It’s been a record-breaking year to remember for Overhill House Simmentals and owner Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian. Here we profile the 130-cow herd, look at it’s history, and some of the breeding philosophies behind its ongoing progress and development....
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...
Scotland Mercury took the championship and made a top price of 3200 gns at the Society sale at Bristol on Saturday 24th May 2003.
Purchased by Mr M L Shadrick of Glebe View, Bradworthy, Devon Mercury is a son of Scotland Kit Kat and is out of Woodhall Dorinda. Mercury was bred by Peter Hill of the Scotland herd at Loughborough. Peter had a highly successful day also achieving the equal second highest price of 2000 gns for Scotland Moss, a son the renowned Scotland Hooray Henry. Scotland Moss was purchased by Messrs Morgan-Jones & Son of Sugwas, Swainshill, Herefordshire.
The 2000 gns price tag was matched by 0akhill Moka from Mr & Mrs S Wakefield in Surrey. Moka has a Beef Value of SM27 and is the first calf to be born to 0akhill Nelly 5th, who won her heifer class at The Royal Show in 2000. The successful purchasers were Messrs Redman from Mitcheldean in Gloucestershire.
0n the female front, trade was exceedingly strong with 38 of the 39 lots forward selling after brisk bidding.
Topping the female trade was Twyford Joann, a daughter of Gretna House Supersonic with a Beef Value of SM33 and +4kgs 200 Day Milk figure. This 1998 born cow was sold by Mr & Mrs Joe Peters to Mr J Wilkins for his Ulceby herd in north Lincolnshire.
The same purchaser also paid 2000 gns for Brooklyn Miss Bluebelle, another Gretna House Supersonic daughter and also brought forward by the same vendor. Miss Bluebelle has a Beef Value of SM24 and a Calving Value of SM2C.
Commenting on the sale, Roger Trewhella, general secretary of the British Simmental Cattle Society, said:
“The demand for breeding females, especially cows and in-calf heifers was exceptional, and the competition between bidders created an atmosphere which was quite electric.
“Purchasers of bulls only wanted the highest quality animals and it was quite clear that demand at this stage of the season was for stronger sires ready to work immediately.
“0verall, it was a highly satisfactory sale drawing a good crowd of bidders and underlining the increase demand for the Simmental breed.”
Averages:
5 cows £1712
7 In-Calf heifers £1017
14 Bulling heifers £781
9 Yearling heifers £781
11 Bulls £1589
