by Iain | Jun 24, 2025 | 2025 Royal Highland Show, 2025 Scottish News, 2025 News, 2025, Uncategorised
Annick Ginger’s Lucia wins Simmental Overall Supreme
Corskie Mimic takes the Overall Reserve
Garmouth Robert crowned Male Champion
Corskie Pinette Overall Junior Champion
The remarkable Annick Ginger’s Lucia, from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, was at it again as she lifted the Simmental Overall Supreme Championship for the third year in a row on the opening day of the 2025 Royal Highland Show, Thursday 19th June, held at Ingliston, Edinburgh.
There were new show records aplenty as Annick Ginger’s Lucia becomes the first Simmental animal to seal a hat-trick of consecutive Supreme Championships at this premier show. The 2025 win also meant it was an unprecedented fourth Royal Highland win in a row for the Backmuir herd with their first win coming in 2022 with Islavale Lullaby, and when Annick Ginger’s Lucia was Overall Reserve!
Annick Ginger’s Lucia, Overall Supreme Simmental Champion, and Female Champion
Presiding over this year’s Simmental section was the judge for the day Andrew Clarke of the noted Breaghey Herd, Tynan, Co. Armagh, and who was full of praise for his choice of Champion. Commenting he said: “My Champion today is a fantastic example of the modern Simmental breed and she came out of a class of three outstanding cows just full of quality. Brim full of femininity she has so much style and presence in the ring. With a top line as straight as a die she has tremendous width to her, has a natural power, moves really well, and is making a good job of her calf at foot. A terrific Simmental cow and a very worthy Champion.”
February 2020 born, Annick Ginger’s Lucia is sired by Wolfstar Gold Digger 15 and is out of Annick Colleen’s Ginger EX 93, a Corskie Callum 11 daughter. She was shown at this year’s show with her April 2025 born bull calf at foot, Backmuir Sirius 25, sired by Backmuir King 19. Last year this much decorated Simmental cow won the Royal Highland Overall Supreme Individual Interbreed when shown with her bull calf at foot Backmuir Pompeii. Roll on twelve months and Pompeii also came to the party when winning a red ticket in his own right. A huge roll call of wins and accolades now on her show CV, firmly making her one of the most noted females in the breed’s history, Annick Ginger’s Lucia’s highlight wins include: three Royal Highland Show (RHS) Supreme Championships; the RHS Overall Supreme Individual Interbreed; the Scottish Simmental National Overall Supreme at Turriff, and the Individual Interbreed on the same day.
Commenting on the ‘double whammy’ of ‘four in a row’ RHS Supreme Championships, and within that Annick Ginger’s Lucia’s hat-trick, Reece Simmers said: “It’s very humbling to win the Overall Supreme Championship once at the Royal Highland Show, Scotland’s premier showcase, let alone an incredible four times in a row. The standard of competition is always so high as it was again this year and we would congratulate all of the exhibitors for the show of Simmental stock. By her nature Ginger’s Lucia is a really naturally showy animal and is easy to work with. From here we’ll consider whether she heads to the Scottish Simmental National Show at Perth in August.” Speaking generally about the Backmuir herd, which now stands at approximately 100 cows, Reece went on to say: “We’re looking to breed Simmental cattle, both bulls and females, that have power and size, weight at a young age, with good plates, tops, and length, that are growthy and easy fleshing, and carry that Simmental style to them. Ginger’s Lucia we think has many of these attributes and is a terrific template for the herd.” Later in the day, Annick Ginger’s Lucia teamed up with her full sister Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg, and her November 2023 born second calf Backmuir Pompeii, to win the Group of Three.
Backmuir Winning Group of Three
Of the show of cattle and the Simmental breed generally, the judge Andrew Clarke said: “It really was an honour to judge the Simmental section and I’d very much like to thank the RHS and British Simmental. I’d also say a huge well done to all of the exhibitors. There was quality throughout the Simmental lines and classes which made for some difficult decisions within what was a hugely enjoyable day. As I said prior to the show I’m big on style and correctness and modern Simmental cattle that have the attributes to breed and add value to a commercial market. I think we saw that today and it is reflective of the consistency and ongoing improvement that we are seeing in the Simmental breed generally.”
Judge Andrew Clarke in action at the 2025 Royal Highland Show
It was once again very much a ‘ladies day’ for this maternal breed and with females taking the Overall, Reserve Overall, and Overall Junior titles. Featuring strongly throughout the Championships, and with another top team forward was the Green family and with entries from the Corskie herd of WJ & J Green, and the Garmouth herd of Laura Green, at Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers.
Taking the Overall Supreme Reserve and the Overall Reserve Female was the stylish Corskie Mimic VG88 who had stood second to the Champion in her class before following her all the way through. Remarkably, it was the second time this January 2021 born female, out of Corskie Imitation, had stood in the same positions at the RHS, and again to Ginger’s Lucia, having done so in 2023! Mimic was also the Overall Junior Champion at the 2022 Scottish National Show, and her first calf, Corskie Phoney 23 sold for 13,000gns at the record breaking February 2025 sale at Stirling. Sired by Kilbride Farm Haka, she was shown with her terrific heifer calf at foot, the August 2024 born Corskie Role Play, a Rathnashan Magnum EX92 daughter. Of his Overall Reserve, Andrew Clarke said: “This is another terrific Simmental cow, well fleshed, and with terrific conformation. Full of style again, very feminine with a great top line and a lovely udder. A very modern type of female she walked really well and had a little more thickness than the Champion. With a super calf at foot this was a great outfit, a real picture.”
Corskie Mimic, Overall Reserve Supreme, and Reserve Female Champion
In the bulls and it was the turn of Laura Green who picked up the Male Championship, and the Junior Male Championship, with the young, April 2024 born bull, Garmouth Robert 24. With plenty of breeding behind him, this calf is by Rathnashan Magnum EX92, who has had sons to 20,000gns, and is out of Garmouth Glory’s Jessica who has previously bred the 10,000gns Garmouth Matt. Commenting on Garmouth Robert 24 the judge said: “ My Male Champion was a really smart, sweet young bull. Very modern, clean, with a good end, he had a great presence to him, moved extremely well, had plenty of style and with no roughness to him. He’s a bull with few faults and I have no doubt has a big future ahead of him.” On the Saturday, this young bull with both Terminal and Self Replacing Indexes in the top 5% of the breed, placed third Reserve in the Beef Breeder Interbreed. Plans now are that Garmouth Robert 24 will head to a forward Stirling Simmental Bull Sale.
Garmouth Robert, Overall Male Champion, Junior Male Champion, and Reserve Junior Overall
Keeping the titles coming for the green family was the Overall Junior Champion, and Junior Female Champion in the shape of the flashy Corskie Pinette. September 2023 born, Pinette is by Rathnashan Leonardo EX94, and is out of Corskie Jinette EX90. Again with plenty of breeding and performance in the pedigree, Rathnashan Leonardo EX94 is the sire of the 26,000gns Corskie Prime sold in February this year at Stirling, and is out of the Dirnanean Bradley daughter Corskie Jinette EX90 who has bred four heifer calves to date. Hitting the right notes for the judge, Andrew Clarke commented: “This heifer just caught me right away, and I just really liked her. Smart and stylish she’s sweet throughout, very correct with a lovely head, and having that ‘look at me’ presence and quality. She has fantastic hindquarters with a lovely softness to her, and is the type of heifer that would stand well in any company.”
Corskie Pinette, Overall Junior Champion and Junior Female Champion
Standing in the Reserve Junior Female position was another from the Simmers Backmuir herd and in the shape of the flashy heifer Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu and who was first in the second class of the day. February 2024 born, this young heifer is another with a depth of pedigree being sired by Backmuir King 19, the Male Champion at the 2023 RHS, and out of the 18,000gns Brandane Lu Lu who was purchased at the Nxt Gen II Sale at Carlisle in 2022. Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu was herself a first prize winner at last year’s Scottish Simmental National Show.
Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu, Reserve Junior Female Champion
Back in the bulls and putting up a stout defence of his Male Championship from last year was Annick Nazareth 22 from Jim & Elizabeth Dyet’s Merkland Herd, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, and who this year took the Reserve Male Championship. April 2022 born, Annick Nazareth is by Kilbride Farm Karl 19 (P), and is out of Annick Fresias Kiki VG85 who herself was Female and Reserve Overall Champion at the Royal Highland in 2021. Annick Nazareth 22 was purchased as a calf at foot for 7500gns (for the unit) at the Annick Dispersal Sale, and in 2023 the Dyets showed him at the Scottish National Simmental Show at Dumfries and where he won Reserve Junior Male.
Annick Nazareth 22, Overall Reserve Male Champion
Always bringing good cattle to the RHS, and with previous Supreme Championship wins behind them, Gerald & Morag Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk were to the fore again and when taking the Reserve Junior Male title with their powerful December 2024 born bull Drumsleed Rocco 24. This calf, with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +9, is by the prolific AI bull team Celtic, and is out of a ‘big cow’ Drumsleed Akira, a Hockenhull Matthew daughter. Drumsleed Rocco will now be aimed at the Stirling Bull Sale in October this year. Enjoying another good day, the Smiths also had a class win in the females with the stylish Drumsleed Poppy, a Rockytop Lucifer daughter out of Drumsleed Irene 17, taking the red ticket in the fourth class of the day.
Drumsleed Rocco, Reserve Junior Male Champion
A special mention also goes to the rising seven year old Denizes Trixi Belle 15 from MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, and who placed first in the final female class of the day. Marking this Denizes Hamish 16 daughter out was the unique spectacle of her being shown with her triplet heifer calves at foot. A sight that wowed the watching and attending crowds over four days, it is thought to be the first time triplets, a 100,000 – 1 chance, have been shown in a Simmental ring or perhaps any show ring, in the United Kingdom! Look out on Facebook for more coverage of mum and her calves!
Denizes Trixi Belle 15 with her triplet heifer calves
Overall Championship Presentation
Junior Championship Presentation
Male Championship Presentation
2025 Royal Highland Show
Thursday 19th June 2025
Judge Mr Andrew Clarke, Tynan, Co Armagh
Results
Class 263 Female, born on or after 1st April 2024
1st H Duff Pitmudie Roselyn
Pitmudie Roselyn
2nd Gavin Brown Springfield Rose
3rd Gavin Brown Islavale Raven
Class 264 Female, born between 1st January and 31st March 2024
1st R&A Simmers Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu
2nd Laura Green Garmouth Kim’s Rachel
3rd R&A Simmers Backmuir Lucia’s Rumba
4th WJ&J Green Corskie Right
Class 265 Female, born on or between 1st July and 31st December 2023
1st WJ&J Green Corskie Pinette
2nd WJ&J Green Corskie Pence
3rd Bowhill Simmentals Bowhill Petal
4th J&E Dyet Merkland Pippa
5th Gavin Brown Springfield Prada
Class 266 Female, born on or between 1st January and 30th June 2023
1st G&M Smith Drumsleed Poppy 23
Drumsleed Poppy
2nd H Duff Pitmudie Primrose
3rd H Duff Pitmudie Pandora (P)
4th Bowhill Simmentals Bowhill Poppy
5th J&E Dyet Merkland Paula
Class 267 Female, calved before 3 years or due to calve before 3 years old, in milk or in calf born 2022
1st R&A Simmers Annick Gingers Nutmeg
Annick Gingers Nutmeg
Class 268 Female, born in 2020 or 2021 in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st R&A Simmers Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd WJ&J Green Corskie Mimic
3rd James Hodge Heathbrow Milky Way
Class 269 Female, born on or before 31st December 2019, in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st Barlow Brothers Denizes Trixie Belle 15
Class 270 Bull, born on or after 1st April 2024
1st Laura Green Garmouth Robert 24
2nd H Duff Pitmudie Rambo 24
3rd WJ&J Green Corskie Roll 24
271 Bull, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2024
1st G&M Smith Drumsleed Rocco 24
2nd WJ&J Green Corskie Rome 24
3rd G&M Smith Drumsleed Rambo 24
4th Jack Shaw Inverdunning Ricky 24 (P)
5th Dean Saunders Maidenlands Rolo 24 (PP)
6th H Duff Pitmudie Rolex 24
7th Jack Shaw Inverdunning Romeo 24
272 Bull, born on or between 1st January and 31st December 2023
1st R&A Simmers Backmuir Pompeii 23
Backmuir Pompeii
273 Bull, born on or before 31st December 2022
1st J&E Dyet Annick Nazareth 22
2nd Crinan Dunbar Islavale Kristoff 19
Overall Supreme Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R&A Simmers
Reserve Supreme Champion
Corskie Mimic WJ&J Green
Overall Female Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia R&A Simmers
Overall Reserve Female Champion
Corskie Mimic WJ&J Green
Overall Male Champion
Garmouth Robert 24 Laura Green
Overall Reserve Male Champion
Annick Nazareth 22 J&E Dyet
Overall Junior Champion
Corskie Pinette WJ&J Green
Overall Reserve Junior Champion
Garmouth Robert 24 Laura Green
Champion Junior Female
Corskie Pinette WJ&J Green
Reserve Junior Female
Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu R&A Simmers
Champion Junior Male
Garmouth Robert 24 Laura Green
Reserve Junior Male
Drumsleed Rocco 24 G&M Smith
Best Group
R&A Simmers
Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg; Annick Ginger’s Lucia; Backmuir Pompeii 23
by Rachel Foley | Mar 13, 2025 | 2025 Scottish News, 2025 News, 2025, Uncategorised
Showcasing tremendous longevity and prolificacy, it’s a big happy birthday to the noted Simmental bull Team Celtic who yesterday, 12th March, enjoyed his 14th birthday at home in the Wolfstar herd of Ross King, and his parents Alex and Marion, at Ormiston, East Lothian.
Team Celtic pictured in 2016
A gold star example of the traits and all round value the Simmental breed is renowned for, Team Celtic has been used on commercial cows as well as pedigree cows and has sired close on 300 calves at Wolfstar. Through AI in herds across the UK, he also has some 377 pedigree progeny to his name, confirming his status as one of the most influential modern sires in the British Simmental Herdbook.
Born on the 12th March 2011, Team Celtic was bred by Robert MacGregor, Kirkton of Mailler, Craigend, Perth. He is sired by Auchorachan Winger, a Clonagh Tiger Gallant son, and is out of the Tilbrook Noble daughter, Team Kiwi 4, herself a twin to a female. Rolling on to the Stirling Simmental Sale in October 2012 and it was there that the Kings first set eyes on him and paid what has turned out to be a ‘bargain’ 11,000gns price! Commenting Ross King said: “At the Stirling Sale, Celtic just had a great growth and length, and we thought he was a very natural bull with lots of potential in him. We liked his pedigree and thought he was an obvious choice to complement our cows at the time.”
Team Celtic on sale day at Stirling in 2012 and where he made 11,000gns
It has proven to be a shrewd investment and from the outset Team Celtic bred consistently well producing both quality bulls and females. “We have no doubt that Celtic’s progeny was a formative part in putting the Wolfstar herd on the map and getting it noticed. In large measure it’s his success that made us grow the pedigree herd from 40 to 70 pedigree cows.”
The quality of the progeny, allied to some ‘cannae’ marketing on Facebook and in the Society’s Review publication, quickly grew a lot of interest and demand for Team Celtic genetics: ’All marketing of the semen has been carried out by ourselves, but again it’s his progeny that has done most of the talking. Catherine MacGregor also took some great photos of him in his prime and that enabled us to share how well he had matured,” says Ross.
Team Celtic sons have done extremely well at Stirling Sales, with many prize and section winners, and two Overall Supreme Champions. At the recent 2025 February Simmental Sale at Stirling, the breed record breaking 56,000gns Hemingford Prince Charming was sired by a Team Celtic son, Saltire Jaguar. At the same sale Wolfstar Prototype, and Wolfstar Pocket Rocket both sold for 14,000gns, and with Celtic sons at Stirling from the Wolfstar herd alone having now averaged over a terrific £11,900. The top price Team Celtic sired bull to date is the 28,000gns Islavale Magnum from WS Stronach, Keith, purchased by Delfur Farms, Aberlour in October 2022.
Team Celtic son Islavale Magnum 28,000gns
Continuing Ross says: “It’s the bulls that get the headlines but we believe that his females are actually better! As a herd we don’t show so Celtic’s heifers don’t get the same exposure the bulls do. Just mentioning two daughters but we think Wolfstar Flame is probably the best animal Team Celtic has bred here, and Wolfstar Forget-Me-Not has bred two bulls at 17,000gns (Wolfstar Jimmy Choo, and Wolfstar Nobleman).”
Wolfstar Forget-Me-Not, dam of two 17,000gns Wolfstar bulls.
Other Simmental herds have enjoyed great success in the show ring with Team Celtic breeding and including the multi-titled Annick Ginger’s Lucia, the 2024 Individual Interbreed Champion at the Royal Highland, from Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir herd, who is by the Team Celtic sired Wolfstar Gold Digger. The 2022 English National Show Champion came in the shape of Popes Princess Lumi from the Wood family, Dutton, Preston, and with Popes Princess Noor, from the same home, taking the 2024 Great Yorkshire Show title. Both are Team Celtic daughters. Back in the sale ring, and the 37,000gns top price at Stirling in May 2024 was Denizes Nugget from MA Barlow & Sons, Leyland, Lancashire and who is out of the Team Celtic daughter Ashland Topaz Janet.
Team Celtic daughter Popes Princess Lumi, Supreme & Female Champion 2022 English National Show
Backing up his pedigree and performance in the sale and show ring, and through the strength of his progeny, Team Celtic’s figures feature at the top end of many of the breed’s terminal and maternal traits (and with high levels of accuracy). Celtic is in the top 1% for 200; 400; and 600 day growth; Maternal (Milk); and Carcase Weight. His Terminal Production Index and Self Replacing Index values are also both in the breed’s top 1%. “Team Celtic’s progeny have just continued to improve his figures” says Ross. “The biggest change has been his Maternal (Milk) EBV. Since buying him as a young bull, and after his daughters started calving, his Milk figures just pushed on to one point where he had the highest breed figures for the trait”
Here he is and looking sprightly, the birthday boy Team Celtic, pictured yesterday 12th March 2025
So how is the birthday boy now and after his big day. “Celtic is showing his age a bit now but he really is still very fit and mobile. Visitors have always been impressed with his locomotion even with his size and power. At 14 he is still eager to work, but we are selective with the females we put to him, and last year he just got a handful of heifers. We know we are into bonus years but so long as he is fit and healthy he will stay with us at Wolfstar. He’s leaving a huge legacy here and is very much one of the family now..”, says Ross. Well said that man!
Commenting BSCS General Manager Iain Kerr said: “It’s a great story of a working bull, leaving his mark and legacy in a herd and a breed, and at a human level with a family, that I’m sure will resonate with a lot of cattle breeders. Team Celtic continues to be a hugely influential bull in the Simmental breed and the Wolfstar herd, and that is a great credit to the King family picking and purchasing him in the first instance, and for their herd management of him thereafter. With over 600+ progeny, many of which have proven to be both high end pedigree breeding bulls and females, Team Celtic really has generated a significant ‘one-bull economy’ with what will be a huge collective monetary value, as well as a breeding legacy. We market and promote the Simmental breed for it’s efficiency, what it brings in both its leading maternal and terminal traits, and for its longevity. Team Celtic is a gold star example of this and we wish him a very Happy Birthday!
by Rachel Foley | 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
by Nicky Moreton | Nov 20, 2024 | Uncategorised
SIMMS TOPPING SALE SECTIONS AT ABERDEEN: BALLYMENA; HALLWORTHY; ASHFORD; DINGWALL; MARKETHILL; FROME; DUNGANNON; STIRLING; CARMARTHEN; MARKET DRAYTON; HOLSWORTHY; WOOLER; SALISBURY; AYR; LANARK; DUMFRIES; ANGLESEY; TRURO; CARLISLE; QUOYBRAE; PENRITH; CASTLE DOUGLAS; BENTHAM; THAME; EXETER; SHREWSBURY; SEDGEMOOR; BAKEWELL; SELBY; LANCASTER; MONMOUTHSHIRE; & HOLMFIRTH
A premium on efficiency continues to drive the increasing uptake of Simmental cattle by commercial producers, in a forward industry with a pressure on costs.
Maternal qualities of easy, regular calving, fertility, plenty of milk, and the ability to extensively produce a quality calf year on year, are recognised as the Simmental benchmark.
Commercial producers are future-proofing the productivity of their suckler herds by introducing Simmental females and genetics. On top you have: industry leading at age at slaughter whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, leading daily carcase gain, significant reduction in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. It all adds up to efficiency, a base of sustained proven performance, and good economics. There’s more to Simmental.
See here the third and final part of the October Market Briefs featuring sales from 33 livestock markets around the UK:
In a sale of stirks and suckled calves at Exeter on 11th October, a brisk trade throughout saw Simmental cross steers (7m) from JHR Southwood of Copplestone fly to £770 and top the day.
On 11th October at Ballymena and a sale of 310 calves, heifers topped at £650 for a Simm from M Patterson, Nutts Corner.
On 11th October at Thame, demand was very strong for the older cattle topping at £1820 for a pen of Simmental steers from Sulham Estates & Farms at 19 months who went on to sell other pens at £1808 and £1805. Sulham Estates also topped the heifers with £1700 for a Simmental at 19 months.
In a sale of cast & 130 OTM cattle at Lancaster Auction Mart on 11th October, Simmental steers sold to 259.5p/kg from EJ&PE Burrow, Storth. Top grossing in the cast was a Simmental cast bull from E Rossall, Pressall at £1995.60.
COLTFIELD YOUNG SIMM BULLS SELL TO £2703 AT THAINSTONE PRIME CATTLE SALE
At Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of prime cattle on 10th October, young bulls sold to £2703 gross for a Simmental from Wester Coltfield, Kinloss. On the same day and a sale of Beef feeding cows (113), top price was £1650 for a 746kg Simmental Cross from Acrestrype, Auchterless.
On 10th October at Ballymena, and a sale of 445 cattle, beef cows were topped at £2306 for a 790kg Simm from W Hopes, Ballywater.
On 9th October, United Auctions Stirling sold 1910 Store & Native Bred cattle and 296 out of spec cattle, cast cows and bulls, & 104 Rearing Cattle. Young Bulls averaged 202.01 to 272.60p per kilo for a 576kg SIMX from Nettlingflat and £1570 for a 576kg SIMX from Nettlingflat.
In a sale of feeding/breeding bulls on 9th October at Monmouthshire Livestock Centre, the trade topped at £970 for a 4-month-old Simmental from EM Miles & Partners, Gelligaer.
At Truro on 9th October, Simmental cows & calves from Mr E White of St Buryan, Penzance made £2720; £2500; £2300; and £2250. In-calf heifers from the same home made £2000, with bulling heifers to £1900. A sale of suckled calves saw Simmental steers up to 7-months-old at £900 for Messrs Nankervis, Zennor, St Ives, with heifers from the same home up to 7-months-old at £800. Steer suckled calves at 8-12-months-old saw Simmental x to £935 for Messrs Roberts, Gweek, Helston.
On Wednesday 9th October at Brockholes Arms Auction Mart, Garstang, and a sale of rearing calves and weanlings, topping the day’s trade was a Simmental bull calf from J D Loftus at £505.
At a sale of 72 cull cows at Frome on 9th October, the top price was £1492 for a Simm from HJ Marklove, Purton.
At Ballymena’s store cattle sale of over 400 head on 8th October, heifers over 501kgs were topped by a 610kg Simm at £2040 from H Sinnamon, Pomeroy.
At Ashford Market’s sale of 439 store cattle on 8th October, continental bred cattle were topped by Simmental cross steers, 18 months, at £1400 from Wood Farm Partnership
BUFFS SIMMENTALS TOP GISBURN AT £2450
At Gisburn on 5th October, a cracking turn out of beef breeding cattle saw the Buffs herd of Simmentals from G Tattersall & AR Hargreaves meet a huge crowd of interest, with cows and calves topping at £2450. In calf heifers topped at £2050 for Simmentals from G Tattersall & AR Hargreaves.
HARVIESTON SIMMS TOP CASTLE DOUGLAS CALVES AT £1530
Wallets Marts had forward 975 Spring born calves at their sale at Castle Douglas on 5th October. Bullocks sold to £1530 for Simmentals from Messrs Forster, Harvieston.
At Thainstone on 4th October, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle from Orkney consignors. Heifers Sold to £1,690 gross for a 512kg Simmental and to 330p per kg for a 512kg Simmental from K & K Morgan, Swanny Farm, Swannay.
At Thame on 4th October and a sale of 156 store cattle, John Flanagan topped the heifers with a single Aberdeen Angus X Simmental at £1600 and Simmental X from the same farm at £1460 at 18 months.
£2100 PANTMEINOG SIMM STEER TOPS CARMARTHEN PRIME SALE
On 4th October, Carmarthen Livestock Mart held part one of their prize cattle autumn fair. Trade was electric with the top price on the day being £2100 for a Simm steer from EA Davies, Pantmeinog.
On 4th October and a sale of 147 calves at Exeter, bulls topped at an impressive £380 for a very young but sweet Simmental bull sold by MR & KM Pring of Broadclyst.
At a small sale of cattle on behalf of Shetland consignors at Thainstone on 3rd October, cast Cows sold to £1,870 gross and 224.7p per kg for a 832kg Simmental from S & E Ridland, Berga, Wester Skeld.
£4250 SIMM COW WITH CALF TOPS THAINSTONE BREEDING CATTLE TRADE
At Thainstone on 2nd October, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 210 head of adult breeding cattle. The annual show & sale of breeding cattle kindly sponsored by James Milne Chartered Accountants, was judged by Neil Robertson, Carbrotack, Cairnie. The Reserve Champion went to W & M Ewing, South Blachrie for a Simmental Cross Heifer with a Limousin Heifer calf which sold at £3750 too W J Jack & Son, Woodend. The top price of the sale was £4250 which went to C & M Emslie, Law Farm for a Simmental Cross Cow with a Charolais Cross Bull calf which was purchased by J Durno, Mansefield. Heifers with Bull Calf (22) averaged £3243.18 per head & sold to £3850 for a Simmental cross Heifer and a March Born Charolais Cross calf from Law Farm, Insch. Heifers with Heifer Calf (36) averaged £3150 per head & sold to £3750 for a Simmental Cross Heifer and a July Born Limousin Cross calf from South Blachrie, Fyvie. Cow with Bull Calf (66) averaged £2918.31 per head & sold to £4250 for a Simmental Cross Cow with a March Born Charolais Cross calf from Law Farm, Insch. Cow with Heifer Calf (40) averaged £2603.75 per head & sold to £3900 for a Simmental Cross Cow with an April Born Charolais Cross from Law Farm, Insch. In Calf Cow (19) averaged £1985.79 and sold to £2200 (X2) firstly for a Simmental Cross from, Law Farm, Insch & secondly for a Simmental from Cairntack, Belhelvie.
In a sale of 230 store cattle at Holsworthy on 2nd October, top call on the day was £1795 for two well farmed Simmental steers from Messrs TW Owen & ML Vanstone, Holsworthy, who also sold two 24mth Simmental steers £1710.
On 1st October, and a sale of store cattle at Holmfirth, Simm steers from RA Asquith sold for the day’s top price of £1545 to J Hobson & Son.
On 1st October at Ayr, Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 164 Calves and Stirks with all types dearer on the week. Top Price Calf was £570 for a Thumper of a Simmental Cross Heifer off Messrs Howat, Burnton. At a sale of cows on the same day, top price per head was £1800 for a Simmental from Pinclanty.
by Nicky Moreton | Nov 20, 2024 | Uncategorised
SIMMS TOPPING SALE SECTIONS AT ABERDEEN: BALLYMENA; HALLWORTHY; ASHFORD; DINGWALL; MARKETHILL; FROME; DUNGANNON; STIRLING; CARMARTHEN; MARKET DRAYTON; HOLSWORTHY; WOOLER; SALISBURY; AYR; LANARK; DUMFRIES; ANGLESEY; TRURO; CARLISLE; QUOYBRAE; PENRITH; CASTLE DOUGLAS; BENTHAM; THAME; EXETER; SHREWSBURY; SEDGEMOOR; BAKEWELL; SELBY; LANCASTER; MONMOUTHSHIRE; & HOLMFIRTH
A premium on efficiency continues to drive the increasing uptake of Simmental cattle by commercial producers, in a forward industry with a pressure on costs.
Maternal qualities of easy, regular calving, fertility, plenty of milk, and the ability to extensively produce a quality calf year on year, are recognised as the Simmental benchmark.
Commercial producers are future-proofing the productivity of their suckler herds by introducing Simmental females and genetics.
On top you have: industry leading at age at slaughter whether sired by a Simmental or out of a Simmental dam, leading daily carcase gain, significant reduction in finishing costs, and lower emissions meeting environmental challenges. It all adds up to efficiency, a base of sustained proven performance, and good economics. There’s more to Simmental.
See here part two of three of the October Market Briefs featuring sales from 33 livestock markets around the UK:
On 23rd October Harrison and Hetherington held their weekly sale of calves at Carlisle. 394 forward and saw a packed ringside of buyers keen to stock up making calves the hottest trade for some time. A & AE Harrison, Roung Hill, Wigton sold 3 month Simmental Bulls to £570 to feature amongst the leading prices.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 23rd October, suckled cows and calves sold to £1700 for a Sim Cow with a Char Bull Calf at foot presented by B Sheridan.
On 23rd October at Frome, and a sale of 82 reared calves, well-presented Simmental steers from KJ Withers sold to the top price of £705 and their Simmental heifers to £648 (also top price).
At Ballymena’s sale of store cattle on 22nd October, bullocks at 501kgs and over were topped by a 520kg Simm at £1650 from L Anderson, Kilwaughter.
At Quoybrae on 21st October, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of weaned calves, store & breeding cattle. Store bullocks sold to £1,580 gross for a 527kg Simmental from West Watten (Thomson). Store heifers sold to 300.4p for a 486kg Simmental Cross from Lower Milton, Wick and £1,490 gross for a 581kg Simmental cross from Park View.
6-MONTH-OLD SIMMS SELL TO £1085 AT PENRITH
Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their fortnightly Sale of 289 Store Cattle of all classes on 21st October. First time vendor Messrs NW Graham & Son, Tortolocate Farm, Egremont, sold 6-month-old Simmental bulls to £1085 & £995 for a pair, whose consignment of 5-6-month-old bull and heifer calves averaged £903.33!
At Castle Douglas on 21st October, Wallets Marts sold OTM Cattle, and Store Cattle. 193 Store Cattle sold to 306.8ppk for Simmental bullocks from Glenturk Farming.
At Bentham on 18th October there was a ‘sensational trade for all classes of suckled calves with averages well up on 2023.’ A tremendous run of Charolais and Simmental x steers and heifers from Fishwick Farms met with electric bidding with the consignment going on to average £1211 for 67 calves (+£142 on the year). A run of 20+ pure Simmentals from E & M Fairhurst sold to £1500.
At Thame on Friday 18th October, and a sale of 161 store cattle, RS and GDH Alderman sold his run of heifers to the top price of £1590 for Simmental X.
On 18th October and a sale of beef breeding cattle at Exeter, the Dispersal of the Chegwidden herd of pedigree Simmental cattle on behalf of Viv Hall of Penzance sold to a top call of 4,000gns for “Chegwidden Florence’s Jasmine” a 2018 born cow with an April born heifer calf at foot. Other outfits sold to 2,700gns for “Chegwideen Dilys’s Matilda” a 2021 born cow which sold with her heifer calf sired by Coose Jericho. Another similar outfit made 2,200gns. Simmental heifers topped at 2050gns for “Chegwidden Bambino’s Nini”. Bulls topped at 3,000gns for “Chegwidden Maximus 21” a 2021 born bull.
On 16th Oct Harrison & Hetherington held their weekly sale of (563) store cattle at Carlisle. Simmental heifers from Auchengray Farm sold for £1820 to feature in the top end prices. On the same day and the weekly sale of calves, young calves saw a hot trade all day. Messrs Nash, Philgowan, Newton Stewart was up to £590 for a lovely 2 month old Simmental calf.
At Dungannon Farmers Mart on 16th October, steer prices reached a height of £1930 for a 755kg Sim (256.00) presented by J Mackle.
At Shrewsbury on 15th October and a sale of 82 calves, strong 4-5 month-old Simmental heifers topped the day from CJ & L Tams, who achieved prices of £605, £590 and £570.
At Ayr, Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 132 Calves and Stirks on 15th October. Stirks sold to £1300 for a pen of Simmental Cross Bullocks off Messrs Kerr, Broom.
At Salisbury Livestock Market on 15th October and a sale of barren cows and bulls, beef cows saw Simmentals top at up to 214p or £1796.18 from Sid and Jinty Brown.
In a sale of calves and stirks at Lawrie & Symington’s Lanark market on 14th October, On-Milk calves topped at £340 from two vendors, including Craigthornhill with their two month old Simmental bull calf.
At Exeter’s sale of prime cattle on 14th October, a neat Simmental from Adrian and Bradley Bowden topped the heifers at £1427 (550kg x 260ppk).
TORWOODLEE SIMMS AT £1720 TOP HEIFERS AT DUMFRIES STORE SALE
C&D Auctions held their fortnightly sale of 779 Store Cattle in Dumfries on 14th October 2024. Heifers per head were topped by Simmentals at £1720 & £1640 from Torwoodlee. Heifers per kilo were also topped by Simmentals at 334.5p/kg from Dollard. In the section of (239) organic cattle, organic heifers per head were topped by Simmentals from Outer Blair at £1660, and £1550 x2, and also per kg at 352p/kg.
A ‘great offering’ of 80 Prime steers and heifers forward at Borderways weekly Primestock sale on 14th October at Carlisle. In a flying trade, Messrs Stamper, Rose Farm, Cockermouth sold best Simmental cross at £2266.79 for 783kgs.
At Sedgemoor on 14th October and a sale of UTM, OTM, and OTSM cattle, heifers rose to £2,000.37 for an OTM Simmental from R Bigwood.
At Bakewell and a sale of finished cattle on 14th October, the heifer gross prices were led at £2224.80 by a 720kg Simm from RG Bacon, Wadshelf. In a sale of 60 calves on the same day, heifer calves were topped at £260 by a Simm from G Matkin, Idridgehay.
At Selby on 12th October, a good show of quality store cattle saw Simmental heifers to £1490 & £1420 from WJ Hollingsworth to feature in the leading prices.
On 11th & 12th October, Aberdeen & Northern Marts held a sale of store cattle from Orkney Consignors. Bullocks Sold to 328.5p per kg for a pen of six 490kg Simmentals from W R & A Moar, Lower Stanger, Birsay. Heifers Sold to £1,750 gross for a pair of 598kg Simmentals from J & M Smith, Lower Cornquoy, Holm.
On 11th October at Thainstone, Abderdeen & Northern Marts sold 888 Store Cattle, Young Bulls and Young and Weaned Calves. Leading price per kg for bullocks 301-350kg was Calier with SimX at 318.2p; and Oldwhat Mains with SimX at 300.6p.
by Nicky Moreton | Oct 24, 2024 | Uncategorised
Bringing a busy Simmental Sale day to a close on Monday 21st October at Stirling, was the Production Sale from the 80-cow Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland Lancashire that saw highlight prices of 8000gns, 7000gns, and 6000gns.
Denizes Matilda 6th & 20th 8,000gns
Topping the sale, and with the 8000gns joint leading female price of the day, was the May 2020 born Denizes Matilda 6th (ET) who was purchased with her first calf at foot, the April 2024 born Denizes Matilda 20th, sired by Hiltonstown Lorenzo 20. Denizes Matilda 6th is sired by Denizes Impressive who was sold to the Popes herd for 10,000gns and is out of the noted Raceview Beauty Matilda. Purchasing this outfit, with Matilda 6th being back in calf, was Sam Steggles for his growing 40-cow Wacton pedigree herd at Honingham, Norfolk. Commenting, Sam Steggles said: “Coming to Stirling we had seen the pictures of this outfit and really liked the Raceview breeding in the pedigree. In the flesh we thought the heifer calf was terrific, perhaps the best in the market, and she has all the potential to go on and be an outstanding female. We’re thrilled to introduce Matilda 6th into the herd with the breeding behind her, and with the potential she brings.”
Denizes Melody 22nd and 62nd 7,000gns
Selling at 7000gns was the nine-year-old Denizes Melody 22nd who was sold with her April 2024 heifer calf at foot, Denizes Melody 62nd, a Hiltonstown Lorenzo daughter. Melody 22nd is by Bosahan Dynamo 12, and is out of the Ashland Tornado sired Denizes Melody 10th. Melody 22nd has had progeny at 7000gns, and her grandson Denizes New Orleans sold for 22,000gns at Stirling in May this year. With Denizes Melody 22nd PD’d in-calf, this outfit was purchased by James Hodge for his establishing Goldstar herd at Dundonald, Ayrshire. Speaking afterwards James Hodge said: “We’re establishing a pedigree herd and Denizes Melody 22nd along with her heifer calf brings a depth of breeding and with the potential of a foundation female. Melody 22nd is fresh looking for her age, with great maternal characteristics.”
Denizes Trixie-Belle 24th 6,000gns
At 6000gns was the top priced maiden heifer in the shape of the June 2023 born Denizes Trixi-Belle 24th. This heifer’s maternal brothers include the 20,000gns Denizes Monty, and the 10,000gns Denizes Impressive. Sired by saltire Impressive 17 and out of Denizes Trixi-Belle 6th, this heifer was also purchased by Sam Steggles who said: “Again this is a flashy heifer with plenty of style that we really liked. There’s a depth of breeding as well that will also be new to the herd. Trixi-Belle 24th ticked a lot of boxes for us and we hope she will go on and be part of the Wacton herd show team next year.”
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