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

Hazelden Dispersal

by British Simmental | Jul 24, 2014 | Uncategorised

Dispersal sale of the Hazelden herd will take place on 30th August 2014.

Below are a number of videos of the herd. Catalogue available shortly. Click on the links below to view videos.

Stock Bull:  Kyleston Demonarator 

Stock Bull: Skerrington Dynasty

Stock Bull: Hazelden Dynasty

Stock Bull: Grangewood Brandon

Freshly calved cows

Two year old calved heifers

Calved cows with Grangewood Brandon

Yearling heifers

Yearling heifers

Calved cows with Grangewood Brandon

Calved cows with Grangewood Brandon

Charity lot Hazelden Carina

Fresh calved cows

Simmental club selects teams for Turriff stockjudging finals

by Iain | Jul 6, 2014 | Uncategorised

The 25-cow Hiltonstown Herd based at Portglenone was the venue for the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s annual stockjudging competition.
Hosted by chairman Richard Rodgers and family, the evening event attracted a good turnout of club members and friends from throughout the province.

The competition is staged annually to select two judging teams to represent Northern Ireland at the British Simmental Cattle Society’s national stockjudging finals. This year’s final takes place at Turriff Show in Aberdeenshire on Sunday 3^rd August.

Master judge was Keith Nelson who runs the 12-cow Scribby Farms Herd at Rosslea in County Fermanagh.

Competitors had to place four classes of cattle, which included senior and junior cows, in-calf heifers and maiden heifers.

Following stiff competition from the club’s Young Members’ Association entrants, the results were announced as follows:

Under 21 years-old – 1, Alice Stubbs, Irvinestown; 2, Jonathan Henderson, Tobermore; 3, Matthew Robson, Doagh; 4, Craig Cowan, Fivemiletown.

Under 30 years-old – 1, William Ferguson, Stewarstown, and Andrew Clarke, Tynan; 3, Zara Stubbs, Irvinestown; 4, Emma O’Neill.

The winner of the open senior class was Leslie Weatherup from Ballyclare.

The two top placed YMA competitors in each category will go forward to represent Northern Ireland at the Scottish finals in August. The junior judging teams are sponsored by Bank of Ireland, and the bank’s agricultural manager William Thompson as on-hand to congratulate the winners.

Visitors to the event also had an opportunity to guess the weight of a junior Simmental bull. Organised by the Rodgers family, this competition attracted strong interest from novice and experienced cattle breeders, and raised £120 for the Loughans School in Ballymena. The winner of the competition was Jim Hamilton from Rock, Dungannon.

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club vice-chairman Matthew Cunning thanked Bank of Ireland for its continued support of the young members. He also proposed a vote of thanks to the Rodgers family – Robert, Wilma, Richard and Sandra, for hosting the event and giving visitors an opportunity to view the noted Hiltonstown herd which has sold bulls to a top of 17,000gns at Stirling.

“A special word of thanks to the ladies who provided the delicious supper; and a big thank you to everyone for coming, and to our master judge Keith Nelson.  Congratulations to the winning team members and good luck at the UK finals!”

• The next event in the club’s annual calendar is Fermanagh County Show on Wednesday 6^th August, which will host the finals of the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition; and the presentation of the Danske Bank Male and Female of the Year Awards.
• The club’s annual charity BBQ will take place in Dungannon Rugby Club on Friday 8^th August. This year’s chosen charity is Friends of the Cancer Centre