NI Simmental Breeders Mark Another Successful Year at Enniskillen Show

by Iain | Jul 3, 2011 | Uncategorised

An absolutely fantastic show with some really strong classes was how County Cork judge, Keith Vickery, described the Simmental entry at Enniskillen Show.

“The junior heifer class was very strong, featuring a number of exceptional heifers at the top of the line-up – real prospects for the future! I believe that some of the best Simmental genetics in the world are owned by breeders in Ireland and Scotland, and this was evident by the quality of cattle presented to me today,” said Mr Vickery who runs 20 pedigree Simmental cows in his Roscarbery herd.

“It has been a pleasure to judge this year’s show. Exhibitors have brought out a mix of very good cattle in all classes. The junior bull class had twelve entries, and there were some very smart young calves to choose from.”

The County Fermanagh Farming Society event marked the end of the 2011 provincial show season, with Simmental breeders travelling from throughout the country to compete for the plaudits at the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year final. The results of the Northern Bank’s prestigious Male and Female of the Year competition were also revealed at the one-day show.

The male and supreme overall championship went to the senior bull class winner, Drumlone Anchor, owned jointly by Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge and William Nelson, Rosslea

“This is a super senior bull. I saw him in Stirling at the bull sales last year and he has matured into a good muscly bull. He’ll never be the biggest, but he is hard to match for muscle, breed character and style.”

Lifting the reserve supreme award was the female champion, Clonguish Bambi, owned by brothers Shane and Paul McDonald from Tempo. “This is a super show heifer with power and style, and she was sparkling on the day,” added the judge.

The prestigious Northern Bank Male and Female of the Year competition has been running since 1997. The winners are determined using a points system which has been running at various nominated shows throughout the summer.

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club secretary, Robin Boyd, announced the results, and the commemorative crystal awards and rosettes were presented by the bank’s head of agriculture, John Henning, and local agri-business manager, Trevor Johnston.

The 2011 Male of the Year award was won by David Hazelton’s junior bull Ranfurly Barrister. This 19-month-old home-bred entry was sired by Whitemire King Kong, and is bred from the Raceview King daughter, Raceview Mandy Beauty – full sister to Raceview Merle Beauty, dam of the record 20,000 Euro Curraheen Tyson.

Throughout the show season he was unbeaten in the junior bull class and secured six successive reserve supreme championship titles, and the reserve male championship at Enniskillen Show.

Messrs Richardson and Nelson won the Reserve Male of the Year Award with Drumlone Anchor. This May 2009 born bull made his debut at Omagh Show and has four successive supreme titles to his credit. Bred by Kenny Veitch, Lisbellaw, he was the junior and supreme Perth champion in October 2010, and was purchased by his new owners for 10,000gns. Sired by Seigfried, his dam is the Freighduff Brendan daughter, Broomfield Treasure – 2008 Reserve Female of the Year.

The 2011 Female of the Year award was won by the McDonald family’s Clonguish Bambi, who had attained a full complement of points during the show season. This heifer needs no introduction, having secured the supreme championship titles at Balmoral, Ballymena, Ballymoney and Armagh shows, the reserve overall award at Omagh, and the reserve female title at Clogher. This stylish February 2010 born heifer was sired by the noted Raceview King.

Claiming the Reserve Female of the Year title was Ranfurly Weikel 3rd, a home-bred junior cow from David Hazelton’s herd in Dungannon. This February 2008 born Hillcrest Champion daughter was accompanied by her Blackford Harvester heifer calf. She was unbeaten in her class and was reserve female champion at Balmoral, Armagh and Castlewellan shows. Ranfurly Weikel 3rd was the Female of the Year in 2009, and runner-up in 2010.

Northern Bank’s head of agriculture, John Henning said:”Northern Bank is delighted to be associated with the NI Simmental Club’s Male and Female of the Year competition. Congratulations to the winners, and all of the exhibitors who have put on a tremendous show of Simmentals throughout the summer shows and at the final.”

Traditionally Enniskillen Show hosts the final of theIvomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition. Seven pairs which had qualified at various shows in the past few months were paraded before Mr Vickery.

The Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year award was won by John Moore from Beragh, County Tyrone. The winning pair comprised of Omorga Saffron 2nd and Omorga Bambi 5th which had qualified at Clogher Show. These home-bred heifers are daughters of Cleenagh Flasher and Dripsey Super King.

A delighted John Moore said that this was his first outing to Enniskillen Show. His 25-cow herd traces back over 30 years, and has chalked up considerable success in recent years.

Keith Vickery said: ”The winners are two exceptional heifers in their own right, but I picked them because they are a matching pair, and well balanced for size and colour. ”

John Moore received the Perpetual Crystal Decanter and a 500mls pack of Ivomec Super Injection – an endectocide which kills fluke, worms and external parasites in one injection.

Standing in reserve position were Clonguish Bambi and Clonguish Brooklyn owned by Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo. Purchased privately from Joe McGarry and Sons, County Longford, these heifers were sired by Raceview King and Dripsey Super King.

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club chairmam, Pat Kelly, congratulated the winners and presented the qualifying finalists with a 200mls pack of Ivomec Super. The Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition is now in its sixth year and is kindly sponsored by Philip Clarke of Merial Animal Health.

Mr Kelly concluded: ”Its been another great show. Thanks to our judge Keith Vickery, and to our valued sponsors, Northern Bank and Merial Animal Health, without whom these competitions would not be possible. ”

Zara Stubbs, Irvinestown, received the Young Stockperson of the Year Perpetual Shield from Mrs Caroline Vickery; while John Moore’s April 2010 born Omorga Bermuda was the winner of the DANI Rosebowl for the best performance recorded bull.

Simmentals are runners up in the Steak Awards

by Iain | Jun 27, 2011 | Uncategorised

Mr John Troup of J&M Troup, Southbank Farm, Skene, Westhill received the runners up prize in the McIntosh Donald/Tesco Royal Highland Show steak competition.
Mr Troup entered a Simmental x steer weighing 374.2kg, grading -U4L.

Simmental Semen Bound for Kenya

by Iain | May 24, 2011 | Uncategorised

A substantial quantity of semen from the February 2010 Perth junior and supreme overall Simmental champion, Auchorachan Wizard, is bound for export to Kenya.

The international export deal was announced by the bull’s owner, Joe Wilson, Newry, and Asda buying manager, Anne Spencer.

Semen from the 20,000gns Auchorachan Wizard has been purchased by Everest Enterprises Ltd chief executive, John Karuga, who is establishing a herd of pedigree Simmentals.

Asda agricultural manager, Pearce Hughes, who also runs a herd of 20 pedigree Simmental cows said:”Mr Karuga first saw the Simmental breed when he visited the Royal Show in Stoneleigh several years ago. He wants to establish a herd of pedigree Simmentals and selected Auchorachan Wizard for his ease of calving and tremendous Breedplan figures.”

Auchorachan Wizard is owned by Joe Wilson and sons, Keith, Alan and Neil, who founded the 60-cow Ballinlare Farm Simmental herd in 1984.

He boasts tremendous Breedplan figures, including a terminal sire index of +30, and a self replacing index of +37, placing him in the top one per cent of the Simmental breed. Wizard is also easy calving at +4.1, compared to the breed’s average of -0.6, which, given his performance figures is a rare combination.

Asda’s buying manager, Anne Spencer added:”John Karuga supplies green beans to Asda stores throughout the UK. I’ve known him for several years and was happy to assist in his search for a Simmental bull.

The second Welsh Club sale at Welshpool Market on 19th May 2011

by Iain | May 19, 2011 | Uncategorised

Top price at £4410 was overall Champion, Chestermann Alun, born November 2009, a son of Blackford Ringleader, from N&N Gwynne, Rhosddu, Crymych, Pembs and purchased by Mr Mercer, Bowley Court Farms, Hereford.

Reserve Champion, Dolwen Alwyn from B & R L Jones of Dolwen Abergele sold
for 3400gns to AP & L M Day of Gnosall Staffs.

Other notable sales:
Grangewood Alsonso from Mr and Mrs A S Leedham, 3900gns to Mr Mercer, Bowley Court Farms

Chestermann Arwyn 2700 gns to Nutting and Pugh, Tywyn

Fortress Atlas from Mr E T Greenow, Dinedor Hereford, 2800gns to Rhyg Estate, Corwen

Crugmelyn Builder from G & E LLoyd Glanrhyd, Carms 2500gns to Llanllyfni, Caernarfon

Collins Adonis from R J Vincent, Gelliwen, Carms 2100gs to ECI Jones and
Sons Pool Quay, Welshpool

Mountainside A Star from Arwel Jones 1800gns to K R Williams of Shrewsbury.

All females entered were sold with ten quality heifers selling to 1500gns, 1200gns and 1180gns, Cows and Calves 1850gns and 1380gns.

Balmoral Show – McDonald’s win first-ever Simmental championship

by Iain | May 11, 2011 | Uncategorised

By Julie Hazelton
A small show of qualify stock was how judge, Gerard Brickley, Portlaoise, described the Simmental entry at Balmoral Show.

“Despite the small numbers forward I was pleasantly surprised by the standard and calibre of the cattle at this year’s event. All entries were well presented and displayed great locomotion,” said Mr Brickley who runs the noted Celtic herd.

Top honours went to brothers, Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, who claimed their first-ever supreme Simmental championship. The County Fermanagh duo established the Coolcran herd in 2006 and currently own nine breeding females.

Claiming the female and supreme championship ribbons was the fifteen-month-old Raceview King daughter, Clonguish Bambi, purchased privately earlier this year from Joe McGarry and Sons, County Longford.

This much admired entry is one of two heifers purchased from the McGarry family. Her herd mate, Clonguish Brooklyn by Dripsey Super King, stood second in the junior heifer class behind the champion. They teamed up to win the award for the best pair of Simmentals on show at Balmoral, instantly qualifying for the Ivomec Super Simmental Pair of the Year competition.

Clonguish Bambi is no stranger to show success, having won the junior heifer calf championship at Virginia Show, and the breed championships at Oldcastle and Mohill shows in 2010. “We couldn’t decide between the two heifers, so we bought both of them,” said Paul McDonald.

“The champion is a stylish and eye-catching heifer. She is an early maturing animal, very wide and exactly the type of animal we should be breeding,” stressed the judge.

Gerard Brickley awarded the male and reserve supreme championship ribbons to the junior bull class winner, Ranfurly Barrister, shown by David Hazelton, Dungannon. This January 2010 born Whitemire King Kong son also scooped the exhibitor-bred championship award.

“The reserve champion is a very powerful and uniform bull. He has good locomotion and is wide through the shoulder and topline,” added the judge.

The senior cow class was led by Jonathan Farrell, Markethill, who brought out the five-year-old Kilbride Farm Newry daughter, Woodford Tulip.

David Hazelton also won the junior cow class with the home-bred first calver, Ranfurly Weikel 3rd. This Hillcrest champion daughter was accompanied by her November born Blackford Harvester heifer calf. “It’s good to see a cow working hard. This is a big framed cow with a good udder and a nice heifer calf at foot,” said Gerard Brickley.

The intermediate heifer class was won by Barnattin Amanda, a September 2009 born Seepa Tee Jay daughter brought out by Derek Costello who made the trip to Belfast from Drogheda in County Louth. The judge added: “She is a nice feminine heifer, very correct and smooth throughout.”

Leading the senior bull class was the October 2008 born Saltire Talent son, Auchorachan Wizard, shown by Joe Wilson and Sons, Newry, County Down. Gerard Brickley added:”This bull is very long and has great hindquarters. He walked out well and has obviously been working in the herd. He should develop and mature into a big powerful bull.”

Specials

British Simmental Cattle Society Award for the supreme champion: Shane and Paul McDonald. Reserve: David Hazelton

Bobbie Dickson Perpetual Trophy, for the supreme champion: Shane and Paul McDonald.

Imex Perpetual Cow Bell, and Bangor and Six Road Ends Farmers’ Union Perpetual Trophy, for the female champion: Shane and Paul McDonald. Reserve: David Hazelton.

Bobbie Gamble Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best heifer: Shane and Paul McDonald.

William Black Memorial Perpetual Cup, and NI Simmental Club Trophy, for the male champion: David Hazelton. Reserve: Joe Wilson.

News Letter Shield, for the junior champion: Shane and Paul McDonald.

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club Silver Award for the exhibitor-bred champion: David Hazelton.

Classes

Cow, born before 1/1/08, in-calf or with calf at foot – 1, Jonathan Farrell, Markethill, Woodford Tulip by Kilbride Farm Newry.

Cow or heifer, born in 2008, in-calf or with calf at foot – 1, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Weikel 3rd by Hillcrest Champion; 2, Derek Costello, Drogheda, Barnattin Whitney by Gretna House Supersonic.

Heifer, born between 1/7/09 and 31/12/09 – 1, Derek Costello, Barnattin Amanda by Seepa Tee Jay.

Heifer, born on or after 1/1/10 – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo, Clonguish Bambi by Raceview King; 2, Shane and Paul McDonald, Clonguish Brooklyn by Dripsey Super king; 3, Mrs Thelma Gorman, Armagh, Woodford Bluebell by Sacombe Edgar.

Bull, born on or before 31/12/09 – 1, Joe Wilson, Newry, Auchorachan Wizard by Saltire Talent; 2, Raymond Wallace, Florencecourt, Broomfield Awesome by Delfur T-Bone.

Bull, born on or after 1/1/10 – 1, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Barrister by Whitemire King Kong; 2, Raymond Wallace, Feenagh Brendan by Freighduff Brendan.

Pair, property of exhibitor – 1, Shane and Paul McDonald; 2, David Hazelton; 3. Raymond Wallace.

Thirsk Show and Sale

by British Simmental | May 10, 2011 | Uncategorised

Thirsk Show and Sale on 10th May judged by Mr George Young.

Bulls topped at 1500gn For Scarthingwell Brandysnap, a Pasturefields Hartshorne son out of a Brinkton Brilliant daughter, from Mr & Mrs D Pick, Scarthingwell Farm, Scarthingwell, Tadcaster.

3 bulls averaged £1513.75

Female trade topped at 2000gn for Blakewell Gayles Pandora , a Rickardstown Jumbo daughter with her calf at foot consigned from I & M Steele, Blakewell Farm,Easlington, Hull and bought by Mr Soutar from Arbroath.

The Female Champion Tidkin Sapphire a Nethan Landsman daughter & calf at foot Mr G Towers, Turners Arms Farm, Yearby, Redcar, Cleveland sold for 1900gns.

11 females averaged £1381.70