Official Simmental Society Sales in the Year Gross £2,167,231, up by £75,825 Pedigree Registrations up for the Third Consecutive Year Record pedigree sale averages, a strong performance in UK wide commercial sales, and for the third year in a row increases in both...
7 Simmental bulls make £7000 and over 14 Simmental bulls average £6586 The Working Genes production sale from the McGowan family at Incheoch, Perthshire met a keen trade for an entire clearance, and with a strong demand and average for the Simmental bulls offered....
Five animals make 5000gns and over Ranfurly maiden heifers average £4646 Joint sale grosses £128, 416 There was a strong demand for Simmental females with prices reaching a top of 8,000gns at the fourth joint production sale from the noted Ballinalare Farm herd of Joe...
Simmental bulls reached a ceiling of 3,000gns twice at the Northern Ireland Club’s spring show and sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.
Joint sale leader was the day’s male and supreme overall champion Kilbride Farm Eric ET bred by Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, from Doagh, County Antrim. Sired by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, this naturally polled bull is out of a home-bred dam by the Danish sire Lamhoj Supery. Two full brothers averaged 7,000gns in Stirling.
He is in the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle area +4.3, and terminal sire index +86, and in the top 10% for self replacing index +87. This November 2013 born entry was snapped up by T McCartney, Jerrettspass, Newry.
Judge Andrew Clarke from the 8-cow Breaghey herd based Tynan, County Armagh, described the champion as a long, well fleshed bull with nice hindquarters and a good thick loin.”
Also selling at 3,000gns was the Robson family’s second prize winner Kilbride Farm Earl TSI+68 SRI+76. Sired by the Ardadoney Volvo son Kilbride Farm Barrister, he is bred from the Cairnview Snazzy daughter Kilbride Farm Dora 40B. Highest bidder on this eighteen-month-old bull was V Ferguson, Dungannon.
Next best at 2,800gns was the third placed Corrick Exodus TSI +66 SRI+77 consigned by Cecil and Hazel McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Sired by stock bull Carbery Carribbean, this November 2013 entry is out of a home-bred dam by Carnkern Titan. In the breed’s top 10% for eye muscle area +3.5, he sold to Norman Hammond, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
The Robson family were in the money again at 2,400gns, realised by the second prize winning Kilbride Farm Eagle TSI+71 SRI+76. He was sired by stock bull Crugmelyn Brenin, and is out of a home-bred dam by the popular Kilbride Farm Newry. In the top 5% for eye muscle area, this November 2013 born bull sold to Malcolm Fleming, Magherafelt, County Londonderry.
Andrew Clarke awarded the reserve male championship to Haystar Eclipse TSI+67 SRI+69, an October 2013 born Omorga Murray son bred by Gavin Hayes, and sons Kyle, James and Sam, Upper Ballinderry, County Antrim. He was bred from the Hillcrest Champion daughter Carralavin Winford – one of six breeding females in the herd. This one failed to meet his reserve and returned home unsold.
Claiming the female and reserve supreme championship awards sponsored by Danske Bank was the September 2013 born Knockreagh Emily exhibited by the father and son team of Val and Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor, County Down. She was sired by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion Auchorachan Wizard, and is out of a home-bred dam by Omorga Volvo. Buyer at 2,600gns was judge Andrew Clarke.
“This is a lovely sweet heifer. She is long and oozes femininity.”
The Fegan’s 8-cow herd founded in 2003 also produced the reserve female champion Knockreagh Ella Rose. This October 2013 Auchorachan Wizard daughter secured a bid of 2,300gns from K Bell, Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.
There was a solid demand for commercial Simmental heifers with prices soaring to £775 over weight. The commercial section was sponsored by Millburn Concrete, Cookstown.
Maiden heifers ranged in weight from 335kgs to 595kgs, with prices peaking at £1,270, £1,250 and £1,160.
In-calf heifers peaked at £1,380, £1,280 twice and £1,240.
Averages: 6 pedigree bulls £2,590; 3 pedigree heifers £2,257.
