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At the pre-sale show of bulls being held on Sunday May 4th at 11am, Gavin Brown of the noted Springfield Simmental herd, Penicuik, Midlothian will be the very capable ‘man in the middle’ as the judge for the day.
Gavin and his wife Anna established the Springfield herd in 2014, some four years after purchasing the 140 acre Springfield Farm situated near the Pentland Hills.
The herd was initiated with the purchase of two cows with calves at foot from the local Woodhall herd of Hector McAskill, and two further cows, again with calves at foot, from the Hazelden Dispersal Sale of N McGeoch, Lochlea Farm, Kilmarnock.
In the very early stages after purchase, considerable work and time was needed to build Springfield Farm up. Gavin was looking for a pure bred animal that could be run commercially with low input, to try and keep running costs to a minimum, and a breed that was easy to work with and calf as the farm had very little in the way of handling facilities. So fitting this bill, it was the Simmental breed that Gavin and Anna turned to.
Today, and built around a base of quality bloodlines, the Springfield herd now comprises of 30 Simmental breeding females and with the herd having met with considerable success in both the sale and show ring.
Increasingly prolific, the herd’s sale averages have increased year on year to a best performance to date in February (this year) when eight bulls sold to a mighty average of £8250. This included a new herd top price at sale of £14,175 for Springfield Pace, (a son of the herd’s influential stock sire Islavale Jabba 18 (ET) EX92), and which sold to Orkney.
Another noted sale highlight for Gavin was in October 2022 when the Springfield herd had its first heifers for sale at Stirling and which averaged £4500, with a top of £6200. Four of the heifers were purchased by the high profile Popes herd of Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Dutton, Lancashire. For good measure on the same day, the herd sold four bulls, which had finished first, second, and third in their classes, and to average £5000. Live sales and semen sales have now seen Springfield genetics go world wide and including to China, Germany, Switzerland, and Turkey.
A keen supporter of the summer and winter shows, locally and nationally, the herd has met with many successes and including in the last four years, Simmental Championship wins at: the Simmental Youngstock Show at Carlisle; Stars of the Future Calf Show in Stirling; and LiveScot at Lanark. The aforementioned Islavale Jabba also secured the Senior Male Championship at the 2023 Simmental Scottish National, and was the World Silver Medallist for the breed in the Simmental Breeder online show.
Islavale Jabba has been prolific stock bull for the Springfield herd
13,500gns Springfield Pace
Speaking generally on the Simmental breed, why it fits the bill within the Springfield enterprise, and why it is proving so popular with commercial producers, Gavin commented: “I think the Simmental is one of the most commercial pedigree cows you can get. Low cost and low maintenance is so important but still striving to have that high daily live weight gain. It’s a balance the Simmentals have that I believe no other breed can match. Ease of calving is a real plus, and easy fleshing cattle just give you high outputs with low inputs. Generally females need to be able to survive on grass, whilst being milky, having a frame that supports easy calving, and carries enough flesh to support its calf through the first 6-8 months. To me these are the qualities where the Simmental excels and will give the breed the edge in future beef production.”
Turning to the bull sale at Stirling, and the judging job at hand this coming Sunday, and Gavin will again look to keep this very commercial focus. Speaking to the Society he said: “It’s an honour to be asked to Judge at the renowned Stirling Bull Sales and I’m very much looking forward to it. As ever I’m sure there will be a great show of Simmental stock with little to split between them. In selecting a winner I’ll definitely be focused on the demands of our commercial buyers and will be looking for bulls with good size, length, are well fleshed without being too extreme, or are overly powerful. As with any judging, fantastic breed character will always help that one special beast stand out from the rest!
Gavin, we very much hope that you enjoy your day, and the best of luck is extended to all Simmental vendors.
Judging Sunday May 4th, 11am
Sale of Simmental Bulls Monday May 5th, 12 Noon
It’s ‘time for a Simmental’ on Monday May 5th, with 35 bulls catalogued for the sale at United Auctions, Stirling FK9 4RN.
Please click on the link here to see the full published catalogue and timetable:
https://www.uagroup.co.uk/download_file/e166d153-2fec-4213-b27a-0a053681c0c3/1
