER FARM RALPH
4TH SCRIBBY FARMS RIZZ
CLASS HC (HEIFER CALF BORN ON OR AFTER 01/04/24)
1ST BALLINALARE FARM RITZ
2ND BREAGHEY #CLASS R552
3RD LISGLASS ROSE
4TH CRAIGY BEATRICE R6
Pairs – Breaghey Vida R536 & Vida R545
CLASS PP PAIRS
1ST BREAGHEY (Breaghey Vida-R536 & Breaghey Vida-R545)
2ND HILTONSTOWN
3RD CRAIGY
SENIOR CHAMPION -DERMODY ROYAL LUCY
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION – CRAIGY PADDINGTON
JUNIOR CHAMPION – HAYSTAR REVOLVER
RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION – BALLINALARE FARM RITZ
ALL BREEDS YOUNG HANDLERS
Judge: Molly Bradley, Dernasigh Herd
Lewis Dodd Young Handler 13 -16
8-12 YEARS
1st Lewis Dodd
2nd Owen Farrell
3rd Danny Clarke
Jamie Dodd Young Handler 13 – 16
13 -16 YEARS
1st Jamie Dodd
2nd Caitlin McGartland
3rd Oliver Taggert
17-19 YEARS
1st Russell Kelly
2nd Bethany Small
3rd Joseph McGinn
by Nicky Moreton | Nov 28, 2024 | 2024, 2024 Northern Ireland News, 2024 News, 2024 Other Shows
It’s another massive tip of the hat to James Alexander, Randalstown, who sold his heifer, the day’s Simmental Champion, for £7800, at the Royal Ulster Beef & Lamb Championship on Tuesday 26th November. The £7,800 figure is a Simmental record at what was the seventh staging of this event, held in the Logan Hall at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn, and with the quality and auction prices of beef cattle, calves and lambs, described as being ‘off the chart’. Great to see Simmentals right in the thick of the top prices!
£7,800 ‘Katie’, 2024 Simmental Champion at the 2024 Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb Championships, from James Alexander, Jalex, Randalstown. Pictured with Katie is Cormac O’Kane.
The stand out Simmental heifer, Katie, who was given the breed’s Overall Championship & Heifer Championship, weighed in at 724kgs. October 2022 born, Katie is sired by Edenbann Lionheart bred by NI breeder Nevin Smith, Garvagh, Coleraine. Come sale time this heifer was knocked down at £7,800, or £10.77 per kg, to Messrs Campbell, Co Antrim.
Prolific winners at the Royal Ulster Beef & Lamb Championships, this was a ‘four-peat’ with it being the fourth year in a row that the high profile Jalex herd, noted for breeding and selling high quality replacement heifers, has won the Simmental Championship.
2024 Reserve Simmental Champion at the 2024 Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb Championships, from Shauna McKenna, Clougher. Pictured is Declan McKenna.
The Reserve Champion Simmental title, and Reserve Champion Heifer, was awarded to Shauna McKenna from Clougher. Her December 2023 born heifer weighed in at 524kgs and went on to sell for £2,800.
Judge for the day was the well-known and experienced man in the middle, Arfon Jones from North Wales. Well done to all the Simmental exhibitors!
by Iain | Nov 25, 2024 | 2024 Other Shows, 2024, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
- Springfield Prada wins Overall Supreme & Female Champion
- Springfield Pentagon takes Overall Reserve & Male Champion
It was a ‘win double’ Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik who took both the Simmental Overall Supreme & Overall Reserve titles at the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s 2024 LiveScot event held at Lanark market on Friday evening, 22nd November 2024.
With similar breeding behind them, both Champion & Reserve were July 2023 born, sired by the herd’s noted stock bull Islavale Jabba 18 (ET) EX 92, and out of Shiloh Freedom daughters.
Springfield Prada, Overall Supreme Champion 2024 LiveScot
Judge for the day was Sean Mitchell, Grassknop Farm, Penrith and who duly tapped out the seventeen-month-old heifer Springfield Prada, as his Female Champion & Simmental Overall Supreme Champion. A ‘very correct heifer from great sire and dam lines,’ Prada’s full sister Springfield Neptune, took the Overall Senior Championship and Overall Reserve at the 2023 Simmental Youngstock Show held within the Borderway Agri Expo. Springfield Prada’s dam, the seven-year-old Springfield Italia, has had four heifer calves to date and with her one bull calf, Springfield Niagra, also by Islavale Jabba, selling for 8500gns at Stirling this year. Carlisle will be the next destination for Springfield Prada as she is being offered for sale at the Simmental Next Generation IV Sale of Females & Weaned Calves on 6th December.
Taking the Male Championship, and the Overall Reserve, was Prada’s stablemate in the shape of Springfield Pentagon. Again July 2023 born, Springfield Pentagon is out of another Shiloh freedom daughter, Springfield Jolene. Earlier this month, Pentagon stood second in his class to the Senior Male Champion at the Stars of the Future Calf Show. A powerful bull with plenty of length, Springfield Pentagon will now be aimed at the Stirling Simmental Bull Sale in February 2025.
May 2018 born, Islavale Jabba has been the 30-cow Springfield herd’s main sire for the previous four years, and with his progeny both bulls and heifers averaging well at sales and to a top of 8500gns. With a host of accolades to his name, Islavale Jabba has been the online European Simmental Champion, and the Senior Male Champion at the 2023 Scottish Simmental National Show. Another son, Springfield Major, was the Champion at the Simmental Calf Show at Borderway Agri Expo in 2021, and went on to sell for 7500gns at Stirling. Islavale Jabba (ET) EX 92 has since been sold for breeding to the Newbiemains pedigree herd of Jim and Patricia Goldie but with semen retained for use on farm.
2024 LiveScot Simmental Results
Judge: Sean Mitchell, Grassknop Farm, Penrith.
Class 1036 Bull born between 1st July 2023 and 31st December 2023
1st – Gavin Brown’s Springfield Pentagon (647)
Class 1037 Bull born after 1st of January 2024
1st – Robbie Hamilton’s Drumclog Richard (654)
Class 1038 Heifer born between 1st July 2023 and 31st December 2023
1st – Gavin Brown’s Springfield Prada (656)
2nd – J and E Dyet’s Merkland Pippa (662)
Class 1039 Heifer born after 1st of January 2024
1st – J and E Dyet’s Merkland Flora 24 (666)
by Iain | Nov 17, 2024 | 2024, 2024 Midlands News, 2024 News
Shropshire-based breeder Chris Martindale has been elected as President of the British Simmental Cattle Society (BSCS) following the Society’s Annual General Meeting held recently in Stirling at the October Bull Sales.
BSCS President, Chris Martindale
Having served as a Council Member since 2021, he takes over from Norman Robson, Kilbride Farm, Ballyclare who had served as President for a two year term of office. Chris Martindale, who had been the Society’s Vice President and Chairman of Finance, also over the previous two years, becomes the 28th Chairman of the BSCS in its 54 year history, and the tenth from England.
Chris, together with his wife Kath, joined the BSCS in 1990. Their Forsdale Herd based at Coedfa, St Martins, Oswestry was established following the private purchase of two cows with calves at foot from the Dispersal Sale of the Boscobel Herd of Mrs EP Yates, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton. Simmental was the chosen breed as the Martindales wanted cows that were easy calving and easy managed, had good docility, and great mothering ability. Today the herd comprises of twelve pedigree cows and fits well with Chris who is the Sales Manager for Lloyd’s Animal Feeds, a company he has worked for 33 years.
In recent years, the herd has gone down the polled route, again with an increasing emphasis on ease of management, and with the calves from their latest heterozygous polled stock bull, Wroxall Nescafe (P), eagerly awaited in the Spring. Keen supporters of local shows, the Forsdale Herd has met with much success showing females at Newport, Oswestry, and Denbeigh shows. Bulls are sold from the farm and to a repeat customer base. A noted pedigree judge, Chris Martindale has judged all over the country and at major shows including the Royal Highland, Royal Welsh, and the Simmental World Congress show held within the Royal Norfolk in 2008. Most recently he judged the pre-sale show of Simmental bulls at Stirling in October 2022.
A significant momentum behind the Simmental breed has seen an uplift in commercial demand, a series of record sale averages, and increased pedigree registrations for three consecutive years. Commenting on this Chris Martindale said: “In a focussed industry, commercial producers need high performing, benchmark maternal traits as the long-term foundation to build their suckler herds upon.”
“There’s an increasing recognition that modern Simmental genetics gives you that and more. Easy calving, easy managed, full of milk, calving year on year, producing quality female replacements, and fleshy, growthy calves. The analysis of AHDB’s figures proves the performance of Simmental females, both pure and when crossed with any breed. Add in the further terminal advantages proven in age at slaughter and daily carcase gain, and it adds up to real money and performance for producers. “
BSCS President Chris Martindale (right), making a presentation to his predecessor Norman Robson at Stirling. Michael Durno, BSCS Vice President is on the left.
A further focus of the next two years will be preparing for the 25th World Simmental Congress with it recently being announced that this will be hosted by the British Simmental Cattle Society in the United Kingdom in 2026. In a further comment, Chris Martindale went on to say:
“I am extremely honoured to have been elected as President of one of the UK’s leading beef breed societies. As a Society we’ll continue to work hard and take dead aim at promoting the Simmental’s abilities, to grow the breed across the UK markets. We’re excited to have been awarded the World Congress in 2026, and it will provide a terrific platform for us to showcase the breed to a widespread audience, both domestically and internationally.”
Michael Durno who runs the Auchorachan pedigree herd at Glenlivet, Ballandalloch, Banffshire has been elected as the British Simmental Cattle Society’s Vice President.
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