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56,000GNS HEMINGFORD BULL SETS NEW UK & EUROPEAN SIMMENTAL RECORD AT STIRLING!!

56,000GNS HEMINGFORD BULL SETS NEW UK & EUROPEAN SIMMENTAL RECORD AT STIRLING!!

by | Feb 19, 2025 | 2025 Stirling Sales, 2025 Scottish News, 2025 East Anglia News, 2025 News, 2025

94 SIMMENTAL BULLS SMASH THE BREED RECORD AVERAGE TO SET NEW MARK OF £9,832, UP £2,334 ON THE YEAR

• 56,000gns a new UK, & European record for a Simmental bull
• Commercial producers buying bulls up to £20k
• Four bulls sell at 20,000gns and over
• 26 bulls in all sell for 10,000gns and over
• Strong Clearance rate of 81%
• Simmental sells the most bulls over the Stirling fortnight

Overall & Intermediate Champion Hemingford Prince Charming 56,000gns

Records were well and truly smashed in an incredible day’s trading at the Stirling Simmental bull sale held on at United Auctions on Monday 17th February. Reaching dizzy new heights never seen before, 94 bulls, the most sold of any breed over the Stirling fortnight, surged to a remarkable average of £9832, up by a mighty £2334 on last year’s record figure! At the close of the sale, the average was a new all-breeds record for any beef breed at a UK auction.

Front and centre of the day was the 56,000gns paid for the pre-sale Overall Supreme Champion, Hemingford Prince Charming, from James & Rachel Griffin, Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and which is a UK and European record for a Simmental sold at auction. The new mark eclipsed the 46,000gns paid for Overhill House Neo in October 2023.

A packed ringside ensured a strong trade from the ‘get go’ and with the sale being underpinned by the demand from commercial producers. Through the sale four bulls made over 20,000gns and with 26 in all surpassing the five figure price. Bulls entirely for commercial use sold up to 20,000gns and with many featuring in the five figure prices.

Commenting after the sale, a delighted BSCS President Chris Martindale said: “It’s been a special sale for the breed and I’d like to congratulate all of the vendors on the standard of the Simmental bulls they continue to bring forward. To have an average of just under £10,000, up by £2334 on the year, and to sell the most bulls of the breeds over the Stirling fortnight, shows a tremendous confidence in the modern Simmental breed. A trend of the day was so many bulls going to commercial producers with one at 20,000gns and any number in the teens and the highest prices. Quality bulls were in demand and easily sold and there were new buyers, repeat buyers, and bulls going to all parts of the UK which was great to see. Commercial producers are future proofing their suckler herds with Simmental genetics and getting the benefits in milk, easy calving, fertility, and ability to rear a quality calf year on year. There’s also recognition of the breeds proven abilities in age at slaughter and daily carcase gain, and adding this all up it’s driving the demand for the breed to new levels with commercial producers. Of course the icing on the cake today has been the new European Simmental record price of 56,000gns for James and Rachel Griffin’s Hemingford Prince Charming. Everybody is just over the moon for James and Rachel, and he really is a super Simmental bull.”

So to the day’s top priced bull and new Simmental record holder, Hemingford Prince Charming 23. April 2023 born, this bull is by Saltire Jaguar 18, a Team Celtic son, and is out of Hemingford Joy, a Sterling Gregg 15 (ET) daughter. In the pre-sale show under the eye of the judge for the day Jim Goldie of the noted Newbiemains herd at Annan, Nr Dumfries, this bull came through a tremendously strong class before going on to secure the Intermediate Championship and thereafter the Overall Supreme Championship. Commenting after the judging, Jim Goldie said: “This is a lovely Simmental bull and with a presence that just caught my eye the moment he came into the ring. Full of style and breed character he typifies the modern Simmental with length, size, tremendous lines, width over the plates, a great top on him, and walked really well. He was a stand-out bull on the day amongst a lot of good company, and it was just terrific to see him go on and make a record price. I’m sure he will go on to produce some top class females in the Corskie herd and leave some amazing bulls as well. It was a great two days for the Simmental breed and I was really pleased to play a little part in it.”

Judge Jim Goldie of the Newbiemains Herd with United Auctions Auctioneer, David Brown

Come sale time there was much anticipation around ringside and Hemingford Prince Charming didn’t disappoint as a flurry of bids and bidders saw him race through the gears before getting knocked down for 56,000gns, a new Simmental record, to the ringside bidders Iain, and daughter Laura, Green for their noted Corskie pedigree herd at Garmouth, Fochabers, Moray. Commenting after paying the record price, Laura Green said: “We saw Hemingford Prince Charming at the inspection on Saturday and liked him straight away, and we obviously kept a close eye on him through the show. He has length, style, breed character and is full of quality, an outstanding bull and in our mind one of the best Simmental bulls we’ve ever seen. We’re really excited to have him and after a nice settling in period he’ll be introduced to the pedigree herd.” The Corskie herd presently comprises of 180 pedigree cows and 400 Simmental x Beef Shorthorn suckler cows.

Come sale time there was much anticipation around ringside and Hemingford Prince Charming didn’t disappoint as a flurry of bids and bidders saw him race through the gears before getting knocked down for 56,000gns, a new Simmental record, to the ringside bidders Iain and daughter Laura Green for their noted Corskie pedigree herd at Garmouth, Fochabers, Moray. Commenting after paying the record price, Laura Green said: “We saw Hemingford Prince Charming at the inspection on Saturday and liked him straight away, and we obviously kept a close eye on him through the show. He has length, style, breed character and is full of quality, an outstanding bull and in our mind one of the best Simmental bulls we’ve ever seen. We’re really excited to have him and after a nice settling in period he’ll be introduced to the pedigree herd.” The Corskie herd presently comprises of 180 pedigree cows and 400 Simmental x Beef Shorthorn suckler cows.

For James and Rachel Griffin, it was two unbelievable days that will live long in the memory. After taking a breath, and the enormity of what had just happened sinking in, James and Rachel spoke to the Society and said: “Going to Stirling, we thought Prince Charming was a good bull but we never set expectations because in the Simmental breed there is always such a high standard of bulls forward. It’s what dreams are made of that you might produce one good enough to win the Championship but it just wasn’t something that we realistically thought we’d achieve in our lifetime.”

Continuing they said: “We watched Jim Goldies pre-sale video leading up to the show, and he mentioned he would be looking for a modern Simmental, with good length and shape, and we hoped he might tick some of those boxes but we never thought more than that. There are three separate things here: winning the Championship, selling for the day’s top price, and for it then to be a UK and European record. To manage all three at the same time is just the stars aligning, and beyond all expectations. Dreams can come true!”

Rachael Griffin, Hetty Hutchinson with Hemingford Prince Charming with James Griffin and their young children

“As the bids were going up I don’t think we were able to breathe! The auctioneer Raymond Kennedy had been round to ask what our expectations might be and I think I said double figures would be a good start, but we truly never expected anything like this. We are also delighted with him being purchased by the Green family with Corskie being such a distinguished Simmental herd with a tremendous reputation. We wish them every success with Prince Charming and will closely follow his progress.” This was the Griffins third visit to Stirling and where they first time round, in 2022, sold a bull for 4200gns to Brian Sutherland, Glenlossie, and with their second visit seeing another Saltire Jaguar son Hemingford Nelson sell for 11,000gns to Michael Durno’s Auchorachan herd in October 2023 for 11,000gns.

It was a sale day with a strong Corskie fingerprint throughout. Offsetting their top price purchase, the herd had brought a stand out team of eleven bulls that saw them procure the three other sale prices over 20,000gns and with the team of eleven bulls averaging a terrific £13,220! The Corskie bulls sold for 26,000gns; 20,000gns x 2; 13,000gns; 9500gns; 9000gns x 2; 8500gns 8000gns x 2; and 7500gns!

Corskie Prime 26,000gns

The junior bulls were tremendously strong through the day, and it was from the second last class in the catalogue that the day’s second top price came from in the shape of the 26,000gns Corskie Prime 23 from the Green family. This October 2023 born calf is by the Irish bull Rathnashan Leonardo (ET), whose first son sold for 10,000gns, and is out of Corskie La-enna from the ‘Enna’ line, one of the herd’s most consistent cow families. Corskie Prime 23 was purchased by Jimmy & Vikki Wood for their noted Popes herd at Dutton, Preston, Lancashire.

Speaking after the sale, Vikki Wood said: “This Corskie bull just had a lot of the things we were looking for. We saw him in the show and immediately liked him. He’s well fleshed, a good mover, the right colour we were looking for, and he’s just full of breed character. His breeding is attractive to us, and with little cross over in his immediate pedigree, he injects a bit of a new line into the herd. We were looking for a bull to use on our heifers, who are big, rangy females and to add easy flesh into them. Initially we’ll put him out quietly with a few heifers and go from there.” Of the 26,000gns price Vikki Wood went on to say: “It’s the investment you need to be prepared to spend for a bull with the traits and qualities you want for your herd. The higher prices are a reflection of where today’s beef market is and if he does the job that his potential suggests, he will hopefully quickly cover himself. ” The Popes herd currently presently consists of 50 pedigree cows.

Reserve Overall & Junior Champion Corskie Pirate 20,000gns

Two further junior bulls from Corksie made 20,000gns and the first of these was the Overall Reserve Supreme, Junior Champion, and first prize in Class 11, Corskie Pirate. September 2023 born, this young bull with style, natural power and terrific width to him, is by Rathnashan Magnum EX 92 and is out of Corskie Hilda VG 87 a daughter of the homebred Corskie Dubai 12. Reflecting the marketplace demand, this bull was purchased entirely for commercial use by the noted producer JC Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Also at the 20,000gns price was Corskie Pier, an October 2023 born bull from the youngest class on the day. Full of breeding and performance figures, this calf is by Kilbride Farm Haka 16 who has previously had sons sell to £32,000, and is out of Corskie Jlight a daughter of the former breed record holder Bel Dhu Capercaillie. His performance figures saw him be in the breed’s top 1% for Maternal (Milk) at +16; the top 5% and 10% for 200, 400, and 600 day growth and the top 5% for both Terminal production Index, and Self Replacing Index. Purchasing this bull was Neil McGowan for his Incheoch herd of 50 Simmental cows run alongside 150 Luings. Commenting Neil said: “I watched the bulls go through inspection on Saturday and he was one that stood out as being of the type we were looking for and he moved well. Watching the show the next day along with my father Finlay, he was one of a good number of bulls that impressed us in terms of his type, dimension and stance in the ring. We were particularly looking for a red, polled bull with decent calving figures and good early growth but not too tall in type – with a smooth, easy-finishing muscle-pattern. We were looking for a bull to breed daughters from – so a bit of character and style is important and structural soundness too. Pier ticked all the boxes other than the polled one! In studying him overnight, we saw that his dam line went back to a cow, some seven generations back, my grandfather had sold to Gordon Clark. It wasn’t part of the decision making but somehow seemed to be a bit of a sign! From here, Corskie Pier will get a selection of polled Simmental cows and some Luings next summer and we very much look forward to seeing how he breeds.”

The Stirling Simmental Sale rounded off what has been a fantastic couple of months for the Corskie herd and the Green family and who in December won the prestigious 2024 Scotch Beef Farm of the Year award. Commenting directly about the herd’s day at Stirling, Laura Green said:
“It was a day to remember for all of us at Corskie and a fantastic day for the Simmental breed with a great credit due to all of the vendors. This was our best average we’ve had at Stirling to date with the 11 bulls selling for £13,220. At home we were very pleased with the team of bulls and optimistic that they would meet the buyers’ requirements. Our ongoing aim is to try and breed modern bulls with good length and conformation whilst retaining the excellent maternal traits of the Simmental breed. We wish all of the buyers the very best with their purchases.”

Keeldrum Pablo 16,000gns

Another bull to catch the eye was the upstanding Keeldrum Pablo 23 from David Lowry, Newsteadings Farm, Cartland, Lanark. Another bull with size, length and width, the May 2023 born Pablo had stood third in arguably the strongest class of the day, to the top priced bull. Sired by Denizes Impeccable and out of the Clonagh World Class daughter Sacombe Gabi-Oma, Keeldrum Pablo was another to go for entirely commercial use when purchased for 16,000gns by the Hamilton Brothers, Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar. The Hamiltons run some 900 spring calving Simmental cross suckler cows across three holdings and with a battery of 25+ Simmental bulls. The 16,000gns price is the highest they have paid for a Simmental to date and on the day was one of four bulls purchased with them also securing Auchorachan Premier for 11,000gns; Braegarrie Panther for 8500gns; and Auchorachan Pilot for 8000gns.

Auchorachan Premier 11,000gns

Senior Champion Backmuir Poseidon 15,000gnsBringing another good team of bulls to Stirling was the Backmuir herd of Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, who sold six bulls to average £10,238. Leading the way for them was the 15,000gns Backmuir Poseidon who was a first prize winner in Class Four of the senior section. Again, a bull going for commercial use, Poseidon was purchased by noted producers R&N Barclay, Harestone Farm, Insch, Aberdeenshire. April 2023 born, Backmuir Poseidon 23 is by Backmuir King, the Male Champion at the Royal Highland whose sons have sold up to 10,000gns, and is out of the Skerrington Warlord 2 daughter, Starline Kristle 25th.

Backmuir Portsoy 13,000gns

A few lots later, and the winner of Class Six, Backmuir Portsoy 13 made 13,000gns when selling to the Teviot herd of RH Bell & Co, Roxburgh Mill, Kelso. Another son of Backmuir King, this May 2023 born bull is out of Backmuir Olivia Jinx, a Kilbride Farm Duke 12 daughter.

Wolfstar Prototype 14,000gns

Always bringing quality bulls to sell at Stirling, the Wolfstar herd of Alex & Ross King again found reward when selling two bulls to 14,000gns, and with both going commercially. The first of these was Wolfstar Prototype 23 (P) who finished second in the ‘class of the day’ to the sales top priced bull. April 2023 born this bull is by the rising 14-year-old Team Celtic 11, and is out of the Lynde General (P) sired Wolfstar Lady Gaga (P). With a Maternal (Milk) figure of +10, Wolfstar Prototype 23 (P) went north when knocked down to JM Sutherland, Sibminster & Stainland, Thurso, Caithness.

Wolfstar Pocket Rocket 14,000gns

Late in the day, the third last bull through the ring, and the aptly named Wolfstar Pocket Rocket 23 (P), also made 14,000gns when being bought by noted commercial producers MacFarlane Farms Ltd, Quixwood Farm, Duns, Berwickshire. Similarly bred to his stablemate, Wolfstar Pocket Rocket 23 (P) is also by Team Celtic 11, and is out of another Linde General (P) daughter, Wolfstar Little Mix (P).

Springfield Pace 13,500gns

Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik, Midlothian was another breeder to enjoy a successful day when he sold the second prized bull Springfield Pace 23 for 13,500gns. This April 2023 born bull is by the herd’s prolific sire Islavale Jabba and is out of the Popes Barclay daughter Soringfield Highness. Purchasing this bull was Orkney buyer Liam Muir and for his client J&M Dearness, who run a large suckler herd at Knowe Farm, Sanday, Orkney. Of this bull Liam Muir said: “This bull had really good figures for easy calving, and milk, as well as his indexes, and just had the character and qualities we were looking for. He’s a bull for the suckler herd and to breed first quality replacements as well as top stores for the local markets.” For Gavin Brown the 13,5000gns was a top price at sale to date for the herd and with Springfield clearing all eight bulls forward to average a terrific £8203. Orkney buyers were again a theme of the day with nine bulls in all selling to the islands.

Reserve Junior Champion Overhill House Presley 13,000gns

In addition to Backmuir Portsoy, three further bulls sold for 13,000gns. The first of these was the winner of Class 10, and the Reserve Junior Champion, in the shape of Overhill House Presley from Richard McCulloch, Over Hill House, Armadale. A young bull with size and tremendous length, Presley is by Pistyll Kingsman (the sire of the 46,000gns Overhill House Neo), and is out of Overhill House Hellana, a Corbally Extreme daughter. Buying this bull was Strathisla Farms, Moolies, Meigle, Blairgowrie. Speaking of this bull, Adrian Ivory said: “We saw Overhill House Presley during the show and thought he had good growth, length, and was a well put together bull. With good figures we think he’ll complement Denizes Logic daughters, and the plan is to start to use him in the summer.” Strathisla presently has approximately 55 pedigree breeding females, 40 pedigree Charolais, and 140 commercial cows.”

Corskie Phoney 13,000gns

Another junior from the Corskie line up, Corskie Phoney, made 13,000gns when selling commercially to JS Fraser, Tore Mains Farm, Muir of Ord. Again carrying width and natural power, this bull combined a depth of proven breeding and top performance figures. August 2023 born Phoney is by the aforementioned Bel Dhu Capercaillie and is out of Corskie Mimic who was Reserve Breed Champion at the 2023 Royal Highland, and Breed Junior Champion at the 2022 Scottish National Show. His performance figures see him being in the breed’s top 1% for Maternal (Milk) at +15, the top 1% for 200, 400, and 600 day growth, and the top 1% for Terminal Production, and Self Replacing Indexes!

Braidwood Panther 13,500gns

The fourth bull in all hitting the 13,000gns mark was the August 2023 born Braidwood Panther 23 from Louise Moffat, Innerwick Farm, Dunbar, East Lothian. A deep red marked bull, Panther stood third in his class to the Reserve Intermediate Champion. Sired by the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jimmy Choo, and out of the Promi (P) daughter, Braidwood Freckles (P), this bull was again purchased for commercial use when being bought by JB Dobie, Easter Middleton, Gorebridge, Midlothian. For the Dobies this is the first Simmental bull they have purchased and comes after seeing the breed’s performance at commercial sales, and then attending the Scottish Simmental Club Open Day held at Innerwick Farm in June last year where they first saw this calf, and the quality in the herd.

Skerrington Prime 12,000gns

Standing one place behind Braidwood Panther in his class was the August 2023 born Skerrington Prime 23 (P), from the longstanding Skerrington herd of Mr W Young, Skerrington Mains, Hurlford, Kilmarnock and who went on to sell for 12,000gns. Entirely homebred this bull is by the homozygous polled Skerrington King Kong 19 (PP), and is out of Skerrington Faith, a Sowenna Aristocrat daughter. With good figures for calving ease, growth, and maternal (milk), this bull went commercially to W Walton & Sons, Trough End, Otterburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Reserve Senior Champion Kyleston Principal 12,000gns

Standing as the Reserve Senior Champion, and the first prize winner in Class Two, was another bull with size, width, and a good top in the shape of the 12,000gns Kyleston Principal 23 (P) from Mr SB Knox, North Balloch Farm, Alyth, Perth & Kinross. This dark red heterozygous polled calf is the first son at sale by the privately purchased stock bull Kilbride Farm Liberator 20 (P) who is leaving calves ‘with good muscle’ in the herd. Out of Kyleston Hazel, a Keeldrum Eclipse 13 (P) daughter, this bull was purchased by commercial producers Kincraigie Farms, Lumphanan, by Banchory. For the 30 breeding female Kyleston herd, the sale price and the Reserve Championship were both top accolades for the Knox’s at sale to date.

Rockytop Pirelli 12,000gns

At this same 12,000gns price was Rockytop Pirelli from the 60 cow pedigree herd of Gary & Angela Christie, Midtown of Glass, Huntly. A bull with length and conformation Pirelli stood fourth in the ‘class of the day’ to the top priced bull. May 2023 born, Rockytop Pirelli is by Kilbride Farm Fearless 14, described as ‘one of the bulls purchased who has greatly improved the herd’, and is out of Rockytop Margaret’s June. With a Maternal (Milk) figure of +10, this bull went to the noted commercial producers CG McGillvray, Auchnascraw, Ballindalloch. A few lots later and the Christies sold Rockytop Puff 23 for 9500gns to OJ & JM Barker, Easter Yardhouses, Carnwath, Lanark.

Auchorachan Premier 11,000gns

Selling at 11,000gns was the aforementioned Auchorachan Premier from D&R Durno & Sons, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch which was knocked down to Aikengall Farms, East Lothian. Entirely homebred this August 2023 calf is by Auchorachan Malt and is out of the Team Fergus 14 EX 91 daughter, Auchorachan Nanny 4 EX 92. Premier carried top 5% of the breed figures for 200, 400, and 600 day growth. Another herd to enjoy a top day’s trading, Auchorachan also sold the Reserve Intermediate Champion, and winner of Class 9, for 10,500gns to the judge Jim Goldie, Newbiemains Farm, Annan, Dumfries. Another by Auchorachan Malt, and again with good growth figures, this bull is out of Auchorachan Nanny 1H EX 93 described as a ‘tremendous cow’ in the herd. Other Auchorachan bulls sold for 9000gns and 8000gns.

Delfur President 11,000gns

The April 2023 senior bull Delfur President 23 from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, made 11,000gns when selling to J Walker & Sons, Sauchenbush, Echt. A bull with good calving ease direct figures, President 23 is by Curaheen Bandit 23 and is out of the Islavale Cassius 11 daughter Delfur Heidi. A few lots later and Delfur were back in the money when selling Delfur Phantom 23 for 10,000gns. Sired by Innerwick Ivor 17, and out of Delfur Hetty, this bull had stood Reserve Champion at the 2024 Simmental Youngstock Show held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Purchasing this bull was Dennis Isbister, who runs the Isbister pedigree herd at Old Hall, Stromness, Orkney.

Westridge Pebble 11,000gns

A further bull to feature in the ‘class of the day’ was the fifth placed Westridge Pebble 23 from Ward Farms (Scotland), West Mains Farm, Carnwath, Lanark and who went on to make 11,000gns when selling to commercial producer Stephen Allardyce East Town Farm, Tarland, Aboyne. May 2023 born this bull is by Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 EX 94, and is out of Islavale Iona. Other Westridge bulls on the day made 7500gns, and 7000gns.

Islavale Panama 11,000gns

The prolific Islavale herd of WS Stronach & Son Berryleys farm, Grange, Keith, brought a ‘young team to town’ and met with another terrific trade. Nine bulls in all sold for £81,900 to average a tremendous £9100. Leading the way in their pen was the October 2023 born Islavale Panama who made 11,000gns when selling commercially to Glenrinnes Farms Ltd, Dufftown, Banffshire. Other Islavale bulls sold for 9500gns; 9000gns x2; 8500gns x3; 8000gns; and 6000gns.

*At the close of the bull sale and a draft offering from J&G Houliston, Newmains, Drem, North Berwick, four Saltire heifers made 4000gns; 3800gns; 2600gns; and 2500gns. Saltire Pinky, a Saltire Munro daughter out of Saltire Murron led the way when selling for 4000gns to G Wealleans & Son, Greenlaw, Duns, Berwickshire who bought three lots in all.

Overall Championship lineup

Senior Championship lineup

Intermediate Championship line up

Junior Championship line up

Group of three

OTHER LEADING BULL PRICES
10,500gns Lot 451 Auchorachan Picasso sold to JM & J Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire
10,500gns Lot 427 Braegarrie Panda sold to Fleming Farming, Greenlees Farm, Kelso
10,000gns Lot 455 Kersknowe Popstar sold to Ettrickshaws Farming Partnership, Ettrickshaw, Selkirk
10,000gns Lot 354 Caithness Pioneer sold to T Smith & Son, Nether Edindurno, Whitehouse, Alford
10,000gns Lot 384 Delfur Phantom sold to D Isbister, Oldhall, Stromness, Orkney
10,000gns Lot 388 Greencap Pegasus sold to J & MH Brims, Thuster Mains, Bilbister, Wick
9500gns Lot 470 Corskie Patron sold to Genoch Mains Farm, Dunragit, Stranraer
9500gns Lot 465 Islavale Peperoni sold to James Pate & Sons, Mossielee, Galasheils, Selkirk
9500gns Lot 437 Springfield Pentagon sold to JW Fullerton & Sons, Corsbie, Earlston, Berwickshire
9500gns Lot 413 Rockytop Puff sold to OJ & JM Barker, Easter Yardshouses, Auchengray, Carnwath, Lanark
9000gns Lot 431 Kilbride Farm Pele sold to Ralia Enterprises, Ralia Lodge, Newtonmore, Invernessshire
9000gns Lot 458 Corskie Pepsi sold to Richard Elliott, Lordsview, High Moor Farm, Tadcaster
9000gns Lot 462 Auchorachan Phantom sold to John Mitchell, Rumbletonrig, Greenlaw, Duns, Berwickshire
9000gns Lot 466 Islavale Pistol sold to Craighill Farms, Duntrune, By Dundee
9000gns Lot 491 Islavale Premium sold to J Graham & Son, West Balgothrie Farm, Leslie, Glenrothes
9000gns Lot 493 Corskie Prisoner sold to T Hill & R Wright, 1 Mill Farm, Wadworth, Doncaster
9000gns Lot 358 Backmuir Peru sold to C & K Stuart, Lettoch & Belnoe, Braes of Glenlivet, Ballindalloch
9000gns Lot 397 Wolfstar Pele sold to JF & C Saunders, Maidenlands Tarn, Tarn Flatt, Marton, Ulverston
9000gns Lot 385 Strathisla Panama sold to JW Sutherland & Son, Granton Mains, Bower, By Wick
8500gns Lot 391 Hiltonstown Powerhouse sold to W Walton & Sons, Trough End, Otterburn, Newcastle upon Tyne
8500gns Lot 393 Drumsleed Pacha sold to J & A McCornick, Drumjargon Farm, Whauphill, Newton Stewart
8500gns Lot 421 Drumsleed Panther sold to J Cameron & Son, Balbuthie Farm, Kilconquhar, Leven
8500gns Lot 425 Braegarrie Panther sold to JG Hamilton, Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar
8500gns Lot 430 Denizes Powerboy sold to J Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westfield, Thurso
8500gns Lot 467 Corskie Plasma sold to JEM Vesty, Ormiston Farm, Hawick, Roxburghshire
8500gns Lot 492 Islavale Prophet sold to Messrs Atkin Brothers, The Grange, Barrow on Trent, Derby
8500gns Lot 495 Islavale Pringle sold to TE & EM Davies & Sons, Tyncwm, Capel Dewi, Aberystwyth
8500gns Lot 367 Backmuir Pedro sold to Scottish Government Stud, Knocknagael, Inverness
8500gns Lot 498 Islavale Porthos sold to B Ross, Torran Farm, Delny, Invergordon
8000gns Lot 436 Denizes Passito sold to A & L Craig & Co, Downiehills Farm, Blackhills, Peterhead
8000gns Lot 443 Auchorachan Pilot sold to JG Hamilton, Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar
8000gns Lot 461 Islavale Peri sold to Bannerman Co Ltd, Balintraid & Ord Farm, Delny, Invergordon
8000gns Lot 481 Denizes Phantom sold to Ellis & Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire
8000gns Lot 487 Denizes Paparazzi sold to AR Bulmer, Coultas Farm, Great Habton, Malton, Yorkshire
8000gns Lot 362 Corskie Pickle sold to J & MH Brims, Thurster Mains, Bilbster, Wick, Caithness
8000gns Lot 371 Kyleston Patch sold to Firm of AG Spence, Balglassie Farm, Aberlemno, Forfar
8000gns Lot 376 Corskie Prize sold to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney
8000gns Lot 377 Strathisla Prince sold to Scottish Government Stud, Knocknagael, Inverness

THERE’S MORE TO SIMMENTAL: TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AT 34 MARKETS AROUND THE UK IN JANUARY 2025

THERE’S MORE TO SIMMENTAL: TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AT 34 MARKETS AROUND THE UK IN JANUARY 2025

by | Feb 17, 2025 | 2025 Market Briefs, 2025 News, 2025

THERE’S MORE TO SIMMENTAL: TOPPING COMMERCIAL SALES AT 34 MARKETS AROUND THE UK IN JANUARY 2025

ABERDEEN; BALLYMENA; THAME; ST BOSWELLS; DARLINGTON; HUNTLY; THIRSK; GISBURN; STIRLING; THIRSK; TRURO; AYR; HEXHAM; SALISBURY; MALTON; BROCKHOLES; CARLISLE; BAKEWELL; SWATRAGH; CASTLE DOUGLAS; WORCESTER; HALLWORTHY; EXETER; WHITLAND; DUMFRIES; FROME; PENRITH; MARKET DRAYTON; LANCASTER; DUNGANNON; OSWESTRY; MARKETHILL; HUNTLY; GISBURN.

Beef prices continue to hit unprecedented levels and the Simmental breed remains front and centre, topping commercial sales and sections around the UK.

Commercial producers taking sight of the forward industry know that their suckler cows are the engine of their beef enterprise. They’re turning to Simmental to future proof their herds, and with the benefits in milk, easy calving, fertility, and ability to rear a quality calf year on year, that adding Simmental genetics brings.

Include the Simmental’s proven abilities in age at slaughter and daily carcase gain, all with significantly reduced finishing costs, and less environmental impact, and it really does add up to money, performance, and efficiency for producers.

SIMM STORES TO 477.3P AT THAINSTONE
At Thainstone on 31st January, Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 581 store cattle and young bulls. Heifers (339) averaged 379.6p and sold to 477.3p per kg for a pen of seven 264kg Simmental Cross from Bogmore, Duncanstone. On the same day and a sale of 95 store cattle on behalf of Orkney consignors, bullocks sold to £2390 gross for a 660kg Simmental Cross from Workwell, Orphir, with heifers selling to o £2300 gross for a 620kg Simmental Cross from Workwell.

At Ballymena on 31st January, and a sale of breeding bulls, dropped calves, suckler cows, and weanlings, sucklers were topped by E Gillan with a Simmental at £2300, and who had other Simms at £2100, and £2020.

At Thame Farmers Auction Mart’s sale of 165 store cattle on 31st January, M/S Benford topped the heifer trade with six Aberdeen Angus X Simmental 22 months at £1785, and a second pen at £1570. Simmental X from the same farm sold at £1565.

SIMM BULLOCKS TO 447.1p AT ST BOSWELLS
At St Boswells store cattle sale on 30th January held by H&H, bullocks topped at 447.1p for Simmentals from Mossilee. The same vendor had further Simmental bullocks at 444.4p, and 427.5p. Mossilee also sold Simmental heifers to £2290.

SIMM PRIME HEIFER TO £2840 AT DARLINGTON
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of prime stock on 30th January 2025. Forward were 225 cattle. In the clean cattle (139) , the gross values continue to climb by the week and further success for Scotland was evident as our leading beast in the lump was a superb Simmental heifer from S & J E Andrew, Letter Farm, Loch-of-Lowes at £2840

At Huntly on 30th January, United Auctions Huntly 166 Store Cattle and OTMS. Store Cattle trade continues to climb with buyers eager for all sorts. Heifers (53) sold to a top gross of £2060 for a 565kg SimX from Auchnairn, Keith.

At Thirsk on 30th January, and a sale of cull cows, top price in the lump was a 69m, Simmental cow which sold for a fabulous £2250 consigned by F & D Cornforth, Hambleton and purchased by R Pearson & Son, Bradford.

In a sale of cast cattle at Gisburn on 30th January, continental beef bred cows sold to a high of 324ppk for a fed Simmental cow from Dales farmers Mason & Gardner.

STIRLING BULLOCKS TOPPED BY A SIMM AT £2470
At Stirling on 29th January, United Auctions sold 1256 Store Cattle and 163 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, and 31 Rearing Cattle. Bullocks (724) sold to £2470 for a 682kg Simmental from Whiteside. Simmental heifers sold to £2400 from Hatton of Newtyle. Bulls (15) sold to £2970 for a 906kg Simmental from North Balloch. OTM bulls were topped by North Balloch with a Simmental at £2970, followed by West Mains with a Simmental at £2890.

Holsworthy’s sale of store cattle on 29th January, saw younger stores topped by 13mth Simmental steers from Messrs CR & CF Timms & Son, Inwardleigh at £1410.
In a sale of rearing calves at Truro, two month old Simmentals topped the bull trade at £550 from Messrs AD & JA Bray of St Martin, Helston.

At Ayr on 28th January and a sale of calves and stirks, bullocks topped at £1300 for a 8 Month Old Simmental Cross Bullock off Messrs Mathewson, Thorn.

In a sale of prime cattle at Hexham on 28th January, Messrs Graham, Miller Hill sold Simmental cross heifers to £2236.80 to feature in the leading prices.

In a sale of barren cows and bulls at Salisbury Livestock Market on 28th January, an under three year old, Tb tested, farm assured, Simmental x grazing cow from Gemma, Will and George Edwards reached a market record price per kilo of 269p. In the OTM clean cattle, a run of farm assured, over thirty month, steers and heifers from Tony Nutland and family met an exceptionally strong trade to reach 314.5p or £2204.65 for Simmental x steers and 311.5p or £2071.48 for Simmental x heifers.

A small sale of OTM cattle at Malton on 28th January saw heifers topped by a 695kgs Simm X from SF Stubbings at 337.50ppk (£2345.63).

In a sale of cast cows at Brockholes Arms Auction Mart on 28th January, the cows just keep getting dearer and dearer. In the lump it was K & L Wildman’s Simmental which topped at £2088.

At Carlisle’s primestock sale on 27th January, Mr Tom Byres, Ellen Bank sold a 41 month Simmental cross bullock for 866kgs, 325.5p, £2818 to Charles Kirkpatrick. In the prime bulls Messrs McCulloch, Overhill, Bathgate sold 1055kg Simmental to £3054.23.

At Bakewell on 27th January, a small sale of OTM bulls were topped by a six year old Simmental at £2500 from P Cafferty, Ashover.

In the sale of 479 store cattle at Darlington on 27th January, beasts under a year saw the highlights include Simmental and Charolais steers from E Parsons, Newstead Farm to a top of £1610. On the same day, a flying stock bull trade saw Simmental bulls sell to over £2500.

At Swatragh on 27th January there was a super demand for all kinds of stock. Cows sold to a top of £2280 per head for a Sim at 770kg (296p/kg) from a Cookstown producer.

Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas on 27th January had forward 205 OTM and Store Cattle. Top per kilo on the day was 304ppk for a Simmental from also from Messrs Black, Hillside.

In a sale of store cattle at Worcester on 25th January, continental heifers were topped at 317ppk for Simm X’s from M&EA Ford.

SIMM HEIFERS TO £2390 AT THAINSTONE STORE SALE
At Thainstone on 24th January, Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 1295 store cattle, young bulls, and weaned calves. Heifers (494) sold to a top gross of £2390 for a pen of four 684kg Simmental Cross from Euchries, Crossroads. Bulls (41) sold to £2300 gross for a 780kg Simmental Cross from Brawliemuir, Drumlithie.

On 23rd January and a sale of cull cows at Thirsk, topping both the ppk and pph was a superb 37 month, 798kg Simmental cow from BW & AM Mook of Flaxton which sold for a whopping 293.5ppk or £2342 and was purchased by R Pearson & Son, Bradford.

At Hallworthy’s store sale on 23rd January, the sale of the day was the young suckler Steers with Mr J Buckland of St Buryan who had his usual run of pure Simmental Steers at 9-10 months with huge frame and plenty of conformation to £1625 for three.

In a sale of rearing calves at Truro on 22nd January, a pair of Simmental x steers flew away to top the trade at £585 for Messrs A D & J A Bray from St Martin, Helston.

On 21st January at Whitland Mart and a sale of weaned calves, the steers were led by a nine month old Simmental at £1050 from Jones, Tegryn.

C&D Auctions Ltd held their fortnightly sale of OTM and Prime Cattle in Dumfries on 20th January 2025. Bulls were led at £2300.40 by a Simmental from Dollard. Feeding steers were topped at 235ppkgg for a Simmental from Killervan.

‘SIMMENTAL IS KING’ WITHIN WOLFSTAR PEDIGREE AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE!

‘SIMMENTAL IS KING’ WITHIN WOLFSTAR PEDIGREE AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE!

by | Feb 11, 2025 | 2025 Scottish News, 2025 News, 2025, Uncategorised

Here we focus on the King family at Ormiston, East Lothian, and who run the highly noted Wolfstar pedigree Simmental herd alongside their 100 cow Simmental cross suckler herd.

Farm Facts:

  • Ross King farming in partnership with parents, Alex and Marion
  • Wolfstar, Ormiston, East Lothian
  • 700 acres arable
  • 200 acres permanent grazing
  • 70 cow pedigree Simmental herd
  • 100 cow Simmental cross suckler herd
  • Commercial finishing enterprise

Ross together with his father, Alex and one employee not only manage a 700-acre arable enterprise but also a multi beef enterprise firmly built on Simmental genetics – a 100-cow commercial suckler herd with progeny finished on farm, and the 70-cow Wolfstar pedigree herd commonly regarded as one of the foremost in the herdbook and having bred 10 five figure bulls at Stirling in the last five years.

“We run the pedigree and commercial herds as one. Management is identical. We breed all our cattle as efficiently as we can in terms of performance; the pedigree cows have to match the performance of the commercials,” Ross explains.

“All our breeding females have to be able to look after themselves and remain in average body condition score 2.5 – 3.0 all year round. They have to be hassle free and calve themselves outdoors with minimum assistance. And since we live one mile from the calving fields, they have to be able to get on with it themselves, then they must have good mothering ability. Furthermore, newborn calves have to be vigorous and get up and away, especially in bad weather.”

Wolfstar’s commercial herd comprises Simmental cross Angus genetics. “We introduced a criss cross breeding strategy 25 years ago and have something that works very well for us. While we’ve maintained that hybrid vigour, we’re breeding a really nice balanced hassle-free cow with a moderate frame and able to rear a calf demonstrating good growth.

“Our objective for the pedigree herd is to breed bulls that we would like to use ourselves. While we’d always like to breed a curve bender with ease of calving and high growth rates, we focus solely on selecting for commercial traits and then rearing the progeny in our commercial environment. After all, we have to have confidence in what we breed,” comments Ross adding: “We don’t do any summer showing – we are very strict on biosecurity and taking the other enterprises into account, we just don’t have the time.”

Both commercial and pedigree females are maturing at an average 720kg, reaching 400kg at bulling to calve at an average 24 months. Calving is all complete within nine weeks and we’ve 90% of the herd calving within the first two cycles. To keep the herd fresh, cows only have eight calvings, that’s unless she’s a superstar,” he says. Commercial steers are going on to finish at an average 350kg at 14 months, heifers an average 320kg at 16 months and grading within the U and R specification.

He adds: “Simmental has definitely found its feet as a dual-purpose breed and I firmly believe the breed will always have a place both at Wolfstar and in the national suckler herd where it is increasingly prolific, and very popular for crossing with other breeds. Furthermore, Simmental sired calves continue to top the National Beef Evaluations chart as the fastest to finish which means fewer days on farm and subsequently reduced Carbon footprint.”

The King family’s overall objective at Wolfstar is to manage a profitable farming business. “We’ve a traditional arable enterprise growing winter and spring barley, winter wheat and combining peas however we’ve areas that can’t be ploughed – both flood plain, reclaimed woodland and undermined, so we’ve always farmed a complementary suckler finishing herd.

Dad manages the arable enterprise, and myself the cattle, but we both help out with each enterprise and discuss most decisions, and we find there’s usually some friendly competition. We always compare the annual accounts; each cost is analysed and area margins worked out to see where we can make improvements.”

Turn the clock back over 35 years and Wolfstar’s herd comprised Charolais and dairy bred beef genetics producing suckled calves. Seeking to breed their own replacements, the Kings were introduced to the Simmental. “Dad liked the fact the breed was dual purpose and we could close the herd. Back in the 1990, he subsequently invested in a bull and found he left easily managed females that could calve outdoors with minimal assistance.” The rest is history.

Alex went on to invest in his first pedigree heifer in 1997, Woodhall Damara followed by only four more and the odd bull, Ross explains. “The pedigree herd was very much a hobby until 2009 when I came home from college and travelling and then we began to grow the numbers. We introduced a focused breeding programme featuring good commercial traits to produce cattle that we would wish to farm ourselves, as well as other producers. We also started to push up numbers – to 30, then 40, but we’ve now reached a peak for time being at 70 cows, a nice comfortable number.”

The Kings attribute some of their initial success to Team Celtic 11, who will reach 14 years of age in March 2025 and is still in his working clothes. “He definitely put us on the map.” His sons include Wolfstar Jackaroo at 18,000gns, Wolfstar Fearless at 14,000gns, Wolfstar Flying Scotsman 17,000gns and Wolfstar Gold Digger at 15,000gns.

18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo

While a small selection of bulls are traded through the Stirling ring, the vast majority are sold to local suckler producers having been promoted on Facebook and word of mouth from repeat customers. “We outwinter these bulls on forage diets to challenge the genetics and we like prospect customers to see them in commercial conditions and in their working clothes.”

The Kings also privately trade a quantity of quality pedigree breeding females each year, some of which have gone to start up herds.

Ross repeatedly says their success is also down to adopting a commercial strategy for trait selection, as well as for management purposes, accompanied by a strict culling policy. “We don’t keep any calves for breeding unless they show plenty vigour. We also have a very strict culling policy for feet, udders and temperament; we try to take on issues before they happen.

“When looking for a bull we pay attention to Breedplan data and select according to the trait required to improve specific performance for example growth rate, back fat and ease of calving, but first and foremost he has to appeal to the eye and then we make sure he will suit our herd and what it requires at the time.”

The latest addition to Wolfstar’s genetic mix is Hiltonstown Matrix secured in Stirling 2023 for 20,000gns. He was in the breed’s top 5% for 400 and 600 day growth with a +7 figure for maternal (milk). “While he carries very balanced performance figures, he was one of those bulls that stood out on inspection with plenty of length, tremendous fleshing qualities, and just full of flash and style.”

Ross King is also using some of the latest technology to take the pedigree herd to the next level. “We introduced In-Vitro Embryo Production (IVP) a few years ago to enable us to select specific sires to cross with some of our best breeding females to produce high genetic merit progeny for potential sale. IVP also has the potential to provide us with more choice of homebred bulls to retain for breeding purposes. Equally important, we use the service as an insurance policy – if anything happened to wipe out the herd, for example an FMD outbreak then we could rest assured we had sufficient embryos in the tank to re-establish the herd.”

Looking to the future, Ross says: “We want to continue to breed in demand bulls in commercial conditions that will not only keep our customers returning, but also attract new ones keen to improve their herd’s commercial performance and ultimately towards a more sustainable, profitable beef enterprise.”

Combined pedigree and commercial herds performance
24 months age at first calving
95% heifer scan
98% cow scan
90% calving within the first two cycles

 

 

SHAPELY BULLS, AND MILKY FEMALES, THE KEY TO NEWBIEMAINS SIMMENTALS

SHAPELY BULLS, AND MILKY FEMALES, THE KEY TO NEWBIEMAINS SIMMENTALS

by | Feb 7, 2025 | 2025 Scottish News, 2025 News, 2025

Here we feature the Newbiemains herd of Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbiemains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire. Jim will be the ‘main in the middle’ when he judges the pre-show sale of Simmental bulls at Stirling on Sunday February 16th 2025.

The Newbiemains Simmental herd was initially established 20 years ago as a hobby alongside the Goldie family’s dairy herd, but two decades later, it’s the beef cattle that take centre stage at this 280-acre farm, which sits on the Solway coast, near Annan, in Dumfriesshire.

As Jim Goldie prepares to judge the Simmental classes at the upcoming Stirling Bull Sales, next month, he reflects on the development of the Newbiemains herd and the changes within the breed as a whole, over the last two decades.

“It was the dual-purpose aspect that really attracted us to the breed in the first place, and we definitely felt that the breed hadn’t yet reached its full potential. We knew they could produce a good, milky female, and we saw it as a challenge to try and breed more shapely bulls, while maintaining that milkiness. The breed has improved a lot, especially in the last 10 years; the bulls have more shape and better weight gain,” he explains.

The Goldies previously farmed in Ayrshire, before moving to Newbiemains in 1993, where they built up a pedigree milking herd of 250 dairy cows – the second highest yielding herd in Scotland at one point. By 2015, however, spiralling costs and falling milk prices (to 16p per litre), meant the family could no longer justify continuing to milk cows. By that time, they had built up the Simmental herd to 80 cows and the decision was made to sell off the dairy cattle and work on building the beef herd.

Jim adds: “At the time, we thought we’d put off the dairy for a year or two, with the option of going back into it. It was hard for the first few years, but we gradually built up a lot of loyal customers for our bulls and we now sell up to 35 bulls a year, mainly from home. There’s also a constant demand for heifers, which we sell both at home and at sales.”

It’s a family effort at Newbiemains, with Jim and his son Niall carrying out the bulk of the farm work, with help from Jim’s wife Trish, who also runs a nutritional advice company, AgriFeed Solutions, and Niall’s fiancé Abby Forsyth, who works for the agricultural department, based in Dumfries. There’s also Jim and Trish’s son, 13-year-old ‘wee’ Jim, who loves to be involved whenever possible and recently won the overall young handler title at the Stars of the Future event in Stirling. The current stock count at home includes 130 pure cows, along with 46 in-calf heifers and 16 recipients carrying embryos, which are due in April.

From the beginning, the Goldies had a particular type of Simmentals in mind that they aspired to breed, so early purchases included ‘beefy’ females, with particular emphasis on feet and legs.

Jim adds: “We initially bought a few from Trish’s family in Ireland; good, beefy, breedy type females that we thought would work here. We wanted them to be fleshy but still milky and most of the females we’ve bought have bred well for us. We generally find that if the rump structure is right, then that follows through to the feet and legs, and more often than not, if they have a good head, with plenty character, that follows through the body too.

“We took our time building up the herd and were very selective with the females that we bought. The Simmentals are a prolific breed and in the first five years, we got a lot of heifer calves, so that helped build the numbers up.”

Working with dairy cows for so many years, has no doubt influenced Jim’s management style with the Simmentals. Heifers calf at two years old, which they find improves their ability to get back in calf. When milking, the goal was to produce as much milk from forage as possible, and the Goldies use this same principle with the Simmentals:
“Heifers are fed concentrates up until they’re a year old, but after that they only receive forage and minerals. We grow our own wholecrop, so they get that and haylage and minerals through the winter. They are a breed that are good at looking after themselves, so they do well on forage. We re-seed often and have good quality grass here, so we make the most of that, with cows normally out to grass at the end of March. When we can, we outwinter the heifers, and we’ve found that those heifers always do better throughout their lives,” says Jim.

Although the bulk of the calving takes place in February and March, they calve year-round, which allows them to have bulls and heifers available at any time of year, to suit their various customers’ needs. Cattle are brought inside to calve, for easier management with tasks such as dehorning, and all bull calves are kept entire.
“Keeping the bulls entire and having a high-health herd, gives us plenty options when it comes to selling any cattle. Those bulls not making the grade are sold as stores between 8-10 months, at Carlisle or Dumfries,” explains Niall.

“We always ask customers what their purpose is for the bull – we have a variety of types that will do different jobs and we’ve found that being completely honest with customers is the best policy. A Simmental cross heifer has the ability to calf at two years old and look after its calf well, so you get a far quicker return with the Simmental compared to some breeds,” he adds.

All the bulls run together in age-group batches, which the Goldies say helps put muscle on them and ensures that they’re ready to go on and thrive on any farm. Although they have regular customers coming to the farm, they do take bulls to sales if they feel they’re ready at the right time, and sales through the market have peaked at 11,000gns, for Newbiemains Neymar, sold at Stirling, last February. There have been a few more five-figure sellers at markets, while prices at home have peaked at £15,000. Last year, they sold 35 bulls, between the farm and sales, to average £6700.

“All our bulls are brought out the same, whether they’re for sale at home or for Stirling or Carlisle. We aim for consistency and want to breed them to a level standard overall,” says Jim.

In their own breeding programme, bulls that have proved successful at Newbiemains include Skerrington Iceman EX95, which was bought privately after Jim saw him as a calf when he was judging at Ayr Show; Annick Klondyke EX94, another private purchase that had won at Stars of the Future; Woodhall Fantastic EX94, bought privately from Hector McCaskill; and the Roscommon purchase, Moorglen Hillbilly EX91.

Niall says: “All of those bulls bred really well for us. Iceman had great shape, but calved really easily, with a short gestation, while Klondyke was a long, stretchy bull that produced great sons and daughters. We have fantastic females off Fantastic and Hillbilly and we also exported nine bulls to Italy, off those two sires.”

While the Goldies have little faith on the reliability of figures, they do consider the female classification scheme extremely worthwhile, and consequently, they classify all their females.
Jim explains: “The importance of cow families is another element that we’ve brought from the dairy to the beef herd. Our aim has always been to keep them at a certain level, with no bottom end and we feel that we have a really strong female base now, but that’s taken a lot of years and is the result of us being very selective. That’s where classifying comes in – it helps set a standard across the whole breed. To us, that’s far more relevant than the figures on Breedplan.”

The Goldies sell females from home and take a few to the NxtGen sale at Carlisle every year. Two years ago, Newbiemains Ladywag made 9000gns at that sale, while Newbiemains Connie was placed champion and made 8000gns, a few years earlier. Showing helped make Newbiemains a recognisable name in the early days, but the whole team enjoy the social aspect of exhibiting, so it’s something they continue to do. They first won big in 2011, with Darsham Remember Me, which was champion at the Scottish National and the Great Yorkshire and they’ve since won at the Yorkshire with the home-bred Newbiemains Eclypse EX90 and Newbiemains Diamond Jubilee. Last year, the Ex94-classified Newbiemains Icandy, proved a star in the show ring, winning inter-breeds at Stirling, Dumfries and Wigtown, shown with her fourth calf at foot.
Next month, there will be no opportunity to show the two cracking Newbiemains bulls heading to the sale at United Auctions, Stirling (Prague and Packapunch), as Jim will taking starring role himself, as judge. It’s a task he’s looking forward to, and he’s optimistic about the demand for Simmental bulls.

“There are definitely plenty buyers that are willing to pay good money for good bulls; but the quality needs to be there,” he says.

And there’s more for the family to look forward to in 2025, with Niall and Abby’s wedding in the summer and plans to diversify into holiday accommodation, where lucky guests will enjoy the unique and beautiful landscape at Newbiemains, looking across the Solway Firth to Silloth, where the first Simmentals arrived into the UK, in 1970.

 

MICHAEL DURNO AND CAMERON MACIVER PROMOTING SIMMENTALS AND TYPE CLASSIFICATION TO ORKNEY FARMERS

MICHAEL DURNO AND CAMERON MACIVER PROMOTING SIMMENTALS AND TYPE CLASSIFICATION TO ORKNEY FARMERS

by | Feb 3, 2025 | 2025 Scottish News, 2025 News, 2025

In mid January, Simmental breeders Michael Durno (Auchorachan), Cameron Maciver (Coltfield), along with Meurig James, the head cattle classifier of Holstein UK, travelled north to Orkney on the invitation of the Orkney Discussion Society (ODS), to give a presentation at their evening meeting, and to give an on farm demonstration of cattle classifying the following morning. See here Michael Durno’s report:

From left to right: Meurig James (Head Classifier at HUK): BSCS Vice President Michael Durno. (Auchorachan Herd); and Cameron MacIver (Coltfield Simmentals), with a packed Orkney Discussion Society behind them. Picture by Orkney Photographic

In arriving in Orkney we were met by ODS vice chairman Tony Bone, who took us to visit Heatherhouse Farm, Tankerness, owned by Tom Lyth. Tom keeps 100 Luing cows, he breeds half of them pure, and half go to the Simmental to breed Sim/Luing heifers which he says, find a ready demand especially in Aberdeenshire. Tom is also a member of the Simmental Society, running the Brandwood pedigree herd, and has recently purchased two heifers from the Wolfstar herd of Alex and Ross King. He also runs two Simmental bulls, both from Wolfstar as well, including Wolfstar Nobleman, a 17,000gns purchase in Stirling. We were joined on the visit at Heatherhouse by Rob from BBC Radio Orkney, who recorded an interview for broadcast the following day.

The Discussion Society’s meeting in the evening was very well attended, with 82 people in the room and others from outlying areas, and on the smaller islands, tuning in via Zoom.

Michael Durno promoting the attributes of the Simmental breed, and engaging in a question and answer session. Picture by Orkney Photographic

Cameron and myself talked about the various attributes of the Simmental breed, and answered questions from the floor. One discussion point that came up was cow size, which is very important in Orkney, as nearly all cows will be wintered on slats, and cows can quite easily be too big for that system. There was also the alternative point that cows can also get too small to breed a fast growing quality calf.

Meurig James gave an overview of the classification system, and how it can be used by commercial farmers when buying a bull at sales. Ideally when buying a bull to breed replacements you would like to see a potential stock bull’s dam. With classification it can build a picture of the cow, with the scores for the various traits being published on the ABRI database. Meurig also outlined how the system can be utilized to help correct faults that may be present in a herd, such as feet and legs, and which are scored in the classification process. It was a very informative discussion and with considerable positive feedback on the Simmental breed expressed.

Meurig James talking about type classification and why he feels it is a management tool for breeding more profitable long living cows. Picture by Orkney Photographic

 

Tuesday morning saw us chauffeured by chairman of ODS James Cowe, to Oldhall Farm at Stromness, which is farmed by Dennis Isbister and his family. They run cross bred cows using various breeds of bull including Simmentals, and have also recently started keeping some pedigree Simmentals under the Isbister prefix. The two cows used for the classification demonstration, were from Auchorachan and Wolfstar. Meurig gave a practical demonstration of how a cow gets scored, looking at frame, character, conformation, feet and legs, and udders. There was considerable interest from over 40 farmers, who had to be split into two groups to get close enough to view the demonstration.
The Isbister family also had on display last year’s calf crop from their five cow herd, with five outstanding bull calves! The stock bull in the shed was an Omorga bull. Great thanks must go to Isbister family for providing the venue for this event, and also to Alison Ritch, the secretary of ODS for so efficiently organising everything.

A warm welcome and lunch with Alister Donaldson at Redland Farm.

 

We were then transported by the Orkney ‘font of all knowledge’, Mr John Copland, who gave us a very well guided tour along to Alister Donaldson’s farm, Redland, where we had some great Simmental, and Orkney chat, over lunch. Alister also has a team of Simmental bulls, which were bred at Springfield, Grangewood, and Omorga.

Interested breeders at the on farm classification demonstration at Dennis Isbister, Old Hall Farm.

 

Alister then very kindly became tour guide, as we travelled to Swannay Farm where we met with Ryan Morgan. Swanny farm was once one of the largest dairy farms in Orkney, but is now home to 200 beef suckler cows. Ryan is another who is currently adding some pedigree Simmentals, and we saw female animals that were from the Newbiemains, Annick, Auchorachan, and Ranfurly herds, and also the bull Swannay Niknak that was heading to the OBBA Show and Sale of breeding bulls on 29th January at Orkney Auction Mart ( and where he went on to sell for a Simmental centre record of 6000gns).

On farm at Dennis Isbister, Oldhall Farm, Stromness.

 

Alister continued our very well guided tour of the Orkney mainland, and delivered us back to the airport safely on time. A terrific trip and thank you to everyone for the warm hospitality, for showing us some terrific cattle and for the interest shown in both classifying and the Simmental breed.

The 17,000gns Wolfstar Nobleman purchased at Stirling by Tom Lyth, Heatherhouse Farm, Tankerness.

Thank you also for the meeting pictures here supplied by Orkney Photographic