Hard-working Simmental sired cattle continuing to do the business in store, prime, breeding, and calf sales around the UK. Where they are not Simmental sired, many other sale top prices are out of Simmental females! Simmental genetics continuing to add value, flexibility, efficiency, and profitability for commercial producers.
See here the first of three parts covering Simmental sale toppers, and starting with April 1st – 11th:
At Hallworthy on 11th April, breeding cattle were led by a two-year-old Simmental Bull from the Grose Family of Manaccan sell to £2000, and away to work on a Dairy farm.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts at Thainstone on 11th April sold 151 cows and bulls. Beef Feeding Cows (77) averaged £1297.59 and sold to £1770 for a 726kg Simmental from Dundurcas Farm, Rothes.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 10th April, suckled cows and calves sold to £1660 for a Simm Cow with a Char Bull Calf at foot presented by a Dungannon Producer.
On 10th April United Auctions sold 1916 store cattle & young bulls at Stirling. Young Bulls (47) averaged 263.23p to 299.30p per kg for a 294kg SIMX from South Glen.
Frome’s sale of UTM heifers on 10th April was topped by Simmental x heifers from Padfield & Partners at 254p/kg.
Skipton’s store sale on 10th April saw the heifer section topped at £1700 by Simmentals from CA Foster.
At a sale at Monmouthshire Market on 10th April, an eight year old Simm cow & her BBX heifer calf (7m) from Halomark Ltd, Cwmbran sold for £1880.
At a sale of store cattle at Market Drayton on 10th April, yarding cattle ‘continue to sell like hot cakes’. Simmental from The Brighouse Family, Morley Green, topped the steers at £1580.
At Ayr on 9th April, Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 95 Calves and Stirks at their weekly sale. The offering of stirks forward sold to £890 for a Simmental Cross Heifer off Messrs Mullin, Greenhead and with bullocks topping at £820 for a Simmental Cross off the same.
Decent numbers of prime and cull cattle at Exeter on 8th April, saw finished steers from Dan Tooze of Broadsands head the heavyweight steer section with a well fed 638kg Simmental reaching 268ppk and £1706. Prime heifers (all heavyweights) were topped at 260ppk for a Simmental from Douglas Horton and Family up from Kingsbridge which returned £1515.
In a sale of store cattle at Brockholes Arms Auction Mart on 9th April, top spot in the steer section went to J & A Heap & Son with Simx to £1,480.
In a sale of 320 store cattle at Ballymena on 9th April, bullocks sold to £1800 for a 640kg Simm from Barry Arthurs, Kircubbin.
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock on Monday 8th April 2024. Forward were 325. A nice show of young bulls saw the top six sell over £1500. Three super 10-month-old Simmentals from E Parsons, Newstead Farm vied for the top price when making £1580, and £1560 x 2.
At Huntly on 6th April, United Auctions sold 1639 cattle at their Show & Sale. OTMS sold to average 191.8p per kg selling to £1900 for SimX from Moyes Farm, Glassel.
In a sale of store cattle at Gisburn on 6th April, 83 feeding bulls through the ring saw a strong trade right through. Topping the trade at £1600 was Bev Lancaster & Family with a homebred Simental x.
On 4th April at Whitland Mart, and a sale of suckler cows, in calvers, and bulls, in-calf heifers & cows sold to £1,800×3 (Sim) from Colledge, Llanfallteg, also, £1,750 (Sim) & £1,700×4 (Sim), £1,550 (Sim), £1,520×3 (Sim).
At Hallworthy on 4th April and a sale of Stirks and Weaned Calves at the ‘Cornish Stirk Centre’, the re was a ‘phenomenal trade.’ A J Hart of St Austell sold two remarkable Simmental Steers which made £910 (only 5 months old!), with a single steer to £870 (5m).
In a sale of prime cattle on 3rd April at Frome, UTM heifers were led by a well finished R grade Simmental heifer at 257p/kg and £1949 from LJ Curry.
In a sale at Holsworthy on 3rd April, finished cattle were topped at 228p for a light weight 508kg Simmental heifer from Mr WM Bridgman, Jacobstow realising £1158.
At Ayr on 2nd April, Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 102 Calves and Stirks. The top price calf was £640 for a Simmental Cross Heifer off Kaimhill Farming.
At H&H’s Borderway Primestock Sale at Carlisle on 1st April, Simmentals sold to £2594.48 for 887kgs from Messrs Dyet, East Merkland, Strathaven to feature in the top prices. The same home also sold 819kgs to £2305,49.
C & D Auction Marts held their fortnightly sale of 619 Store Cattle in Dumfries on Monday 1st April 2024, along with the spring sale of organics. 187 Organic Cattle created plenty of interest, a good ringside of buyers actively sought cattle which comprised of mainly yearlings. Organic Heifers per head were topped by a Simm at £1510 from Marshill.
LONGTOWN; SHREWSBURY; AYR; HEXHAM; MELTON MOWBRAY; CASTLE DOUGLAS; GISBURN; THAINSTONE; SALISBURY; DINGWALL; DUNGANNON; LANARK; WHITLAND; STIRLING; BAKEWELL; THAINSTONE; HUNTLY; FROME; AND CARLISLE It’s the third and final part of Simmental Market briefs for February further highlighting the Simmental breed doing the business for commercial beef producers around the UK.
Analysis of AHDB’s National Beef Evaluation (NBE) data (December 2023) showed that Simmental sired progeny have a superior Daily Carcase Gain in comparison to Continental sired, and Native sired progeny. This latest analysis was in addition to the first release in October 2023, which showed that Simmental sired calves finished on average over five weeks earlier than those by all Continental sires, with these calves costing on average over £70 less to finish, and resulting in significantly reduced CO2 emissions. Furthermore, Continental sired calves out of Simmental dams finished over four weeks earlier than the average of all suckler dams.
The latest Market Briefs include: C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their February sale of 428 store cattle on Tuesday 13th February 2024 at Longtown. A quality show of younger cattle were forward. Bullocks peaked at £1,800 for a Simmental x from JDM Thomson, Newlands, Eaglesfield.
In a sale of weanlings at Shrewsbury on 13th February, steers just a flyer from the first to the last with 98 sold peaking at £1040 for a Simmental from the top of the Stiplestones from EM Chidley.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 166 Calves and Stirks on 13th February at Ayr. Top Price Calf was £730 for a Simmental Cross Bull off Messrs Harper, Kaimhill.
At Hexham’s Primestock Sale on 13th February, leading the sale of Cast Cows & OTMS with a young, shapey Simmental x cow was Messrs H & D M Forster, East Wharmley which realised 238.5ppk.
In a sale of 368 store and breeding cattle at Melton Mowbray on 13th February, breeding cattle to start saw C Holtom up from Coventry selling Pedigree Simmental Bulls to a top of £2500 for “Meriwell Naughty Boy”.
Wallets Marts on 12th February at Castle Douglas, sold OTM Cattle, and Store Cattle. 368 store cattle sold to a fantastic trade and a top of £1980 for both Simmental and Luing bullocks from Messrs Black, Hillside. Heifers to £1920 for Simmentals from Messrs McKinnel, Drumneil and Bulls to 299.2ppk for Simmentals from East Kirkcarsewell.
In a sale of store cattle at Gisburn on 10th February, clean cattle sold to a high of £1720 for a hard fed Simmental heifer from Melvin Noblet.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts on 9th February sold 1,220 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves at Thainstone. Heifers (436) averaged 325p and sold to 399.3p per kg and £2340 gross for a 586kg Simmental Cross from Caskieben, Kinellar.
On 8th February, 769 cattle were sold at Salisbury Market’s Candlemas Sale. Feeding cattle met another insatiable level of demand. Topping the Continentals was a ring full of Simmental heifers from James Whittle at an eye watering £1630 (589kg).
£2070 SIMMENTAL SETS MARKET RECORD FOR STORE CATTLE AT SHREWSBURY The first sale of February 2024, 246 STORE CATTLE, will be marked in the record books at Shrewsbury Auction Centre. A relentless and fearless trade was witnessed from the very first hammer of the day. Never before have Feeding Store Cattle in Shrewsbury sold for over £2000 but they peaked at £2070, for A K & C E Lloyd of Leighton, Welshpool for a Simmental Steer weighing in at 755kg.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 640 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 8th February. Young Bulls sold to £960 for Simmentals off Auchentibber or 313p.
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, on 7th February sold 738 store cattle, 21 breeding cattle and 167 OTM cattle. Heifers (344) averaged 296.8p per kg and sold to 388.9p per kg for a 360kg Limousin cross from Glebe Farm, Kiltarlity and £1,980 gross for a 710kg Simmental from Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 7th February, Dropped Calves sold to a solid trade to peak at £400 for a Sim Bull presented by E Speers, £390 Sim Bull, £380 Sim Bull, £330 Sim Bull. Heifer Calves sold to £355 Sim presented by E Speers.
Lawrie and Symington sold 628 store cattle were sold at the fortnightly sale at Lanark on 6th February. Bullocks sold to a top of 364.1p for a pen of six 287kg Simmentals from Messrs WA & J Murray, East Crookedstone Farm, Hamilton to level at 313p/kg.
On 6th February at Thainstone, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of Adult Breeding Cattle. Cow with Heifer Calf at Foot sold to £1,780 for a Simmental with Charolais from Cowfords Farm, New Pitsligo. In Calf Heifers sold to £1,400 for Simmental crosses from New Fleenas, Nairn. In Calf Cow sold to £3,000 for a pair of Simmental crosses from Cairnhill, Huntly.
At Hexham’s Primestock Sale on 6th February, and a sale of cast cows and OTMs, the leading gross cow came from Messrs K Smith & Sons, East Greenridge Farm who sold a Simmental cross to £1901.87.
In a sale of calves at Whitland on 6th February, heifers were led at £290 by a Simm from Messrs Green, Lampeter Velfrey.
On 5th February, Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, had forward 609 Store Cattle and Breeding Cattle at their fortnightly sale. Heifers sold to £1770 for a Simmental from J Drysdale, Forrestmill, Forrestmill.
At Bakewell’s weekly sale on 5th February there was 413 cattle on offer. In a small offering of OTMs, the top price was £2300 for a 10 year old Simm bull from JW Fentem & Sons, Biggin. Mention also to FG&JR Critchlow, Sheen who sold a Young Simm bull at 838kgs for £2329.64. In the sale of 396 store & breeding cattle, a lovely run of Simmentals from the Foster family of Hanch topped at £1790 for two Simmental steers aged 21 & 22 months.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 731 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves on 2nd February. Heifers (339) sold to £2300 gross for a pair of 648kg Simmentals from East Backburn, Netherley. On the same day and a sale of store cattle from Orkney consignors, heifers sold to a top of £2,080 gross and 359.9p per kg for a pen of three 578kg Simmentals from A D Miller, Spring Valley, Stronsay.
In Frome’s sale of store cattle on 2nd February, young steers were topped at £1480 by Simmentals from P&S Foot, Portesham who sold other Simmentals at £1355, and £1205.
At Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of prime cattle on 1st February, 30 to 36 month heifers sold to £2,048.85 gross for a 785kg Simmental cross from Southbank, Skene. On the same day and a sale of cast cows and bulls, bulls averaged £1,735 and sold to £2,270 for a 1,020kg Simmental from Delfur Farms, Rothes.
United Auctions sold 122 Store cattle & OTM’s on 1st February at Huntly. Heifers (58) sold to a top gross of £1460 for a 515kg SimX from Lyne of Linton, Sauchen.
United Auctions, Stirling, on 31st January sold 1283 store cattle & young bulls. Also 212 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, 163 Breeding Cattle & 44 Rearing Cattle. Bullocks (708) – averaged 299.68p to 356.50p per kg for a 432kg SIMX from Culnoag. Young Bulls (49) averaged 280.63p to 292.80p for a SIMX from Tomanean. Beef Cows and Bulls (172) averaged 175.17p to 254.60p per kg for a SIMX from Mid Auchencarroch and to £1990 for a SIMX from Grieves Cottage.
On 31st January Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of bulls and weaned cattle at Carlisle. Simmental bulls topped at £1590 from Messrs Skelton, Waterloo Farm with others to £1490.
We continue to feature Simmental sired cattle doing the business, but please note there’s just as many sale toppers sired by other breeds out of Simmental females! There’s more to Simmental.
In the second of our February reports, here we look at just some of the Simmental sired sale toppers between 20th – 14th February:
On Tuesday 20th February, Lockerbie Mart, Harrison and Hetherington held their fortnightly sale of Store Cattle. Simmental bullocks were also a serious trade with Dodds of Tundergarth achieving £1390 for a pen of 10 month cattle with tremendous flesh and size for their age. On 20th February at Lanark, Lawrie and Symington sold 863 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale. Bullocks peaked at £1970 for a 698kg Simmental from Messrs G Mitchell, Torbrex Farm, Airdrie.
In a sale of TB restricted cattle at Exeter on 20th February, the sale kicked off with a run of prime heifers from Colin and Phillip Gibbins in from Feniton who saw their best, a 566kg Simmental reach the top price of 250ppk and £1412.
C&D Marts Ltd Dumfries held their fortnightly sale of rearing calves and Stirks on 20th February at Dumfries. A top price of £500 was achieved for a Simmental X Bull Calf from Messrs Roan & Son. Dumfries . Sim X Bull Calves to £500, Sim X Heifer Calves to £390.
At Swatragh Livestock Market’s weekly cattle sale on 20th February, fat cows were also a good trade topping at £2.01 per kilo for a 432kg Sim at £870 from a Portglenone producer.
In a sale of calves at Shrewsbury on 20th February Simmentals topped both the bulls and heifers. Three month old Simmental bull calves from G&M Lewis sold to £510, whilst Simmental heifers topped at £450.
Melton Mowbray’s sale of prime cattle on 20th February saw the gross prices topped by MT Carter selling Simmentals to £2095.80 with the same stable to £2035.66 and the run of 10 averaging £1889.13. At a sale of Store & Breeding Cattle (197), a handy show of breeding cattle saw Simmental Breeding Bulls to a top of £1800 from Mautby Farms, with others from the same home to £1450.
On 19th February, Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling, had forward 342 Store Cattle at their fortnightly sale. Bullocks sold to a top of £1890 for a pen of Simmentals from Skeoch Farms, Stirling.
On 19th February Market Drayton held a sale of 174 Barren Cows, Cull Bulls, and Overage Clean Cattle. Of 50 sucklers, Trade peaked at 240p (£1,305.60) for a Simmental from DE.&SE.Furnival Ltd, Napley. Further Simmental to 224p (£1,608.32) from The Heath Family, Avonfinch. In the clean cattle heifers to 239p (£1,610.86) for a Simmental from Mr Alex Peak, Pershall.
In the weekly sale at Bakewell Market on 19th February there were 705 cattle forward. In the barren, OTM, and feeding cows, the best cow at £1787.04 was a Simm from BD&JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor, with a further Simm from CW&BM Hudson, Barrow Moor at £1771.84. In the breeding cattle, a 21 months Simm bull topped at £2950 from Mosley & Co, Chelmorten.
CCM Auctions Conducted their Monthly Sale of Stirks, Weaned Calves and Young Store Cattle on 17th February at Skipton. Suckler bred Sim heifers from JE Greenwood, Denholme sold at £1080 to lead the heifer trade.
At Thainstone on 16th February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1,227 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Bulls (57) sold to £1780 gross for a 684kg Simmental from Dundurcas Farm, Rothes. Bullocks 251-300kg topped by Dundurcas Farm (Sim) £950, and Ringesta (SimX) £840. Bullocks 551-600kg – Rashenlochy Farm (SimX) £1870. Heifers 551-600kg topped by Loanend (SimX) at £1870.
Ludlow’s sale of TB restricted store cattle on 16th February saw Simmental X heifers top at £1550.
On 16th February at Thame Livestock Market, 18 pure Simmental steers, ‘strong bullocks that will go on to finish quickly for their buyers’, from Mixbury Hall sold at £1400.
At Frome’s sale of store cattle on 16th February, the Young Continental section saw steers topped at £1135 for Simmentals from J Coleberd, Corscombe.
At Thainstone on 15th February, Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 62 Prime Cattle. Prime Heifers sold to £2216.25 gross for a 985kg Simmental cross from Tister Farm, Halkirk.
United Auctions sold 215 Store cattle & OTM’s 15th February at Huntly. Bullocks sold to a top of 323.9p per kg for a pair pf 355kg SimX’s from Little Cantly, Grange. Heifers sold to a top of 310.4p per kg for a 335kg SimX from Den Farm, Fochabers. OTMS sold to a top of 236.5p per kg for a 685kg SimX from Wester Elchies, Aberlour.
United Auctions, Stirling, on 14th February held a sale of cast cows and bulls. Beef Cows and Bulls (103) averaged 194.79p to 263.20p per kg for a SIMX from Blackburn.
In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 14th February, the top ppkg was 175p for a Simmental from BG&TW Randall, Wareham.
On Wednesday 14th February Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of bulls and weaned cattle at Carlisle where trade yet again took another rise. Bulls sold to £1360 including a Simmental from Messrs Lowry, New Steadings Farm.
Some soaring trades for all classes of cattle at livestock markets around the UK and with Simmental cattle to the fore. In the first of three parts here we look at just some of the Simmental toppers between 29th – 21st February:
At Thainstone on 29th February, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of Cast Cows, Bulls, and Prime Cattle from Orkney consignors. Young Bulls Sold to £2,046.10 gross and 259p per kg for a 790kg Simmental from K Mackay, Ingsay, Swannay. On the same day, and a sale of cast cows and bulls, Beef Finished Cows (67) sold to £1990 for a 894kg Simmental cross from Whiteside, Tullynessle.
On 29th February at Ballymena, an entry of 252 cattle sold to a good trade. Beef cows were led by a local farmer with a 680kg Simm at £1734.
SIMMENTALS LEAD SALE OF 1365 STORE CATTLE AT STIRLING United Auctions, Stirling, on 28th February sold 1365 store cattle & young bulls. Also 135 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls and 38 rearing cattle. Bullocks (792) averaged 309.40p to 404.00p per kg for a 198kg SIMX from Gibblaston. Young Bulls (68) sold to £1390 for a SIMX from Innerwick. Beef Cows and Bulls (107) averaged 192.60p to 271.10p per kg for a SIMX from Shielhill and to £2010 for a SIMX from Preston. Out of Spec averaged 205.22p to 222.40p per kg for a SIMX from Leoch, and to £1890 for a SIMX from Leoch.
At H&H’s store cattle sale on 28th February at Carlisle, trade continues to soar in ring 4, with bulls starting the day off in incredible fashion. Simmentals topped at £1640 from Messrs Gwynne, Castlewigg.
In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 28th February the top gross price was £1652 for a Simm from EM Horn & Son, Southampton.
On 28th February at Skipton’s sale of prime cattle and beef bred feeing cows, Simmental cows topped at £1720 from RD Elliott, Tadcaster, to lead the averages at £1515. On the same day in a sale of store cattle, RD Elliott sold two-year-old Simmentals to lead at £1840.
In a sale of 230 store cattle at Truro on 28th February, best of the youngest steers (up to one year old) was £1430 for a cracking 11 month old Simmental from Messrs A P and S R Hooper of Castle-an-Dinas, St Columb.
On 28th February at Sedgemoor’s TB restricted sale of finished & forward cattle, heifers rose to 270.5ppk for a light weight Simmental from V Young & Sons, who sold more at 266.5 and 263.5ppk.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd had a sale of Calves and Stirks, and Clean cattle at their weekly sale at Ayr on 27th February. OTM Steers sold to £1700 for a Simmental from W Turner, Dalmoak. In the sale of store cattle at Brockholes Arms, Preston on 27th February, top spot in the steer section went to J & A Heap & Son with Simx steers to £1,640.
At Salisbury Livestock Market’s sale of Barren Cows & Bulls, on 26th February, some excellent prices achieved topping at 221p per kilo or £1754.74 for superb farm assured Simmentals from Richard King and family with the same run also reaching 219p and £1743.24.
United Auctions, Dalmally, on 24th February sold 125 store and breeding cattle at their early spring sale. Heifers sold to 368.8p/kg for a pen of six 282kg SimX from D Colthart, Achnacone to average 307.85p/kg (+33.76p).
At Gisburn’s sale of store cattle on 24th February, over 80 feeding bulls forward and a great show. Topping the trade at £1600 for a cracking pair of Simmentals was local farmer Jimmy Wood.
SIMMENTALS TOP BOTH BULLOCKS AND HEIFERS IN SALE OF 1026 STORE CATTLE AT THAINSTONE At Thainstone on 23rd February, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 1,026 Store Cattle and Young Bulls with Simmentals topping both the bullock and heifer trade. Bullocks (520) averaged 322.3p and sold to £2160 gross for a 664kg Simmental Cross from Rashenlochy Farm, Drumoak. Heifers (351) averaged 319.3p and sold to 433.1p per kg for a Pair of 508kg Simmental’s from Wellhouse Farm, Beauly and £2400 gross for a 728kg Simmental from Wellhouse Farm.
In a sale of 523 store cattle and stirks at Exeter on 23rd February, Jesse White, Sandford topped the store heifer section when his super pair of Simmentals eased to £1485 a head with smashing yearling females of the same breed coming back at an impressive £1210 for Keith Vincent. In a sale of 116 calves on the same day, heifer calves topped at £380 for a Simmental heifer from Ross Govier who sold others to £370 twice.
Also at Thainstone on 23rd February, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle for Orkney Consignors. Heifers Sold to a top of £2,000 gross for a 644kg Simmental from T & G Ritch, Kastal, Langskaill, Birsay.
In a sale of 263 store cattle at Ludlow on 23rd February, the top price heifer at £1690 was a Simmental at 315ppk.
At Frome’s sale of store cattle on 23rd February, young continental cattle saw Simmentals top both the steers and the heifers. 15-month-old Simm steers from PF Best & Son, Wareham topped at £1480, whilst 17 month old Simmentals topped the heifers at £1240 from K&R Hickery, Bristol.
At a sale of 205 calves at Market Drayton on 22nd February, Simmentals topped the averages for bulls at £240 and with a top price of £400.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 694 Store Cattle at their sale in Ayr on 22nd February. Top Price of the day was 392p per kg for Simmental bullocks off Darleith, who had further lots at 388p.
NEUK SIMMENTAL HEIFERS TOP STIRLING SALE OF 1587 STORE CATTLE United Auctions, Stirling on 21st February 2024) sold 1587 store cattle & young bulls. Also 227 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Heifers (777) averaged 297.37p to 370.00p per kg for a 500kg SIMX from Neuk. Young Bulls (38) sold to £1350 for a SIMX from Overton. Out of Spec averaged 196.87p to 231.20p per kg for a SIMX from Wellees, and to £1450 for a SIMX from High Mathernock.
Dungannon Farmers Mart on 21st February saw dropped heifer calves sell to £330 for as Simm presented by D Young. Fat Cows sold to £1840 for a 690kg Sim (267.00) presented by M Conway.
The added value of Simmental genetics continues to gain commercial recognition for efficiency and profit, allied to strong ‘green’ credentials. AHDB’s confirmation of the breed’s age at slaughter abilities is coupled with Simmental sired progeny being fast growing with terrific weight for age, hitting industry specs and producing high quality carcases with a high retail beef yield. Maternal mainstays of the suckler herd, Simmentals are high quality suckler cows; full of milk; fertile; easy calving; can calve at two years old; and who can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days. These are the natural attributes of the modern British Simmental striking a chord with commercial beef producers. With the Christmas festivities just around the corner, December was a foreshortened month of commercial sales but there were still plenty of Simmental sale toppers to report on:
A small pre-Christmas offering of store cattle and stirks at Exeter on 22nd December saw a continuation of the recent uplift in prices when store steers rose to a top of £1680 given for a Simmental from South Battisborough Farm of Plymouth.
SIMMS TOP STEERS & HEIFERS AT HALLWORTHY A small but quality run of cattle at Hallworthy on 21st December sold to a tremendous trade. Top spot going to R T Crabb of Boscastle with a run of Simmental x Cattle, their best a pair of 19-month-steers to £1560, next a single Steer to £1485 and a black shapey 18 month Simmental to £1450. Top heifers again from the Crabb Family with a pair of fleshy Simmental Heifers to £1335 and another at £1330.
On Wednesday 20th December at Carlisle, Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of bulls and weaned cattle seeing trade rise to similar levels of the Spring. Heifers topped at £1310 for Simmentals from Messrs Goldsbrough, Oakrigg Farm, Moffat.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 20th December, Suckled Cows and Calves sold to £1140 for a Sim Cow with a SHB Bull Calf at foot presented by D McCullough.
In a sale of baby rearing calves at Monmouthshire on 20th December, one month old Simm X bull calves sold to £345 for MA & MJ Williams, Rowlestone.
At Dingwall on 19th December, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd held a small sale of prime cattle. Prime Heifers averaged 275.3p per kg and sold to 284p per kg for a 570kg Simmental cross from Easter Sheep Park, Balblair.
At Bentham’s small sale of cast cows on 19th December, beef bred cows topped at 186p, £1469 for a Simmental X from Messrs Fare of Preston. On the previous day at a sale of rearing calves Simmentals topped the heifers at £300 from Cote Farm Partnership, Nether Kellet, with the same vendor selling a sweet young Simmental bull to £400.
On Monday 18th December 2023 at Lanark, Lawrie and Symington Ltd held their final sale of calves and stirks of 2023 with 68 calves and stirks forward. The sale was topped by Simmental Bullocks from Messrs M Hunter & Sons, Dawyck Mill Farm, Peebles at £950.
Market Drayton’s sale of 511 rearing calves on 18th December saw continental heifers being the trade of the day. Top call was £320 for a Simmental from W.J Holdcroft, Sandbach.
In a sale of UTM heifers at Sedgemoor on 18th December, heifers sold to £1746.36 for a pure bred Simmental (648kg) from R Bigwood, Burnham on Sea.
In a sale of barren, OTM, and feeding cows on 18th December at Bakewell, the top grossing cows were Simms at £1702.74, and £1544.48 from Mosley & Co, Chelmorten.
In a sale of barren cows at Whitland Mart on 16th December, the top price was £1,550/263p per kilo for a 590 kilos Tested Simmental cow from Rees, Hundleton.
At Thainstone on 15th December, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle forward from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to £1,800 gross for a pair of 618kg Aberdeen Angus from A D Miller, to 310.6p per kg for a pair of 454kg Simmentals from Hilton Farm, Shapinsay.
Also on 15th December at Thainstone, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 254 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Bullocks (86) averaged 277.4p and sold to 310.6p per kg for a pair of 454kg Simmental Cross from Hilton, Shapinsay. At a small sale of adult breeding cattle in calf heifers sold to £2500 for a Simmental Cross Heifer from Hill of Fiddes, Udny. In Calf Cows sold to £2650 for a Simmental from the same vendor.
SIMMENTALS TOP STEERS & HEIFERS, & SUCKLED CALVES AT EXETER A good show of stirks and suckled calves met another strong trade at Exeter on 15th December. Richard Beckley of Black Dog topped at £805 for Simmental x steers (8m), with heifers topping out at £760 for Simmental crosses (9m), from the same vendor. In the stirks and suckled calves sale, MA Stephens up from Plymouth presented Simmental x suckled calves (10m) which topped out at £915.
At Hexham & Northern Marts final store sale of the year on 15th December, Sandy & Andrew Ord, Newton Greens brought forward their annual consignment of 50 Angus and Simmental cross steers at 15-18 months and these well-presented bullocks topped at £1780 (for the Simms) to average a very worthy £1504 throughout. Other Simmental x steers on the day topped at £1850 Beacon Rigg, £1820 (x2), At a sale of cast cows, bulls, and prime cattle from Orkney vendors at Thainstone on 14th December, bulls sold to £1,840 gross for a 1140kg Simmental from K & K Morgan, Swanny Farm, Swannay.
Gisburns sale of Prime Cattle on 14th December saw a prime Simmental bull from E&M Fairhurst at 872kgs made £2464 to feature in the leading prices.
At Caledonian Marts, Stirling sale of prime cattle, young bulls and OTMs on 14th December, Beef OTMs sold to 229 ppkg for a Simmental from T Mitchell, East Gormyre, West Lothian. United Auctions, Stirling on 13th December sold 590 store cattle & young bulls. Bullocks (287) averaged 270.60p to 307.20p per kg for a 472kg SIMX from South Falfield.
Thirsk’s prize show & sale of breeding cattle on 14th December saw a total entry of 117 head with some exceptionally good cattle on offer met very good demand throughout. Top price of the day at £2850 was a Simmental X, In calf heifer from Amblers lodge, Shipton (this consignment of 10 averaged £2373).
At Hallworthy on 14th December, a dispersal of Hereford Cows with Simmental x Calves at foot from S Chudleigh of Launceston saw his best outfit to £1710 for a cow with 6 month calf at foot and second outfit to £1700, younger cows and heifer calves to £1400 twice.
On 13th December at a small sale of prime cattle at Frome, the top gross price for UTM steers was £1585 for a Simmental from Waddon Farms Ltd, Westcombe.
In a sale of rearing calves at Monmouthshire on 13th December, the bull calves were topped by a Simm at £350 from CWC Waters.
C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their December sale of Breeding and Store Cattle on 12th December at Longtown. A seasonal offering of stores were forward with a large proportion being young, hill bred cattle. A lovely run of very well bred Simmental in calf heifers consigned by WA & CM Vaughan, High Dovecote, Walton graced the cattle sale ring at Longtown. After some frantic bidding this super run of heifers topped the sale at £1,700 (x5), going on to average a very pleasing £1,672.
SIMMENTAL AT £2680 LEADS PRIME BULLS AT CARLISLE At Borderway Mart’s Primestock Sale, Carlisle on 11th December, prime bulls saw thirteen sell over £2000 and eight over £2300 to a day’s overall top of £2680.58 for a 1041kg Simmental for first time vendors at Borderways weekly Primestock sale, Messrs McCulloch, Over Hill House, Midlothian. Other Simmentals sold to £2209.06 for 868kg from Messrs Dyet, East Merkland, Lanarkshire. In the sale of prime cattle, heifers sold to a top of £2136.59 for a 759kg Simmental cross from Messrs Morton, Church Farm Penrith. C & D Auction Marts Ltd Dumfries held their annual Christmas Show and Sale of Rearing Calves & Stirks on 11th December which sold to a large and active ringside of buyers. The Sale was topped by an excellent Simmental X bull calf from Mr D Shuttleworth Dumfries at £600.
Irving Pearson – Simmentals
In a sale of 616 rearing calves at Market Drayton on 11th December, Simms topped both the bulls and the heifers. Leading the bulls at £390 was J Gould & Son, with the heifers being led at £330 by Simms from Robert Butterworth.
On 9th December at Selby Livestock Auction Market and a sale of 570 store cattle, a Simm heifer from R Darlison made £1300 to feature in the top prices.
SIMMENTALS TOP STEERS & HEIFERS AT EXETER At Exeter’s store sale on 8th December, steers topped at £1630 for a pen of three striking Simmental bred bullocks (26m) for Michael Tooze up from Brixham, whilst DH and H Brain of Calverleigh saw younger (18m) Simmental steers rise to £1305. The heifer section saw a top of £1215 when John and Helen Keep sold their three shapely Simmentals (19m) for £1215.
On 8th December, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of rearing calves and stirks (96). Heifers topped at £800 for an 8-month-old Simmental from Mr J Findlay, Moorside Farm.
At C&D Auction Marts Limited Christmas Show & Sale of cast cows, bulls, & OTMs at Longtown on 7th December, the sale topped at £1,755 and £1,719 for Simmentals from Dempster Barguillean Partnership, Robmar, Argyll which also topped the price per kilo of 273p.
At Thirsk on 7th December and a sale of prime young bulls, the best grossing was £1911.39 for a Simmental x from H & L Dale & Sons, Loftus, purchased by Hartshead Meats Ltd, Ashton under Lyne.
On 7th December at Hallworthy’s sale of store cattle, J Vokes of Lockengate topped this section with a real stunner of a Simmental x Heifer to £1400 and a slightly smaller Heifer also a Simmental x to £1215. In a sale of suckled calves, A Varcoe of Bodmin took first prize Steers, with a trio of well-shaped and fleshed Simmental x steers which went on to make £1075, with a second bunch at £1065.
In a sale of calves at Carmarthen on 6th December, top price was £385 for a 1-month-old Simm bull from Davies, Cottage Farm
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 6th December, heifer prices peaked at £1780 for a 690kg Sim (258.00) presented by F McVeigh. Suckled Cows and Calves topped at £2040 for a Sim Cow with a Lim Hfr Calf at foot presented by E Hagan.
At Truro’s sale of store cattle, steers up to one and a half year old were topped by Simmentals from Messrs E G Benney of Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, at £1345.
On 6th December at Stirling, United Auctions sold 523 store cattle & young bulls. Also 306 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Out of Spec averaged 211.29p to 251.50p per kg for a SIMX from Forestmill, and to £1810 for SIMX from Forestmill. In a sale of prime cattle at Frome on 6th December, ‘U’ grade steers topped at 266p/kg & £1760 for a Simmental from JC Stainer, Semington.
In a sale of calves at Whitland on 5th December, heifers were topped at £400 by Simmentals from Green, Lampeter Velfrey. Simmental bulls on the day sold to £385 from Jones, Llangunnor.
On the 5th December Lawrie and Symington sold 248 Store and Breeding Cattle at their final sale of 2023 at Lanark. Bullocks sold to a top of 314.6p/kg for a pen of 8 Simmentals at 391kg from Messrs J & A Hutchinson, Roberton Mains Farm, Dolphinton.
At Ballymena on 5th December, a super trade for 200 store cattle was topped at £1650 by a 580kg Simm from J McHenry, Ballinderry.
On 5th December at Melton Mowbray, and a sale of prime cows, stock bulls & OTM cattle, the top gross was for heavy Simmental cows from NA Sercombe to £1525.82.
At the Primestock Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 4th December, twenty four bulls sold to £2000 and over and including Simmentals to £2285, and £2260 from Messrs Goldie, Newbie Mains, Annan.
In a sale at Whitland on 1st December, tested barren cows saw sold to £1,740 for a 770 kilo Simmental from Davies, Rhydiau, Crymych. In a sale of fat cattle, heifers were topped at £1540m 261 ppkg for a Simm heifer also from Davies, Crymych. In the sale of 309 store cattle, bulls sold to £1,320 for a 15 month Simmental from Dickerson, Birchgrove.
In a sale of 457 store cattle and suckled calves at Exeter on December 1st, store steers topped at a creditable £1620 given for a grand trio of Simmental bred bullocks (26m) from Michael Tooze of Brixham whilst the better of a super run of yearling Simmental steers from John Hull of Tiverton sold readily and to £1190.
At Thainstone on 1st December, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 404 store cattle, young bulls and young and weaned calves. Bullocks (176) averaged 300.8p and sold to £1755 gross for a pen of three 638kg Simmental Cross from Ardivot Farm, Lossiemouth. Heifers up to 250kg topped by The Hillocks (SimX) £610, with Nether Ardwell (SimX) at £520.
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