CHRIS MARTINDALE ELECTED AS THE 28TH BRITISH SIMMENTAL PRESIDENT

CHRIS MARTINDALE ELECTED AS THE 28TH BRITISH SIMMENTAL PRESIDENT

Shropshire-based breeder Chris Martindale has been elected as President of the British Simmental Cattle Society (BSCS) following the Society’s Annual General Meeting held recently in Stirling at the October Bull Sales. Having served as a Council Member since 2021, he...

GAVIN BROWN’S SPRINGFIELD HERD TAKES SIMMENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP ‘ONE-TWO’ AT 2024 LIVESCOT

by | Nov 25, 2024

  • Springfield Prada wins Overall Supreme & Female Champion
  • Springfield Pentagon takes Overall Reserve & Male Champion

It was a ‘win double’ Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik who took both the Simmental Overall Supreme & Overall Reserve titles at the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s 2024 LiveScot event held at Lanark market on Friday evening, 22nd November 2024.

With similar breeding behind them, both Champion & Reserve were July 2023 born, sired by the herd’s noted stock bull Islavale Jabba 18 (ET) EX 92, and out of Shiloh Freedom daughters.

Springfield Prada, Overall Supreme Champion 2024 LiveScot

Judge for the day was Sean Mitchell, Grassknop Farm, Penrith and who duly tapped out the seventeen-month-old heifer Springfield Prada, as his Female Champion & Simmental Overall Supreme Champion. A ‘very correct heifer from great sire and dam lines,’ Prada’s full sister Springfield Neptune, took the Overall Senior Championship and Overall Reserve at the 2023 Simmental Youngstock Show held within the Borderway Agri Expo. Springfield Prada’s dam, the seven-year-old Springfield Italia, has had four heifer calves to date and with her one bull calf, Springfield Niagra, also by Islavale Jabba, selling for 8500gns at Stirling this year. Carlisle will be the next destination for Springfield Prada as she is being offered for sale at the Simmental Next Generation IV Sale of Females & Weaned Calves on 6th December.

Taking the Male Championship, and the Overall Reserve, was Prada’s stablemate in the shape of Springfield Pentagon. Again July 2023 born, Springfield Pentagon is out of another Shiloh freedom daughter, Springfield Jolene. Earlier this month, Pentagon stood second in his class to the Senior Male Champion at the Stars of the Future Calf Show. A powerful bull with plenty of length, Springfield Pentagon will now be aimed at the Stirling Simmental Bull Sale in February 2025.

May 2018 born, Islavale Jabba has been the 30-cow Springfield herd’s main sire for the previous four years, and with his progeny both bulls and heifers averaging well at sales and to a top of 8500gns. With a host of accolades to his name, Islavale Jabba has been the online European Simmental Champion, and the Senior Male Champion at the 2023 Scottish Simmental National Show. Another son, Springfield Major, was the Champion at the Simmental Calf Show at Borderway Agri Expo in 2021, and went on to sell for 7500gns at Stirling. Islavale Jabba (ET) EX 92 has since been sold for breeding to the Newbiemains pedigree herd of Jim and Patricia Goldie but with semen retained for use on farm.

2024 LiveScot Simmental Results

 Judge: Sean Mitchell, Grassknop Farm, Penrith.

 Class 1036 Bull born between 1st July 2023 and 31st December 2023

1st – Gavin Brown’s Springfield Pentagon (647)

Class 1037 Bull born after 1st of January 2024

1st – Robbie Hamilton’s Drumclog Richard (654)

Class 1038 Heifer born between 1st July 2023 and 31st December 2023

1st – Gavin Brown’s Springfield Prada (656)

2nd – J and E Dyet’s Merkland Pippa (662)

Class 1039 Heifer born after 1st of January 2024

1st – J and E Dyet’s Merkland Flora 24 (666)