by Nicky Moreton | Sep 13, 2024 | 2024, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 Other Sales, 2024 News
- 7 Simmental bulls make £7000 and over
- 14 Simmental bulls average £6586
The Working Genes production sale from the McGowan family at Incheoch, Perthshire met a keen trade for an entire clearance, and with a strong demand and average for the Simmental bulls offered.
Incheoch Patrick 23 (PP) £10,200
Topping the trade at £10,200 was the dark red, homozygous polled Incheoch Patrick, with his attractive EBV profile including trait-leading calving ease and top end muscle and maternal (milk). A popular bull out in the field, this Auroch Deuter son was snapped up by James Hamilton, Aikengall, East Lothian, who over a combined three farms, Aikengall, Nunraw, and Barney Mains carry 900 spring calving Simmental cross suckler cows and accompanying finishing unit, and run some 25 Simmental bulls.
A three quarter brother to Patrick also sold at £8400 to Bruce Hogg, Birkenside. Incheoch Piccine is a single poll, with an equally impressive set of stats.
Incheoch Paragon 23 (P) £9,000
Another high seller was Incheoch Paragon P, a top 1% growth figured polled bull and son of the powerful homebred Incheoch Keystone 19 (PP). He was the pick of William Young, Skerrington Mains, Hurlford, Kilmarnock at £9000.
Incheoch Panama 23 (P) £7,800
A further four Simmental bulls sold for £7000 and over. Aikengall took another red, polled bull with a good maternal history, the Gibby’s Real Deal son, Incheoch Panama (P) for £7800. At £7600 was the homozygous Incheoch Porthos PP, a homozygous polled Incheoch Keystone 19 (PP) son from a particularly fertile and efficient cow line, who sold to Janice Laird and Alpha Simmentals.
Incheoch Porthos 23 (PP) £7,600
A Slievenagh Joker son, the easy-fleshing Incheoch Percy (P), was knocked down for £7400 to Jamie Gilchrist, buying for Ettrickshaws Farm. The McRae family at Tillyfour took Incheoch Polestar (PP), a son of Dirnanean Apostle for £7000.
Incheoch Percy 23 (P) £7,400
Commenting at the end of the sale, Neil McGowan said: “The online bidding format allowed many of the buyers to bid from home on a rare decent harvest day, though most had previously viewed the bulls. A good crowd on the day were particularly impressed with the temperament of these Simmental bulls, as they gently grazed and lazed in the paddocks next to the sale yard on the farm.”
Incheoch Polestar 23 (PP) £7,000
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 30, 2024 | 2024 News, 2024, 2024 Scottish News
- October 2022 born heifer Delfur Weigela N12 wins Overall Supreme Champion
- Newbiemains Prague places Overall Reserve
- 2024 competition sees 457 entries, up by 26 on the year, over six classes
Delfur Weigela N12, the October 2022 born heifer from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour is this year’s winner of the 2024 British Simmental Virtual Show. The fifth staging of this event, which has become the UK’s largest online pedigree show, saw 457 animals entered over six classes and from 87 breeders around the country.
Doing it the ‘hard way’, Delfur Weigela N12 initially came through the year’s largest class of 134 entries, for heifers born between 1st January 2022 and 31st July 2023, which was judged by Adrian Ivory of the Strathisla herd, Blairgowrie before securing the Female Championship from Anne MacPherson of the Blackford herd, Croy.
This year’s Overall Supreme Championship was judged by the British Simmental Cattle Society’s President Norman Robson of the Kilbride Farm herd, Ballyclare and saw Delfur Weigela N12 get the nod in front of the Male Champion, the February 2023 born Newbiemains Prague from Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan.
Commenting on his Champion, Normon Robson said: “This is a really well balanced female. She has a level top line, is very clean, shows a tremendous back end without being over muscly, and has a good tail setting. With plenty of femininity, she shows natural fleshing, and sound, correct feet and legs. I think she’s a very worthy Champion and is the type of high quality heifer that epitomizes the ongoing strides of improvement that Simmental breeders have been making over a number of years.”
Hearing the news of this Championship win just prior to the public announcement, Delfur herd manager Garry Patterson said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to hear that Delfur Weigela has won the 2024 Simmental Virtual Show! We were really delighted to win what was a huge class and with Delfur Nifty also taking second place. It’s been a terrific competition with a very high standard throughout, and just a great advert for the Simmental breed. Of Delfur Weigela N12, Garry went on to say, “Along with Delfur Nifty, Weigela has done really well at the backend shows last year and through this summer and has just continued to improve and come on. In shaping and developing the Delfur herd these are the type and quality of heifers we hope to continue to breed and build around.” Delfur Weigela N12, who is by Ballymoney Larry 20, and out of Delfur Weigela E12, an Auchorachan ACDC 09 9 daughter, has been served by the herd stock bull Islavale Magnum which was purchased for 28,000gns at Stirling in October 2022.
Of the ongoing popularity of the Simmental Virtual Show, Iain Kerr the British Simmental Cattle Society General Manager said: “First and foremost it’s a huge thank you to all of the breeders who have had a go and put forward entries for this year’s competition. Over 450 animals from 87 breeders is just terrific and the standard throughout reflects extremely well on the depth of quality within the Simmental herdbook. The competition is proving to be extremely popular with breeders and gives them an opportunity to come together, have a bit of fun and compete on a national level. From the numbers of people watching week on week, both in the UK and internationally, it really is a great promotional showcase for British Simmental and we’ve again had some terrific feedback. Plans are already underway for the 2025 competition!”
All of this year’s classes, entries, and videos can be viewed on the Society’s Facebook page.
by Rachel Foley | Aug 13, 2024 | 2024, 2024 North West News, 2024 East Anglia News, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
- Simply Peter Pan sold to the Wacton herd of RE & SHW Steggles
- Strathisla Pentagon joins the Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons
The importance of the show circuit as a ‘shop window’ for breeders to promote top quality cattle has again been highlighted with the news that two high achieving Simmental bulls through the 2024 summer have been sold in respective private deals.
At the 2024 Simmental English National Show, held within the Royal Lancashire Show, the January 2023 born Simply Peter Pan from Robert, Louise, & Margaret Fitton, Moss Hall Farm, Lostock, Bolton, won the Male Championship, Junior Male, and Overall Junior titles in front of the judge Stewart Stronach of the Islavale Herd in Keith, Banffshire. Seeing this stylish bull at first hand was fellow exhibitor Sam Steggles of the Wacton herd, Fieldings, Honingham, and further to family chats, and discussions, a deal was done with him being sold for £11,000 and joining the Wacton team when heading back to Norfolk following the show!
Simply Peter Pan 23 – Male Champion, Junior Male and Overall Junior Champion, English National Show 2024
Commenting, Sam Steggles said: “We hadn’t gone to the show with the view of buying a bull but we saw Simply Peter Pan being unloaded at the Royal Lancashire and just liked him a lot straight away. He’s a modern Simmental bull with length and shape, very clean, is good on his legs, and has a lot of breed character. There’s proven breeding behind him and he’s got very good performance figures. We’re delighted to get him and excited to see his progeny in due course.” Joining the 50 head Wacton herd, the initial aim is to take some semen from the bull before putting him to a handful of cows in the backend, and with him put to more cows come next Spring having settled in.
Full of Northern Irish breeding, Simply Peter Pan is by Ashland Magic and is out of Derrycallaghan Kitkat (ET) who was bought at three months of age from breeders H C Stubbs & A A Burleigh, Ballindarragh. Kitkat herself was Junior Champion at the Simmental Calf Show in 2019 at Borderway Agri Expo, and with her dam Corskie Vesna being a top breeding female with many of her progeny being sold at Stirling bull sales.
For the ten cow Simply herd it was a terrific couple of days with the Simmental English National Show prizes being the ten-cow herd’s highest awards to date, and followed by a private sale to a pedigree herd. Speaking afterwards Rob Fitton said: “In the run up to, and through the show, we said that we thought this bull is the full package of looks, breeding, and performance. His sire was bought for length, colour, and figures, and his dam is a thick set cow. He’s clean with width, end, and no gut, carries a +9 figure for Maternal (Milk), and is +109 for Self-Replacing Index.” Continuing he went on to say: “We’re over the moon that Simply Peter Pan is going to Sam and his noted Wacton pedigree herd. When a pedigree man comes and buys an animal that you have bred it’s just great and there’s a little added bonus as you know that his name will appear on certificates for years to come. We wish the Steggles family every success with him.”
Come the autumn and Rob Fitton will be taking two half-brothers of Simply Peter Pan to the Stirling Simmental Bull Sale in October.
The second private sale has seen Strathisla Pentagon, from Strathisla Farms, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, head south when selling to the Denizes Herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Near Leyland, Lancashire, and this time for £10,000.
Strathisla Pentagon at the Royal Highland Show 2024
This April 2023 born bull stood first in a strong class at the Royal Highland Show when judged by Michael Durno of the Auchorachan Herd, Glenlivet Ballindalloch. With some breeding connectivity, Strathisla Pentagon is by Denizes Logic 20 VG89, and is out of the Dirnanean Grafter 15 EX93 daughter Strathisla Jitterbug’s Haka VG85.
Commenting on this purchase, John Barlow said: “This bull just caught my eye for the tremendous length he had coupled with his power and weight for age. His sire comes from a strong female line that we obviously know very well, and he’s got some tremendous performance figures behind him. We think he’ll be a good fit with daughters of our primary stock bull Corskie Nutmeg, and we’ve already used him on Denizes Hamish heifers.” Corskie Nutmeg was also purchased privately, following last year’s Royal Highland, for £32,000.
With exceptional performance figures, Strathisla Pentagon is in the breed’s top 1% for both Self Replacing and Terminal Production Indexes, the top 1% for 400 & 600 day growth, top 1% for Eye Muscle, and is +9 for Maternal (Milk).
This is the second Denizes Logic 20 bull that the Strathisla herd have sold privately recently and with a further seven sons, the first crop to be offered at sale, heading to Stirling in October. Of Denizes Logic 20 and this private sale, Strathisla Farm’s Adrian Ivory said: “We’re delighted with Denizes Logic 20 and he’s breeding very consistently and to a type. His progeny have length, shape, are easy fleshing, and with great daily live weight gains from birth. We’re really delighted with the sale of Strathisla Pentagon to a noted herd like Denizes.”
by Nicky Moreton | Aug 7, 2024 | 2024 National Shows, 2024, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
- Annick Ginger’s Lucia Wins Simmental Overall Supreme and Individual Interbreed
- Corskie Puma 23 (P) Wins Overall Simmental Junior, and Junior Interbreed
- Simmental Pairs and Group of Three Win Reserve Interbreed Titles
- Pitgaveny win Male Championship
- Pitmudie take Junior Female Championship
The rain stopped and the sun came out to shine on a fantastic 2024 Simmental Scottish National Show held within Turriff Show, The Haughs, on Monday 5th August. At what was the largest Simmental entry in the summer show year to date, the quality through the classes, both male and female, held the attention of what was a large ringside crowd and huge online audience.
Overall Champion Annick Ginger’s Lucia
After some three and a half hours of judging it proved to be another trophy laden day for Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, who won the Simmental Overall Supreme Championship with Annick Ginger’s Lucia, before moving on in the afternoon to win Turriff’s Overall Individual Interbreed Championship. This 2020 born cow, in calf to Backmuir King, was shown with her bull calf Backmuir Pompeii at foot, sired by Backmuir Marksman. Presiding over this year’s Simmental classes was Dorothy Moffatt of the noted and long-standing Innerwick herd at Dunbar, East Lothian, whilst the well-known Drew Hyslop, Girvan, Ayrshire, was the man in the middle for the Individual Interbreed.
Bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, Annick Ginger’s Lucia was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September 2022 for 16,000gns, and in a summer that had seen her place Reserve Supreme Champion, to the Backmuir herd, at the Royal Highland. Since joining the Backmuir herd, Annick Ginger’s Lucia has just continued to blossom and enjoy a glittering show career. The Overall Simmental Supreme Championship has been won in back to back years at the Royal Highland, and this summer Annick Ginger’s Lucia became the first Simmental to win the Overall Individual Interbreed at the Highland since 1995. The titles at Turriff saw Annick Ginger’s Lucia do Scotland’s 2024 Simmental ‘golden double’ of Championship & Interbreed at both the Highland, and the Simmental Scottish National/Turriff Show. A truly fantastic achievement!
Judge Dorothy Moffat
Commenting on her Overall Champion, Dorothy Moffatt said: “My Champion is a perfect young Simmental cow who is very feminine, full of character, and a great example of the breed. She’s long and fleshy, very correct, and rearing a really good big bull calf as well. She’s got all of the attributes I was looking for and is a very strong Champion animal in what was such a super show of Simmentals.” Speaking more generally Dororthy Moffatt went on to say: “I’d like to congratulate the Simmental exhibitors for the tremendous cattle they brough out today which also made it hugely enjoyable, and at the same time challenging, for me to judge. The standard was so high through both the bulls and females and deep into all of the classes. The breed really keeps progressing and with the animals today of such quality, and with so much potential, you can see why there’s such a growing momentum for Simmental cattle.”
So to the Champions, and this latest win sealed another fantastic summer, and the second time in three years that the Backmuir herd has won the double of Overall Simmental Championship at both the Highland and Scottish National, with Islavale Lullaby winning both titles in 2022. Of this latest win at Turriff, Reece Simmers said: “We’re really thrilled and delighted to win here and also with the year Annick Ginger’s Lucia has had. We said at the Highland that she’s just matured and continued to improve and she’s had to as the competition has just been so strong. I think today is the highest quality show of Simmentals that we’ve competed in to date and it was a real spectacle for everybody watching. It’s been a great year and we’re very honoured to have won these prestigious titles.”
By way of summary, on the day Annick Ginger’s Lucia won the Simmental Overall, Female, and Senior Female titles before picking up the Individual Interbreed Title, and taking Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs with Islavale Kristoff from Pitgaveny Farms. In a further footnote, Backmuir also won the Simmental Championship at last year’s Turriff Show with Brandane Lulu.
With some real heavyweight shoot outs right from the get-go, Annick Ginger’s Lucia firstly won a class of six Senior Female Cows and where the rising seven year old Corskie Illusion EX93 from WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers placed second. In the previous week this cow, by Auchorachan Farmer 14, and out of Corskie Champagne EX91had been Simmental Champion, Champion of Champions, and featured in the winning Interbreed Pairs, and Group of Three at the Black Isle Show. The Black Isle marked this cow’s first show outing since she was Junior Female Champion at the 2019 Royal Highland.
Reserve Supreme Championship, and Reserve Female Overall Delfur Nifty
Lifting the Reserve Supreme Championship, and Reserve Female Overall title at Turriff was the prolific heifer Delfur Nifty from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, and shown by herd manager Garry Patterson. November 2022 born heifer, Delfur Nifty is by Ballymoney Larry, a Saltire Impressive son, and is out of Delfur Joyful, an Islavale Cassius daughter. This heifer is another multi title winner and who cornered a little bit of breed history this year when she became the first Simmental to win the Overall Junior Interbreed at the Royal Highland. At the same show she featured in the Reserve Interbreed Pair, and also in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Four. Of her Scottish Simmental National Reserve Overall, Dorothy Moffatt commented: “This is a very sweet young heifer who will grow into a great cow. She has length, width, is very good on her legs, and has plenty of eye-catching style.” Delfur Nifty has been racking up prizes, titles, and interbreeds since last year as a calf and including such as Simmental Youngstock Show at Borderway Agri Expo; LiveScot; Stars of the Future; and from their through to this summer.
Male Champion Islavale Kristoff
Kicking off the day as the rain cleared was the fantastic sight of five senior bulls in the first class, and it was from here that the day’s Male Champion appeared in the shape of Islavale Kristoff 19 EX92 from Pitgaveny Farm, Elgin, Moray and shown by Pitgaveny herd manager Geoff Anderson. By Corskie Highlander 16 EX93, and out of Islavale Ethel EX91, this April 2019 bull bred by WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, was purchased for 14,000gns at Stirling in October 2020. Of her Male Champion the judge Dorothy Moffatt said: “This is a big, strong, powerful Simmental bull with tremendous width and depth, and all the qualities to be a top stock sire.” Later in the afternoon, Islavale Kristoff 19 EX92 teamed up with Annick Ginger’s Lucia to win the Reserve Interbreed Pairs. The Pitgaveny herd comprises of some 180 Simmental cows, with 15 pedigrees within that number.
Reserve Male Champion Backmuir King
Placing second in this class and following through to be Reserve Male Champion was another from the Backmuir team and in the form of the homebred Backmuir King. This upstanding five-year-old bull is by Islavale Hamilton and is out of Starline Olivia 27th. Again with a little track record behind him, Backmuir King was the Male Champion at last year’s Royal Highland Show, the herd’s top award to date for a homebred animal, and with his first progeny at Stirling already selling to the five figure mark in October 2023.
Overall Junior, Junior Male, and Reserve Overall Male Corskie Puma
It seems to have been a summer of ‘Simmental doubles’ and another one was confirmed when Corskie Puma 23 (P), from the Green family, won a hatful of Simmental titles including Overall Junior, Junior Male, and Reserve Overall Male. This classy young January 2023 born bull is by Rathnashan Kellogg’s (ET) (P) EX94, and is out of Corskie Kit, an Auchorachan Farmer daughter. In his first show outing, at this year’s Royal Highland, he also won the Reserve Male Championship, and Junior Male Championship titles. At the aforementioned Black Isle Show last week, this bull was Male Champion and part of the Greens Interbreed winning team of three, whilst at Turriff Show he rounded off his day by winning the Junior Interbreed title! Corskie Puma 23 (P) will now be aimed at the Stirling October Bull Sale and will be joined there by his stablemate Corskie Power, a Rathnashan Magnum son, who was second in his class to the Overall Reserve Junior, at the Scottish National.
Female Championship, the Reserve Junior Male, Reserve Overall Junior Championship Pitmudie Primrose
Reserve Overall Junior Champion, and Reserve Junior Male Champion Pitmudie Princeton
Another shining light was the top team of cattle from the Pitmudie herd of Heather Duff, Pitmudie Farm, Menmuir, By Brechin. On the day Pitmudie cattle won the Junior Female Championship, the Reserve Junior Male, Reserve Overall Junior Championship, and the Pairs! Taking the Junior Female Championship was the April 2023 born Pitmudie Primrose. This heifer is by the stock bull Hiltonstown Irish 17 and is out Pitmudie Irish Moss who herself is a twin out of a Delfur female. Standing as Reserve Overall Junior Champion, and Reserve Junior Male Champion was the stylish young bull Pitmudie Princeton. Also April 2023 born, Pitmudie Princeton is another by Hiltonstown Irish 17, and is out of Pitmudie Babe from the noted Manor Park Babe line. At this year’s Royal Highland Show, this ‘correct young bull with muscle, length, breed character, and good on his legs’, won the Reserve Beefbreeder Interbreed title. Commenting generally, Heather Duff said: “We are delighted to win these titles and given the standard within the classes which were a terrific advert for the breed. At home there are now 50 breeding females in the Pitmudie herd. The stock bulls are breeding well within and we’re pleased with the general progress and development of the herd.” The sire of these two animals, Hiltonstown Irish 17, was purchased at Stirling in October 2018 for 8500gns. In one of the last classes of the day, Pitmudie Princeton 23 teamed up with the March 2023 born Pitmudie Pitcairn, a Springfield Legacy son, to win the Simmental Pairs class. Both of these Pitmudie bulls will now be heading to the Stirling Bull sale in October.
Reserve Junior Female Champion Corskie P-Enna
Standing in the Reserve Junior Female Champion position was another from the prolific Corskie team and this time the first prize winner Corskie P-enna. January 2023 born, Corskie P-enna is by Rathnashan Kellogg’s (ET) (P) EX94, the same sire as the herd’s Junior Champion, and is out of Corskie Iam-enna, a Dirnanean Bradley 10 EX93 daughter. Rounding off another top day, the Corskie herd also won the Simmental Group of Three, with the team comprising of Corskie Puma (P); Corskie Illusion; and Corskie P-enna.
Overall Championship Line Up
Scottish National Simmental Show, within Turriff Show – Monday 5th August, 2024
Judge: Mrs Dorothy Moffat, Innerwick Herd, Dunbar
Class 1 Senior Bull born before 31st December 2022
1st Pitgaveny Farms Islavale Kristoff 19
2nd R & A Simmers Backmuir King 19
3rd D & R Durno Coose Nelson (P)
4th Declan Whyte Newton House Ninja 22
Class 2 Junior Male Bull born between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie Puma 23 (P)
2nd R & A Simmers Backmuir Pegasus 23
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Pitcairn 23
4th J C MacIver Coltfield Peter 23
Class 3 Junior Male Bull born between 1st April 2023 and 31st July 2023
1st Heather Duff Pitmudie Princeton 23
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Power 23
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Pluto 23
4th Gavin Brown Springfield Pelle 23
Class 4 Junior Male Bull born between 1st August 2023 and 31st December 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie Plasma 23
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Pepsi 23
3rd Gary & Angela Christie Rockytop Panache 23
Corskie Plasma
Class 5 Senior Female Cow born on or before 31st July 2021
1st R & A Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Illusion
3rd J C MacIver Coltfield Katie
4th R & A Simmers Brandane Lu Lu
Class 7 Senior Female Heifer born between 1st April 2022 and 31st December 2022
1st Delfur Farms Delfur Nifty
2nd Laura Green Garmouth Fame’s Nicole
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso
4th Ryan Smith Overhill House Neva
Class 8 Junior Female Heifer born between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie P-Enna
2nd Heather Duff Pitmudie Pandora (P)
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Ginger’s Paprika (P)
4th Pitgaveny Farms Pitgaveny Pepsi
Class 9 Junior Female Heifer born between 1st April 2023 and 31st July 2023
1st Heather Duff Pitmudie Primrose
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Private Eyes
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Paloma
Class 10 Junior Female Heifer born between 1st August 2023 and 31st December 2023
1st J C MacIver Coltfield Perfect
2nd Gary & Angela Christie Rockytop Faye’s Poppet
3rd W J & J Green Corskie Pastel
4th Gavin Brown Springfield Pippa
Coltfield Perfect
Class 11 Calf born after 1st January 2024
1st R & A Simmers Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu
Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu
Class 12 Pairs – Any two animals owned by the same exhibitor
1st Heather Duff
2nd R & A Simmers
Overall Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Overall Champion
Delfur Nifty Delfur Farms
Male Champion
Islavale Kristoff 19 Pitgaveny Farms
Reserve Male Champion
Backmuir King 19 R & A Simmers
Female Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Female Champion
Delfur Nifty Delfur Farms
Junior Male Champion
Corskie Puma23 (P) W J & J Green
Reserve Junior Male Champion
Pitmudie Princeton 23 Heather Duff
Junior Female Champion
Pitmudie Primrose Heather Duff
Reserve Junior Female Champion
Corskie P-Enna W J & J Green
Overall Junior Champion
Corskie Puma 23 (P) W J & J Green
Reserve Overall Junior Champion
Pitmudie Princeton 23 Heather Duff
by Nicky Moreton | Jun 25, 2024 | 2024 Royal Highland Show, 2024, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
• Super Simmental Saturday Sees The Breed Win Overall Individual, And Junior Interbreed Titles!
• Delfur Nifty Wins Junior Interbreed Championship, a first for the breed
• Backmuir win third consecutive Simmental Championship
• Corskie Namenco Takes Overall Reserve
• Simmental Places Overall Reserve in Interbreed Team of Four
• Delfur Nifty and Delfur Number1 Place Reserve in Interbreed Pairs
• Pitmudie Princeton Takes Reserve in Beefbreeder Interbreed
• Annick bred cattle win Both Male and Female Championships
Simmentals led the way at the 2024 Royal Highland Show with five Champion and Reserve awards secured in the Interbreeds from what was a terrific breed entry of animals in both strength and depth. On what will be remembered as a ‘super Simmental Saturday’ both the Overall Individual Interbreed, and also the Junior Interbreed awards were won in front of a packed ringside, on the third day of the show held between 20th – 23rd June.
Overall Individual Interbreed & Simmental Supreme Champion, Annick Ginger’s Lucia
It’s huge congratulations to Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, who secured the show’s blue riband Overall Individual Interbreed award with Annick Ginger’s Lucia, shown with her bull calf Backmuir Pompeii, sired by Backmuir Marksman. On the shows’ opening day, this 2020 born cow had successfully defended her Overall Simmental Championship in front of the judge Michael Durno of the noted Auchorachan herd, Glenlivet, Banffshire. In an incredible run at the Royal Highland for the Backmuir Herd, this win also secured a hat-trick of consecutive Simmental Championships initiated in 2022 by Islavale Lullaby, and remarkably where Annick Ginger’s Lucia was first ‘spotted’ when standing Overall Reserve.
Judging the Individual Interbreed was Mr Peter Watson, Banchory, Aberdeenshire and in tapping out Annick Ginger’s Lucia as his Champion, it marked the first time the Simmental breed had won this award since Robert Crawford with Tillylair Angela in 1995! Speaking afterwards Mr Watson said: “The Simmental was an easy first in my eyes, being a super powerful maternal cow, full of breed character. She’s an excellent advocate for the breed, and if you want a Simmental she has everything you are looking for.”
Individual Interbreed Championship Presentation
Pair of Simmental Aces! The Individual Interbreed Champion Annick Ginger’s Lucia (right), and the Individual Junior Interbreed Champion, Delfur Nifty.
Annick Ginger’s Lucia bred by the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire, was bought at the Annick herd’s Dispersal Sale in September 2022 for 16,000gns. In a testament to the quality of this herd, the Male Champion at the 2024 was Annick Nazareth 22, exhibited by Jim & Elizabeth Dyet, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, and who was also purchased as a calf at foot at the aforementioned sale.
2024 Royal Highland Simmental Judge, Michael Durno
In the Simmental judging Annick Ginger’s Lucia had initially come through a high-powered class to nudge her stablemate Brandane Lu Lu, purchased for 18,000gns at the Next Gen II Sale in Carlisle in 2022, into second place before moving on to win the Female Championship, and then the Overall. Commenting on his Overall Simmental Supreme Championship the judge Michael Durno said: “My choice of Champion is just everything you look for in a show cow. She has size and scale, width, and with soft fleshing. With a great udder, she’s very flashy, has such a presence, and just displays all of the maternal attributes of the Simmental breed.” More generally Michael Durno went on to add: “It’s been a great honour to have judged what was a tremendous show of Simmentals throughout the classes, many of whom went on to meet with well-deserved Interbreed successes. I’d like to congratulate the Simmers in winning the prestigious Individual Interbreed award, and to say a big well done to all of the exhibitors. The Simmental breed is in very good shape and is clearly improving year on year.”
For the Simmers family the Individual Interbreed title added to what is a truly incredible Royal Highland Show record. In only four showings with Simmentals at Ingliston the Backmuir herd now has three Overall titles, and one Reserve! Commenting on winning the Individual Interbreed, and the Simmental Championship, Reece Simmers said: “The Royal Highland Show is the pinnacle of pedigree showing. To win the Individual Interbreed title of a show with some 180 years history, and to have the Backmuir name sit alongside some of the most recognised names in pedigree cattle history is quite humbling and just everything you dream of. We are personally over the moon and really delighted for the Simmental breed at the same time. There’s a tremendous standard across the show and within the Simmental classes which is just great to see.”
Of the Champion Reece went on to say: “Annick Ginger’s Lucia has just matured into herself, continued to improve, and we think has moved to another level this year. She’s a great example of a modern type of Simmental and an aspiration for us to breed and build on this type of quality. We’ve met with great success in recent years and a next challenge for us will be to try and have a further win at some point with a homebred animal. We’d also like just to acknowledge and recognise the ability of Lachlan Quarm and the achievement for him in having the breeding behind both the Overall, and Male Champion at this year’s show, it’s a great credit to the memory of him.” As things stand, the plans are that Annick Ginger’s Lucia will now head to Turriff and the Scottish Simmental National Show in August.
At last year’s show, Annick Ginger’s Lucia was shown with her heifer calf at foot Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P). Roll on twelve months and this September 2022 born heifer was shown in her own right and picked up the Reserve Junior Female award and also featured in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Four. With a show track record behind her, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), by Kilbride Farm Karl (P), won the Overall Senior Interbreed & Simmental Senior Champion awards at the 2023 Stars of the Future Calf Show.
Reserve Junior Female, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia
Described by many observers as perhaps the most successful Royal Highland Show the breed has enjoyed, the Simmental breed secured the following awards: The Overall Individual Interbreed; the Junior Interbreed; Reserve in the Interbreed Team of Four; Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs; and Reserve in the Beefbreeder Interbreed. A tremendous achievement by all of the exhibitors, and reflective of the quality and continuous improvement within the Simmental breed.
Corskie Namenco, Reserve Overall Supreme
The Simmental classes and Championships proved to be very much a ‘ladies day’ with a fantastic show of Simmental females throughout. Taking the Overall Reserve Supreme, and Reserve Overall Female Championship was the classy Corskie Namenco from another strong show team forward from WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers. April 2022 born, Corskie Namenco by Kilbride Farm Haka and out of Corskie Framenco, had placed as the Reserve Junior Female at last year’s show. Of his Overall Reserve, the judge Michael Durno said: “This is a really long, complete, smooth fleshed Simmental. With a lovely head, and full of breed character, she’s just full of forward potential and is a tremendous heifer.”
Junior Interbreed Champion, and Simmental Junior Champion, Delfur Nifty
It was a stellar show for Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, and herd manager Garry Patterson, who on the Thursday secured the Overall Simmental Junior award with their November 2022 born heifer, Delfur Nifty. Nifty is by Ballymoney Larry, a Saltire Impressive son, and is out of Delfur Joyful, an Islavale Cassius daughter. Come ‘super Simmental Saturday’ Delfur Nifty won the coveted Junior Interbreed title, a first for the Simmental breed, from the judge Robert McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee. Bagging a haul of show titles Delfur Nifty had partnered team mate Delfur Number1, who had himself stood second in his class to the Male Champion, to place Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs on Friday. Both of these animals also featured in the strong Simmental Team of Four alongside Annick Ginger’s Lucia and Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), and who picked up the Reserve Overall Interbreed Team. A little further icing on the cake saw Delfur Nifty, Delfur Number1, and Delfur Weigela N12 team up to win the Group of Three.
Winning Delfur Group of three
Having awarded the Junior Interbreed title to Delfur Nifty, the judge Robert McNee said: “This is a really smart young heifer. I liked her overall balance, correctness, and her evenness of flesh throughout, without being too extreme. She has all the makings of being a tremendous brood cow.”
Another with a show pedigree behind her, Delfur Nifty had previously won the Overall Pedigree Championship at LiveScot in November 2023, the Reserve Senior Female at Stars of the Future, and prior to that the Simmental Youngstock Championship at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.
Speaking afterwards, Delfur Herd Manager Garry Patterson said: “It’s amazing to have a few days like this at such a prestigious show as the Royal Highland and with there being such a high level of competition. It’s still very early days for me at Delfur so I feel very proud that we’ve managed to achieve so much this year. This is only the second time Delfur have ever been to the Royal Highland with the previous occasion being 2005 and where I believe the herd may also have won the Simmental Male Championship and the Group of Three.”
With specific regard to Delfur Nifty Garry went on to say: “Delfur Nifty was a stand-out calf from day one but for her now to win the Junior Individual Interbreed is quite special. I hope that’s a benchmark and that we can go on to breed many more like her at Delfur. With her featuring in the Reserve Interbreed Pair with Delfur Number1, and again in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Four, it all just added up to being a fantastic show and great experience.” From here, there are still a few shows this summer for Delfur Nifty to take aim at.
The Overall Male Champion, Annick Nazareth 22
In the bulls it was a fantastic win for Scottish Simmental Club Chairman Jim Dyet, and his wife Elizabeth, of the Merkland Herd, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire who won the Male Championship with Annick Nazareth 22. Purchased as a calf at foot for 7500gns (for the unit) at the Annick Dispersal Sale, Annick Nazareth 22 is out of Annick Fresias Kiki who herself was Female and Reserve Overall Champion at the Royal Highland in 2021. Commenting on his Male Champion, the judge Michael Durno said: “This is just a really good, smooth fleshed bull, and very correct on his legs. He’s a bull with no extremes but with a real carcase quality.”
A delighted, and a wee bit emotional, Jim Dyet firstly paid a fitting tribute to the breeder Lachlan Quarm and commented: “Lachlan was so good at turning out young cattle and this one along with the Champion, and this show, will be part of his legacy. I’m sure there will be a few further Annick bred cattle to be seen in the show ring in years to come. We took Annick Nazareth to the Scottish National Show at Dumfries last year and where he achieved the Reserve Junior Male. He’s been out once this year at a local show where Wee John (9) showed him in the Young Handlers and that’s how good a temperament this boy has. We’ve only shown a few times at the Highland and go as much for the fun and enjoyment of meeting great people and seeing great cattle. To win the Male Championship at the Highland is by far the highlight of our showing career and it really doesn’t get much better than this!”
Reserve Male Champion, and Junior Male Champion, Corskie Puma 23 (P)
Winning the Reserve Male Championship and also the Junior Male Championship was another from the Corskie team in the shape of Corksie Puma 23 (P). This January born bull, with length, width, and shape, is by Rathnashan Kellogg’s (ET) (P) EX94, and is out of Corskie Kit, an Auchorachan Farmer daughter. This was Corskie Puma’s first show outing, and he will enjoy the summer show season before being aimed at the Stirling October Bull Sale.
Reserve Junior Male Champion, Backmuir Pegasus
The Reserve Junior Bull came from the same class in the form of Backmuir Pegasus 23, and again from the Backmuir team of Reece & Andrew Simmers. January 2023 born, this calf by Atlow Dixon and out of the 18,000gns Brandane Lu Lu, had previously stood Junior Male Champion at the 2023 Stars of the Future Calf Show.
Pitmudie Princeton, Overall Reserve in the Beefbreeder Interbreed
Keeping the Simmental Interbreed successes going, the young April 2023 bull Pitmudie Princeton from Heather Duff, Pitmudie Farm By Brechin placed Overall Reserve in the Beefbreeder Interbreed held on Friday morning. April 2023 born, Pitmudie Princeton is by Hiltonstown Irish 17, and is out of Pitmudie Babe, who has produced a number of good bulls for the herd. Combining performance figures with phenotype for this Interbreed, Pitmudie Princeton was described as: “A muscly type of bull with good growth, Princeton is very clean, with good lines, and has plenty of breed character.” Immediate plans ahead will see Pitmudie Princeton aimed at a few further summer shows in the season.
It was a truly memorable five-star 2024 Royal Highland Show for the Simmental breed. It’s a huge congratulations to the Simmers for their tremendous success, and to all of the Interbreed winners and Simmental exhibitors across the board for putting on a fantastic promotion of the qualities of the British Simmental breed.
Overall Champions Presentation with Annick Ginger’s Lucia, and Corskie Namenco
Male Champion Annick Nazareth 22, and Reserve Male Corskie Puma 23 (P)
Junior Champion Delfur Nify, and Junior Reserve Annick Lucia’s Nicosia
Junior Male Champions Corskie Puma 23 (P), and Reserve, Backmuir Pegasus
Reserve Interbreed Pair, Delfur Nifty & Delfur Number1
Reserve Interbreed Team Champions
Interbreed Pairs Reserve Champions Delfur Nifty & Delfur Number1 with Iain Millar (judge), on the right.
Royal Highland Show
Thursday 20th June 2024
Simmental Judge: Mr Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindaloch
Results
Class 263 Female, born on or after 1st April 2023
1st J H & V G Wood Popes Trixies Pearl
2nd Heather Duff Pitmudie Primrose
3rd W J & J Green Corskie Private Eyes
4th The Burns Family Islavale Peaches
Popes Trixies Pearl
Class 264 Female, Born between 1st January and 31st March 2023
1st J H & V G Wood Popes Trixies Prudence
2nd Heather Duff Pitmudie Pandora
3rd W J & J Green Corskie P-Enna
4th Croft Livestock Clonagh Regal Fortune
Popes Trixies Prudence
Class 265 Female, born on or between 1st July and 31st December 2022
1st Delfur Farms Delfur Nifty
2nd R & A Simmers Annick Lucia’s Nicosia
3rd Delfur Farms Delfur Weigela N12
4th Laura Green Garmouth Fame’s Nicole
Class 266 Female, born on or between 1st January and 30th June 2022
1st W J & J Green Corskie Namenco
2nd J H & V G Wood Popes Princess Noor
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Eva’s Neva
4th J & E Dyet Merkland Tooty 3rd
Corskie Miley
Class 267 Female, calved before 3 years or due to calve before 3 years old, in milk or in calf born in 2021
1st W J & J Green Corskie Miley
2nd J & P Goldie Newbiemains My Girl
Class 268 Female, Born in 2019 or 2020 in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st R & A Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd R & A Simmers Brandane Lu Lu
3rd Gavin Brown Islavale Liquorice
Newbiemains Icandy
Class 269 Female, born on or after 31st December 2018, in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st J & P Goldie Newbiemains Icandy
2nd 2910 W J & J Green Corskie Jasmine
Female Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Female Champion
Corskie Namenco W J & J Green
Junior Female Champion
Delfur Nifty Delfur Farms
Reserve Junior Female Champion
Annick Lucia’s Nicosia R & A Simmers
Strathisla Pentagon
Class 270 Bull born on or after 1st April 2023
1st Strathisla Farms Strathisla Pentagon
2nd W J & J Green Corskie Power
3rd Heather Duff Pitmudie Princeton
4th Gerald Smith Drumsleed Paddy
Class 271 Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2023
1st W J & J Green Corskie Puma
2nd R & A Simmers Backmuir Pegasus
3rd J H & V G Wood Popes Power
4th Heather Duff Pitmudie Pitcairn
Class 272 Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st December 2022
1st J & E Dyet Annick Nazareth
2nd Delfur Farms Delfur Number1
3rd R & A Simmers Backmuir Nightrider
Male Champion
Annick Nazareth J & E Dyet
Reserve Male
Corskie Puma 23 (P) WJ&J Green
Champion Junior Male
Corskie Puma 23 (P) W J & J Green
Reserve Junior Male
Backmuir Pegasus R & A Simmers
Overall Supreme Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R & A Simmers
Reserve Overall Champion
Corskie Namenco W J & J Green
Group of Three Delfur Farms
by Nicky Moreton | Jun 14, 2024 | 2024, 2024 Scottish News, 2024 News
Here we feature Michael Durno, who along with his wife Morag, and father Leslie, run the noted pedigree and commercial Auchorachan Simmental herd at Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Banffshire.
Michael Durno with some of the spring calving herd
Whilst the type of cattle have changed over time to meet market demands, the basis of the cattle system at Auchorachan Farm in Glenlivet, has remained the same for 40 years – putting Simmental cross cows to Charolais and Simmental bulls, to produce quality store calves to sell through the market at a year old. It’s a system that works and it’s one that the Durno family do very well.
Michael Durno is now the third generation of his family to farm at Auchorachan, a 2800-acre Crown Estate farm, which his grandfather Duncan first took on the tenancy of in 1953. There, with his wife Morag, he runs 160 cows, alongside his father Leslie, who mainly manages the sheep flock of 600 Perth-type Blackfaces. Full time employee Peter Tinney is also part of the team.
“We have 450 acres of grass here at Auchorachan and the rest is heathery hill which the Blackies graze. We breed 450 of them pure and the other 150 go to Texel tups, with all the lambs fattened and sold through Woodhead. We manage to grow 30 acres of barley each year, which is always a challenge – the farm is very steep and we have long, harsh winters and a short growing season,” explains Michael.
On the cattle side, the herd comprises 75 pedigree Simmentals, small herds of pedigree Charolais, Aberdeen-Angus and Salers, and 65 commercial suckler cows (mainly Simmental crosses).
Michael says: “We’ve used Simmental bulls for breeding replacement females for as far as I can remember. We had a great old bull called Cloford Kernel, which bred really well – we had great females off him. That’s probably what got us hooked on the Simmentals.”
It wasn’t until 2002 that the Auchorachan pedigree herd was established though, with the purchase of four heifers from the Ravensworth dispersal.
“We initially bought those heifers for the commercial herd, but we were so pleased with them that we decided to keep them pedigree. So, I registered with the Society at that point and the herd was built from there,” explains Michael.
Other early purchases included two from Hector McCaskill’s Woodhall herd, one from Delfur and another, Greenlea Hilly, from a local on-farm dispersal. The five main breeding families in the herd today, stem from these original purchases, with the ‘Hilly’ family being the most numerous. The Ravensworth Madie family has probably been the most successful at breeding bulls, such as Wizard, Winger, AC/DC, Hercules and Landmark.
“Those families are very milky lines, so we were lucky with the start that we got. The four Ravensworth heifers were bought and delivered home for £520 per head – a bargain now that we know how they’ve bred,” says Michael.
“A main focus for us has been breeding cattle that are good on their legs. Our cows normally average 820kg, which is not huge for a pedigree cow, but we don’t want them any bigger than that on our ground, which sits at 1000ft. We aim for softer fleshed females that will carry flesh at grass with no extra feeding.
“The female classification scheme has been a great addition to the Simmental Society and I think it is more relevant than any other figures in the breed. We now have 54 VG or Excellent cows within our herd. I think it gives buyers confidence that the bulls they are buying are out of good, structurally correct, milky female lines,” says Michael. “Also, EBVs are not that well suited to beef herds in the UK in my opinion, as we have so many different herd sizes and so many totally different rearing systems. For example, in my herd, it suits our system to bull any poorer females with the Charolais bull, to produce an excellent commercial animal, but this takes out the bottom end of the contemporary group of calves being recorded and so disadvantaging the top end calves in their EBVs,” he adds.
Bulls have been carefully selected over the years to compliment the female lines at Auchorachan. Early on, Saltire Talent, bought from Perth, and the Irish-bred Clonagh Tiger Gallant, ran in tandem with each other. Michael says the shape and carcase of Tiger, combined with the length and height of Talent, proved a winning combination. The Saltire Talent son, Auchorachan Wizard, was placed overall champion at Stirling in 2010 and sold for 20,000gns, while Auchorachan Winger, by Clonagh Tiger Gallant, made 10,000gns the same day.
Another Irish purchase, Rawbawn Caesar King, bred particularly good daughters, and then Team Fergus, produced both sons and daughters of note. He was a show winner himself, standing reserve male at the Royal Highland in 2015.
Auchorachan Hercules
Currently, the home-bred bull Auchorachan Hercules is ticking all the boxes. He is a son of Auchorachan AC/DC, another by Saltire Talent, which sold for 12,000gns at Stirling in 2011. Michael had taken semen off the bull prior to his sale, which is how the story of Hercules starts: “I kept AC/DC semen for my own use, but David Hazelton of the Ranfurly herd was keen to use him, so he did so on the condition that I got a fertilised embryo back, out of his show cow, South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd.”
The results of that transaction was Hercules, which Michael kept to use himself. That proved a wise decision, as Hercules sons averaged £10,500 in 2021, selling to a top of 18,000gns for Auchorachan Landmark.
One of Michael’s favourites, Auchorachan Holly, mother of the 18,000gns Auchorachan Landmark with his full sister
Michael has recently been dabbling with polled genetics. Auroch Hudson, a heterozygous polled bull from Ireland, has been used in conjunction with Hercules, and this year, the homozygous polled Jaegergard Quebec, has been imported from Denmark.
“Both of these bulls boast different bloodlines and the fact that they are polled and also look the part, is quite exciting. I’ve been out to Denmark and have seen that bull’s sire, dam and granny, a top show cow, so I know it has quality breeding behind it,” he says.
Another exciting recent purchase is Greencap Kane, bought for 9000gns in 2020 – which Michael describes as being ‘typical’ of the type of bull he likes. “He is long, correct on his legs, well-muscled, with character too. His first calves are on the ground now and looking very promising.
Auchorachan Emily EX94 with her AC/DC bull calf Malcolm
“With both the pedigree and commercial herd, it’s always worth investing in a good quality bull. My Grandfather always used to say that when buying a bull, you should expect to pay the price of 10 of your best bullocks – and I think that should still be the case.”
While Michael takes a great interest in the pedigree breeding lines, in practise, the pedigree cattle are run very much commercially, along with the entire herd. The bulk of the cows (110) calve in the autumn and the rest from January through to May.
“We have a good array of sheds here on the farm, but we’re at capacity with the number of cattle we have. Outwintering is not an option here as the winters are long and unforgiving. Having the cows in at calving time works well for keeping an eye on them, but luckily we have very few calving problems that require assistance.”
Autumn calves are creep fed through the winter and go out to grass with their dams in May, where they get no further feeding before being weaned in July and they are then sold in September through Thainstone Mart. Last September, the batch of Simmental, Charolais and Salers cross 12-month-old bullocks, averaged £1470 at 477kg, while Charolais and Simmental twin heifers sold to average £1355, weighing 450kg at 12-months.
The calves born in the spring, meanwhile, are introduced to creep feeding from August that year. For the past few years, the cross-bred spring calves that are not being kept as replacements, have all been sold in November to local finisher and Simmental enthusiast Danny Leslie, Redhill, Elgin, who is particularly keen on the high-health status of the herd and the fact they’re Level 1 Johne’s. It’s an arrangement that works well for both – as it means they don’t take up valuable shed space through the winter at Auchorachan.
10 – 12 month old steers are sold in September through ANM Thainstone
Within the pedigree herd, demand for Auchorachan Simmental bulls is always strong, between private sales and those through Stirling and Thainstone Marts. Until recently, the best of the females have mainly been kept for breeding, but with numbers at capacity, Michael is now able to offer select heifers for sale. In December last year, the Auchorachan herd supported the newly established Next Generation Sale of Simmental Females & Weaned Calves at Carlisle and at which they sold Auchorachan Liqueur Madie, a grand daughter of the aforementioned Ravensworth Madie, for 5000gns to Ryan Morgan in Orkney.
“I think the breed has improved a great deal in recent years. There used to be two distinct types of Simmentals – bigger, plainer ones and smaller, thicker ones. Now, they have met somewhere in the middle, which is a good place to be.
“It is a really versatile breed, in that a Simmental-sired female will breed a very marketable calf off any breed or sire. Likewise, a Simmental bull onto any breed of cow can leave great replacement females and also very efficient and profitable males, as shown by the recently published data on days to slaughter statistics,” adds Michael.
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