by Iain | May 12, 2012 | Uncategorised
Forsham Farm, Sutton Valence, Maidstone in Kent has been owned by the Bates family since 1945 and is run by Nick Bates. Originally
Pedigree Sussex cattle were the dominant breed but over time Limousin was introduced and most recently Simmental genetics were introduced to put power, size milk and growth into the herd. The farm extends to 324 acres of which 80 are arable the remainder is in grass, 1200 bales of silage are produced annually and a small amount of hay is produced for convenience to be used in calving pens etc.
Cow numbers total 120 with all now having an influence of Simmental blood, the cows calf from February through until mid April, four bulls are ran with the cows in groups of 30 and the bulls are taken out after 12 weeks, no passengers are carried, any empty cows are moved on.
There are no special requirements at calving, all calves navels are dipped in 10% iodine solution and male calves are castrated for ease of management, otherwise the natural maternal instincts of the Simmental take care of the rest.
Turn out occurs in mid April and the bulls are put in very soon after. Cows get a Hi-mag bolus prior to turn out. 18% protein creep is introduced to the calves from mid July onwards on an ad lib basis. All calves are vaccinated with Rispoval 4 , the first dose applied in late September/early October and the 2nd dose along with a pour-on wormer when they are housed in October-mid November depending on the
season, the cows then get an iodine bolus and are wormed at housing. Weaning then takes place once the calves have become acclimatised indoors and this has proven to reduce weaning stress enormously.
Winter rations are simple, a TMR of 50% silage and 50% straw with the addition of fruit which is sourced locally as supermarket waste, containing oranges, apples, bananas, grapes and even grapefruit.This simple ration is fed to the cows and all the young stock, the young stock get beef nuts twice a day and once calved the cows get beef nuts until turn out.
Weaned calves are grouped and stored over the winter on the TMR ration, 10-12 heifers will be selected every year as replacements the rest either sold privately for further breeding or through the auction market. Steer calves are sold the following spring in time to make room for calving, periodic weighing takes place over the winter to monitor growth rates and feed conversion efficiency.
Recently batches of calves have been tested for BVD and have all been clear, there are plans to take the herd into a CHeCS health scheme in the future.
The herd has been the Hobbs Parker suckler herd of the year many times since introducing Simmental genetics and Nick said “if we hadn’t introduced Simmental we wouldn’t be where we are now” It can also be seen from the weekly report from Hobbs-Parker that the Simmental influence is growing fast in the South of England.
Below sale report from steer calves from 8 to 10 months old
by British Simmental | May 7, 2012 | Uncategorised
The increasing demand for Simmental Bulls was further emphasised again at the Stirling May sale where the breed achieved a 92% clearance to an average of £4433 an increase of £1135 on last year.
Judge for the day was Mr Stuart Grant, Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.
Topping the trade at 8800gns a new record for the breed at the May sale was Innerwick Butcher, a September 2010 son of Castlegate Titan, from Mr & Mrs L Moffat, Innerwick Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, selling to Macfarlane Farms, Duns, Berwickshire.
Next top at 8500gns was the Overall Champion Islavale Boris from W S Stronach, Berryleys, Grange Keith, this Woodhall Walker son sold to J & E Dyet, East Merkland, Sandford, Strathhaven.
The Stronach’s also had the next 3 top prices, first Islavale Buzz, an October 2010 son of Glenturk Premier realised 7500gns selling to W Walton and Sons, Duns Houses,Otterburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, then Islavale Bismark, an October 2010 son of Kilbride farm Newry sold for 7000gns to Messrs Oag, Brims Mains, Forss, Thurso, Caithness and the Reserve Overall Champion Islavale Bruce another Woodhall Walker son also realised 7000gns selling to N & M McLelllan, Kilchiaran Farm, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll.
Islavale sold 6 to average £7221.50
Female 2 @ £1890.
Auctioneers:
www.uagroup.co.uk
by Iain | May 7, 2012 | Uncategorised
The Scottish Club held its Annual Show of Commercial females at United Auctions, Stirling Mart on 7th May 2012.
Simmental heifers were clearly in demand for their excellent Maternal ability, with the First prize pen of four heifers over 15 months from Clive Houldey, Kirtleton, selling for £1400 with bulling heifers selling to £1700 for the second prize pen of four from Messrs Dyet, East Merkland.
Champion Simmental x heifer with a Simmental calf at foot sold for £2350, from Hector Macaskill who also won the best pen of four heifer sunder 15 months old selling for £1300.
Results of Show, kindly sponsored by Carrs Billington Ltd.
Pen of 4 Simmental x bulling heifers, under 15 months.
1st Mr MacAskill, Woodhall – £1300
Mr Short, Balquhadly – £960
Pen of 4 Simmental x bulling heifers, over 15 months
1st Mr Houldey, Kirtleton – £1400
2nd Mr Dyet, East Merkland – £1700
Simmental x Heifer and Calf
1st Mr McAskill, Woodhall -£2350
2nd Mr Gillon, Arnbathie – £2150
by British Simmental | Apr 27, 2012 | Uncategorised
The Annual Spring Carlisle sale drew excellent crowds, judged by Mrs D Moffat of the Innerwick Herd.
Overall Champion & Female Champion Midhope Highlight 3rd realised 3,800gns which was by Dirnanean Snowie and bred by W J Hollingsworth.
Reserve Overall Champion, Male Champion & Top Price Bull went to Braegarrie Bravo 10 bred by D L & S Currie, sold for 7,900gns.
Reserve Male Champion, Starline Beau Geste 10 by Slievenagh Talisman bred by R H Widdicombe and, which was unsold.
Reserve Female Champion, Midhope Thelma 3rd bred by W J Hollingsworth was purchased for 2,900gns
2nd Top Price Bull Swingletree Buster bred by J A Tallentire a Popes Laird son realised 5,500gns
3rd Top Price Bull went to Simply Courageous bred by R M Fitton and by Seaview Tommy reached 5,200gns
2nd Top Price Female realised 3,500gns Midhope Saffron 4th bred by W J Hollingsworth.
by British Simmental | Apr 21, 2012 | Uncategorised
A strong commercial demand underpinned trade at the Multi Breed Event at Newark Livestock Market, which saw a top price of 5000gns for the Male and Overall Simmental champion.
Sale leader and coming through as champion Simmental under judge Brian Wise was Burghbridge Bradley from Otley based Charles Clarke by Brinkton Major and out of the Strathisla Popeye daughter Burghbridge Emily, he was knocked down to Paul Gunther for his Fircovert herd, Norfolk.
Next in the money at 4000gns was a bull from the same home, this time Burghbridge Briar, another Major son, this time out of a Popeye daughter Burghbridge Vienna. Buyer here was G White and Son, Manor Farm, Alford, Lincs.
The second prize Williams Connolly from Hayley Clarke, Hevingham, Norfolk, then sold at 3000gns. This one is by the successful show bull Heathbrow Tristar and is out of a Dirnanean Reformer daughter Tillymaud Danielle 33rd and sold to A Greaves, Top Farm, Retford, Nottinghamsire while at the same money was the Dowley family, Lieston, Suffolk, sold Theberton Bomber, a Burghbridge Nero son out of a Craighill Number One daughter, to James Knight Farm, Manor Farm, Walcot, Falkingham.
The Simmental female and Reserve Overall Champion, Midhope Vixen 2nd, from Messrs Hollingsworth sold for 3200gns. Born February 2010, she is by Dirnanean Snowie and is out of the Pasturehouse Paleface daughter of Midhope Vixen and carries a TSI of +87 and an SRI of +85. Buyer here was Messrs Fovargue Bros, Bottom Farm, Town Farm, Coalville, the Edroda herd. The same buyers also purchased the Reserve Female champion, Grangewood Beverly from the Leedham family, at 3100gns. This one is February 2010-born as well and is by the Starline Klassik son Tilbrook Turpin and is out of Grangewood Tanya, who is a daughter of Riverdale Figaro.
At 3300gns, R W and B I Arnold, Enderby, Leics, purchased Charles Clarke’s first prize heifer, Burghbridge Crystal 5th. This one is by the Strathisla Julius son Brinkton Major and is out of the Strathisla Popeye daughter Burghbridge Crystal 2nd.
Averages:
9 Simmental bulls £2875.33
30 Simmental females £1708.00
Auctioneers:
Newark Livestock Market
by British Simmental | Apr 12, 2012 | Uncategorised
A large crowd gather for the annual Society supported Spring Show and sale at the Washingpool Sales Centre, Bristol.
The pre-sale Male Champion selected by the Judge & Society President Mr Michael Robson, Kilbride Farm, Doagh, Northern Ireland was Crackley Bobby Dazzler from M/S Booth and Bell, Crackley Farm, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, this June 2010 son of Lamhoj Supery sold for the day’s top price of 5000gns.
Reserve Male Champion Grangewood Bono, an Omorga Volvo son from Mr & Mrs AS & YA Leedham, Gunby Lea Farm, Grangewood, Netherseal, Swadlincote, Derbyshire sold for 4000gns.
Next best at 3800gns was Hemingford Billy form Mr JA Griffin & Mrs S Arkley, Hemingford Park, Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire this 2nd place bull sired by Wistow Johnson and with several influential bloodlines in his pedigree.
Selling at 3500gns was another form M/S Booth and Bell, Crackley Farm, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, second in his class Crackley Bazooka by Farnborough Trailblazer.
Females topped at 3400gns for the Champion from Mr J McMillan, Brandane Bella a Sterling Viking 2nd daughter has a milk figure of +9.
Second top price female and Reserve Female Champion was from the inform stable of Mr & Mrs AS & YA Leedham Gunby Lea Farm, Grangewood, Netherseal, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, this Dirnanean Salvador daughter sold for 3250gns.
Third and Forth priced females were both from Mr D Bush, Bridge Farm, Poole Keynes, Cirecenster, Gloucester making 2650gns the second placed heifer Chapman Star’s Bilberry sired by Heywood Statesman, and another Statesman daughter, Chapman Lovage’s Barberry making 2400gns
Averages:
9 bulls £3,290
12 Females £2,100
Auctioneers: Stags
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