SIXTH AND FINAL PART OF THE 2023 SIMMENTAL YEAR REVIEW!

The sixth and final part of the 2023 Simmental year mini review looks at November and December and where the breed met with more than its fair share of success at the winter fair primestocks, and rounded off a terrific sale year with some further new records set at the Next Generation III Sale at Carlisle.

Nudging into November and it was a big well done to John and Bridget Olds, Bosahan Farm, Falmouth, Cornwall, who prevailed over some seventy calves representing eight breeds, who won the Overall Supreme Championship at the Cornwall Pedigree Beef Calf Show with their stylish heifer calf Bosahan Paloma Estelle (P). Estelle (P) is by the herd sire Kinclaven Infusion 17 (P) EX92. The Olds young bull Bosahan Nightfall (P), another by Infusion, also won the Senior Calf Continental Championship.

It was another Simmental Interbreed win at the Stars of the Future Calf Show at Stirling when Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, won the Simmental Overall Senior Championship before going on to win the Overall Senior Interbreed with their heifer calf Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P). September 2022 born, Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P) is the first calf out of Annick Ginger’s Lucia who was purchased for 16,000gns at the Annick Herd Dispersal Sale and who won the Overall Simmental Championship at this year’s Royal Highland Show with Annick Lucia’s Nicosia (P), at foot. Annick Lucia’s Nicosia is sired by the Kilbride Farm Karl (P). The Junior Simmental Female and Overall Junior Champion Islavale Peaches, from the Islavale herd of Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith. This April 2023 born calf is by Islavale Lucifer 20 EX93 and is out of Islavale Honeypot VG 86.

It was more Simmental Interbreed success and another win for the Wood Family, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston when their 30th January 2023 born bull calf Popes Premier won the Simmental Pedigree Calf Championship before moving on to win the National Pedigree Calf Show Interbreed at the English Winter Fair held at the Staffordshire Showground, Bingley Hall. Sired by Popes Lethal Weapon, Popes Premier has been shown all summer as a calf at foot alongside his multi title winning mum Popes Princess Immie. Winning the Female Championship, and the Overall Reserve in the Simmental section, was the junior heifer calf Fishpool Poppy from Tom & Jennie Hassall, Winsford, Cheshire. January 2023 born, Fishpool Poppy is by Newbiemains Kalypso.

Back to Cornwall and it was a big congratulations to Steph Hooper and David Reeves, St Columb Major, who won the Young Pedigree Beef Champion at the Cornish Winter Fair with their heifer Tregnether Polly. January 2023 born, Tregnether Polly is by the homebred Tregnether Jackpot 18, a Sterling Gino 15 son, and is out of Treverbyn Esme.

James Alexander, Randalstown sold his heifer, the day’s Simmental Champion, for £5300 at the Royal Ulster Beef & Lamb Championship in November. The ‘Jalex’ Simmental heifer weighed in at 756kgs and made £7.01ppkg, with the £5300 price being the fifth highest on the day amidst what was a record breaking event sale. Purchasing the Simmental Champion was Republic of Ireland buyer John Joe Doyle.

It was more success for Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour, with their November 2022 born Simmental heifer Delfur Nifty which won the Simmental Championship and the Overall Individual Interbreed at the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s Livescot Pedigree Calf Show at Lawrie & Symington’s Livestock Market, Lanark. On the evening, Delfur Nifty teamed up with her stablemate Delfur Weigela N12, to take Reserve in the Interbreed Pairs. Delfur Weigela N12 had also been a class winner earlier and had placed Overall Simmental Reserve Champion.

The strong season of winter prime stock wins for the Simmental breed continued when Boars Head Nelly 16, from Rhys Grenhalm, Boars Head, Crowborough, East Sussex, won the Overall Supreme Calf Championship at the South Eastern Primestock Winter Fayre held at the South of England Showground in November. An eight-month-old heifer calf, Boars Head Nelly 16 is by the herd’s stock bull Islavale Jammydodger, and is out of Boars Head Nelly 8th, a Drumsleed Explosion 13 daughter.

The Simmental breed was well represented at the ‘4 Breed Calf Show’ held at Dungannon Mart in the last week of November. Topping the Senior section was Ranfurly Nunez ET, from the Hazelton family, Dungannon. This September 2022 born Woodhall Ferrari son is out of Raceview Fancywinty.  In the junior section, heifers dominated. Breaghey Class P477 bred by Andrew Clarke, Tynan took home the Junior Champion title. This heifer is by Omorga Horton and is out of Breaghey Class I286.

Come December and it was back to the sales with a bang and the third staging of the Simmental Next Generation Sale of Females & Weaned Calves. The classy October 2022 born heifer Coolcran Heidis Noreen from Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran, Tempo, Co Fermanagh, the pre-sale show Champion, made a record breaking 26,000gns when selling to judge on the day Reece Simmers for the Backmuir Herd at Keith, Banffshire. The top price was a record for a Northern Ireland female, a Next Generation record price, and a breed record at Carlisle. 34 heifers averaged £5583.53, a sale record mark and up by +£363, with the Denizes herd selling two heifers at 10,000gns (and ten in all averaging £5754), and with Islavale Peaches, the Weaned Calf Champion, making 9000gns.

Keeping the breed profile high internationally, Gavin Brown of the Springfield Simmental herd, Springfield Farm, Penicuik won the 2023 Simmental Champion of Europe title with his herd stock bull Islavale Jabba. The European Championship is held within the online ‘Simmental Champion of the World Competition’ run by the Texas, USA based Simmental Breeder. With British Simmental genetics very much to the fore, the Reserve Championship was won by the young bull Pistyll Nightrider from Welsh breeders GA & HM Francis, Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen.

There was more success for GA & HM Francis, Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen, when their January 2023 born Simmental bull calf Pistyll Pablo won the Overall Continental Interbreed and Simmental Championship at the 2023 Welsh Multibreed Pedigree Beef Calf Championship held at Carmarthern Market. Pistyll Pablo is one of the first calves by the herd’s stock bull Pitmudie Lancelot 20, who was bought at Stirling for 8200gns in February 2022, and is out of Pistyll Ivy, a Carbery Fintona daughter.

So that’s a wrap on what was an action-packed Simmental 2023! As we move into January we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone, pedigree breeders, buyers, commercial producers, and Simmental Clubs, who played their part in making it such a memorable year for the Simmental breed, it really is greatly appreciated.