Two lots made 5800gns to lead part one of the Broombrae Simmental herd dispersal for Messrs Gordon L Clark, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife, held at United Auctions, Stirling on Monday 19th February and immediately following the breed’s successful bull sale.
The first part of the Broombrae Dispersal Sale comprised the Autumn calving cows with calves at foot, and with a selection of heifers, and met with a solid and consistent trade throughout. Five lots made in excess of 5000gns with fifteen in all at 4000gns and above. The sale grossed a very healthy £94,395. A herd with a focus on breeding cows with good udders and temperament, and using bulls with easy calving EBVs, the remaining cows and heifers will be sold in October 2024.
First to sell at 5800gns was the September 2019 born Broombrae Rosina K16, a daughter of the herd’s noted stock sire Lisglass Goldstar, and out of Broombrae Rosina E40, a Team Wisconsin daughter. PD’d in calf to Broombrae Major, Broombrae Rosina K16 was sold with her second calf at foot, the Camus Harold 16 sired heifer Broombrae Rosina P22 to Richard McCulloch for his Overhill House herd at Armadale, West Lothian.
Broombrae Rosina K16 5800gns
Broombrae Rosina E40, the mother of the joint top price, then went on herself to make 5800gns when being one of five purchases by MacFarlane Farms Ltd, Quixwood Farm, Duns, Berwickshire. This ten-year-old-cow by Team Wisconsin and out of Broombrae Rosina W8 was sold with her twin bull calves at foot, Broombrae Pablo 23, and Broombrae Picasso, both sired by Ardunsaghan Magic One. The oldest cow in the herd, Broombrae Rosina E40 has calved in August or September every year since 2016. All daughters have been retained and both of her previous bull calves sold in Stirling for over £8000.
Broombrae Rosina E40, 5800gns
In an export sale to Australia, selling at 5400gns was the maiden heifer Broombrae Delight N9 (P). Heterozygous polled, this August 2022 born heifer is by Wolfstar Kolisi (P), and is out of the Lisglass Goldstar 15 sired Broombrae Delight J1. After some rigorous pre-sale research, Broombrae Delight N9 (P) was purchased online by Knox Farms Pty Ltd, Crookwell, New South Wales. In the preceding bull sale, Knox Farms had also purchased Broombrae Noble for 11,000gns.
Broombrae Delight N9, 5400gns
The second calver, Broombrae Cathy K22 made 5200gns when selling to the Craighill herd of Craighill Farms, Duntrune, By Dundee. October 2019 born, and another by Lisglass Goldstar, this heifer, who previously had had twin bull calves, was sold PD’d in-calf to Broombrae Major and with her September 2023 born heifer calf at foot, Broombrae Cathy P23, a Camus Harold daughter.
Broombrae Cathy K22, 5200gns
At 5000gns was the March 2021 born Broombrae Cathy M7 who was sold PD’d in calf to Wolfstar Kolisi and with her heifer calf at foot Broombrae Cathy P28. Cathy M7 is by Roma Jaguar 18, a Curaheen Wakeman daughter, and is out of the Broombrae Dakota 12 daughter Broombrae Cathy I 17. Her October 2023 heifer calf, Cathy P28, is another by Camus Harold. Purchasing this outfit for their Priestfield herd was A&A Smith, Ballomill Farmhouse, Ladybank, Fife.
• 95 bulls set new February record average of £7498 (+£238) • 21 bulls sell for 10,000gns and over, with 53 in all at 6000gns and more • 5 Denizes bulls average £17,640 • Broombrae bull sells to Australian buyer • 11 bulls sell to Orkney • Clearance rate of 77% • Bull Sale grosses £712,310
Denzies Nugget 37,000gns
The June 2022 born Denizes Nugget from M A Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, sold for 37,000gns to lead what was another record trade for the Simmental breed at the Stirling Bull Sale held at United Auctions, on Monday 19th February 2024.
No fewer than 21 bulls sold at five-figure prices with 95 in all cashing in at £7498, up £238 on last year’s record mark.
In what was a remarkable day’s trading for them, the eye-catching quality team of five Denizes bulls, all by the homebred stock sire Denizes Hamish, grossed £88,200 to average an incredible £17,640. Denizes Nugget is out of Ashland Topaz Janet, whose maternal sister is the highly-noted Ashland Topaz Lopez. At the pre-sale show, judged by Stuart Barclay of the noted Harestone prefix, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Nugget was one of three Denizes bulls to claim red tickets before moving on to win the day’s Reserve Intermediate Championship.
Come the much-anticipated sale time, and in front of a packed ring, Denizes Nugget reached the 37,000gns mark before being knocked down to Jimmy & Vikki Wood for their high-profile Popes herd at Dutton, Preston, Lancashire. Speaking afterwards Vikki Wood said: “This bull had a bit of everything. When he walked into the ring he just had that presence, character and bounce that caught your eye. He’s a long, clean, well grown bull with plenty of style, who walked well and is not overdone. There’s still plenty for him to grow into and we think he’s a bull with a lot of future in him. With the bull in himself, the depth of proven breeding behind him, and some tremendous performance figures across the board, we’re excited to see how he gels with our females”. The 37,000gns is the top price the Woods have paid to date for a bull at auction in the UK and Vikki went on to say: “The bull has the full package and you have to pay for quality to hopefully take that next step with the herd in breeding top quality females and bulls as well. Nugget will be put to some heifers within the next few weeks and thereafter will be given the chance of some cow.” The Popes herd presently comprises of 60 breeding females.
Over the three days of the sale the Denizes pen of five bulls drew huge attention from both commercial producers and pedigree breeders. Come sale time the 37,000gns top price was accompanied by further prices of 14,000gns; 13,000gns; 12,000gns; and 8000gns to add up to the herd’s most successful sale to date. The top price also eclipsed the herd’s leading sale price of 30,000gns achieved for Denizes Lancelot in February 2022. Speaking afterwards John Barlow said: “The aim of the Denizes herd is to breed first quality bulls with an easy muscling, that have width over the plates, walk well, have good heads and breed character, and are backed up with breeding, figures and health status. We’re trying to tick as many boxes for commercial producers as possible and it was great to see two bulls at 14,000gns and 12,000gns go commercially today. To breed a bull like Denizes Nugget for 37,000gns, and for him to be bought by a top pedigree herd, is just a real bonus on top. We wish the Wood family well with Nugget and really look forward to seeing his progeny in due course.”
Wolfstar Nobleman 17,000gns
Alex and Ross King’s Wolfstar herd from Ormiston, Tranent, East Lothian also enjoyed a top day when selling three bulls to average a fantastic £14,700. Leading the way for them was Wolfstar Nobleman who sold for 17,000gns, the second top price of the day, to Tom Lyth, Heatherhouse, Tankerness, Orkney. May 2022 born, Wolfstar Nobleman, the first prize winner in class six, is an embryo calf sired by Curaheen Bandit and out of the top breeding female Wolfstar Forget-Me-Not whose previous progeny include the 17,000gns Wolfstar Jimmy Choo; Wolfstar Kolisi who sold to Cogent, and the retained stockbull Wolfstar Ivan.
Tom Lyth moved from Lancashire to Orkney some six years ago to ‘follow his dream’ of buying his own farm. At present he has a total of 100 Luing cows which he splits equally between Simmental bulls and purebred Luing bulls. On a recent visit to Wolfstar, he was shown the bulls heading to Stirling and immediately picked out Nobleman as being one to keep an eye on. Commenting he said: “I really liked his breeding but he’s a bonny bull, very well put together, and just the type that I like”. From here Tom hopes to take some semen from Wolfstar Nobleman and with him given some work thereafter. With a pedigree herd being established Tom’s aim is that Nobleman will be joined by some Simmental heifers in the very near future! Orkney buyers again featured prominently throughout the sale with eleven bulls in all heading back to the islands.
Wolfstar Nasa 14,000gns
The Reserve Junior Champion, from the same home, Wolfstar Nasa, made 14,000gns when selling to Pitgaveny Farm, Elgin. Nasa is sired by the privately purchased Islavale Guy and is out of Wolfstar Ivy, another Team Celtic-sired cow. Winner of the last class of the day, this November 2022 born bull will be used across both commercial and pedigree cows with Pitgaveny running 170 Simmental commercial cows, spring and autumn calvers, and ten pedigree females. Speaking of his purchase the herd manager Geoff Anderson said: “I saw this bull at the inspection and watched him again through the judging and just really liked him. He’s a bull with style, depth, and great width to him, has proven breeding on both sides, and carries top figures for milk at +13.”
Building on what has been a strong run of sales and commercial demand for Simmental bulls and females, the sale saw 95 bulls in all sell for £7498 (+£238) and a new breed record average for February Stirling Sales. This latest sale was the seventh in a row at Stirling where the Simmental breed has set a new record average mark and the ongoing commercial momentum in the breed was again warmly welcomed by the Society’s President Norman Robson who said: “There’s an ever-growing recognition of the Simmental breed’s ability to add value, efficiency and profitability to commercial herds and this is what’s continuing to drive the sustained and increasing demand at the point of sale. Prior to this sale we were able to highlight further independently verified figures over some ten years that showed the breed’s percentage advantages in daily carcase gain over both continental, and native sired progeny. Maybe most significantly, whatever the sire, the best performing progeny can be shown to be out of Simmental sired females and this is a further big driver for the breed. Add this in to the Simmental’s abilities at age at slaughter, with significantly reduced finishing costs, and less environmental impact, and it really does add up to money for producers. First quality bulls with width, good tops, were correct on their legs and with good figures, particularly for calving ease and milk, were much in demand and easily sold.”
Denizes Newton 14,000gns
At the same 14,000gns mark was another of the team of five from the Denizes pen and in the shape of the winner of class nine, Denizes Newton. This August 2022 born bull was a powerful Hamish son out of the herd’s noted Trixibelle line which has previously sold bulls up to 20,000gns. With top calving ease figures this bull was bought by commercial producers K Park & Sons, Dalpeddar Farm, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
Backmuir Nate 13,000gns
Selling at 13,000gns was the day’s Senior Champion and Reserve Overall, Backmuir Nate, from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith. April 2022 born, this bull is by the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo, the Overall Champion at Stirling in February 2020, and is out of Backmuir Kreole’s Koala. This upstanding bull, with a +10 figure for Maternal (Milk) was purchased by DC Houldey, Kirkleton House, Waterbeck, Lockerbie. Following the sale Clive Houldey said: “We saw this bull for the first time in the show ring and were really impressed. He has a real size and power about him and that was something we were looking for the herd. The father and son team of Clive and Harry run the Manor Park and Manor Fields pedigree herds respectively and alongside a commercial suckler herd. The intent from here is that Backmuir Nate will be put to work in the middle of June, and he will go on to a mix of pedigree and commercial cows.
Denzies Neff 13,000gns
At the same price of 13,000gns was another from the Denizes pen and this time the June 2022 born Denizes Neff 22 who had stood second in his class to the day’s top priced bull. Again by Denizes Hamish this bull is out of the Blackford Galaxy sired Denizes Melody 32nd, a maternal sister to Denizes Melody 52nd who sold for 10,000gns at the Next Gen III Sale. With strong figures across the board, Denizes Neff 22 was purchased by John Jeffrey for the Kersknowe herd at Kelso, Roxburghshire. Of Neff Mr Jeffrey said: “We thought a lot of this bull and he came out of just a tremendous pen of good bulls with connectivity in the breeding. Neff is a bull with shape but not extreme and had the figures to back his breeding. Denizes Neff 22 will be settled in at Kersknowe before being given some work in June within the herd which comprises of fifty breeding females.”
Kilbride Farm Nebulus 13,000gns
The third bull at the 13,000gns price was the winner of Class 10, Kilbride Farm Nebulus 22 from WH Robson & Sons, Doagh, Ballyclare. Entirely homebred this September 2022 born bull is by Kilbride Farm Jetstream 18 (P) and is out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 175F (TF) who is a maternal sister to the 20,000gns Kilbride Farm Comber. Continuing the trend of bulls selling that had good figures, Kilbride Farm Nebulus was bought by Delfur Farms, Dundurcas Farm House, Rothes for the Delfur herd of 120 breeding females. Commenting the herd manager Garry Patterson said: “This is a bull to put to heifers in the herd initially and he carries good figures for calving and milk, and generally across the traits. He’s a bull with great length to him, with style and breed character, and is the dark red colour I like. Nebulus comes from a good pedigree, is new blood to the Delfur herd and I think he’s a bull that will click well with the Islavale Magnum daughters in the herd. He’ll run across the heifers first before being given a chance of the cows”. Another good team of Kilbride Farm bulls saw five sell in all to gross a very solid £41,475.
Rockytop Nero 12,000gns
Another herd to enjoy a strong day’s trading was the Rockytop herd of Gary & Angela Christie, Glass, Huntly who sold to a top of 12,000gns and with five in all grossing £38,535. The herd’s top price of 12,000gns came in the shape of Rockytop Nero 22 who stood second in his class to the day’s Overall Supreme Champion. May 2022 born, this bull is by Glenturk Kingpin 19 and is out of the Kilbride Farm Arklow daughter Rockytop Corissa’s Honey. With a +10 figure for Maternal (Milk), this bull was purchased by Mr B Grant for the Dellfield herd at Druid Temple Farm, Inverness-shire. Speaking after the sale Stuart Grant said: “We hadn’t planned on buying a bull but will need one next year and when we saw Rockytop Nero we just really liked him. He’s a bull that’s very correct on his legs, he’s square, solid and not too extreme in anyway, and just has a bit of everything in him that we like We run 160 cows, of which around 50 are pure, so he will be used on them for a start and likely on the commercial cows at a forward time.”
Denzies Nacho 12,000gns
Next up at 12,000gns was the first prize winner in Class Eight, Denizes Nacho 22 from the Barlows. July 2022 born, this thick ended bull with shape, width, and strong figures went to commercial buyers JL Drysdale, Forestmill Farm, Alloa, Clackmannan. This calf, whose brother sold for 12,000gns at the corresponding sale last year, is out of Annick Trixibelle 19th.
Corskie Nitrate 12,000gns
From another strong line up, two bulls from the Corskie herd of WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, topped at 12,000gns. The first of these was Corskie Nitrate who had stood second in his class. By the 10,000gns Kilbride Farm Haka, this September 2022 born bull is out of Corskie Kigem, an Auchorachan Farmer 14 daughter. With one of the highest Maternal (Milk) figures in the catalogue at +13, this bull also went commercially when selling to T Clark & Sons, Abbey Farm, Madderty, Crieff. At the same mark of 12,000gns was the September 2022 born Corskie Newry (22) who was purchased by Jim & Patricia Goldie for their Newbiemains herd at Newbie Mains Farm, Annan. Also by Kilbride Farm Haka, Corskie Newry 22 is out of Tawley Hanna who has previously had sons sell to 7000gns. Commenting, Jim Goldie said: “We were looking for a stylish, young, well grown bull, that was correct with plenty of breed character, and felt Corskie Newry really matched up to that. He’s got plenty of breeding behind him and being out of an Irish bred cow it’s also a bit of a different blood line”. Plans from here are that the bull will be run with up to 25 heifers in the Springtime. Eight Corskie bulls grossed £67,515 with other prices including 8000gns; 7800gns; 7000gns x 2; 6000gns; and 4500gns.
Corskie Newry 12,000gnsSaltire Nemesis 11,500gns
Saltire Nemesis 22 from J&G Houliston, Drem, North Berwick made 11,500gns when selling commercially to AG Whiteford, South Keithney, Burnhervie, Aberdeenshire. May 2022 born this bull, by the prolific AI sire Saltire Impressive, is out of the Popes Barclay daughter Saltire Felicity. Later in the sale the Houlistons also sold Saltire Nobleman, a Saltire Logan 20 son, for 7500gns to Douganhill Farms, Castle Douglas.
Kersknowe Noah 11,000gns
The long established Kersknowe Simmental herd of Mr J Jeffrey, Kelso, Roxburghshire made 11,000gns of their senior bull Kersknowe Noah 22. April 2022 born Kersknowe Noah stood third in his class won by the Overall Reserve Champion. Sired by the Woodhall Ferrari son Aultmore Jasper 18, and out of Kersknowe Head Girl, this was another five figure bull to go to a commercial producer when knocked down to Aucheneck Estates, Lillearn, By Glasgow.
Kilbride Farm Nugget 11,000gns
Another from the Robson family, this time Kilbride Farm Nugget 22 (P) (TF), made 11,000gns when going for commercial use to S McClymont & Son, Yarrow, Selkirk. This August 2022 born bull offered a new bloodline being the first son at sale by the herd’s imported homozygous polled stock bull, Flop Agrochyt, and out of Kilbride Farm Dora 88 IP (P), a Sneumgaard Imperator (PP) daughter. WH Robson & Sons sold five bulls in all at the sale with their top prices of 13,000gns and 11,000gns being joined by others at 7500gns; 4800gns; and 3200gns.
Broombrae Noble 11,000gns
Bringing an international flavour to the sale the August 2022 born Broombrae Noble N12 22 (P) from Gordon Clark, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, made 11,000gns when selling to Australian Simmental breeder Knox Farms Pty Ltd, New South Wales. Another bull with strong performance figures, Broombrae Noble N12 22 (P) is by Wolfstar Kolisi 19 (P) and is out of Broombrae Rosina K8.
Wolfstar Nonu 11,000gns
Continuing their top day the Wolfstar herd sold the April 2022 born Wolfstar Nonu 22 for 11,000gns. This April 2022 born bull is one of the first sons to be offered at sale by Glenturk Lord of the Rings described as ‘the easiest calving bull we’ve had at Wolfstar’. Nonu is out of Wolfstar Kiwi who is a full sister to the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo. With a +11 figure for Maternal (Milk) Wolfstar Nonu 22 was bought by commercial producer G&A Milne, Standingstones, Durris, Kincardineshire. Wolfstar’s three bulls sold on the day made 17,000gns; 14,000gns; and 11,000gns.
Newbiemains Neymar 11,000gns
The final bull at 11,000gns was Newbiemains Neymar 22 from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Nebie Mains Farm Annan. Sired by Annick Klondyke 19 EX94 and out of Newbiemains Klass Act VG88, a Moorglen Hillbilly EX91 daughter, this bull was sold to the Borders and IHG Warden, Hawick, Roxburghshire.
Ballinalare Farm Navigator 10,000gns
Taking the total to twenty one bulls at five figures, four bulls made 10,000gns. The first of these was Ballinalare Farm Navigator from Mr J & Mr A Wilson, Ballinalare Farm, Dorans Hill Newry. Sired by the popular AI sire Ballinalare Farm Galaxy 15, and out of the Omorga Murray daughter Ballinalare Farm Delta, this July 2022 born bull stood second in his class. With a Maternal (Milk) figure of + 10, Ballinalare Farm Navigator 22 was sold to another noted commercial producer in the shape of Philiphaugh Estates, Old Mill farm, Selkirk.
Overhill House Nikey 10,000gns
The day’s Intermediate and Overall Supreme Champion was the winner of Class Five, Overhill House Nikey 22 from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian. In what has been a truly remarkable run, Overhill House have won the Supreme Championship at the last four Simmental Society Sales at which they have attended. Their Champion here was another son of the 26,000gns Pistyll Kingsman, who bred the herd’s 46,000gns Overhill House Neo sold in October at Stirling last year and is out of Overhill House Ice Cone. Purchasing the Champion bull was Jim & Elizabeth Dyet for his Merkland herd at East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire. Commenting Jim said: “Overhill House Nikey is just a tremendous Simmental bull and we’re delighted to have got him for our Merkland pedigree herd. We immediately picked him out at the show on Sunday in his class but when he was placed Champion we thought we might not be able to get him. He’s a bull with serious length and one of the best top lines that I’ve seen in a long time. A bull with a natural power to him, he’s got shape, terrific conformation, and is very breedy. We think, and very much hope, that he’ll click with the type of females we have here at East Merkland. He’ll get settled in and given the chance of one or two before being put to the very best 25-30 of our cows from June onwards”. The Merkland herd comprises of ninety breeding females in all.
Islavale Novak 10,000gns
Taking the Junior Championship and selling for 10,000gns was the winner of Class 12, Islavale Novak from the prolific herd of WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, Banffshire. This stylish October 2022 born bull came to Stirling with a bit of a show record behind him having been Senior Male Champion at the 2023 Stars of the Future Calf Show. With breeding behind him, Novak is by Coose Lincoln EX90 whose sons sold at Stirling have averaged 11,000gns, and is out of the Curaheen Giant daughter Islavale Jazz. Buying this bull was Thomas Gray, Balquharrage, Lennoxtown. Bringing a team of predominantly junior bulls this year, the Islavale herd sold seven in all to gross £50,925 and average £7275.
Springfield Neptune 10,000gns
The final bull at the 10,000gns mark was Springfield Neptune from Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik. April 2022 born this bull is by the herd’s noted sire Islavale Jabba, who was the online European Simmental Champion 2023, and is out of Springfield ivory a half sister to Springfield Minstrel who was sold for 6800gns to the Popes herd. At the Simmental Youngstock Show at Borderway Agri Expo in2023, Springfield Neptune had stood as Senior Champion and Reserve Overall Champion. Purchasing him here, and another to Orkney, was J&R Stanger, South Seatter, Sandwick. Springfield Neptune had stood second in his class to his teammate Springfield Niagra who, two lots later, sold for 8500gns to H MacDonald, Mains of Dalvey, Morayshire. Niagra, also by Islavale Jabba and this time out of Springfield Italia, was second in his class to Springfield Neptune at the aforementioned 2023 Simmental Youngstock Show.
Habton Nev 9,000gns
Selling for the first time at Stirling was Alex Bulmer from Coultas Farm, Malton, North Yorkshire who made 9,000gns for the second bull in the ring Habton Nev 22. This February 2022 born bull is by the herd’s 15,000gns stock bull Backmuir Kraken and is out of Corskie Kelly, a Drumagarner Hughes daughter. Another heading to the islands he was bought by GT&S Coghill, Muce, Birsay, Orkney.
*In a small sale of four Simmental females the top price was 2300gns paid for Fallhills Nikki (P) from Bruce Lambie, Howgate, Penicuik. April 2022 born this heifer is by Wolfstar Just Do It 18 (P), and is out of Fallhills Kate (TF), an Islavale Gallant 2 15 daughter. Fallhills Nikki (P) was another purchase by Australian Simmental breeder Knox Farms Pty Ltd, Crookwell, New South Wales.
OTHER LEADING BULL PRICES INCLUDED: 8,500gns Lot 21 Springfield Niagara sold to H Macdonald, Mains of Dalvey, Advie, Morayshire 8,000gns Lot 77 Rockytop Napoleon sold to R Garden, Culfosie, Aberdeenshire 8,000gns Lot 78 Denizes Nero sold to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Orkeny 8,000gns Lot 126 Islavale Norton sold to JR & JA Barron, Findowrie, Brechin, Angus 8,000gns Lot 132 Corskie Nerve sold to C & M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, Ellon 8,000gns Lot 161 Braegarrie Nightrider sold to A & W Barrowman, Mid Knockglass Farm, Stranraer
AVERAGE: 95 Bulls £7948 (+£238)
Overall Championship – Stirling Bull Sales February 2024
SIMMENTAL ADVANTAGES IN AGE AT SLAUGHTER, REDUCED FINISHING COSTS, MATERNAL TRAITS, AND IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
Analysis of AHDB’s National Beef Evaluation (NBE) data (December) has shown that Simmental sired progeny have a superior Daily Carcase Gain in comparison to Continental sired, and Native sired progeny.
This latest analysis is 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. With regards to maternal traits, the average genetic merit for Simmentals is also shown as higher than the average for all Continental breeds.
The average Daily Carcase Gain is the average growth rate across the lifetime of the animal – carcase weight per day to slaughter.
Figure 1 shows that the average Daily Carcase Gain (DCG) of the progeny of a Simmental bull out of All Dams is 4.6% better than the DCG of the progeny of a Continental Sire out of All Dams, and 17.5% better than the DCG of the progeny of a Native Sire out of All Dams.
The ‘ultimate combination’ for Daily Carcase Gain is shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam. Emphasising the strength of the Simmental breeds maternal qualities, the highest rates of Daily Carcase Gain are attained by both Continental and Natives sires for progeny out of Simmental dams.
The NBE dataset is collated nationally from BCMS, as well as many of the UK’s largest processors and abattoirs to develop a database that includes records from over three million animals slaughtered in the last 10 years. This huge dataset is enabling AHDB to estimate the genetic merit of beef cattle, including over 500,000 sires, for days to slaughter, carcase weight and EUROP scores.
The data again shows that Simmentals rank highly amongst Continental breeds for this trait, age at slaughter, (December 2023) and have on average, a leading genetic merit for reducing days to slaughter. The actual performance data of Simmental bred offspring translates to actual performance as follows. See Fig 2.
Simmental sired calves finish on average 37 days earlier than those by Continental sires and 46 days earlier than calves by native sires.
Simmental sired calves will cost on average, £74 less to finish than the average of all Continental sired calves, assuming £2 per day finishing cost.
Simmental sired animals, finishing 37 days earlier, will on average produce 5.6kg less CO2 equivalents based on UK Government’s estimate the average animal produces 151g of CO2 equivalents per day.
Commenting BSCS President Norman Robson said: “These Simmental advantages are massive and really add up to money for commercial producers. If you’re finishing 100 cattle then by using Simmental genetics its reducing your number of days feeding by 3700 to 4600, that’s £7400 to £9200 assuming a conservative £2 per day finishing cost! Similarly it’s a reduction of 592kgs to 696kgs less CO2 emissions meaning real environmental sense for retailers and society.”
It’s important to remember that a bull only provides half of the genetics inherited by a calf. The other half comes from the dam. Again, Simmental bred calves are shown as the most efficient.
Calves out of Simmental dams and by Continental sires finish on average 47 days earlier than the average of all dams, showing that choosing Simmental cows is another great strategy to reduce finishing costs.
In every example given in Fig 2 calves out of Simmental dams finish significantly earlier than calves out of All Dams, and Suckler Dams.
Again, the ‘ultimate’ combination for age at slaughter can be seen as progeny sired by a Simmental bull and out of a Simmental dam at 633 days.
MAXIMISING SIMMENTAL GENETICS
A great way to further leverage this Simmental advantage is to select your sire according to his EBV.
using a Simmental sire in the top 10% for days to slaughter, Simmental sired calves finish on average 45 days earlier than those by Continental sires and 54 days earlier than calves by native sires.
Commenting further BSCS President, Norman Robson said: “We’ve been promoting Simmental as a hard-working, no nonsense beef breed that gives you more. These claims have been qualified by the analysis of AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations which are based on a vast amount of indisputable data unique to the sector.
“With input price pressures continuing to escalate, there is going to be a real premium on efficiency. Simmentals are showing here, in data over a 10-year period, that they are a future proofed beef breed fir for the modern industry. The data shows the Simmental advantages in Daily Carcase Gain; age at slaughter whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam; and a significant reduction in finishing costs, with lower emissions meeting environmental challenges.
“The data cumulatively highlights the added value performance that can be achieved from both carcase and maternal traits when Simmental genetics are introduced to the herd. In turn, they’re the main contributors to efficiency and subsequently profit, absolutely essential going forward for a sustainable enterprise.”
To breed animals that best suit your farming system, AHDB recommends its National Beef Evaluation EBVs should be considered in conjunction with EBVs from your performance recording organization.
In the run up to the February 2024 Stirling Simmental Bull Sale please see here a feature on the Denizes Herd of Michael & John Barlow, Nr Leyland, Lancashire who have a team of five bulls entered. The feature was first published in the Scottish Farmer and is reproduced with their kind permission.
Focusing on cow families pays dividends for many dairy producers and the same holds true for Simmental breeders Michael and John Barlow of the Denizes herd, who regularly produce some of the lead priced entries at the Bull Sales.
It’s United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales that the team – Michael and his wife Doreen and John and his soon-to-be wife Claire, and their daughter, Robyn (2) –enjoy most too.
Top team at Denizes – Michael and Doreen Barlow, son John and his soon to be wife Claire and their two-year-old daughter, Robyn.
“Going up to Bull Sales at Stirling is the highlight of the year. There is nothing to beat the buzz and the atmosphere of Stirling when there is a good line-up of bulls to sell,” said Michael, who two years ago received 30,000gns for Denizes Lancelot and sold nine bulls and heifers to average a colossal £10,500.
Five Denizes bulls entered for the Bull Sales at Stirling of which all are sons of Denizes Hamish
“We’ve always enjoyed going to Stirling. We get such a buzz selling bulls into Scotland and especially up to Orkney.”
Denizes Lancelot made 30,000gns at Stirling in February 2022
Huge fans of Simmental breed since their first female was bought in 1978, they have seen the popularity of the breed soar in recent years, with home-bred bulls selling into commercial beef and dairy units and several noted pedigree herds.
Last year, they enjoyed a huge demand for heifers at the NxtGen sale at Carlisle too, selling 10 to average £5754, complete with top prices of 10,000gns – twice.
Denizes Melody 48 made 10,000gns at the NxtGen Sale
Their Simmentals prove their worth not only when selling to other herds, but also when used as breeding bulls over the 80-cow Meuse-Rhine-Issel (MRI) dairy herd that produces a herd average of 7500kg at 4.7%BF and 3.49%P.
“The dairy herd was established in the 1940s by my grandfather and it still pays its way when we sell the milk to Arla and MRI bullocks from it sell at up to £1400 at 22-months of age solely off forage. Simmental bullocks from the dairy herd by home-bred bulls will make nearer £1900,” he said.
“Everything here has to pay its way so we look to breed good, long, modern clean bulls with a good top line and back end,” said Michael, pointing out that the Denizes herd has sold 10 bulls to AI centres in recent years of which all have easy calving figures.
Another from last years NxtGen sale, Denizes Melody 52 also made 10,000gns
John, who attends to the day-to-day running of the Simmentals, is equally enthusiastic about the breed and travelling to Scotland, added: “There is nothing to beat the Simmental for its maternal characteristics and ease of calving.
“Simmental cross calves from any breed or cross will easily gain more than 1kg per head per day too, which coupled with their ease of temperament means an increasing number of farmers are looking for Simmental bulls. We’re selling more bulls than ever before into dairy and beef herds and, into different areas, and that’s without advertising.”
He added that data from AHDB’s National Beef Evaluations has also confirmed that on average calves by a Simmental sire will finish 36 days earlier than those from other continental sires and 46 days earlier than those by native sires.
It has also shown that Simmental sired calves cost £72 less to finish. Furthermore, continental cross calves bred from Simmental-sired cows were shown to finish 29 days earlier than those from ‘average’ suckler cows.
John Barlow left, and his father Michael, pictured with Denizes Lancelot, Logic and Lord.
The Barlows’ farming enterprise, based just outside Leyland in Lancashire, extends to 300 acres of low ground pasture and takes in the three farms of Littlewood Hall, Rowcroft and Denizes.
Michael’s late father, John, was equally passionate about the cattle and also introduced a livestock trailer business – Barlow Trailers – which he concentrated on at nights. It is now one of now leading trailer businesses in Uk selling livestock, horse, plant, and flat trailers.
One of the sale entries Denizes Nugget as a calf and his dam Ashland Topaz Jane
The family’s Simmental herd has been enjoying just as much success too since young John returned home to work on the farm having completed a degree in agriculture.
During that time he did a placement at Wilson and Geraldine Strachan’s Mill of Balmaud, Banffshire, where their former stockman Andrew Reid changed John’s outlook on Simmental cattle.
“After working with Andrew, I could see the potential in our cattle and found out how to bring that out. Since then, we’ve also focused more on the female lines and breeding bulls demanded by the commercial producer. It’s all about ticking the right boxes – the more boxes a bull ticks for the commercial breeder, the more likely you are to sell that bull,” John said.
“Good Simmental bulls have got to have the shape, size, growth rates, figures and have the right pedigree. They also need to have the health status and be of the right colour.”
To achieve such high standards, John and Michael have bought in to several top breeding female lines over the years to include the Trixie Belles, Melodys and Matildas which in turn have bred several top-performing bulls to sell and keep for their own use.
One of those purchases, Raceview Dawn Matilda, which was bought over the ‘phone at a breed sale in Roscommon for €8500, produced Denizes Impeccable – the sire of Denizes Lancelot and Logic sold in February last year for 30,000gns and 10,000gns respectively.
The herd’s star breeder at present, Denizes Hamish, is another son of a well-known breeding female. Hamish, whose first 14 sons averaged £7000, is the first calf out of Auroch Eve. He is also the sire of the herd’s first overall champion at Stirling in Denizes Monty which made 20,000gns at Stirling in October 2022, alongside another that made 12,000gns.
Denizes Hamish sire of the five bulls for Stirling Bull Sales and the Barlows top price bull to date at 30,000gns – Denizes Lancelot
Eve was purchased at just two hours of age for her pedigree when her sire is the Hillcrest Champion son, Auroch Ace, while her dam, Auroch Wave, boasts the show cow Darsham Kit Kat and Raceview Merle-Beauty in her pedigree.
Eve herself is also one of the breed’s leading show cows having been crowned The Scottish Farmer’s Champion of the Decade in 2020, after winning the Highland Show in 2015 and 2016. She also boasts championship titles from the Great Yorkshire, the Royal Norfolk and at the Scottish National at the Black Isle Show, when she landed the breed honours when Hamish was her bull calf at foot.
Going further back, it was Ashland Tornado, another private purchase acquired at just five months of age from Pat and Frank Kelly, Northern Ireland, that helped to put a stamp on the herd. He was also purchased on the back of his genetics.
“He bred some good sons, but it’s his daughters that have been particularly impressive, having produced the 30,000gns Lancelot and grandsons to 20,000gns. Tornado daughters are good, well-balanced females and the type that we aim to breed from. They’re structurally correct, medium-sized cows that do well with various bulls,” John said.
In more recent years, the Barlows bought Blackford Galaxy privately from the Macphersons, Croy, after the bull stood reserve champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2017 and the following year took the supreme under their ownership.
Denizes heifers at 10 months old are daughters of Blackford Galaxy
Last year, they also bought Saltire Impressive privately as a five-year-old; Corksie Nutmeg, the junior champion at the Royal Highland Show; and Coose Gambler, a former Cogent AI bull.
“We like Hamish and Impressive for their red colour and for their easy-calving characteristics, producing calves with shape and size while Nutmeg is more likely to be a cow breeder. Gambler was bought for his polled genetics and to put over the heifers,” said John.
Ideally, the duo look for a balance of muscle and size in their cattle with their ideal sized cow weighing in at 800kg and heifers calving at 30 months of age.
Heifers calve in February, and March, with the cows in June to September, inside. Being so easy fleshed they are fed a straw-based ration and plenty of minerals in the run-up to calving. They are also given time to calve instead of rushing in with the calving jack, which they believe is key to reducing calving problems and boosting herd fertility.
“We’re big on pre-calving minerals and make sure we don’t rush calving. In the past, we’d be too quick to assist, but we’ve learned to give them plenty of time and they normally calve themselves without any issues.”
While the boys look at calving figures, they are more likely to check the accuracy and gestation figures when buying a bull.
Easy-calving sires can breed easy-calving daughters too, with Denizes Hamish not only being in the top 1% of the breed, but also boasting gestation and calving figures of -2.9 and +9.2 respectively, with his daughters producing progeny with figures of +9.4.
Denizes Monty was overall champion at Stirling in February 2022, and sold 20,000gns
Hamish also breeds impressive looking progeny, being the sire of the inter-breed group of four at the Royal Lancashire Show last year. The quartet of yearlings, included Denizes Neff, Nugget, Nero and Nacho, caught the eye of the overall judge, David Leggat of United Auctions, who declared: “That’s one of the best inter-breed teams I have ever seen.”
Interestingly, those four, along with another Hamish son, Denizes Newton, are bound for Stirling this month.
The Royal Lancs is the first show for the family and it’s also the busiest as John aims to ‘break’ all cattle for the year when the two-day event is a 10-minute drive away and all entries are kept tied up overnight in a marquee.
“Last year, we took 21 cattle and this year we aim to take 35. It’s a great way to train youngstock for future showing because they get used to a big event at a young age.
Stirling Bull Sales comes first though, and if you can’t get a bull, you could buy a trailer or rent a motor home for a couple of weeks in the summer!
FARM facts
Family farm: Third generation family farm run by Michael and Doreen Barlow and son John
Livestock: Oldest herd of MRI dairy cows in the UK running 80 cows with a herd average of 7500kg at 4.7%BF and 3.49%P and 80 pedigree Simmentals to produce breeding bulls and heifers for sale mostly through United Auctions’ Stirling and Carlisle.
Diversification: Barlow trailers; motorhome rental; on-farm music festival.
ON THE spot
Best investment? “Buying Ashland Tornado to breed a herd of cows and Auroch Eve to breed Hamish.”
Biggest achievement? Breeding Denizes Lancelot which sold for 30,000gns when he is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides having a home-bred sire, grand-sire and dam.
Best advice? “Use Dinton Nautical on Auroch Eve to produce Hamish which is still going strong at eight years of age.”
Simmental has been the foundation of the cattle system at Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, since the 1970’s, with Simmental bulls first used on the commercial herd to breed replacement breeding stock before a pedigree herd was established in 2002.
Michael Durno, alongside wife, Morag, and father, Les, is now the third generation of the family to farm at Auchorachan.
With a keen interest in pedigree cattle, after considerable success over the years with commercial show calves – including championships at the Royal Highland Show, the Royal Northern Spring Show and Aberdeen Christmas Classic – the purchase of four heifers from the Ravensworth dispersal were the foundation for the Auchorachan pedigree herd.
Breeding policy revolves around five cow families including Hilly and Weigela. The herd now consists of 90 pedigree cows which are run commercially alongside 70 mainly Simmental cross cows which are put to Charolais and Simmental bulls to produce quality store calves.
“I like a medium sized cow that can be fleshed off the grass, without the need for extra feeding.”says Michael. “My pedigree cows may seem smaller in comparison to some other pedigree herds but you don’t achieve the same growth rates on a hill farm at 1000ft, as an arable low-ground farm’.
Around 110 cows calve from August to October with the remainder in the spring from January onwards to around mid-May, allowing for a spread of ages for pedigree shows and sales.
Autumn born calves are sold as yearlings through Thainstone Mart in September, while the spring born crossbred calves not retained for breeding are sold privately in November to former pedigree breeder, Danny Leslie, Redhill, Elgin.
Farm Policy
Farm policy over the years has always focused on producing top quality stock, whether it be the store calves, pedigree stock or prime lambs sold from the 550 Perth-type blackfaces, 400 of which are tupped with the Blackie and the rest put to a Texel.
Herd health has always been important, with the Auchorachan herd being one of the first to join the farmer led Hi-Health scheme now known as Hi Health-Herdcare. The herd has been accredited free of BVD since 2004 and Johnes Risk Level 1 status, since 2014. The herds’ Hi Health status has led to surplus commercial heifers being sold for recipients.
Michael will have seven bulls forward at Stirling on February 19, four of them by the home-bred bull, Auchorachan Hercules, a son of the renowned Auchorachan ACDC. Hercules was the most used sire in the Simmental herd book in 2022 with 71 calves registered by him, with offspring averaging £10,500 in 2021 and selling to a top of 18,000gns in October, 2021, with Auchorachan Landmark selling to Brian Grant for his Dellfield herd.
L to R, oldest to youngest, heading for Stirling: Napoleon P, Noble P, Nevada, Nashville, Nightrider, Northstar, and NeutronAuchorachan Hercules
“Hercules has bred extremely well for us,” says Michael, “He was an embryo, a result of semen sold to David Hazelton of the Ranfury herd with the condition that I got an embryo back out of his show cow”.
A further two bulls are by Greencap Kane 19 – he was the last bull through the ring at the Stirling October, 2020, sale held under Covid restrictions, which meant there was no pre-sale show – when purchased for 9,000gns.
“He was bought for his length and breeding after seeing a half-brother sold the previous year at Stirling,” Michael explains.
Polled Genetics
Also forward will be one of the first sons of the Danish-imported homozygous polled stock bull, Jaegergard Quebec, bought through Facebook after Michael had seen the bull’s dam on a previous trip to Denmark.
He is an exciting prospect with interest in polled genetics increasing among commercial buyers. Hence Michael’s investment in breeding polled bulls. Another of the herd’s stock bulls, Irish-bred, Auroch Hudson, is also polled.
“Both these bulls offer different bloodlines and being polled was a bonus,” Michael says. “In the past, polled bulls have tended to lack carcase quality and conformation but this has improved. There is a real advantage to breeding polled offspring, easing the workload and with heifer calves, once they are tagged, no further handling is required until weaning.
Auchorachan Honnie as a heifer, the mother of Auchorachan Nevada, and grandmother of Auchorachan Noble (P)
Following the success of the May, 2023, sale at Carlisle, where strong demand saw a 100% clearance and first prize heterozygous bull, Auchorachan Monarch ET 21, selling for 8,000gns, Michael intends to sell again at this year’s May sale. The sale also included a sale of Simmental cross Hi Health heifers with Auchorachan-bred heifers topping the sale at £3800.
Conformation, size and a nice head, preferably white in colour, are key attributes required for stock bulls which are used on both the pedigree and commercial herds.
EBV’s are considered secondary with Michael placing more emphasis on the society’s Female Classification Scheme
“Personally I think the classification scheme is a more useful tool in building up a picture of an animal’s breeding potential,” he says. “Buyers can be confident that bulls they are buying are out of cows which are structurally correct, with strong maternal lines’.
Auchorachan Dippy, mother of Auchorachan Nightrider
Show Success
The herd has achieved considerable success in the show ring at the Stirling bull sales over the years, including the reserve senior and reserve overall championships and three junior championships, including Auchorachan Wizard, junior and overall champion in February 2010, selling to Northern Ireland for the herds’ top price to date of 20,000gns.
This year, Michael, who sits on the Simmental Breed Council as chairman of shows and sales north, will judge the Simmental cattle at the Royal Highland Show.
“I am looking forward to judging at this year’s show, having previously judged the junior interbreed and beef breeder sections,” he says. “Over recent years, I’ve seen the quantity and quality of the Simmentals forward at the show improve. I will be looking for breed character and something that walks well”.
Unrivalled
Despite Scottish suckler cow numbers continuing to decline, looking ahead Michael feels the Simmental breed will hold its own. No other breed, he says, offers the versatility of a smaller type cow that can be outwintered to a big, beefy framed cow suited to lowlands.
“Bull sales have been good, achieving high clearance rates,” he points out. “Male offspring are performing just as well as other breeds, with the Simmental female in my opinion being unrivalled. The future is promising as the breed continues to go from strength to strength”.
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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This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
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