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

Stirling May Multi-Breed Show and Sale

by British Simmental | May 2, 2011 | Uncategorised

Once again strong demand for the breed was shown at the Perth Multibreed Sale held in Stirling on 2nd May 2011.
32 Bulls sold giving a 82% Clearance, they were sold at a sales average of £3340.31

Topping the sale at 5500gns was Islavale Ajay, a Chestermann Varney son and was bred by Mr W S Stronach.

2nd Top price bull sold for 5000gns, Westridge Arthur by Corskie Tyson, he was bred by Mr & Mrs M Ward & Sons

3rd Top price realised was 4800gns, Falondene Bonanza 10, a Ravensworth Hermon son bred by Messrs J A & K J Dwyer.

Broombrae (Mr G L Clark) draft sale 3 sold to a sales average of £1470

Fishwick (Mr P W Close) draft sale 3 sold to a sales average of £1505

Auctioneers: www.uagroup.co.uk

Carlisle Annual Spring Sale of Simmental Bulls and Females

by British Simmental | Apr 28, 2011 | Uncategorised

It was a packed ringside of keen bidders in show of a tremendous trend for Simmental bulls at the Annual Spring Sale at the Carlisle Sale held at Harrison & Hetherington Auctioneers.

Topping the trade at 4,200gns was Blackpool Alpha by Lamhoj Supery (P), bred by J D Loftus of the Blackpool Herd in Lancashire.

Male Champion & Supreme Champion Urrvalley Alfie 09 by Dirnanean Salvador which was bred by Peter Brown, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, sold for 4,100gns, also from the same stable Urrvalley Albert a Keeldrum Schubert son sold for 4,100gns

Reserve Male Champion & Supreme Male Champion, Lyvennet Archer 09 sold for 2,100gns

14 bulls sold at a sale average of £3195.00 a clearance rate of 88%

Female Champion Blakewell Nina 7th bred by I & M Steele in East Yorkshire, sold for 1,200gns.

Reserve Female Champion was Courance Kim a Hockenhull Socrates daughter bred by A W Jack of Courance Farms, she was unsold

4 haltered females were sold for a sales average of £1,155

5 unhaltered females were sold for a sales average of £1,115

Caistor Reduction Sale
6 cows with Calves/ and incalf sold to a sales average of £1,442
3 Maiden heifers sold to a sales average of £952.00