by Iain | Dec 29, 2011 | Uncategorised
Ever since the development of the ‘barley beef’ system by Dr T.R Preston at the Rowettt Research Institute during the late 1950’s there has been an intensive beef system at Harper Adams. The beef unit rears Holstein and Continental cross Holstein bulls from the 400 head dairy unit and provides three resources.
Firstly the beef cattle are used for teaching purposes for students to monitor performance and learn how to select cattle for slaughter. Secondly to provide a research facility for ‘production focused’ experiments for final year BSc students and over the years we have evaluated numerous breeds, feeds and supplements. Thirdly to show ‘best practice and make a profit’. Thankfully we exceed ‘top 1/3rd’ performance targets but this is done with attention to detail with husbandry and management.
We have recently finished a batch of over 30 Simmental x Holstein bulls.
They recorded a DLWG from 3 months old of 1.48kg to slaughter weights of 591kg at 13.3 months old. They killed out at 55.3% with R grade carcasses weighing 327kg having consumed 2.28 tonnes of feed at an FCR of 4.74. This performance significantly exceeds the EBLEX targets for continental bulls and is some of the best performance we have achieved when compared to other continental breeds reared through the Harper Adams beef unit. I would comment that the Simmentals were bred from bulls with top 10% Terminal Indexes with positive Caving Ease Direct EBVs.
This is always the type of beef bull we use on our dairy herd, and is based on all of our research evaluating progeny from beef bulls with different Terminal Indexes.
The performance of the Simmentals is shown in the table below in comparison to the Holstein bulls reared alongside them. The Simmentals as we would expect produced significantly higher DLWGs, slaughter weights, grades and FCRs and were obviously so much ‘easier on the eye’ compared to the Holsteins!
The bulls were weighed at slaughter ‘gut full’ so therefore the killing out percentage appears relatively low. If they had been weighed ‘gut empty’ as per at market or in the abattoir then the killing out would be increased by approximately 2 percentage units.
In 2009/10 our cereal fed Simmental bulls recorded gross margins of £343 per bull which was very respectable. We are of course well aware of what has happened to cereal prices this last year which is going to put pressure on margins for intensive finishing systems but thankfully as I write this article (May 2011) finished beef prices are starting to rise and climb over £3.00/kg which is ‘good news’.
by British Simmental | Oct 18, 2011 | Uncategorised
Commercial trade led to a tremendously high clearance of top quality bulls with 38 selling for over 5,000gns. The Simmental breed has the ability to cross with any other breed to produce top quality milky replacements and also have the terminal abilities and DLWG that can match any other breed. The driving of health within the breed gives our customers confidence in the animals led to the best October sale the breed has seen in recent times.
With a jam packed ringside the sale got off to a flying start with Jim & Patricia Goldie’s bull (Newbiemains) Newbiemains Apache by Woodhall Sympa with a TSI of +23 & SRI +25, he sold to D & P Cornthwaite, Lockerbie Dumfries.
Topping the sale and equalling the breed record of 22,000gns was Dirnanean Bradley which also was 1st in his class, his TSI is +32 & SRI +37, he was by Halenook Vargner he sold to the Corskie Herd, Fochabers, Moray this is the second time the McGowan’s have sold to 22,000gns and of the three equal top price bulls sold, the McGowan’s have bred two of them.
Next to sold at 16,000, selling from Mr W G MacPherson, he was 1st in his class and made Reserve Junior Champion Blackford Ben Mhor he was by Curlieu Knight and held a TSI of +23 and SRI of +27, he sold to Mr Richard McCulloch, Overhill House, Armadale, West Lothian, next best selling bull went to the Supreme Champion and Intermediate Champion Corrick Benson by Omorga Tarbuck and bred by Mr C McILwaine, he sold to Mr Brian Grant Druid Temple Farm, Inverness for 12,000gns he held a TSI of +29 and SRI of +32.
Boswell Bullet bred by Douglas Smith 10,000gns he was by Hockenhull Matthew and held a TSI of +32 and a SRI of +37 he sold to Mr T Coghill, Orkney.
The next best price went to Woodhall Brandon he has a TSI of +29 & a SRI of +35 and was bred by Mr H Macaskill and was sold for 8,500 to Mr D Leslie, Redhill Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin.
Next to sell was the Borlase bred bull Sacombe Balmoral he sold for 8,000gns with a TSI of +25 and SRI+30 he went to Ann & Tony Jukes, Swallowhill House, Sandhurst Kent, the next was sold at 7,800gns for the bull bred by Mr J Dykes Mendick Butch (picture to follow) which holds a TSI of +36 and an SRI of +46 and was by Omorga Volvo was purchased by Mr S R Hitchins of Boddington Estates, Burghbridge Bernard (picture to follow), Senior Champion was then sold at 7,500gns he was bred by Mr C J G Clarke and purchased by Mr W J Barclay, Ardiecow Farm, Fordyce, Banff.
Dirnanean Bali-Hi (picture to follow) realised 7,500gns he was bred by Mr F J A McGowan and was by Halenook Vargner he held a TRI of +32 and SRI of +42 he was purchased by Mr & Mrs B Wise, Hall Farm, Skipton on Swale, Thirsk.
Omorga Bermuda (picture to follow) also realised 7,500gns, he was by Omorga Volvo and held an TSI of +28 and a SRI of +36 bred by Mr John Moore was sold to Mr R H Gladstone, Thornhill, Dumfries.
The Stronachs’ sold 2 bulls at 7,200gns, Islavale Bamber (picture to follow) both by Chestermann Varney (TRI +27 SRI +32) was purchased by Bill Aitken, Preston Farm, Linlithgow and Islavale Baxter (picture to follow) (TRI+24 SRI+28) was purchased by Findowie Farms, Madderty, Creiff, Perthshire.
There were 108 bulls sold to a average of £4841.00 which was up £482 on the year for 24 more sold in October.
Female Champions
Female Champion and 1st in Class Strathisla Angelina’s Haka bred by Strathisla Farms. Purchased by Mr Simmers (Doric) for 4,500gns.
Reserve Female Champion and 1st in Class Boars Head Miranda 2nd bred by Mr R J Grenham. Purchased by Mr Hunter, Luckenburn Farm, Salmannan, Falkirk for 2,000gns.
8 sold to a sales average of £2716
Show Winners
Overall Champion and Intermediate Champion Corrick Benson by Omorga Tarbuck bred by Mr C McIlwaine
Reserve Overall Champion and Junior Champion by Auchorachan Barney by Saltire bred by D & R Durno & Sons
Reserve Intermediate Corrick Brutus by Omorga Tarbuck bred by Mr C McIlwaine
Female Champion
Strathisla Angelinas Hake by Omorga Samson bred by Strathisla Farms
Reserve Female Champion
Boars Head Miranda 2nd by Seaview Prince Charming bred by R Grenham
Senior Champion
Burghbridge Bernard by Strathisla Popeye bred by Mr C Clarke
Reserve Senior Champion
Kilbride Farm Buster by Kilbride Farm Newry bred by W H Robson
Reserve Junior Champion Blackford Ben Mhor by Curlieu Knight bred by Mr W G MacPherson
Auctioneers: www.uagroup.co.uk
by Iain | Sep 29, 2011 | Uncategorised
Dennis Mitchell runs the family business at Station Farm, Thursford, Fakenham in Norfolk on behalf of the Mitchell Partnership Family Trust, and trust is exactly what they have put in Simmental for many years.
120 Simmental cows are split into two calving groups, half from mid January until the end of March and the back-end group from mid August until October. The enterprise runs on 260 acres of mostly meadow type grass (poor quality ground) with 75% of the grass in Stewardship Schemes. Straw is sourced locally on a straw in and muck out agreement. 350 tons of grass silage and 700 tons of maize silage are produced annually. The herd is run commercially but most of the cows are Pedigree Registered. 10% of heifers are retained annually and the herd is relatively young.
All cows are over wintered on a TMR.
Spring calving cows – calves are weaned in the middle of September, creep is introduced when the calves are two months old, it is a 16% protein finishing blend and maize silage is fed after weaning. Last year’s spring bull calves averaged 400kg with a top of 430kg dead weight, coming to an average of £1075 and a top of £1204, all were away before they were 13 months old. Heifer calves are also weaned in September, and then over wintered on a TMR containing grass and maize silage, minerals and protein balancer.
Autumn calving cows – bull calves weaned at the end of March at 7-8 months old then finished on the same finishing blend and maize silage, the silage intake is 7-8kg per head per day.
Heifers are also weaned in March, turned out onto grass then over wintered the following year in open yards on the same ration as spring born heifers.
The autumn bull calves are always slightly heavier and also younger than the spring born bulls when slaughtered.
3 or 4 bulls are retained every year and brought out for breeding. Some Heifers are sold privately off the farm.
Bulls are traded through H G Blake of Norwich. Live cattle are traded through Newark market with the majority at one sale in the spring. Sale toppers from last year’s spring store sales included 10 yearling heifers @ £1050, 10 of 14 month old heifers@ £1350
The minerals used at Station farm are specific to the farm to balance any deficiencies in the grass.
The herd is in the SAC cattle health scheme but they do not routinely vaccinate for anything other than regulatory blue tongue.
All females over 6 months are treated with a pulse release bolus and copper and selenium boluses before going to the grass and then dosed for fluke at housing and a low cost mectin wormer two weeks after housing.
The system is simple and profitable or as Dennis says “the cows keep me, not me keeping the cows.”
“As either a terminal sire or for breeding replacements the Simmental ticks all the boxes.”
by Iain | Sep 15, 2011 | Uncategorised
Semex UK are delighted to add a show winning Simmental bull to the ‘Semex Beef Team’ range of bulls.
Chyanhal Amos bred by Mrs Penny Lally won several breed Championships through the summer and culminated with a big win at the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge taking Supreme Champion Simmental under the expert eye of Mr Chris Martindale in strong competition.
Philip Halhead purchased Amos at the Royal Cornwall show on behalf of Semex to continue the aggresive expansion of the Beef stud. ” Semex supply the very best Holstein genetics to dairy farmers in the UK and Ireland and increasingly these same farmers are seeing the added value of using easy calving but high value beef sires on the dairy cows, no longer needed to breed dairy replacements” commented Philip.
“Amos is the ideal bull for crossing onto dairy cows as he exhibits good muscle development with a medium frame score and easy calving traits. Combine that with excellent EBVs for eye muscle area, retail meat yield, terminal production index and self replacing index, you start to understand the appeal of this modern Simmental bull”
Simmental is growing in popularity for use on dairy cows and Amos will help Semex to grow its market share.
Philip makes the point ” Dairy farmers are using more Holstein sexed semen than ever before and beef semen sales are growing every year, Semex can provide the complete package to dairy farmers and we are sure Amos will become very popular”
Semex with the help of Norbreck Genetics will put Amos through there young bull testing scheme to assess the calving ease and calf quality of calves born from dairy cows. Meadow Quality the calf purchasing company are keen to watch a bull like Amos develop and will have no hesitation in placing him on a reccommended Superior Sire list with the EBV data he exhibits.
“Cairnview Snazzy the sire of Chyanhal Amos is sired by the much admired Popes Laird a bull we have watched with great interest since his sale in Perth Auction and one that is breeding very well” stated Philip.
by Iain | Sep 5, 2011 | Uncategorised
The Burytown Herd owned by David and Nikky Field from Blunsdon, Wiltshire has been recognised by EBLEX as the Most Improved Herd of Simmental cattle for 2011.
The award is presented by the EBLEX Beef Better Returns Programme (Beef BRP) to the recorded herd that shows the greatest genetic gain for commercial traits over a 12-month period. There is a separate award for each of ten UK breeds.
The Fields took on the tenancy of the 202ha (500 acre) Burytown Farm in 1997 on behalf of Nikky’s parents, who bought the farm on their retirement. The land now carries 61ha (150 acres) of arable including winter wheat and barley, with the remainder split between grazing, silage and hay.
Initially they ran 40 commercial suckler cows mated with a Simmental bull, and 600 ewes for lamb production. When the decision was made to start a pedigree herd in 2007, the Simmental breed was the obvious choice.
“David had managed a Simmental herd in the past, and we were always impressed with the calves produced from the commercial cows,” says Mrs Field. “We wanted a breed that does well on grass with little supplementation. And with their finishing ability and quiet nature, we felt this breed gave us everything we could want.”
The herd was established with 55 heifers purchased from Perth and Carlisle sales in 2007/08, selected for depth, length and locomotion. Numbers have now risen to 65 cows and the diverse genetic base of the foundation animals has provided the opportunity to capitalise on a wide range of breeding lines and traits.
“Having worked in the pig industry we know the benefits of running breeding programmes based on figures and knowledge,” Mr Field explains.
“Buying in and managing 55 heifers has had its trials, but three calvings later we are starting to see the results of our labours. We rely heavily on Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) when selecting bulls and female replacements.
“We performance record everything, and only keep high index animals that have good EBVs for easy calving and fast growth rates. Anything not up to the mark is finished for slaughter. We definitely see this as the way forward for the herd.”
Two stock bulls were purchased to introduce new genetics to the herd, Dirnanean Typhoon from the Perth sales in 2008 and Corskie Radium bought privately in 2009. Both bulls have delivered excellent calves, and Typhoon’s semen is also being sold worldwide.
Corskie Wham, a second bull bought in 2009, has a Milk Value of +11, Terminal Production Index of +34 and a Self Replacing Index of +43, putting him in the top 1% for the breed. He moves well and has a gentle temperament and is proving to be fertile and easy-calving. His first calves show real promise.
Wham has since been joined by Beanhill Warrior who has a Terminal Production Index of +33 and a Self Replacing Index of +39, which also places him in the top 1% for the breed.
Burytown Atlas, a Typhoon son, has been retained as a junior stock bull and has a Terminal Index in the top 5% and Self Replacing Index in the top 10%. He has particularly good conformation and temperament, and is also doing well in the show ring.
Showing is seen as an important tool for promoting the herd, and is a real family affair, with daughter Hannah and son Jamie taking an active part.
“We think this is the best way for potential customers to see our stock, and we have been quite successful considering how young the herd is,” says Mr Field. “Nearly all the females bred have been sold for breeding either privately or through the Perth or Bristol Sales.”
Worthy winners
“The Fields have done an incredible job with the Burytown herd in a very short space of time,” says EBLEX breeding specialist Samuel Boon.
“Their focus on providing top quality breeding stock that produces commercially desirable progeny is to be commended. Basing all breeding decisions on records and information to make sure the herd progresses in the right direction, is certainly reaping dividends for them.”
by Iain | Aug 31, 2011 | Uncategorised
Individual Over 211st – Anwen Jones – Welsh Club
2nd – Gayle Houliston – Scottish Club
3rd – Jenna Ballantyne – Scottish Club
Individual Under 21
1st – Hannah Wood – Midlands Club
2nd – Carys Davies – Welsh Club
3rd – Rory Wood – Midlands Club
Team under 21:
1st – Hannah Wood and Hannah Shaw – Midlands Club
2nd – Harry Wood and Rory Wood – Midlands Club
3rd – Carys and Owain Davies – Welsh Club
Team over 21:
1st – Gayle Houliston and Jenna Ballantyne – Scottish Club
2nd – Emma Blomfield and Sarah Harding – South East Club
3rd – Andrea Graham and Phillip Whyte – Northern Ireland Club
Reasons winner Over 21
Anwen Jones – Welsh Club
Reasons Winner Under 21
Angharad Francis – Welsh Club
Overall Winner
Hannah Wood – Midlands Club
Reserve Overall Winner
Carys Davies – Welsh Club
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