SYMA – Young Members Trip 15-19 August 2015

by Iain | Jul 3, 2015 | Uncategorised

Sat 15th

Arrive at Cardiff Airport
Picked up by Coach
Travel to Brian and Kitty Raymond, Bennant Herd late afternoon for herd visit and welcome BBQ.
Then travel to Premier Inn Haverfordwest.

Sun 16th

Herd Visit to Anthony and Lesley Davies, Welston herd to include
Stockjudging 
Lunch provided.

Mon 17th

Herd visit to Mark and Emma Evans, Dewisland Herd in the morning .
Lunch followed by a Herd visit to Eirian and Delyth Lloyd, Gerawil herd in the afternoon.

Tues 18th

Pembrokeshire County show
Possible leaving BBQ in evening
(Premier Inn is within walking distance of showground and only a few miles from the local town.)

Wed 19th

Depart Hom

Office bearers re-elected at NI Simmental Club’s AGM

by Iain | May 28, 2015 | Uncategorised

On April 24, 2015 ·

Members travelled from throughout the Province to attend the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s AGM, held at Dungannon.

Chairman Richard Rodgers welcomed everyone and introduced the guest speaker, Raymond Irvine, senior account manager with Zoetis Animal Health.

Zoetis is the world’s largest independent animal health company, and 66% of its business is attributed to livestock health.

“Flies and parasites can have a detrimental effect on animal productivity and daily liveweight gain. It is crucial to use effective parasiticides and insecticides during the grazing season. “

Mr Irvine outlined the various products manufactured by Zoetis, including Cydectin 10% LA injection which offers season-long treatment and protection against mixed infestations of gastrointestinal and respiratory nematodes and certain arthropod parasites.

Cydectin 0.5% pour on is also used to treat and control gastrointestinal roundworms and lung worm, as well as warbles and mange mites.

Spot On is a widely recognised insecticide for use on cattle and sheep; while Flectron ear tags for cattle provide effective control against numerous species of nuisance flies.

Treasurer Leslie Weatherup delivered a comprehensive breakdown of the club’s healthy financial situation.

Reflecting on the clubs activities over the last twelve months Richard Rodgers said it was an honour to have served as chairman. “Members in Northern Ireland remain at the forefront of Simmental breeding in the UK. We are also immensely proud of our young members, who once again, excelled at the national stockjudging finals. William Ferguson from Stewartstown emerged as the overall winner, and joined forces with Andrew Clarke, Tynan, to claim the under 30 team award. Alice Stubbs from Irvinestown won second place in the under 21 individual competition. “

He continued:”Another highlight of 2014 was the club’s annual charity BBQ which raised a tremendous £11,000 for Friends of the Cancer Centre in Belfast. A special word of thanks to the Kelly family from Tempo who organised the raffle, and to everyone who supported our fund raising campaign.

“Finally, a big thank you to our sponsors for their generosity. Thanks also to the committee for its support, and I wish all club members success for the forthcoming show season and the year ahead.”

The election of office bearers was conducted by recently elected British Simmental Cattle Society representative Norman Robson from Doagh.

Richard Rodgers from the Hiltonstown Herd, Portglenone, was re-elected as chairman; while Matthew Cunning from the Point Farms Herd, Glarryford, was re-elected as vice chairman.

Leslie Weatherup, Lisglass Herd, Ballyclare, remains in the role of club treasurer; while Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Herd, Portglenone, retains his position as secretary.

The following members were elected to the committee: Keith Nelson, Scribby Farms Herd, Rosslea; Andrew Clarke, Breaghey Herd, Tynan; Joe Wilson, Ballinlare Farm Herd, Newry; Mrs Thelma Gorman, Woodford Herd, Armagh; David Hazelton, Ranfurly Herd, Dungannon; Chris Traynor, Kilmore Herd, Armagh; Nigel Glasgow, Bridgewater Farm Herd, Cookstown; and Conrad Fegan, Knockreagh Herd, Rostrevor.

The committee also includes regional society council representatives Norman Robson, Kilbride Farm Herd, Doagh; Robert Rodgers, Hiltonstown Herd, Portglenone; and Robin Boyd.

Forthcoming club events include:

Wednesday 27th May – Evening show and sale of pedigree and commercial Simmental cattle, Ballymena Mart – show 5.00pn, sale at 7.00pm.

Saturday 6th June – Woodcraft Kitchens (Kilrea) Junior Heifer Derby, open to heifers born in 2014, Lurgan Show.

Monday 6th July – Junior stockjudging competition at Weatherup family’s Lisglass Herd, 48 Lisglass Road, Irish Hill, Ballyclare, Co Antrim – 7.30pm.

Wednesday 5th August – Final of the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year Competition, and presentation of the Danske Bank Male and Female of the Year Awards, Enniskillen Show.

Friday 7th August – Annual charity BBQ in aid of Southern Area Hospice in Newry, at Dungannon Rugby Club – 7.30pm.

Saturday 5th September – 45th Anniversary Elite Female Show and Sale, Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Anyone interested in joining the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club should contact secretary Robin Boyd on mobile: 07799 346784.

Dirnanean Simmental Dispersal Announcement

by Iain | May 28, 2015 | Uncategorised

On February 23, 2015 ·

One of the longest established and most successful Simmental herds in the UK is to be dispersed on Saturday, September 12th at United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre.

Finlay McGowan’s Dirnanean herd based by Blairgowrie is famous for consistently producing bulls, which have appealed to both commercial and pedigree breeders.

Bulls have always been produced naturally with performance and fertility the top priority.  Sires, which have been influential in the herd, include Stuartslaw Joseph, Arkmill Franklyn and the imported Canadian bull AWL Polar.

Dirnanean has produced three record-priced bulls – Nugget, Typhoon and Bradley.

Included in the sale will be 66 cows with calves at foot/in calf along with in calf heifers and maiden heifers, two stock bulls and some semen.

Mr McGowan said: “Over 43 years Judy and I have built up a herd we are proud of. We have had a fair bit of success along the way, a lot of fun and made some very good Simmental friends all around the world.

“It is now time for Neil to put his mark on the Simmental breed and he has recently established his own Incheoch herd based on the five oldest cows and the youngest half of the 2014 born heifers from the Dirnanean herd. All other females will be offered at the sale. We hope that the next generation of McGowans have as much pleasure and success as we have had.”

David Leggat, Executive Chairman of United Auctions said: “We’re delighted to conduct this prestigious sale. For more than four decades Finlay and Judy McGowan have been pioneers within the breed.  Their focus has always been on genetics to suit the current market and high performing Dirnanean bred cattle have also enjoyed success in the show ring.

Lurgan Show venue for Simmental heifer derby

by Iain | May 11, 2015 | Uncategorised

Members of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club are reminded that the 2015 Junior Heifer Derby, sponsored by Woodcraft Kitchens (Kilrea), takes place at Lurgan Show on Saturday, 6th June.

Open to heifers born in 2014, the Junior Heifer Derby carries at total prize fund of £350, and will be judged by RUAS president and breed stalwart Billy Robson OBE, from the noted Kilbride Farm Herd based at Doagh, County Antrim.

The schedule for Lurgan’s 103rd show includes a variety of classes for Simmental cows, heifers, bulls, and is also a qualifier for the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition. The event is a points show for the Danske Bank Male and Female of the Year Awards.

The County Armagh venue is also staging a class for Simmental young handlers, and is inviting entries for calves under one-year-old, and an exhibitor-bred calf under six-months-of-age.

Entries close on Saturday, 23rd May.

For further information download a schedule and entry form from the show’s website: www.lurganshow.co.uk, or contact cattle section secretary Sandra Byrne on tel: 028 9153 2417.

Kilbride Farm leads Dungannon Simmental trade at 3,000gns twice

by Iain | Apr 2, 2015 | Uncategorised

Simmental bulls reached a ceiling of 3,000gns twice at the Northern Ireland Club’s spring show and sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Joint sale leader was the day’s male and supreme overall champion Kilbride Farm Eric ET bred by Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, from Doagh, County Antrim. Sired by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, this naturally polled bull is out of a home-bred dam by the Danish sire Lamhoj Supery. Two full brothers averaged 7,000gns in Stirling.

He is in the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle area +4.3, and terminal sire index +86, and in the top 10% for self replacing index +87.  This November 2013 born entry was snapped up by T McCartney, Jerrettspass, Newry.

Judge Andrew Clarke from the 8-cow Breaghey herd based Tynan, County Armagh, described the champion as a long, well fleshed bull with nice hindquarters and a good thick loin.”

Also selling at 3,000gns was the Robson family’s second prize winner Kilbride Farm Earl TSI+68 SRI+76. Sired by the Ardadoney Volvo son Kilbride Farm Barrister, he is bred from the Cairnview Snazzy daughter Kilbride Farm Dora 40B. Highest bidder on this eighteen-month-old bull was V Ferguson, Dungannon.

Next best at 2,800gns was the third placed Corrick Exodus TSI +66 SRI+77 consigned by Cecil and Hazel McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Sired by stock bull Carbery Carribbean, this November 2013 entry is out of a home-bred dam by Carnkern Titan. In the breed’s top 10% for eye muscle area +3.5, he sold to Norman Hammond, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

The Robson family were in the money again at 2,400gns, realised by the second prize winning Kilbride Farm Eagle TSI+71 SRI+76. He was sired by stock bull Crugmelyn Brenin, and is out of a home-bred dam by the popular Kilbride Farm Newry. In the top 5% for eye muscle area, this November 2013 born bull sold to Malcolm Fleming, Magherafelt, County Londonderry.

Andrew Clarke awarded the reserve male championship to Haystar Eclipse TSI+67 SRI+69, an October 2013 born Omorga Murray son bred by Gavin Hayes, and sons Kyle, James and Sam, Upper Ballinderry, County Antrim.  He was bred from the Hillcrest Champion daughter Carralavin Winford – one of six breeding females in the herd. This one failed to meet his reserve and returned home unsold.

Claiming the female and reserve supreme championship awards sponsored by Danske Bank was the September 2013 born Knockreagh Emily exhibited by the father and son team of Val and Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor, County Down. She was sired by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion Auchorachan Wizard, and is out of a home-bred dam by Omorga Volvo. Buyer at 2,600gns was judge Andrew Clarke.

“This is a lovely sweet heifer. She is long and oozes femininity.”

The Fegan’s 8-cow herd founded in 2003 also produced the reserve female champion Knockreagh Ella Rose. This October 2013 Auchorachan Wizard daughter secured a bid of 2,300gns from K Bell, Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.

There was a solid demand for commercial Simmental heifers with prices soaring to £775 over weight. The commercial section was sponsored by Millburn Concrete, Cookstown.

Maiden heifers ranged in weight from 335kgs to 595kgs, with prices peaking at £1,270, £1,250 and £1,160.

In-calf heifers peaked at £1,380, £1,280 twice and £1,240.

Averages: 6 pedigree bulls £2,590; 3 pedigree heifers £2,257.

Newark Sale Report

by British Simmental | Mar 31, 2015 | Uncategorised

Bulls topped the trade at the Spring sale at Newark on Saturday 28th March, judge for the day was Richard Green from the Greenfields herd, 10 Peel Close, Kibworth, Beauchamp, Leicestershire, LE8 0JL Theberton Electric, home bred on both sides of his pedigree from Mr and Mrs Dowley, Theberton House, Theberton, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4RL selling for 4000gns

Second top was the reserve male champion Storesmith Einstein, by Storesmith Casanova out of Fole Vivian 3rd from Mr & Mrs R&L Smith, Spath Farm House, Ashbourne Road, Uttoxeter , Staffordshire, ST14 5AP selling for 3000 gns to Mr S Eales Peatling Herd, Brookhill Farm, Peatling Magna, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE8 5UQ

6 bulls sold to average £3150

Topping the female trade at 2100gns was Midhope Emma from Mr W J Hollingsworth, Midhope Hall Farm, Midhopestones, Sheffield, S36 4GW a Dirnanean Snowie daughter out of a Pasturehouse Paleface daughter sold in calf to Delfur Chas.

The Female Champion from the same stable sold for 2000gns, Midhope Desire, same way bred as the previous and again sold in calf to Delfur Chas, purchased by Mr C Tucker,  Lower Green Farm Dairy, 48 The Green, Great Cheverel, Devizes, Wilkshire, SN10 5UZ

14 females sold to average £1676.00