BRITISH SIMMENTAL PRESIDENT NORMAN ROBSON REPORTS ON A STRONG YEAR OF BREED PERFORMANCE

BRITISH SIMMENTAL PRESIDENT NORMAN ROBSON REPORTS ON A STRONG YEAR OF BREED PERFORMANCE

  • Official Simmental Society Sales in the Year Gross £2,167,231, up by £75,825
  • Pedigree Registrations up for the Third Consecutive Year

 Record pedigree sale averages, a strong performance in UK wide commercial sales, and for the third year in a row increases in both pedigree sales gross and pedigree registrations, are just some of the high points in the annual report to members from British Simmental Cattle Society  President, and Ballyclare based breeder, Norman Robson.

46,000gns Overhill House Neo

A feature through the report is the strong year of Official Society Pedigree Simmental Sales that saw a total sales gross of £2,167,231 up by £75,825, and an increase for the third consecutive year. All three major sales at Stirling in the year saw new record average marks, with the all-sales Simmental breed record being broken in October 2023 with a sale average of £7,594 for 53 bulls.  That fixture also saw new record top prices set for both a Simmental bull at 46,000gns, and for a female at 32,000gns. In what is establishing as the breed’s premier Female Sale, the Next Generation III Sale at Carlisle in December is noted as continuing the sale trend with a top price of 26,000gns being a new centre record for the breed, and with record heifer averages sharply up on the year.

Keeping in line with the performance at sale,  Simmental pedigree registrations and birth notifications have also increased for the third year in a row and to an annual income figure of £206,345, up on the previous year by just under £2000.      This increase, coupled with ‘solid financial management,’ sees the annual accounts show a positive net movement in funds on the year of £73,042, with a surplus of £28,115 in income over expenditure.

BSCS President Norman Robson

In an upbeat report to members, in what is his second and final year as BSCS President, Norman Robson who runs the noted Kilbride Farm herd at Doagh, Ballyclare, said:  “I feel truly honoured to have had held this office through a period where the Simmental breed’s popularity has continued to rise within both the commercial beef and pedigree sectors.”

“Backing up the breed’s consistent performance in the field and at the point of sale, I have been delighted that we have been able to establish evidence based facts of the breed’s abilities, economic performance, and green credentials. In analysis of AHDB data we have shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading at age at slaughter whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, significant reduction in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. Add that to the breeds well established maternal qualities and it’s tremendous economics for beef producers. The ‘ultimate combination’ for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Natives sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams. As I have said previously, our realistic aim should be to have a bit of Simmental in every suckler cow in the country.”

In closing his remarks Norman Robson congratulated breeders for the quality of stock they are bringing forward, both bulls and females, and urged that they take aim at ongoing and continuous breed improvement: “Collectively we must use the knowledge, science and technologies available to keep driving on, taking the breed forward, and providing the cattle the commercial producer and market requires.”

The 54th British Simmental Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place on Sunday 20th October at United Auctions, Stirling, and prior to the October Pre-Sale Show of 118 bulls on the same day. The sale of bulls will be held on Monday 21st October at 12.30pm, and will be followed in Ring 2 by the full Dispersal Sale of the noted Broombrae Herd of Gordon Clark, Auchtermuchty, Fife, and a Production Sale from the noted Denizes Herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland.

 

£10,200 INCHEOCH PATRICK (PP) TOPS STRONG SIMMENTAL TRADE AT WORKING GENES BULL SALE!

  • 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

SIMMENTAL FEMALES IN DEMAND AS RANFURLY LEADS PRODUCTION SALE AT 8000GNS

SIMMENTAL FEMALES IN DEMAND AS RANFURLY LEADS PRODUCTION SALE AT 8000GNS

  • Five animals make 5000gns and over
  • Ranfurly maiden heifers average £4646
  • Joint sale grosses £128, 416

There was a strong demand for Simmental females with prices reaching a top of 8,000gns at the fourth joint production sale from the noted Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe & Alan Wilson, Newry, County Down, and the noted Ranfurly herd of David & Jonny Hazelton, Dungannon, Tyrone.

The sale took place at Rathfriland Farmers’ Co-op on Saturday 7th September and attracted strong interest from breeders throughout the UK and Ireland with lots selling to buyers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and with exports to the Republic of Ireland.

Ranfurly Weikel 52nd topped the joint production sale at 8,000gns.

Topping the trade at 8,000gns was the much-admired show heifer Ranfurly Weikel 52nd from David and Jonny Hazelton’s 20-cow Ranfurly herd. This fifteen-month-old heifer was sired by the home-bred Auchorachan ACDC son, Ranfurly Limelight, the reserve intermediate champion at Stirling in October 2022 and which sold for 16,000gns. Her dam Ranfurly Weikel 18th is by Raceview King and was female and reserve supreme champion at the NI Simmental Club’s National Show in 2019.

Auctioneer David Lowry in the rostrum at Rathfriland Farmers’ Co-op.

Ranfurly Weikel  52nd is bred from three generations of EX cows. She was junior champion at the NI Four Breeds Calf Show in 2023; reserve junior champion at Balmoral in May 2024 and a first prize winner at the National Show, held in Antrim. This heifer came under the hammer of guest auctioneer David Lowry, and was sold to John Warnock’s Templefyn Herd based at Carrowdore in County Down.

Ranfurly Weikel 47th came under the hammer at 6,000gns.

Two heifers shared the day’s second highest bid of 6,000gns. First to sell was the January 2022 born in-calf heifer Ranfurly Weikel 47th. Sired by Samark Superman, she was bred from the Raceview King daughter, Ranfurly Weikel 33rd VG87 – a maternal sister to Auchorachan ACDC and the 15,000gns Ranfurly Formula One – supreme champion at Stirling in October 2015. In-calf to Clonagh Tiger Gallant and due in February 2025, she sold to the Bowhill Herd owned by David Smith and Rachael Reid from Low Bowhill Farm, Newmiln, Ayrshire.

Ranfurly Stella 15th shared a joint price of 6,000gns.

Also selling at 6,000gns was the November 2022 born Ranfurly Stella 15th ET, a Woodhall Ferrari daughter, bred from Raceview Fancywinty 652 ET EX93. She sold to pedigree breeder John Byrne from Ballinaskeagh, Banbridge.

The Woodhall Ferrari daughter Ranfurly Stella 16th came under the hammer at the herd’s joint 4th production sale.

Her full sister, Ranfurly Stella 16 ET, born in February 2023, sold to James Mullan’s Carrowcladagh Herd in Garvagh for 5,200gns.

These ET heifers are maternal sisters Ranfurly Stella 12th who was reserve supreme champion at Balmoral Show in 2022; and Ranfurly Stella 13th sold at the Next Gen sale in Carlisle for 5,000gns. Maternal brothers, Ranfurly Jackpot sold at Stirling in February 2020 for 9,000gns; while her full ET brother Ranfurly Nunez sold privately to the Fairhurst Herd.

The April 2023 heifer Ranfurly Weikel 51 attracted a bid of 5,000gns, selling to John Moore’s Omorga Herd at Beragh, County Tyrone. She was sired by the Team Celtic son, Ranfurly Masterpiece – sold at Stirling last year for 6,200gns. Her dam is the Raceview King daughter, Ranfurly Weikel 23rd VG86, reserve female champion at the 2019 NI National Simmental Show.

Ballinalare Farm Polly came under the hammer at 4,900gns.

Leading Joe Wilson’s Ballinalare Farm line-up at 4,900gns was the January 2023 born Ballinalare Farm Polly. Sired by the Carnkern Titan son, Curaheen Wakeman, she is out of Ballinalare Farm Ladybird, who is a daughter of the herd’s 10,000gns stock bull Denizes Fantastic. Buyers were Messrs P and R Murtagh from Newry.

Next best at 4,600gns and also selling to John Byrne from Banbridge, was the April 2023 Ranfurly Beauty 18th. This one is by the Team Celtic son, Ranfurly Klinker – sold privately to the Boyerstown in ROI and widely available through AI. Her dam, Ranfurly Beauty 10th EX90, is a Samark Superman daughter bred from Ranfurly Beauty 8th ET.

The October 2022 Ranfurly Kleeb 47th sold for 4,300gns to the Dodd family, William, Jane, Jamie and Lewis, for their Craigy Herd at Saintfield. Sired by Curaheen Bandit, she is bred from the Whitemire King Kong daughter, Ranfurly Kleeb 32nd EX92 – who will be twelve-years-old in November and has reared 12 calves, including three sets of twins.

Next best at 4,200gns was Ranfurly Weikel 50th, a March 2023 Ranfurly Limelight daughter, bred from Ranfurly Weikel 33rd VG87. She sold for export to online bidder Simon Powell, owner of the Burlane Herd based at Shrewsbury in Shropshire.

Ten-month-old heifer Ballinalare Farm Paris ET sold for 4,200

Also selling at 4,200gns was Joe Wilson’s Ballinalare Farm Paris ET. Born in November 2023, she is by Kilbride Farm Bantry and bred from Ballinalare Farm Evita – a daughter of the 20,000gns Perth champion, Auchorachan Wizard. This heifer is a full sister to the 28,000gns Stirling supreme champion and NI-record price bull Ballinalare Farm Masterpiece. Buyers were David Smith and Rachael Reid for their Bowhill Herd.

Pat Kelly, and son Frank, from the Ashland Herd in Tempo, County Fermanagh, paid 4,100gns to secure the eight-month-old Ranfurly Weikel 53rd ET. Sired by Salisbury Challenger, she is bred from the noted South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd EX93.

Next best at 4,000gns was Ballinalare Farm Princess, a February 2023 born heifer by the €11,000 Roscommon junior champion, Bighill Magic. She was the first daughter to be offered for sale from the €11,500 Lissadell Krystal Special. Buyers were Kieran and Delia Fitzpatrick, owners of the Birtrees Herd based at Rathfriland, County Down.

The Ranfurly Herd offered two seventeen-month-old bulls for sale. First into the ring was Ranfurly Principal who won a number of championship awards during the show season, including the interbreed beef honours at Clogher Show. This one is by Ranfurly Limelight and bred from the Raceview King daughter, Ranfurly Weikel 13th EX90. He failed to meet his reserve and is destined for Stirling in October.

The home-bred Ranfurly Limelight was also behind the breeding of Ranfurly Powerhouse who came under the hammer at 4,000gns, selling to Cameron and Rachel Jackson for their Future Livestock Herd at Galston in Ayrshire.

A much-anticipated star of the catalogue was the multi-award-winning show heifer Ballinalare Farm Nikita, a February 2022 Saltire Impressive daughter bred from Ballinalare Farm Ilyssa. She has enjoyed overwhelming success in the showring, winning RUAS Balmoral Show and NI Simmental National Show supreme champion two years in succession, as well as a number of interbreed honours. Bidding reached 10,000gns which fell short of the Wilson family’s expectations and this heifer returned home unsold.

AVERAGES:

Ballinalare Farm:
2 heifers with calf at foot £3,412

19 in-calf and maiden heifers £2,990.

Ranfurly:
2 in-calf heifers £4,515
12 maiden heifers £4,646.

PART THREE OF THREE:  SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES IN AUGUST AT 32 MARKETS AROUND THE UK!

PART THREE OF THREE: SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES IN AUGUST AT 32 MARKETS AROUND THE UK!

SIMMENTALS TOPPING SALE SECTIONS AT: SEDGEMOOR; SKIPTON; SELBY; ABERDEEN; GISBURN; HALLWORTHY; CARLISLE; MARKET DRAYTON; DINGWALL; SALISBURY; MALTON; BAKEWELL; RUGBY; HEXHAM; THAME; CROOKLANDS; THIRSK; SHREWSBURY; STIRLING; EXETER; WHITLAND; LUDLOW; FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; DARLINGTON; CARMARTHERN; AYR; MONMOUTHSHIRE; DUMFRIES; BALLYMENA; PENRITH; AND SWATRAGH

Analysis of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) data has shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading age at slaughter, whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, reductions in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. The ultimate combination for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Native sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams. It’s tremendous economics for commercial beef producers.

It’s the final part of Simmentals topping store, prime, breeding, cull, and calf sale sections at markets round the country in August 2024. If you have any snippets of Simmentals topping sales in your area then please forward them to information@britishsimmental.co.uk and we’ll be happy to included them in future Market Briefs.

United Auctions, Stirling, on 14th August sold 875 store cattle & young bulls, 258 Breeding Cattle & 221 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. OTM bulls sold to £2010 for a 816kg SIM from North Balloch.

At Melton Mowbray’s sale of 161 store cattle on 13th August, forward Simmental steers from GW Swales & Son sold to £1590 with further steers the same way bred from the same stable also seeing £1550 for a brace, and to feature in the leading prices. The same vendor sold well fleshed Simmental heifers to £1400.
In a sale of 155 calves at Shrewsbury on 13th August a few stronger month old types on offer sold to a top of £520 for a smart Simmental bull from John Phillips.
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock and their fortnightly sale of rearing calves on 12tth August. Forward were 257 cattle and 31 calves. Leading the heifers in the store cattle was a super Simmental from A Wilson, Calf Close Farm at £1550.
In a sale of calves at Rugby Farmers Mart on 12th August, the top price was £330 for Simmental bulls.
On 12th August at Market Drayton and a sale of 134 barren cows, cull bulls and overage clean cattle, bulls peaked at 243p, £2,240.46, for a Simmental from Warner Family.
In a sale of prime cattle at Exeter on 12th August, prime heifers topped at £1526 (612kg x 250ppk) for a meaty Simmental from Freddi Chanin of Thorverton.
Bakewell Market held a sale of 127 barren, OTM, and feeding cows on 12th August. Meated cows generally 210p plus with the biggest cows over £1500. Top gross price was £1753.10 for a Simm from BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor.
In a sale of 208 store cattle at Ludlow on 9th August, the top price heifer was a Simm X at £1580 and 317ppk.
SIMMENTAL HEIFER AT £2233 TOPS DARLINGTON CLEAN CATTLE

At Darlington’s prime stock sale on 8th August, 124 clean cattle were forward. A marvellous forty-three cattle sold over £2000! Top gross valued heifer was a thumping 747kg Simmental from J Richmond, Dunsa Bank Farm, Richmond at £2233.

North West Auctions Junction 36 fortnightly sale of calves and stirks on 8th August saw an entry of 92 forward. Stirks sold to a top of £990 on three occasions and including for a Simmental from Bambers Farms, Cockerham.
At Hallworthy’s sale of 165 store cattle on 8th August, top of the day was £1500 given for a trio of older Simental x steers in from the Maunder family of Landrake who sold others to £1240 and £1230.
On 7th August Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of Weaned cattle at Borderway, Carlisle, with 275 stirks forward. Auchengray Farm sold the top priced Simmental heifer for £1400, the day’s top price heifer, and with Mr Paul Davidson, Old Irvine Farm selling the top priced Simmental bull for £1450.
In a sale of 196 calves at Carmarthen on 7th August, one-month-old Simm bulls sold to £458 from Price, Cwrt Mawr, to feature in the leading prices.
A sale of cull cows at Frome on 7th August saw a top gross price of £1772 for a Simm from DAM Marklove, Lydiard Millicent.
In a sale of prime cattle at Malton on 6th August, steers were topped at £2182.95 for a 19 month old Simm, 810kgs, from AW Hardwick
In a sale of calves and stirks at Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd, Ayr on 6th August, the trade for stirks was topped at £1220 for a Simmental Cross Heifer off Messrs McLelland, Knockshinnoch.
At Salisbury Livestock Market on 6th August, the sale of UTM finished cattle saw a very strong trade throughout. Top prices went to a good run from Tony Nutland and family which saw homebred Simmental x steers reach the day’s highest price and return of 265p and £1856.65 with a homebred Simmental x heifer topping her section at 263.5p.
In an ‘exceptional entry of 153 calves forward’ at Monmouthshire on 6th August, plenty of purchasers looking for quality types. Topping the trade was a Simmental bull from Raymond, Mathry, selling for £615.
C&D Auction Marts held their fortnightly sale of Store Cattle in Dumfries on 5th August.
Bulls sold to £1560 for Simmentals from J B Paterson & Co, Hartbush and to 321.6p/kg also from J B Paterson & Co, Hartbush.
In a sale of calves at Ballymena on 2nd August, bulls were topped by a Sim at £985 from A Clarke Randalstown, who had another at £825.
On 2nd August, Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly sale of Rearing Calves and Stirks with 121 forward. Bull stirks were led at £860 by a Simmental from Church Stile Farm.
On 1st August Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of cast cows and bulls on behalf of Orkney consigners at Thainstone. Beef Cows Sold to £1,770 gross for a 848kg Simmental from J & M Dearness, Knowe, Sanday.
On 30th July at Swatragh a great entry of 80 quality cattle was presented for sale which resulted in another super trade for all stock on offer. Bullocks sold to a top of £1920 per head for a Sim at 746kg (257p/kg).
PART TWO OF THREE: SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES IN AUGUST AT 32 MARKETS AROUND THE UK!

PART TWO OF THREE: SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES IN AUGUST AT 32 MARKETS AROUND THE UK!

SIMMENTALS TOPPING SALE SECTIONS AT: SEDGEMOOR; SKIPTON; SELBY; ABERDEEN; GISBURN; HALLWORTHY; CARLISLE; MARKET DRAYTON; DINGWALL; SALISBURY; MALTON; BAKEWELL; RUGBY; HEXHAM; THAME; CROOKLANDS; THIRSK; SHREWSBURY; STIRLING; EXETER; WHITLAND; LUDLOW; FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; DARLINGTON; CARMARTHERN; AYR; MONMOUTHSHIRE; DUMFRIES; BALLYMENA; PENRITH; AND SWATRAGH

Analysis of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) data has shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading age at slaughter, whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, reductions in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. The ultimate combination for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Native sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams. It’s tremendous economics for commercial beef producers.

It’s part two of three of Simmentals topping store, prime, breeding, cull, and calf sale sections at markets round the country in August 2024.

Hexham and Northern Marts held its weekly sale of 224 Store Cattle on 23RD August with trade throughout the sale being very strong and with no let-up in trade on short keep cattle. Leading the sale with a Simmental cross steer at £1960.00 was Mr Douglas Green, Longlea. At £1760 was a thick Simmental cross heifer from Riding Mill producer Mr R M Johnston, High Fotherly.

On 23rd August at Thame Farmers Auction Mart Ltd sale of 264 cattle, a large entry for the TB Exempt Sale met a strong trade for all. Red Lion Farms topped the steer trade with a trio of Simmental steers at £1620. Dave Alder sold his single suckled Simmental x heifer at £1685 to top the sale.

North West Auctions Jct 36 sale of 115 calves and stirks on 22nd August saw a top call of £530 achieved by MH&AR Robinson, Kendal for a Simmental bull.

In a sale of 200 store cattle at Hallworthy on 22nd August, the Heifer section was led by the Backway Family with four cracking Simmental x Heifers at £1590. The same vendor sold four Simmental x Steers at £1500 at 16 months old and three other Simmentals at £1420 at only 14 months old!

At Thirsk’s sale of 166 cattle on 22nd August, the best grossing cull cow at £1908.59 was a Simmental X from F & D Cornforth, Old Byland purchased by JA Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor.

In a sale of store cattle at Shrewsbury on 22nd August, store bulls were topped at £1050 for a 405kg Simm from Messrs Griffiths Farms Ltd. A 645kg store heifer from the same vendor sold for £1695. 19 month old Simm steers from R&EM Lightfoot sold for 318.3 ppk.

In a sale of stirks at Gisburn on 22nd August, a proper mix of bulls, steers and heifers both dairy and suckler bred all away nicely with some real highlights in the sale including a beautiful red roan Simmental x heifer topping the sale at £1520 from Mark Taylor.

United Auctions, Stirling, on 21st August, sold 959 store cattle and 211 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls. Bullocks (504) sold to £1930 for a 675kg SIMX from Mollandhu. Other SIMX bullocks from the same homemade £1880, £1860,& £1840. Beef Cows (168) sold to £2440 for a 968kg SIMX from West Mains.

On 21st August and a sale of 269 store cattle at Market Drayton, a 520kg Simmental from D&A Warrington topped the heifers at £1460.

In a sale of cull cows and bulls at Exeter on 19th August, the cull cow section was headed by strong Simmentals from Andrew and George Palk of Marldon with the better two rising to £1438 (788kg x 183ppk) and another close at £1435 (702kg x 205ppk).

At H&H’s 50th anniversary primestock sale at Carlisle on 19th August, steers sold to a day’s top of £2352.52 for a 824kgs Simmental from Messrs Harrington, Hosket Hill, Carlisle purchased by Mr Eric Hall. On the same day, and a sale of prime bulls, Simmentals from Messrs Paxton, South Milmain Farm, Stranraer sold to £2239.74 for 828kgs.

In a sale of barren cows and OTMs at Whitland Mart on 17th August, a strong demand for all classes of cull cattle saw non-tested cows selling to £1,510 for a Simmental from Owen, Cefnypant, with tested cows sold to £1,440 for a 740kg Simental from Griffiths, Rhos. In the sale of 343 store cattle, Young Bulls sold to £1,480 for a Simmental from Jones, Tegryn.

In a sale of TB restricted store cattle on 16th August at Ludlow, steers were topped at £1530 by Simm X’s, with the heifers also topped by Simm X’s at £1550.

At Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, on 15th August, a sale of cast cows and bulls saw beef feeding cows (67) Sold to £1595 for a 768kg Simmental Cross from Raefin, Keith.

In a sale of prime cattle at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, on 15th August, beef OTMs averaged 185.26p per kg or £1335 per head selling to £1960 for a Simmental from J Brown, Greencraig. OTM males sold to £1860 for a Simmental from R Wardrop & Son, Easter Coates.

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, on August 14th, sold 119 store cattle, 85 adult head of breeding cattle and 50 OTM cattle. Cow with calf at foot (68) sold to £2,650 gross for a Simmental cross cow and calf from Balnuran, Culloden Moor. Cow in calf (12) sold to £1,800 gross for a Simmental cross from Balnuran, Culloden Moor.

In a sale of cull cows at Frome on 14th August, a quality Simmental cow from D & GJ Stevens soared to 226p/kg and £1632 to lead the sale.

At Market Drayton’s sale of 200 store cattle on 14th August, steers were topped at £1,700 for some Simmentals from D & A Warrington.

PART ONE OF THREE; SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES IN AUGUST AT 32 MARKETS AROUND THE UK!

PART ONE OF THREE; SIMMENTALS TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES IN AUGUST AT 32 MARKETS AROUND THE UK!

SIMMENTALS TOPPING SALE SECTIONS AT: SEDGEMOOR; SKIPTON; SELBY; ABERDEEN; GISBURN; HALLWORTHY; CARLISLE; MARKET DRAYTON; DINGWALL; SALISBURY; MALTON; BAKEWELL; RUGBY; HEXHAM; THAME; CROOKLANDS; THIRSK; SHREWSBURY; STIRLING; EXETER; WHITLAND; LUDLOW; FROME; MELTON MOWBRAY; DARLINGTON; CARMARTHERN; AYR; MONMOUTHSHIRE; DUMFRIES; BALLYMENA; PENRITH; AND SWATRAGH

Analysis of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) data has shown Simmental gives beef producers more. Industry leading age at slaughter, whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, reductions in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. The ultimate combination for Daily Carcase Gain has been shown as the progeny of a Simmental bull out of a Simmental dam, and with the highest rates of DCG, attained by both Continental and Native sires, being for progeny out of Simmental dams. It’s tremendous economics for commercial beef producers.
See here part one of three of Simmentals topping store, prime, breeding, cull, and calf sale sections at markets round the country.

At Sedgemoor on 31st August and a sale of 1393 store cattle, grazing cows, & stirks, continental steers rose to £1755 for grand Simmental steers from EF & MA Cottle, North Brewham, who sold more at £1700 and £1660. More big Simmentals £1725 from C & R Foote, Stroud; £1705 A Parkin & A Broadhead and £1580 GJ & SM Down, Umberleigh. Continental heifers topped at £1585 for a Simmental from C & R Foote. More at £1515 and £1435 from EF & MA Cottle.

In a sale of 174 stirks at Skipton on 31st August, suckler bred continentals sold to an active ringside with Sim steers selling to £1100, the top steer price on the day, from T&S Holgate, Halton West.

Selby Market’s store sale on 31st August, saw young bulls sell to a top of £1270 and £1260 for Simms from S Keen.

On 30th August, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 482 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves at Thainstone. £1900 was the top call of the day for a Pen of Three Simmental Cross Heifers scaling 612kgs consigned by the Stronach Family, Berryleys, Grange. Heifers (239) averaged 305.8p and sold to 377.5p per kg for a 400kg breeding Simmental from Cairntack, Belhelvie and £1900 gross for a Pen of Three 612kg breeding Simmentals from Berryleys, Grange.

At Thainstone on 29th August, Aberdeen and Northern Marts held a sale of prime cattle. With all classes significantly dearer on the week an excellent entry of 64 prime cattle saw trade top at £2450 for a Simmental bull from Messrs Grant, Druid Temple. On the same day at a sale of cast cows and bulls, beef feeding cows (103) averaged £1263.35 and sold to £1550 for a 702kg Simmental Cross from Glencuie, Glenkindie.

On 29th August at Gisburn’s sale of 171 rearing calves, Simmental x bulls sold for £590 from RH & JS Vickery and topped the averages at £532.

At Hallworthy’s sale of store cattle on 29th August, a tremendous run of Simmental heifers from ID & SS Backway of St Columb topped the heifer section with a trio of stunning Simmental x Heifers to £1510 and a second pair to £1490, their trio of fleshed Simmental x away for breeding to £1440.

At Sedgemoor’s sale of prime cattle on 26th August, steers sold to £2,004.08 for a 752kg Simmental from CHJ Attwell & Sons, who sold more at £1,857.51 (697kg) and £1,791.28 (685kg). Heifers sold to £1,866.60 for a 680kg Simmental also from CHJ Atwell & Sons, who sold more at £1,756.82 (677kg) and £1,737.30 (647kg).

On 28th August, Harrison and Hetherington held their sale of calves at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Once again, a bumper entry of 445 calves through the doors. Sale topped at £590 and including for a 3 month old Simmental bull from Haregills Farming, Ecclefechan.
In a sale of 256 store cattle at Market Drayton on 28th August, heifers were led at £1740 for a 594kg Simmental from D&A Warrington.

In a small sale of prime cattle at Dingwall on 27th August, prime bullocks (3) averaged 303.0p per kg and sold to 304.0p per kg twice and including a 640kg Simmental Cross from Shoreton Farms, Culbokie.

A sale of UTM Finished cattle at Salisbury Livestock Market on 27th August saw the pick of the heifers being Simmental x from Steve Dyer, Chale Farm which reached 274.5p or £1570.14.

At a sale at Malton on 27th August, young bulls topped at 283.50ppk for an excellent 17 month old Simmental X weighing 720kgs (£2041.20)from DR Beal, Marishes, selling to R Pearson. Top price was another Simmental X from the same home at £2139.13.

At Bakewell on 27th August, and a sale of barren, OTM, and feeding cows, the strong trade for best meated cows was topped at £1842 for a Simm from EH Woodward, Risley.

In a sale of calves at Rugby Farmers Mart on 26th August, top price went to Messrs RC & J Mann £335 for his Simmental Bull Calf, who also sold a Simmental Heifer to £300.

On 26th August at a sale of barren cows, cull bulls, and over age clean cattle, at Market Drayton bulls traded to £2318.80 for a Simmental from S&M Huxley & Son, Talke.

On 23rd August and a sale of store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone, heifers sold to 317.6p per kg for a 362kg Simmental from J W S Wishart, Knockhall, South Ronaldsay.

Hexham and Northern Marts held its weekly sale of 224 Store Cattle on 23RD August with trade throughout the sale being very strong and with no let-up in trade on short keep cattle. Leading the sale with a Simmental cross steer at £1960.00 was Mr Douglas Green, Longlea. At £1760 was a thick Simmental cross heifer from Riding Mill producer Mr R M Johnston, High Fotherly.

On 23rd August at Thame Farmers Auction Mart Ltd sale of 264 cattle, a large entry for the TB Exempt Sale met a strong trade for all. Red Lion Farms topped the steer trade with a trio of Simmental steers at £1620. Dave Alder sold his single suckled Simmental x heifer at £1685 to top the sale.