With a firm eye to the future and the role the Simmental breed has to play, here we feature the Lancashire based Wood family with their high profile 50-cow Popes pedigree herd, and their fresh meat wholesale business, Bowland Foods. Factfile: Popes Farm, Dutton,...
Backmuir sells to 8800gns Rockytop bull at 8500gns 11 bulls average £5832.27 Simmental Bull Champion Islavale Nightrider 22 - sold for 11,000gns The May 2022 born Islavale Nightrider from Mr W S Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith made 11,000gns to lead the...
Royal Cornwall Show welcomed Vikki Wood (Popes) to judge the British Simmental Section for 2023. Seven breeders battled with high winds and soaring temperatures bringing forward twenty- four exhibits for scrutiny. Judge’s Comments I will begin by congratulating all...
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.
