What was announced about the Dirnanean Simmental herd on February 23, 2015?

One of the longest established and most successful Simmental herds in the UK is to be dispersed on Saturday, September 12th at United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre.

Finlay McGowan’s Dirnanean herd based by Blairgowrie is famous for consistently producing bulls, which have appealed to both commercial and pedigree breeders.

Bulls have always been produced naturally with performance and fertility the top priority.  Sires, which have been influential in the herd, include Stuartslaw Joseph, Arkmill Franklyn and the imported Canadian bull AWL Polar.

Dirnanean has produced three record-priced bulls – Nugget, Typhoon and Bradley.

Included in the sale will be 66 cows with calves at foot/in calf along with in calf heifers and maiden heifers, two stock bulls and some semen.

Mr McGowan said: “Over 43 years Judy and I have built up a herd we are proud of. We have had a fair bit of success along the way, a lot of fun and made some very good Simmental friends all around the world.

“It is now time for Neil to put his mark on the Simmental breed and he has recently established his own Incheoch herd based on the five oldest cows and the youngest half of the 2014 born heifers from the Dirnanean herd. All other females will be offered at the sale. We hope that the next generation of McGowans have as much pleasure and success as we have had.”

David Leggat, Executive Chairman of United Auctions said: “We’re delighted to conduct this prestigious sale. For more than four decades Finlay and Judy McGowan have been pioneers within the breed.  Their focus has always been on genetics to suit the current market and high performing Dirnanean bred cattle have also enjoyed success in the show ring.