Dungannon Spring Sale

by British Simmental | Apr 6, 2009 | Uncategorised

Delight for William and Keith as Rehall herd tops Simmental Show and Sale

Report by Robert Forde NI Club PRO

Following on from a tremendous February Simmental sale at Perth, Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders Club members saw averages greatly increased at their Annual Spring Show and Sale in Dungannon Farmers Mart on Monday evening, 6th April 2009.

With an excellent show of quality stock this annual club fixture is widely recognised as a unique opportunity to acquire bloodlines which have hitting the headlines across the water. Attracting vast attention resulting in a packed gallery and viewing from a considerable distance for many, sale ring proceedings saw bull prices increase to average £2450, up some £450 on the year. Underpinned by an outstanding show of quality commercial breeding heifers which peaked at £1400 twice and to an average of close to £840 each for some 51 heifers sold it demonstrated the desire of the province’s suckler farmers to have Simmental in their herds.

William and Keith Stubbs’ Rehall herd from Irvinestown, certainly took the show and sale by storm. Having been awarded the Supreme and Male Championship for Rehall William, by judge William Ferguson earlier in the evening, the father and son departed the sale ring delighted when their Hillcrest King sired bull realised the evening’s top price of 5100 gns. Born in January 2008, from the homebred Sterling Flint sired cow, Rehall Sophie, their sale topper sold to John O’Rawe, Gracehill, Ballymena.

Pat and Frank Kelly travelled from Tempo with an entry of two bulls from the Ashland Herd. The third prizewinning Ashland Victorious, sired by Raceview King and from the Raceview Nigel daughter, Ashland Rosy sold for 4200 gns to Alan McFarland, Omagh, while his herdmate, the winner of the red rosette in class two, Ashland Vince 2nd sold for 3000 gns to John McCloskey, Claudy. Vince was bred from the Freighduff Brendan daughter, Ashland Pretty Lucy and sired by Camus Pioneer.

David Hazelton, Dungannon, saw the best on offer from his Ranfurly herd also peak at 3000 gns. This was for the second prizewinning Ranfurly Vitalis V25 – sired by Salisbury Challenger, Vitalis boosted a +10 for milk, and from the Balist daughter Ranfurly Kleeb 7th, he sold to George Quinn, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn. Another second prizewinner, Ranfurly Victorious V26 sired by Haxent and bred from similar dam lines to the herd’s top price bull, he sold to David Foster, Derrylin, for 2800 gns. The Ranfurly herd sold five bulls to average 2300 gns.

Cecil McIlwaine, the newly installed N.I. Simmental club chairman together with son Neil, travelled from Newtownstewart, with the Corrick herd’s sole bull entry, Corrick Wonderboy. Sired by Kilbride Farm Newry, this second prizewinning son of the Sterling Flint sired Darsham Mirabelle sold for 2800 gns to W. R. McFarland, Omagh.

The October 2007 born Camus Vincent came up trumps for Joe and May Campbell, Strabane, when their Brinkton Brilliant sired son sold for 2600 gns to Edward O’Hagan, Drumlea, Omagh.

In the pedigree female section, trade was once again topped by William and Keith Stubbs. This time around it was the yearling maiden heifer, Rehall Winnie which led the way in the sale ring at 3300 gns. Sired by Kilbride Farm Newry and from the homebred Hillcrest King sired Rehall Sian, Winnie sold to Jonathan Farrell, Markethill, Co. Armagh.

Lifting the Reserve Championship and best opposite sex to the champion was Corrick Vida, exhibited by the McIlwaine family. This Derrycallaghan Hamilton daughter was much admired in show and sale ring before selling for 3100 gns to Ken Clarke, Tynan.

Kenneth Veitch, having enjoyed summer show success with Drumlone Wisteria at the World Congress event in Omagh back in June, collected a third prize ticket this time around before selling his Celtic Starbuck sired daughter at 2500 gns to John Glasgow, Cookstown.

Overall thirteen pedigree heifers averaged £2000, up some £350 on the year.

Trade for the entry of 50 commercial maiden heifers resulted in a tremendous average of £840 per head.

Leading the way at £1400 was one of an entry of seven choice heifers from the Killadeas farm of Kenneth Stubbs, which averaged was an impressive £990 each. His sale topper weighed in at 450 kgs (£311.10 per 100 kgs) closely followed by 450 kgs £1100 and 450 kgs £1060.

A sole entry from Norman Reid, Lisnaskea, also sold at £1400. Victor Graham, Tempo, exhibited three quality heifers to average £1020 each, to a peak of £1060 twice.

Robert Mawhinney, Draperstown, saw his entry of seven sell to a top price of £1040 (420 kgs) and average a highly creditable £875.

Meanwhile, Frank Cunning saw his sole entry reach £1000.

Thanks are extended to the Northern Bank for their generous sponsorship of the event.

Results from the judging ring:

BULLS
Class 1: 1st, Joe Wilson, Ballinalare Farm Virgil; 2nd, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Vitalis; 3rd, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Venus.

Class 2: 1st, Pat Kelly, Ashland Vince; 2nd, David Hazelton, Ranfurly Victorious; 3rd, Jonathan Fowler, Moss View Victor.

Class 3: 1st, M/s. William and Keith Stubbs, Rehall William; 2nd, Cecil McIlwaine, Corrick Wonderboy; 3rd, Pat Kelly, Ashland Victorious.

Class 4: 1st, Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Wayne; 2nd, Norman Weatherup, Slimero Warrior; 3rd, Adrian Richardson, Cleenagh Woodpecker.

HEIFERS:
Class 5: 1st, Cecil McIlwaine, Corrick Vida; 2nd, Eamon McCloskey, Drumagarner Vanilla; 3rd, Kenneth Veitch, Drumlone Wisteria.

Class 6: 1st, M/s. William and Keith Stubbs, Rehall Winnie; 2nd, Leslie Weatherup, Lisglass Winsone; 3rd, M/s. William and Keith Stubbs, Rehall Wendy.

Supreme and Male Champion, M/s William and Keith Stubbs, Rehall William;

Reserve Champion and Best Opposite Sex, Cecil McIlwaine, Corrick Vida.

Perth Annual Spring Show and Sale of Simmental Bulls and Females

by British Simmental | Feb 17, 2009 | Uncategorised

SIMMENTALS HIT NEW BREED RECORD AVERAGE FOLLOWING HUGE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMERCIAL BUYERS

Commercial buyers were to the fore, when the Simmentals at Perth saw a new breed record average of £4554, with an increased number sold and a 90% clearance at this week’s sale. The bulls followed the sound female trade of the previous evening, when they peaked at 16,000gns with five bulls making five figure prices. The increased need for replacement females in the suckler herds and a weight for age ratio on store and finished animals which surpasses most other breeds, has seen the Simmentals go from strength to strength throughout the UK.

There was support from the traditional Simmental cross areas but also an increased demand again from those areas, which have been dominated by other breeds in the past. Northern Ireland breeders led the way with an outstanding group of cattle from the Province, which attracted the modern commercial buyers looking for good conformation bulls with good figures to back them up. It is becoming increasingly difficult to sell bulls with poor or no figures. An improved selection of Senior Bulls, set the target for the intermediate and Junior bulls to come and buyers had come prepared to pay for the quality they were looking for. Such was the demand, that some buyers went home empty handed and this bodes well for the sales still to come.

Top price of the day went to Billy and Anne MacPherson, when they sold their 1st prize Intermediate Bull Blackford Viceroy for 16,000gns to Messrs McKenzie for commercial purposes Viceroy is by Kilbride Farm Strabane out of Blackford Gloria. Viceroy had some particularly good EBV’s to back him up on both weight and milk where he carries +5. Next top price was the first of the Northern Ireland bulls who stood Reserve Senior Champion in judge John Moore, Omorga Herd’s final line up. A Kilbride Farm Newry son, he is out of the same dam as Samark Superman who sold for 10,000gns in Perth in 2007. Adrian Ivory, Strathisla farms parted with 14,000gns to purchase his sale choice to join his pedigree and commercial herd at Strathisla, Meigle, Perth.

The overall and Intermediate Champion, Shanehill Victor from Barry Chambers, Portadown, Craigavon, N. Ireland produced a bid of 11,000gns from Clive Houldey, The Dods, Lauder, Berwickshire to join his Manorpark Simmental herd. Victor is another AI son of the famous Kilbride Farm Newry and again out of a Samark Cow, this time Samark Bluebell. He also has impressive growth and milk figures to back him up. Another 11,000gns bid secured the Junior Champion, Stralongford Viking for J. A. Ellis. Exhibited by Andrew Hanna, Rawe, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh he is an AI grand son of Raceview King, by Dripsey Superking out of an Omorga Murray cow, Strolongford Sinead.

The reserve intermediate Championship also went to Northern Ireland when Slimero Victory 2 picked up the ticket from John Moore. Bred by Norman Weatherup, he was purchased at the Dungannon sale in the autumn by J.L & C.J. Weatherup and Harold Stubbs. He subsequently attracted a bid of 10,000gns from Pitgaveny Farms. W.H. Robson and Sons also attracted a 10,000 gns bid for their leader Kilbride Farm Vernon. A son of the successful Seaview Price Charming who has previously bred bulls to 10,000gns, he is out of a Kilbride Farm Newry cow, Kilbride Farm Jessica 2R and sold to Messrs Bruce. Vernon helped take the Robson Family to a record average of £7379 for 7 bulls sold.

SIMMENTAL FEMALES IN DEMAND

The trade for Simmental females peaked at 6,000gns for the reserve champion, Sterling Petras Tracey, from Stephen Hitchins, Boddington, Cheltenham.

This October 2006-born in-calf heifer is by Sterling Parliamentarian and out of a dam by Sterling Flint. The hammer fell to C.R. Fovargue, Coleorton, Leicester, who was bidding over the telephone.

Next best for the Sterling herd was 5,000gns for another Parliamentarian daughter, Sterling Roxanne’s Verona. Born in September 2007 this heifer sold to Sandy Stephen, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

Other leading prices for Sterling heifers included one at 4,500gns and two at 4,000gns.

A draft of heifers from Finlay McGowan, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, sold to a peak of 5,200gns for Dirnanean Vaila. This Starline Nelson daughter is out of Dirnanean Polo. The buyers were Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Preston, Lancashire. Next best for Dirnanean stock was 4,200gns.

Making 4,500gns was Corskie Tipsi part of a draft from J. Green, Fochabers, Moray. September 2006-born Tipsi is by Strathisla Nuggat and sold in-calf to Islavale Sabre. It was knocked down to Leslie Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

640 Champion Female Sterling Roxanne’s Verona

621 Reserve Champion Female Sterling Pertra’s Tracey

United Auctions, Perth
Agricultural Centre, Huntingtower Park, Perth. PH1 3JJ
Tel. 01738 626183 Fax. 01738 636934
E-Mail. perth@uagroup.co.uk

www.uagroup.co.uk

Carlisle Autumn Sale

by British Simmental | Nov 14, 2008 | Uncategorised

Despite a busy ringside at the Simmental Sale on Friday 14th November 2008, there were a limited number of buyers for the improved selection of bulls forward. The females however were in demand as usual and all were sold.

Wendy Black, of Kirkstone herd at High Fold Farm, Troutbeck, Windermere, saw both her champion and reserve champions reach a joint top price of 2000gns.

Overall Champion Swingletree Viking from Allan Tallentire, High Grieseburn, Great Asby, Appleby, was the first to sell for 2000gns to Messrs McDowall & Co, Culquhasen, Glen Luce, Newton Stewart. This 19 month old son of Popes Laird out of Brinkton Mary, had outstanding figures and conformation.

Another with similar outstanding figures was the Reserve Champion, Gerrard Viceroy from Robert and Andrew Carter, Gerrard House Wigton. He is by Needwood Nelson and out of a homebred Gerrard Belinda 36th by Sacombe Wishfull Thinking. He sold to KG Holliday, Near Strudda Bank, Calderbridge, Seascale, Cumbria.

Top female price of the day, Blackpool Thingumajig, from David Loftus, Blackpool reductions sale also went to Sandy McDowall.

Averages
7 bulls £1,657.50
5 females £1,005.90
Blackpool Herd – 12 head 918.75

Perth Autumn Show and Sale

by British Simmental | Oct 22, 2008 | Uncategorised

The Simmental Bull sale at Perth showed that confidence in the breed is continuing. With averages only slightly back on last year the quality bulls sold well to both Pedigree and commercial buyers although due to an increase in spring calving there is normally an increased demand from the commercial sector during the February sale. This also reflected in the percentage clearance which was back slightly on last year as this trend continues.

The top price of the day went to Finlay McGowan’s Dirnanean Herd when he sold Dirnanean Vincent for 12 000gns to Alex and Ross Kings’ Woolfstar Herd at Ormiston in East Lothian. He showed outstanding figures in both Terminal Sire Index and Self Replacing Index continuing a definite increased trend at the sale for bulls with good figures.

Senior bulls sold well with the second top price of 10 000gns coming from the second bull in the ring Hollywood Tinsley from Brian Phillips when he travelled north to Mr John Wilkie Braigiewell in Echt. Two other bulls made 10 000gns. The first when Finlay McGowan parted with his earlier income and bought John Young’s Skerrington Vanguard. The other 10 000gns bid came from W. A. Galloway and Son from Newton Stewart to join their 170 cow commercial herd when they purchased Hector Macaskill’s Woodhall Vauxhall.

Further details of the top prices are as follows:-

Averages
75 bulls averaged £4086
2007 – 75 bulls averaged £4134

FEMALES SALE REPORT

Following a summer of private sales for quality females a packed ringside at Perth saw a reduced entry from last year average at £1963.50 for the 30 heifers forward and £1470 for 5 cows and calves.

The draft heifers from Brian Allan at Glenturk were the outstanding show of the day with the top price being paid for Glenturk Tessa when she sold to Leslie Weatherup Lisglass Northern Ireland for 4400 gns. Champion at the pre sale show judged by Robin Boyd Northern Ireland was Boddington Estates’ Sterling Jools Vienna who sold to Messrs Stephen & Co Burnside of Idoch Turriff.

Top prices were as follows:-

AVERAGES
5 Cows and Calves £1479.00
30 Heifers £1963.50

2007: 82 Females Averaged £1709.07

United Auctions
Agricultural Centre Huntingtower Park Perth. PH1 3JJ
Tel. 01738 626183 Fax. 01738 636934

www.uagroup.co.uk

Bristol Show and Sale

by British Simmental | Oct 16, 2008 | Uncategorised

SUCCESSFULL INAUGURAL SIMMENTAL SALE AT BRISTOL LOOKS SET TO CONTINUE

With The current regulations on BTV the Simmental Cattle Society ran its inaugural autumn sale of pedigree cattle at Bristol to assisit members to market cattle, which were unable to travel to other sales throughout the country asthey had done in the past. Held in conjunction with Stags and McCartneys Auctioneers, on a joint sale day with the Aberdeen Angus Society, the sale proved to be a great success and is set to continue in the future.

Top price of the day went to Messrs L.J. & A.J. Curry, Lowerdown Farm, Felton, Bristol when their bull Winford Valiant sold for 3000gns to Messrs Howell, Ton Farm, Mcrthry, Mawr, Bridgend. Valiant is by the well known Kilbride Farm Newry. Coming closely behind at 2,900gns was Shebdon Valiant,a polled bull by Chamondeley Neville, who sold to Messrs Hill, Great Newra Farm, Gold Cliff, Newport Gwent.

Top priced female of the day was Tilbrook Vanilla from Peter Burgess, Tillbrook Farm, Lower Boddington, Daventry, Northamptonshire, when she sold for 2,100gns. This daughter of Arkmill Franklin out of Tillbrook Rebecca went to joint the pedigree herd of Mr. A. Gummow, High Killiworgie Farm, Blackcross, Newquay together with two other lots from the sale, Lynfield Topsy and Lynfield Velvet 2nd from Messrs A. E & C Bishop, Church Farm, Finchampstead, Woking at 920gns and 1000gns respectively.

A good dispersal of cattle from Messrs G. L. & S. M. Kings’ Hystfield Herd at Pedington Elm Farm, Berkley, Gloucestershire, peaked at 1250gns twice when Hystfield Poppet and Hystfield Rose sold with their calves at foot.

Other leading prices were as follows:-

AVERAGES
2 BULLS AVE £1986
26 FEMALES AVE £1029

Bristol Show and Sale

by British Simmental | May 10, 2008 | Uncategorised