Simmental club raises £11,000 for charity

by Iain | Sep 9, 2014 | Uncategorised

The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has presented a cheque for £11,000 to Friends of the Cancer Centre based at Belfast City Hospital. 

The money is the proceeds of the club’s annual charity BBQ and auction, which was boosted by a raffle organised by club members Pat and Kathleen Kelly, from Tempo, County Fermanagh.

Charity trustees Jim Gamble and Avril Graham said: “This is an exceptional amount of money for a very worthy cause. It is a great privilege to accept the cheque on behalf of Friends of the Cancer Centre, and we are truly grateful to the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club for its generous contribution.”

Speaking at the club’s annual BBQ, held recently in Dungannon Rugby Club, the charity’s fund raising manager Claire Hogarth said:” Friends of the Cancer Centre makes a meaningful difference to thousands of patients and their families annually.

“Funds raised will go towards patient comfort and care, complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, massage and reflexology; as well as research and clinical trials. We also provide clinical nurse specialists and information and support.”

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club chairman Richard Rodgers thanked everyone who supported this year’s fund raising efforts. “We had a fantastic night, with a great crowd and excellent food. More importantly we raised a staggering £11,000 for Friends of the Cancer Centre.

“I would like to thank the committee and everyone who contributed to the success of the evening, especially the ladies who provided the salads and the delicious desserts; and those who donated prizes for the raffle and items for the auction. Thanks also to Colin Harbinson from The Meat Joint in Antrim who supplied and partly sponsored the steak; and to Dungannon Rugby Club for its excellent facilities.”

Pat Kelly added:”A big thank you to everyone who supported this year’s charity. It was a huge success, and this phenomenal amount of money is testimony to the hard work and dedication of a collective body of people.”

Winning ticket holders included:

Kevin Leonard, Enniskillen – Two nights B&B for two people at the Slieve Russell hotel in Derrylin.

Tony Kelly, Tempo  – One tonne of Excelsior pedigree feed from Fane Valley.

Bernie Traynor, Draperstown – Mid-week B&B stay for two people in a lake view room at the Lough Erne Golf Resort and Spa.

Gabriel Williamson, Enniskillen – £200 Marks and Spencer voucher

Paul Campbell, Tempo –  Meal for two at the award-winning MacNean Restaurant at Blacklion, County Cavan, and a cookery book signed by celebrity chef Neven Maguire.

The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has been hosting its charity BBQ at Dungannon Rugby Club for 23 years, and during that time has raised almost £100,000 for local charities.

Bosahan herd wins Most Improved Herd Award for the Simmental breed for an unprecedented second consecutive year

by Iain | Aug 28, 2014 | Uncategorised

The Bosahan herd, based in Constantine, near Falmouth, has been recognised by EBLEX as the Most Improved Herd of Simmental cattle in England for 2014.

The award is presented by the EBLEX Beef Better Returns Programme (BRP) to the performance-recorded herd that shows the greatest genetic gain for commercial characteristics over a 12-month period. There is a separate award for each of 10 UK breeds.

Bosahan farm has been in the Olds family since 1964 and was a dairy enterprise for 42 years. In 2005, the Trewardreva dairy herd was sold and since then they have concentrated more simply on the home farm, made up of 50 acres of permanent grassland and 20 acres of woodland.

The Simmental herd was established soon after the dairy herd was sold when John, having been impressed by the temperament of the Simmental breed, purchased their seven foundation cows and a stock bull. This small herd went on to produce an impressive 17 heifer calves in three years. The Bosahan herd now has 33 active females with over 60 per cent born since 2009.

Production cycle

The Bosahan herd calves from November through to March, with the aim to calve heifers down at around two years and nine months.

While housed over the winter, cattle are fed home-produced silage, supplemented with concentrates. Creep feed is offered to calves from 12 weeks old and they are weaned at nine months. Post-weaning, bull calves remain housed on woodchip and are fed individual rations through an out-of-parlour feeder.

At 12 months of age, John and Bridget Olds decide which of the male calves meet their criteria to be sold as breeding stock bulls and the remainder are finished by 16 months. All are reared commercially, with breeding bulls being fed a maximum of 10kgs per day by 17 months of age and achieving daily liveweight gains from birth in excess of 1.5kgs.

Before turn out, cows are pregnancy diagnosed and animals are managed according to group. The bull stays with recently calved cows or those identified as empty. Fertility is important for all breeders and the Bosahan herd has a calving interval averaging 389 days. In June, the bull calves together with their dams are separated into a group away from the heifer calves.

Guided by the figures

Bridget and John have been performance recording the herd since 2009, believing the breeding value figures are informing decisions made by both pedigree and commercial breeders. They began by submitting weights and in 2010 incorporated ultrasound scanning to help identify which families are producing progeny with the best beef carcases.

“In terms of the desired traits within the herd, we aim for average calving ease and prefer to see vigorous calves that are keen to suckle,” John said.

“We would expect birth weights of 50kg from mature cows.”

They feel the 400-day weights give an important guide to performance potential and market bull beef at 14 to 16 months, achieving weights of approximately 750kg, producing U grade carcases which kill out at 55 to 58 per cent. Attention to Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Retail Beef Yield and Eye Muscle Area are also helping them to improve their finished beef.

“We are also starting to monitor and select on milk figures, particularly in relation to heifer replacements,” John said.

“This will build on the genetics we have already established and will continue to deliver improvements in our females’ ability to rear their calves.”

Maintaining genetic diversity

Skerrington Armada, their stock bull since 2011, is used on the majority of the herd, with approximately 10 per cent, including Armada’s daughters, artificially inseminated using semen from different bulls. Last year they accessed semen from Dirnanean Apostle, a young, polled bull on test, boasting the highest eye muscle score in the breed and easy calving. Apostle is by a New Zealand bull and provides a good outcross, widening the genetic base.

They have also used Dirnanean Jacob and are confident that the genetics and figures from both of these bulls will complement the Bosahan herd. Continuing to develop the Bosahan herd and accessing new bloodlines is becoming their main challenge for the future.

Protecting herd health

Being members of the Premium Cattle Health Scheme run by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), they recognise that reducing the risks of BVD, IBR, Leptospirosis and Johnes disease not only benefits their herd, but also encourages purchasers to buy with confidence. In addition, they are in a 12-month TB testing area. They believe this high level of vigilance reduces the odds of vendors acquiring hidden disease.

Developing sales

They have only recently begun selling animals from the herd and until this year have mainly sold directly off the farm to both commercial and pedigree breeders. Having a herd of young cows, including seven first-calving heifers in 2013, they decided to sell some surplus females. They took three bulls and10 heifers to prospective buyers at the Bristol Society Sale on 10 May this year, which proved to be a landmark day for the Bosahan Herd.

Of the three bulls, Bosahan Dynamo broke the sale record, being acquired by the Denizes Pedigree Herd for 9600gns. Bosahan Declaration and Bosahan Dandini were sold to commercial buyers for 2,100gns and 3,500gns respectively. These buyers can expect to produce early-finishing cattle with the high weight-to-age ratios which the Simmental breed are renowned for, plus outstanding suckler cow replacements.

John and Bridget have a realistic view of today’s market, selling at both ends of the spectrum, with bulls at the Bristol Society Sale averaging 5000gns and heifers averaging 1900 gns. It was a busy and exciting event for the Bosahan herd, with all of the females and 80 per cent of the bulls sold on the day.

“Due to our success at the Bristol Sale combined with private sales, the Bosahan prefix is now represented in pedigree herds throughout the British Isles,” John said.

“We’re thrilled to think that Bosahan genetics could be providing successful foundation bloodlines for other breeders.”

In addition to their own website – www.bosahan.org.uk – they promote the herd through social media such as Facebook and advertise through agricultural merchants and markets. They believe that local shows, such as the Royal Cornwall Show, the October Cornwall Pedigree Beef Calf Show and summer one-day shows provide an excellent shop window for their stock, and they are proud to have acquired a few rosettes along the way!

Continued success

Bridget and John were delighted and very surprised to win the Improved Herd Award for a second consecutive year. They put their success down to the fact that they have a young herd and a recent influx of new genetics from the seven first-time calving heifers, giving a boost to their figures. These females, daughters and granddaughters of some of their foundation cows, combined with Armada, is having a positive influence and seems to be working well within the family bloodlines. This bodes well for the future of the Bosahan Herd.

British Simmental Cattle Society AGM

by Iain | Aug 26, 2014 | Uncategorised

British Simmental Cattle Society AGM is to be held on the 20^th October at 11am in the Lomond Suite at United Auctions, Stirling Bull Sales.

Show finale for Simmental breeders at Enniskillen

by Iain | Aug 12, 2014 | Uncategorised

Simmental enthusiasts turned out in force for the continental breed’s show season finale at Fermanagh County Show.

The Enniskillen venue has a long-standing tradition of hosting the Male and Female of the Year awards, which have been sponsored by Danske Bank (formerly Northern Bank) for almost twenty years; and the Merial-sponsored Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year final which is now in its ninth year.

The Simmental entry dominated the cattle section at the show, with County Laois judge Garrett Behan taking over three hours to make his judgements in the various classes.

The junior bull class winner Omorga Eli, bred by John Moore, Beragh, emerged as the day’s male and supreme overall champion. Shown by Moses Irwin, and John’s daughter Cara, this eighteen-month-old entry was sired by Ashland Brandy and is out of a home-bred dam. Destined for Stirling in October, this bull was Simmental and interbreed beef champion at Omagh Show in July.

Claiming the reserve position on the winners’ podium was the second prize winning junior bull Slievenagh Extra Special, bred by the Boyd family – Robin, Darla, Christopher and Jamie, who run a herd of 25 cows at Portglenone. Born in April 2013 he was sired by Kilbride Farm Bantry.

Seven pairs of cattle turned out for the final of the prestigious Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition. They qualified over the past few months at nominated shows across the country.

After careful consideration Garrett Behan awarded the 2014 plaudits to the junior bull duo Slievenagh Emperor and Silevenagh Extra Special bred and exhibited by Robin Boyd and family. They qualified at Balmoral Show in May.

Merial Animal Health’s area manager Philip Clarke was on hand to congratulate the winners and present the prizes. “We are proud of our long association with the NI Simmental Club. It has been another fantastic competition, with seven exceptional pairs of cattle qualifying for today’s final. Well done to everyone involved.”

The reserve award in the pairs competition went to Duncan McDowell from Newtownards, who exhibited the home-bred heifers Castlemount Modesty and Castlemount Bianca. They qualified at Lurgan Show in June. Bianca was born in October 2012 and is by Curaheen Tyson, while the September 2012 born Modesty is a daughter of Arkmill Franklyn.

Once again the Simmental Male and Female of the Year awards sponsored by Danske Bank were hotly contested, with breeders notching up points throughout the show season. “

Club chairman Richard Rodgers explains:”“Prizes mean points, as the winners are determined using a scoring system which is collated at nominated shows throughout the summer months. Points are awarded to individual animals, and the higher the animal’s accolade in the show ring the bigger the points it earns.”

The 2014 Male of the Year award went to the Boyd family’s Slievenagh Emperor. Born in March 2013, he was sired by the 9,200 Euro Curaheen Apostle ET – an outcross sire featuring north Amercian genetics, while his dam is the home-bred Slievenagh Aileen.

This bull has secured numerous accolades including junior, reserve male, exhibitor-bred and reserve supreme champion a Balmoral, reserve male champion at Ballymena, and supreme overall champion at Lurgan and Castlewellan.

His herd mate Slievenagh Extra Special took the reserve Male of the Year award. He stood second in his class to Emperor at several shows, and was reserve male champion at Lurgan Show.

The January 2013 born Ballinlare Farm Empress secured the Female of the Year award for Joe Wilson, and sons, Keith, Neill and Alan, from Newry.  She was sired by the herd’s 20,000gns stock bull Auchorachan Wizard.

This heifer was reserve junior and reserve female champion at Balmoral, and winner of the 2014 Woodcraft Kitchens junior heifer derby. She also won the breed’s reserve supreme championships at Lurgan and Castlewellan, and was supreme champion at Armagh Show.

Narrowly beaten by one point to take the Reserve Female of the Year award was the senior heifer Ranfurly Weikel 11^th from David and Jonny Hazelton’s herd at Dungannon. Sired by Hillcrest Champion, she is bred from the herd’s noted brood cow South Park King Kong Weikel 2^nd.

Her show record includes reserve supreme champion at Ballymena and Armagh, supreme champion at Antrim, reserve female champion at Lurgan and Clogher, and female champion at Enniskillen.

The crystal awards were presented by John Henning, Danske Bank’s head of agricultural relations, who was assisted by Rodney Brown, Matthew Johnston and William Noble.

The NI Simmental Club’s Young Stockperson of the Year Award went to new breeder Jason Whitcroft from the Whitdrum herd at Middletown in County Armagh.

Richard Rodgers concluded:”I am delighted to see a good turnout of cattle at Enniskillen, and an even bigger turnout of supporters from as far away as County Cork. A sincere thank you to our sponsors for their continued support.

“Shows act as a shop window for our breed, and thank you to all of the exhibitors who took part in the Simmental classes at the provincial shows. Congratulations to the winners on their achievements, especially the Boyd family whose hat-trick included the pairs championship, and the male and reserve male of the year titles.”

Simmental Pair of the Year to be crowned at Enniskillen

by Iain | Aug 4, 2014 | Uncategorised

The countdown is on as Simmental breeders from across the province prepare for the final of the 2014 Ivomec Super Pair of the Year competition.
Generously sponsored by Merial Animal Health, the competition is now in its ninth year, and will reach a climax at Fermanagh County Show next Wednesday (August 6).

Breeders have been competing throughout the summer to qualify for a place in the final line-up. Nominated qualifying shows for the competition included Balmoral, Ballymena, Armagh, Omagh, Castlewellan and Clogher.

Sponsor, Philip Clarke, territory sales manager of Merial Animal Health said:”We are pleased to be associated with this long running and successful competition. The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has an active membership, and the breeders have great enthusiasm for their cattle.

“The competition is growing from strength-to-strength, and attracts the cream of the Province’s Simmental cattle. Congratulations and good luck to all those who qualified for this year’s final. I have no doubt that the final line-up will feature some strong contenders for the title.”

The winner of the 2014 Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year Competition will receive the prestigious Merial Crystal Decanter and a 500mls pack of Ivomec Super injection. All finalists will be awarded a 200mls pack of Ivomec Super.

Judge for the event is Irish breeder Garrett Behan from the Clonagh Herd based at  Ballyfin, Portlaoise.

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club chairman Richard Rodgers added:”The Ivomec Super Pair of the Year competition is one of the highlights in the club’s annual calendar. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Philip Clarke and Merial Animal Health for its continued sponsorship, and wish all the qualifiers success for next week’s final.”

Ivomec Super is an endectocide which kills fluke, worms and external parasites in one injection. The product has been producing consistent results for more than 20 years, and it is easy and convenient to administer.

Qualifiers for the 2014 Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition include:

Balmoral Show: Robin and Darla Boyd and Sons, Portglenone, County Antrim – Slievenagh Emperor by Curaheen Apostle, and Slievenagh Extra Special by Kilbride Farm Bantry.

Ballymena Show:  Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo, County Fermanagh – Ashland Ella Beauty by Kilbride Farm Ahoghil,l and Ashland Lady Ann 2^nd by Ashland Brandy.

Lurgan Show: Duncan McDowell, Newtownards, County Down – Castlemount Bianca by Curaheen Tyson, and Castlemount Modesty by Arkmill Franklyn.

Armagh Show: Thelma Gorman, Armagh, County Armagh – Woodford Paula by Ballintlea King, and Woodford Paula 2^nd by Kilbride Farm Newry.

Omagh Show: Cecil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone – Corrick Emperor by Dermody Butcher, and Corrick Escort by Dermody Butcher.

Castlewellan Show: Joe Wilson, Newry, County Down – Ballinlare Farm Empress by Auchorachan Wizard, and Ballinlare Farm Dancer by Auchorachan Wizard.

Clogher Show: William Nelson, Rosslea, County Fermanagh – Drumacritten Dianna by Drumlone Anchor, and Scribby Farms Daisy by Drumlone Anchor.

Traditionally Fermanagh County Show also hosts the finals of the Simmental Club’s Male and Female of the Year Awards.  Danske Bank (formerly Northern Bank) has been sole sponsor of this competition since 1997. The winners are determined using a points system which is collated at nominated shows throughout the summer. Commemorative engraved crystal tankards, rosettes and cash awards will be presented the winners and runners-up.

Club chairman Richard Rodgers concluded: We are indebted to Danske Bank for its continued sponsorship of this competition. There has been strong competition in the Simmental classes on the summer show circuit, and it is almost time to add up the points and reveal the winners of the 2014 competition.

Next week will be busy for members of the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club, as its annual charity BBQ takes place in Dungannon Rugby Club on Friday, 8^th August, commencing at 8pm.

Succulent steak on menu at Simmental charity BBQ

by Iain | Jul 31, 2014 | Uncategorised

Dungannon Rugby Club is the venue for the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s annual charity BBQ on Friday 8^th August commencing at 8pm.

Tickets for the BBQ are priced at £15 per person, and the menu includes succulent sirloin steak with a selection of salads, followed by a choice of home-made desserts.

The steaks and sausages for this year’s BBQ are being supplied and partly sponsored by Colin Harbinson from The Meat Joint in Antrim.

The Meat Joint was founded in 2004 and has built up a reputation for supplying locally produced beef, pork, chicken and lamb. Colin Harbinson also runs a suckler herd and finishes all cattle off the farm.

 “I prefer cross-bred Simmental cows as they are fertile, easy calving, and have plenty of milk to rear a calf. The calves are growthy and much easier to finish than other continental and native breeds.”

Colin aims to kill heifers at between 18 and 22 months-of-age. “The cattle kill out well, and the carcases are lean and weigh between 340 to 360 kilos deadweight. All beef sold in the shop is farm quality assured and fully traceable from field to fork. I breed and finish a lot of the cattle sold through the shop, but to satisfy demand I source cattle privately from local producers.

Colin, and daughter Charlie, have recently established a pedigree Simmental herd founded with the purchase of three heifers from Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s 35-cow Lisglass herd based at Ballyclare. They made their debut in the showring at last week’s Antrim Show, winning the breed’s reserve championship with the February 2013 born Dirnanean Apostle daughter Lisglass Elizabeth.

Club chairman Richard Rodgers said:”A sincere thank you to the Meat Joint for its generous sponsorship of this year’s BBQ. I would also like to encourage everyone to support the club’s charity BBQ and auction. The event gives Simmental breeders and their friends an opportunity to get together for a night out while raising much-needed funds for a very worthy cause. This year’s chosen charity is Friends of the Cancer Centre based at Belfast City Hospital.”

During the past few months committee members have been selling tickets for a prize draw which features a host of prizes, including two nights B&B for two people at the Slieve Russell hotel in Derrylin; one tonne of Excelsior pedigree feed from Fane Valley; a mid-week B&B stay for two people in a lake view room at the Lough Erne Golf Resort and Spa; a £200 Marks and Spencer voucher; and a meal for two at the award-winning MacNean Restaurant at Blacklion, County Cavan, as well as a cookery book signed by celebrity chef Neven Maguire.

 The winning tickets will be drawn at the BBQ, and the proceeds will also be donated to Friends of the Cancer Centre. Richard Rodgers added:”There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, and there is still time to purchase tickets. Prize draw tickets are priced at £2 each, or a book of three tickets costs £5.”

Next week will be busy for members of the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club as Enniskillen Show (Wednesday 6^th August) plays host to the final of the prestigious Ivomec Super Pair of the Year final sponsored by Merial Animal Health.

Seven pairs of cattle have qualified at provincial shows, and the man entrusted with the task of selecting the 2014 winners is Irish breeder Garrett Behan from the Clonagh herd in Portlaoise.

The Simmental Male and Female of the Year awards will also be presented at Fermanagh County Show. Sponsored by Danske Bank, the winners are determined using a points system which has been collated at nominated shows throughout the summer.

ENDS