The 2023 ‘Virtual’ Simmental Show, the fourth staging of this popular online event, is now officially open and underway.
Please send in your photos for the first class, Bull Calf born on or after 1st August 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated. You have until Friday 7th July to send your entries in to: information@britishsimmental.co.uk
You can enter more than one animal per herd (as many as you would like to) for each of the classes.
Last year, and in recognition of the live summer show season being back, the classes were tightened to six in all, and followed by the Overall Championships. We’ve stuck with that again this year and with the schedule as follows:
2023 BRITISH SIMMENTAL ‘VIRTUAL’ SHOW
Class 1: Bull Calf born on or after 1st August 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 30th June Entries Close: 6th July
Class 2: Heifer Calf born on or after 1st August 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 7th July Entries Close: 13th July
Class 3: Bull born between 1st January 2021 to 31st July 2022. Bull name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 14th July Entries Close: 20th July
Class 4: Heifer born between 1st January 2021 – 31st July 2022. Calf name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 21st July Entries Close: 27th July
Class 5: Bull born before 1st January 2021. Bull name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 28thJuly Entries Close: 3rd August
Class 6: Cow any age, In milk. Udder must be seen in picture, no calf to be seen in picture. Cow name and date of birth to be stated.
Entries Open: 4th August Entries Close: 10th August
Special 1: Male Champion Announced w/c 15th August
Special 2: Female Champion Announced w/c 15th August
Special 3: Overall Champion Announced w/c 15th August
Have a go! We’d love you to ‘join in the fun’ and collectively let’s again showcase quality British Simmental genetics across the UK and to all parts of the world!
The Islavale herd of Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith, and the Annick herd of Mr LD Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine, Ayrshire took the top Simmental honours within a strong show of Simmentals at the Stars of the Future Calf Show held on Saturday 13th November at United Auction’s Stirling Agricultural Livestock Centre. The quality in depth of the Simmental line up was confirmed when the Annick herd went on to lift the Junior Continental Interbreed tile, whilst the Blackford herd of WG MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness took the Joe Watson Memorial Trophy (Interbreed) for Best Pair.
In front of the Simmental judge for the day, Laura Beattie who runs the Garmouth herd at Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers, Moray, the Islavale herd picked up both the Overall Senior and Reserve Overall Senior titles with Islavale Viva 8, and Islavale Liquorice respectively. The September 2020 born Islavale Viva 8 is by Curaheen Giant 2, and is out of Islavale Viva 2 (ET) EX 94 (EX2), a Chestermann Varney daughter.
Commenting on her Overall Senior, Laura Beattie said: “The Senior Champion was a lovely, correct heifer, and was very well fleshed. She had great width, was very square over her plates, and was just full of breed character with a very sweet face.”
Following her through to take the Reserve Senior Overall was her stablemate in the shape of Islavale Liquorice, an October 2020 heifer by Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 EX 94, and out of Islavale Ebony, a Woodhall Walker daughter. Capping a fine day’s showing, the April 2021 born Islavale Mojito picked up the Reserve Junior Female award. This heifer is by Curaheen Gunshot (P), and is out of Islavale Illusion (ET) VG 87. Islavale Viva 8, Islavale Liquorice, and Islavale Mojito are all entered into the much-anticipated Simmental Next Generation Sale of Females & Weaned Calves due to be held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 3rd December.
Taking the Simmental Overall Junior title, and then a fantastic Overall Continental Junior Interbreed title, was the January 2021 born Annick Memphis, and shown on the day by stockman Andrew Perratt. This young bull is by Wolfstar Golddigger 15, and is a heifer’s calf being out of Annick Desiree’s Joy VG87, who is a Corskie Callum daughter. This double win was a poignant one with it being the first show outing for the Annick herd since the herd owner Lachlan Quarm sadly passed away earlier this year. Of her Junior Champion Laura Beattie commented: “This was a terrific young bull with a bit of power about him, good bone, and plenty of style. He’s very correct, with plenty of breed character, and is a great example of the Simmental breed. I think this is a young bull with a lot of future and potential.”
Of her day’s judging generally, and the cattle in front of her, Laura said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the day and thought that it was a great show of Simmentals. I’d like to congratulate all the exhibitors with cattle forward, and who really did the breed proud.”
Hot on the heels of winning the Simmental Calf Show at the Borderway Agri Expo, the April 2021 born, Springfield Major was back in the prizes for Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik, Midlothian, when winning the Overall Junior Reserve title. Springfield Major is by the herd’s stock bull Islavale Jabba, and is out of Hazelden Jingle 40th. For the 25 breeding female Springfield herd, Springfield Major is provisionally taking aim at the October 2022 Stirling Bull Sales.
The Senior Bull award was won by Blackford Local Hero (P) from WG MacPherson and shown on the day by Anne MacPherson. December 2020 born, is by the multi titled show bull Heathbrow Important 17 (P) EX93, and is out of Blackford Echo VG 86, a Curlieu Knight daughter. With show winning lines on both sides of the pedigree, both Blackford Echo VG 86, and her dam Blackford Allegro EX 90, are both former class winners and Junior Champions at previous Stars of the Future Shows. Blackford Local Hero (P) then teamed up with the December 2020 born heifer Blackford Lapis, who is also by Heathbrow Important 17 (P), and out of Blackford Amber VG 87, to win the prestigious Joe Watson Memorial Pairs Trophy judged by Robert McNee, Over Finlarg Farm, Dundee. These were the first calves by Heathbrow Important 17 (P), the 2019 European Simmental of the Year, shown by the Blackford herd.
Taking the Reserve Senior Bull award was Cairnview Laird from Mr AJ Wilson, Westcroft Farm, Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Full of breeding this calf is by Popes Grandslam 15, and is out of Cairnview Rea 7th, a Woodhall Ferrari 14th daughter.
From a strong line-up, and from another Ayrshire based breeder, Whiteridden Starlight’s Tanya 4th from H Gilbert, Dungoil, Whiteridden Farm, Kilbirnie, took the Simmental Junior Female title. This January 2021 born heifer is by Denizes Hamish 16, and is out of the Dirnanean Trustee sired Whiteridden Starlight’s Tanya.
57 bulls sell to average £5961, up £372 on the year.
Lot 777, Auchorachan Landmark 20 from D & R Durno & Sons, topped the Sale at 18000gns. The Auchorachan Hercules sired bull, out of Auchorachan Holly, led the Sale, being purchased by Mr B Grant, of the Dellfield herd, Druid Temple Farm, Highland, Inverness-shire.
Lot 701, Islavale Lachlan, sired by Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 from Mr W S Stronach, fetched the second top price, reaching 12500gns when selling to Mr Swanson, Quarryside, Caithness.
The Female trade was topped by the Corskie herd of Mr WJ & J Green, with Lot 646 Corskie Kaylee selling at 6000gns to Smith & Sons, Towiemore, Keith. Full report and photos to follow.
A mighty well done goes to Gary and Angela Christie of the Rockytop herd, Glass, Huntly who have scooped the honours in Class 7 of the 2021 Virtual Simmental Show with Rockytop Luca. May 2020 born, Rockytop Luca is entirely homebred being sired by Rockytop I’m Yer Man and out of Rockytop Champagne’s Irma. For good measure three Rockytop bulls featured in the top eight placings!
A big thank you goes to our judge, Graham Allan of the noted Glenturk herd, Wigtown, Newton Stewart who has picked his top placings from another strong class, and this time featuring 65 young bulls. Look out for further comments from Graham in the judges video which will be posted shortly. Thanks to all breeders for your entries and support, it is hugely appreciated. The reach of this online competition is truly remarkable and worldwide. The 2021 Virtual Show is proving to once again be a big social media hit and a fantastic showcase and promotion of British Simmental. It is only possible with your continued support and pictures of your quality cattle. Thank you!
The eagerly anticipated results for Class 7 are as follows:
Congratulations to VC Bailey, Mixbury Hall Farm, Mixbury, Brackley, Northants who has taken 1st Place in Class 6 of the Virtual Simmental Show, Spring born heifer calf, in a Class of 100 entries. The January 2021 born Mixbury Hall Milly, is by Tilbrook Frank, who also topped the Senior bull class in this year’s Virtual Show. Well done to Mixbury Hall, who also placed 9th in the class, and also to Backmuir and Corskie who both also had two entries place in the top 10.
A big thank you must go to our judge, Gayle Campbell from the Saltire herd, North Berwick, East Lothian, who had the huge but enjoyable task of judging 100 Spring born heifer calves. Look out for Gayle’s comments in a video on Facebook shortly.
Thanks again for all your entries which are helping make the 2021 Virtual Show a real Simmental showcase, with Breeders all over the UK getting involved. Congratulations to all who have placed in the class, the results are as follows:
The Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club has announced details of a Simmental Spectacular to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.
Scheduled to take place at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Friday 22nd October, the event is set to feature a show and sale of pedigree bulls, elite pedigree females, and a selection of crossbred weanling heifers.
Announcing details of the Golden Anniversary Celebrations club chairman Keith Nelson said: “Northern Ireland is synonymous for top-quality Simmental cattle, and club members are custodians of some of the breed’s most prolific and world-renown bloodlines.
“Simmentals were imported into the UK in 1970, and the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club was founded in 1971. The forthcoming sale planned for 22nd October will provide club members with a chance to showcase the ‘cream of the crop’.”
Keith Nelson added: “The sale will offer buyers a rare opportunity to acquire elite pedigree heifers. Females that herd owners would normally be reluctant to sell!”
The sale is also expected to attract an entry of high-quality bulls from many of the Province’s leading herds. “Since the introduction of animal movement restrictions dictated by the NI Protocol, breeders in Northern Ireland are reluctant to take pedigree bulls to breed society sales across the water,” added Keith Nelson.
“Bulls which would normally have been destined for sales in Stirling have been sold privately off farm. Club members have reported a strong demand for Simmental bulls from local and UK-based customers. In the wake of Brexit we are hoping to re-establish the Dungannon sale venue as a one-stop shop for pedigree and commercial herd owners to source stock bulls.”
British Simmental Cattle Society sale rules will apply, and all vendors must be members of a CHeCS approved herd health scheme. All pedigree bulls and females will be pre-sale inspected in accordance with breed society regulations.
Organisers have also unveiled that the Simmental Spectacular will include a choice entry of cross-bred weanling and maiden heifers.
Vice chairman Andrew Clarke explained: ”We are inviting entries of quality commercial heifers aged between six-months and sixteen-months of age (born early July 2020 and end of April 2021). They will be inspected on-farm prior to the event, and the name of the sire will be listed in the catalogue.
“Simmental is noted for its maternal and terminal traits, and there is a strong demand for stylish commercial heifers. We are hoping that this sale will give farmers who are producing Simmental suckler replacements a shop window for their surplus breeding stock. It will also give buyers an opportunity to select replacement females which are progeny of pedigree Simmental stock bulls and proven AI sires.”
Entry forms and schedules are available to download on the Dungannon Farmers’ Mart website: www.dfm-ni.co.uk/Entry-Forms. The closing date for pedigree entries is Friday 20th August; while the entries for the commercial section must be submitted on or before Friday 3rd September.
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