Backmuir take Bronze in 2024 Simmental Miss Europe The results are in and British Simmental genetics are again to the fore in this year’s online 2024 Simmental Championship of Europe, taking silver in the Overall Champion of Europe, and bronze in the Simmental Miss...
Backmuir Kenzie’s Nespresso make 9500gns 8500gns Islavale Raven wins Weaned Calf Championship Maiden heifers average £5024 Simm X Hi Health heifers average £1823 The December 2023 born Islavale Peace from WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith sold for 15,000gns...
• Lisglass Heifer wins Senior Championship • Haystar Revolver lifts the Junior Championship Northern Ireland Simmental breeders were out in force at the fourth staging of the NI Club’s Annual Calf Show held on Saturday 30th November, at Ballymena Livestock Market....
Dirnanean Herd Dispersal Sale Simmental cattle enthusiasts were out in force at Stirling Agricultural Centre on Saturday 12th September to see the Dirnanean herd dispersal sale.
United Auctions executive chairman, David Leggat put the numbers around the ringside at between 400 and 500 which he described as “exceptional” for a sale featuring one consignor.
Cow and calf combinations sold to a top of 10,000 gns.
The Dirnanean herd has been carefully built up by husband and wife Finlay and Judy McGowan since the first Swiss imports were purchased back in 1973, for most of its 42 years the herd has been based at Incheoch near Alyth.
Finlay and Judy will, however, not need to look far to see a Simmental herd. Their son Neil and daughter-in-law Debbie are to start their own herd using the Incheoch prefix. They will base it on four of the oldest cows from the Dirnanean herd plus the maiden heifers from last year’s crop, all of which have been retained.
They also purchased judiciously on Saturday, buying six cow and calf combinations and two stock bulls.
The 10,000gns top price was paid by Jimmy Green of Corskie Simmentals, Fochabers, who was determined to buy the eight-year-old Halenook Panache daughter, Dirnanean Veronica. Jimmy and son Iain bought Veronica’s son Dirnanean Bradley for the record-breaking price of 22,000gns in 2012, she was sold with her Ranfurly Confederate-sired March-born bull calf at foot. The Greens also paid 5,500gns for the 29-month-old Arkmill Franklyn daughter Dirnanean Meise E4 in-calf to Dirnanean Emerald.
There was an encouraging number of buyers setting up new herds and among these was Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing. They went home with five cow and calf combinations and one heifer, with the most expensive being the 7,500 gns Dirnanean Bali, a five-year old cow by Halenook Vargner in combination with her July-born calf by Ranfurly Confederate.
Simmental cattle going back to Switzerland, now that’s a story! Three cow and calf combinations and two heifers are heading that way. A Swiss delegation paid to a top of4,500gns for the four-year-old Dirnanean Meise C12 and her heifer calf.
Neil and Debbie McGowan’s purchases were led by the 9,000 gns bid on their behalf for the rising two-year-old bull Dirnanean Emerald, an embryo transfer by Curaheen Tyson and out of Hockenhull Girlie. They also secured the three year old cow Dirnanean Redstar by Dirnanean Apostle and her April born heifer calf, also for 9,000 gns as foundation stock for their new herd.
Averages: cows with calves at foot (60) – £3,977.75; heifers (22) – £2959.09; bulls (4) – £6693.75
