The British Simmental Review 2022

SIMMENTAL

2022

THE REVIEW

SIMMENTAL BULLS

TO 30,000GNS

IN STRONG YEAR

OF SALES

BULL BUYERS’ SURVEY RETURNS

94% APPROVAL RATE

COMMERCIAL HERD FEATURES

HIGHLIGHT SIMMENTAL EFFICIENCY

SIMMENTAL FEMALES TO 18,000GNS

AT NEXT GENERATION II

www.britishsimmental.co.uk

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Corskie Leopard

Sire – Dirnanean Bradley

Dam – Corskie Vamouse

3 rd Prize Stirling February 2022

Sold for 8,500gns to the Arkland Herd

Corskie Mimic

Sire – Kilbride Farm Haka

Dam – Corskie Imitation

Overall Junior Champion at Scottish National Show 2022

Full Sister sold for 6,000gns to the Overhill House in 2021

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Corskie Mikah


Dam – Corskie Elissa

Reserve Interbreed Beef Breeder Champion at RHS 2022

Sold for 11,000gns to the Formartine & Middlethird Herds

Corskie Monarch


Dam – Corskie Highness

4 th Prize RHS and 2 ND Prize Stirling October 2022

Sold for 10,000gns to the Whiteknowes Herd

Contact: Iain Green: 07831808800 / 01343 870387

Or email: iain@wjjgreen.co.uk or laura@wjjgreen.co.uk

Check out our website: www.corskiesimmentals.co.uk

Find us on Facebook for the latest news: Corskie Farm

2 | www.britishsimmental.co.uk

Kilbride Farm Simmentals

Kilbride Farm Jetstream P

4 Sons already away to Pedigree Breeders!

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We have 3 sons going to

the Stirling bull sales in

February

Kilbride Farm Majestic P

Follow us on

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Instagram

@kilbridefarmsimmentals

website

www.kilbridefarm.co.uk

Or Contact:

Michael 07968814180

Norman 07968814182

Billy 07968814191

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Matthew 07975531910

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Semen available from 4 trait leader

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We believe we are leading the way for polled genetics, by carefully selecting

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Visitors are always welcome with both NI ports and airports only

being 20 minutes away! Elite level of stock constantly available

on farm with exports and transport easily arranged.

The Review 2022 | 3

ISLAVALE

ISLAVALE MAGNUM - TOP PRICE AT STIRLING

OCTOBER 2022 SOLD FOR 28,000GNS

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ISLAVALE NESTLE

- JUNIOR FEMALE

CHAMPION STARS

OF THE FUTURE

CALF SHOW 2022

AND WINNER OF

THE HUGO ARNOLD

TROPHY AT THE

NXTGEN II SALE

CARLISLE, WHERE

SHE SOLD FOR

6,500GNS

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GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO PURCHASED AN ISLAVALE ANIMAL IN 2022

Classified herd with over 50 Ex Classified Cows

YOUNG STOCK, SEMEN AND EMBRYOS

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TEL: 01542 870644 or Stewart: 07779 782777


4 ½ Star Performance

Recorded Herd

Members of

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The Review 2022 | 5

THE REVIEW 2022

CONTENTS

18

58

66

78

44

60

50

Society Staff..................................................................................................08

Council Members........................................................................................09

President’s Message ............................................................................ 10-11

News ........................................................................................................ 12-15

The Dairy Farm, Meriden, Feature....................................................18-21

News.........................................................................................................22-25

Denizies Herd Feature......................................................................... 26-29

Benson Hall Farm Feature...................................................................30-31

Virtual Simmental Show......................................................................34-41

Bull buyers survey................................................................................ 44-45

Technical................................................................................................ 46-53

Top 20 Sires.................................................................................................. 58

Golden Cow ................................................................................................ 59

Kilbride Farm Feature .........................................................................60-64

Simmental Young Members ............................................................. 66-67

Welcome to New Members .....................................................................69

Farewell to Dear Friends .....................................................................70-74

Brodieshill Farm Feature..................................................................... 78-80

2022 Show Reports........................................................................... 85-123

Stone Acton Farm Feature.............................................................126-129


132

188

34

85

126

109

169

26

Alnham Farm Feature...................................................................... 132-135

Regional Club Area Officers................................................................... 137

Scottish Simmental Club Report..................................................138-139

North East Club Report...................................................................140-141

North West Club Report................................................................. 142-143

NI Simental Cattle Breeders' Club Report................................. 144-147

Midlands Club Report.....................................................................148-149

Welsh Simmental Club Report..................................................... 150-151

East Anglian Club Report............................................................... 152-153

South West Simmental Club Report............................................ 154-155

Cornwall Club Report.....................................................................156-159

South East Simmental Club Report.............................................162-163

Hall Farm Feature.............................................................................164-167

2023 Show, Sale & Event Dates.............................................................168

2022 Sale Reports............................................................................169-192

Semen for Private Sale.............................................................................195

Promotional Goods..................................................................................196

Pedigree Bull Levy Semen (Royalty) Scheme...........................198-199

Membership & Registration Fees................................................ 200-201

Advertising Index.......................................................................................202

The Review 2022 | 7

SOCIETY STAFF

2022

Annual

Review

No. 43

Iain Kerr

iain@britishsimmental.co.uk

Rachel Foley

rachel@britishsimmental.co.uk

Nicky Moreton

nicky@britishsimmental.co.uk

Sue Stenner

sue@britishsimmental.co.uk

General: 02476 696513

Registrations: 0800 505 3954

Monday – Thursday: 9am – 5pm

Friday: 9am – 3pm

Email: information@britishsimmental.co.uk

www.britishsimmental.co.uk

British Simmental Cattle Society

NAC

Stoneleigh Park

Warwickshire

CV8 2LG

Find us on social media

@britishsimmental

@britishsimms

bscs2017

Design & Printing

Ghost Design


COUNCIL

MEMBERS 2023

Mr Norman Robson, President

Northern Ireland

106 Cogrey Road, Doagh, Ballyclare, County

Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT39 0PX

Tel: 02893 352348 Mobile: 07968 814182

Email: norman@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Chris Martindale, Vice President &

Chairman Of Finance

Midlands

Coedfa, Mount Bradford Lane, St Martins, Owestry,

Shropshire, SY11 3HQ

Tel: 01691 772266 Mobile: 07801 184368

Email: chris@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Stewart Stronach, Chairman of Shows

& Sales North

Scotland

Maisley, Keith, Banffshire, AB55 5QH

Tel: 01542 882294 Mobile: 07779 782777

Email: stewart@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr John Barlow, Chairman of Shows &

Sales South

Four Oaks, Ulnes Walton Lane, NR Leyland,

Lancashire, PR26 8LT

Mob: 07850 602679

Email: Johnb@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Robin Boyd, World Simmental

Federation Representative

Northern Ireland

Slievenagh Farm 78 Ballynafie Road, Portglenone,

County Antrim. N Ireland, BT44 8DQ

Tel: 02825 820070 Mobile: 07799 346784

Email: robin@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Andrew Clarke

Northern Ireland

19 Breaghey Road, Tynan, Co Armagh, Northern

Ireland BT60 4SU

Tel: 02837 568669 Mobile: 07756 021706

Email: andrew@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Michael Durno

Scotland

Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Banffshire,

AB37 9DN

Tel: 01807 590213 Mobile: 07718 467868

Email: michaeld@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Adrian Ivory

Scotland

Strathisla Farms, Moolies, Meigle, Blairgowrie,

Perthshire, PH12 8RF

Tel: 01828 640227 Mobile: 07711 288346

Email: adrian@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Dafydd Jones

Wales

Maesllymystn, Foel, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 0NX

Tel: 01938 820231 Mobile: 07717 683353

Email: dafydd@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Richard Storer Smith

Midlands

Spath Farm House, Ashbourne Road, Uttoxeter,

Staffordshire ST14 5AP

Tel: 01889 563200 Mobile: 07508 403333

Email: richard@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Kevin Thomas

Cornwall

Huntsman Court, Crowgey Farm, Wendron,

Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0NN

Mobile: 07565 156469

Email: kevin@britishsimmental.co.uk

Mr Barrie Wynter

Cornwall

Bolankin Farm, Crows-An-Wra, St Buryan,

Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6HY

Tel: 01736 810787 Mobile: 07590 501096

Email: barrie@britishsimmental.co.uk

The Review 2022 | 9

PRESIDENT’S

MESSAGE

Fellow Simmental breeders, in my first

President’s message can I open by saying

what a great honour and privilege it is to have

been elected as the 27 th President of the British

Simmental Cattle Society. At a personal level it also

means a lot to me to be the third member of my

family to hold this position and following on from

my father (Billy), and brother (Michael). I would like

to take this opportunity to congratulate Stewart

Stronach, not only for his terrific two year term as

president, but also for the ongoing achievements

with his Simmental herd and attaining some record

prices and averages at Stirling. I just hope he has

passed on the ‘lucky sale charm’ along with the

presidency!

As Simmental breeders we all know the many

strengths and attributes of our breed, both

maternal and terminal, and what it has to offer

a future beef industry that will be focussed on

efficiency and added value. Simple aims and plans

in the year are built around getting these messages

out through breed promotion and marketing.

There is no substitute for the hard yards of getting

in front of producers, auctioneers, calf groups,

processors, retailers, and the industry at large

to promote the attributes and profitability of the

breed and to initiate and develop opportunities

that may arise thereafter. In 2023, the Society

over and above its usual activities, will be holding

three commercial open days to show case how

the breed performs under different management

systems. I would really encourage all members

to help promote these days and to get as many

potential customers to attend as possible. These

types of days are indicative of the increasingly

commercially focused approach to promoting the

Simmental breed, and I hope this is also reflected

within the Review and through the Society’s high

profile digital and social media platforms.

Having put the Covid years of 2020 and 2021

behind us, who would have envisaged what

was to happen in 2022. We have beef prices at

a record high but unfortunately our inputs are

also at a record high. This has left a lot of people

questioning the future of beef production,

but I feel the beef sector has a bright future as

producers become more efficient and this is where

the Simmental breed has a major role to play. The

AHDB data continues to show the Simmental as

the No1 continental breed for age at slaughter.

Add to this the breed’s milk and maternal qualities

with the abilities of the Simmental cow to rear a

good calf without creep feeding, and we have the

efficiency, versatilitiy, and profitability to be at the

centre of a future beef industry.

I am very heartened by the Bull Buyers’ survey,

reported in this Review, where buyers have

endorsed the commercial performance of the

breed with a 94% approval rate, and confirmed

that they will purchase further Simmental bulls.

Simmental breeders are to be congratulated for

improving the breed to where it’s at today and I

encourage everyone to keep continued breeding,

selection, and improvement as a hugely important

forward objective. Maternal milkiness remains a

fundamental strength of British Simmental, and

we have seen the breed average EBV increase

by 50% since 2000. Similarly, we have also seen

a 50% increase in terminal genetic traits in the

same period. For us to market the Simmental

breed for efficiency and good economics, we

must collectively strive to continue these trends

and gains. At present we have the BLUP system

from ABRI to measure our performance and I

would encourage all members to enter as much

performance information as possible. The more

data that goes in, the more reliable and accurate

data comes out and this is valued by our customer

base. Council are also looking at further technical

work to provenance and promote the Simmental

breed and with an initial aim of evidencing the

breed’s efficiency and carbon credentials.

It was pleasing in the year to see Society sales,

collective sales and breeders sales, breaking the

£2 million barrier. Along the way a welter of new

marks were set with breed record averages at each

of the February, May, and October Stirling sales,

almost certainly being a first for the breed. Solid


sales were held throughout the regions and the

second staging of the Next Gen Sale at Carlisle saw

both a terrific top price and averages for maiden

heifers. If we can continue to provide the standard

of cattle that meet the needs and expectations

of commercial beef producers, then I hope this

breed performance at sale can be sustained and

built upon. Out with the domestic market we

are also now seeing a strong export demand for

British Simmental genetics, which looks like it

has the potential to really grow over the next few

years. There is some potential at this point that

the United Kingdom may be awarded the 2026

World Simmental Fleckvieh Congress. If this does

transpire it may be a very timely point at which to

showcase British Simmental genetics to a domestic

and international audience.

Sitting alongside the performance at sales it was

great to see a rise in pedigree registrations in

the year, along with a significant number of new

breeder members joining the BSCS. There will be

a challenge for all breeds to maintain registration

numbers with the rise in industry costs and also

the reducing number of suckler cows. However

the assurance is there that the Society will

continue to work hard at providing a high level of

core promotional and technical services and try

to continue to add value to pedigrees when you

register your calves.

Whilst the Society looks to have a commercial

focus, there is a recognition that the summer

majors, county, and local shows still provide an

important shop window for quality Simmental

cattle. I would like to congratulate all those who

represented the breed so well at summer and

autumn shows through 2022 and wish those

starting to prepare stock for the year ahead good

luck. There really is a strong programme of major

and National shows to take aim at in 2023. At the

year’s shows and sales we have also seen the many

talented Simmental Young Members we have at

the forefront of the breed. They are the future

of the Society and must be encouraged through

inclusion and co-ordinated SYMA activities.

In closing, we have a motivated Council and staff,

and positive regional clubs who have a plan to take

aim at. Let’s harness the collective resource we

have and move forward positively, sharing ideas,

communicating, working together, promoting

and developing British Simmental, and building a

consistent brand message to all areas of the UK.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of the Simmental

Review, and I look forward to meeting as many

members as possible at the various sales, shows,

and events throughout my term in office.

With best regards

Norman Robson

The Review 2022 | 11

NEWS

HER MAJESTY,

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

The British Simmental Cattle Society opens the 2022 Review by marking the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II dedicated 70 years of her life in remarkable service, dedication, and with an inspirational sense of

duty. Admired and respected worldwide this unique monarch put the Great into Britain and led with a steadfastness and

dignity that touched and influenced so many lives in such a positive way. In celebrating her Platinum Jubilee earlier in

the year, we reflected upon what a committed supporter of British agriculture and the farming and country way of life

Queen Elizabeth II had been. In mourning her passing and reflecting on her life we dearly cherish those thoughts.


NEWS

BRITISH SIMMENTAL PEDIGREE REGISTRATIONS

& NOTIFICATIONS SURGE TO AN INCREASE OF

15% ON THE YEAR

• Official Simmental Society Sales in the Year Gross £2,003,927

A

strong 2022 year of performance for British Simmental saw

pedigree registrations and birth notifications surge with an

increase of 15% in the year to an overall total of 7,388, up by

960. The figures released by the British Simmental Cattle Society

were for the pedigree registration year of 1 st July 2021 to 30 th June

2022.

Sitting alongside these figures was a similarly strong performance

at the point of both commercial and pedigree sales and which saw

Official Society Pedigree Sales in the same period nudge through

the £2Million mark to gross £2,003,927. In the course of the year the

Simmental breed enjoyed some record sale averages and clearances,

most notably at Stirling in February when 89 pedigree bulls sold to

a new breed record average mark of £6,835. In a new sale fixture

introduced to ‘grow the reach of the breed’, the Next Generation Sale

of Females & Weaned Calves at Carlisle in December saw a top price

of 16,000gns, with heifer averages of £4,396, and bull calf averages

of £6,174.

In the registration year, pedigree registrations increased by 13.5%, with

birth notifications enjoying a 19.8% increase and this overall surge

for the Simmental breed was warmly welcomed by the then Society

President Stewart Stronach, Maisley, Keith, Banffshire, who said:

“Simmental females are naturally efficient, healthy, easy to manage,

and just full of milk. Adding value to any cross, they are maternal

mainstays of the commercial suckler herd, can calve at two years old,

and can wean calves at 50% of their bodyweight at 200 days.”

“In 2021 AHDB confirmed Simmental as being the leading

continental beef breed for age at slaughter, and this couples with

Simmental sired progeny being fast growing, with terrific weight for

age and leaving a high yielding, profitable carcase. These are the

natural attributes and efficiencies of the modern British Simmental

that are driving demand, forging a profitable commercial future in an

industry with a higher cost base, and meeting the ‘green’ challenges

of reducing beef productions carbon footprint.”

“We welcome these improved registration and sale figures, and

collectively our focus will be to continue to work hard and provide

commercial beef producers with future fit, profitable dual purpose

Simmental genetics.”

* Further to these figures, the strong sale trade continued in the year

with the October Stirling Simmental bull trade seeing a new breed

record sale average of £7,559, up by a remarkable £1,597 on the year.

This meant that all three 2022 sales at Stirling in February, May, and

October had seen new record marks set. The second staging of the

Next Gen Sale at Carlisle in December, saw a breed centre record top

price of 18,000gns and a heifer average of £5,202, up by £806 on the

year.


NEWS

DRUMSLEED LEGACY WINS SIMMENTAL

‘CHAMPIONSHIP OF EUROPE’

• Banhill Farm Lord places third as UK Simmental breeding takes centre stage

The two-year old bull Drumsleed Legacy from Gerald and

Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, Laurencekirk, has won the

Simmental Championship of Europe within the ‘Simmental

Champion of the World’ competition run online by the Texas based

Simmental Breeder.

The April 2020 born Drumsleed Legacy is by the herd’s 11,000gns

stock bull Wolfstar Gordy and is out of Drumsleed Farina 14. A strong

breeding female line, Drumsleed Farina’s previous calf, Drumsleed

Kingsman, sired by the herd’s noted show bull Drumsleed Hivy,

sold for 11,000gns at Stirling in February 2021. Farina was also

Simmental Reserve Champion at this year's Black Isle and Turriff

shows respectively. Earlier this year Drumsleed Legacy himself

won the Male Championship at the 2022 Royal Highland Show at

Ingliston, and it was this win that qualified him for the European and

World Simmental competitions. After securing the European title

Drumsleed Legacy went on to place a highly creditable third in the

World Championship finals, where he was narrowly pipped by entries

from South Africa and Mexico. Commenting, Gerald Smith said: “It

really is a great honour for Drumsleed Legacy to be crowned the

Simmental Champion of Europe and we are really delighted. It’s a

fantastic achievement for us with the Drumsleed herd of course, but

also for British Simmental as a whole.” The Drumsleed herd presently

comprises of 100 pedigree breeding females.

UK breeding was very much to the fore in the European section.

Over and above the Championship win, the Northern Irish bred bull

Bannhill Farm Lord took third place for Welsh breeders Mr and Mrs

MO and LD Jones, Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire. Male Champion for

the Jones family at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, the February 2020

born Bannhill Farm Lord is sired by the noted Saltire Impressive 17

and is bred out of Ballinalare Farm Fuscia. Banhill Lord was bred by

Alan Wilson, Rathfriland, Co Down.

The Simmental judges for both the ‘Champion of Europe’ and

‘Champion of the World’ awards consisted of Juan Pablo Lattanti

Murguía (Argentina); Tom Baker (Australia); Jim Goldie (Scotland): and

Cary Crow (USA).

This win for Drumsleed Legacy is the third time in four years that

a British Simmental bull has won the ‘Champion of Europe’ award,

with Lisglass Goldstar from Gordon Clark, Cupar, Fife, having

been crowned in 2020 competition, and prior to that Heathbrow

Drumsleed Legacy.

Bannhill Farm Lord.

Important from David and Lesley Sapsed, Herts in 2019. These

awards have been won at a time when there has been a growing

demand for British Simmental genetics internationally. Over the last

eighteen months, exports of semen and embryos have been secured

to the USA and Australia, whilst exports of breeding females and

young bulls have been made to Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

UK and USA based breeding companies have also been securing an

increasing number of British Simmental bulls for significant semen

exports to China and Asian markets.

Advertise your animals for sale online today!

www.simmentalmarket.co.uk


NEWS

JAKE GREGORY,

KURLYCOAT SIMMENTALS,

WINS ‘BEST YOUNG FARMER

2022’ IN CORNWALL FARM

BUSINESS AWARDS

The hard work and dedication of Cornwall’s farming community

was on display at the annual Cornwall Farm Business Awards

in late October 2022 where Jake Gregory (26), who is the

Head Butcher at Cornwall’s premium pork producer, Primrose Herd,

was presented with the coveted title of ‘Best Young Farmer 2022’.

In addition to his role with Primrose Herd, Jake runs the Kurlcoat

pedigree Simmental herd at Kerling Farm, Chacewater, Truro.

The awards were hosted at the Eden Project by the Addington

Fund, a farming and rural charity which provides vital support to

individuals, families, and communities during times of crisis.

Commenting Sally Lugg, Owner and Manager of Primrose Herd,

said: “The fact that Jake is able to sustain a full-time job in a tough

industry such as ours, as well as excel as an internationally respected

breeder of pedigree sheep and cattle, is extremely impressive. He’s

a credit to the Cornish farming community and an inspiration to the

next generation of farmers and food producers.”

Jake began a career in butchery at the age of 16; in 2014 he started

working for Primrose Herd who specialise in pork from traditional

breeds, reared slowly and naturally with lots of time outdoors.

In 2015 Jake started his own herd of pedigree livestock, which now

includes British Simmentals, Charolais and Suffolk sheep. To date he

has sold breeding animals throughout the UK, and his pedigree bulls

have sired offspring worldwide. Speaking of his Simmental cattle

Jake said: “they are a good milky beef breed with exceptional growth

rates”. His first Simmental was Cathedral Cookie Crumble, purchased

from the Cathedral dispersal herd sale in 2015. In purchasing this

Royal Cornwall Show Supreme Champion, Jake showed his intent

from the start to have a breeding philosophy concentrated on the

Jake Gregory (right) receiving his ‘Best Young Farmer 2022’ award.

best genetics that he could. “I keep my numbers low but the animals

I keep I think are of top quality. Bulls are bred for breeding and the

best heifers retained. Anything that doesn’t make the grade I kill and

sell through the butchers.”

The ‘Best Young Farmer’ category was sponsored by NatWest and

the judges were ‘extremely impressed by Jake’s enthusiasm and

his future plans to work with local schools to educate children and

young people about the importance of farming in the UK.’

Speaking at the time, Jake explained: “I think the next generation of

farmers are going to be so important. As well as doing our day jobs,

we have to be out there educating people too. That’s why I want

to work with local schools, so kids have a better understanding of

farming methods and ultimately will grow up to make good choices

when it comes to buying food.” Of winning this high profile award

Jake went on to say; “I was so happy to pick up such an amazing

award, it’s still sinking in really! But there’s not much time to take

stock in my line of work; my animals always need looking after,

there’s loads of admin to keep on top of with pedigree breeding,

and things are getting busy here in the butchery as Christmas orders

start to come in.” It’s great to see such enthusiasm and farming talent

being involved within the Simmental breed and a huge ‘well done’ is

extended by the Society to Jake!


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The Small

herd with a

Huge Impact

SOME OF OUR RECENT NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

OUR BREEDING POLICY:- STRONG CLASSIFIED COW FAMILIES MATED TO

TOP PROVEN AI BULLS OF OUR CHOICE. PRESENT HERD 16 COWS : 2 EX95,

1 EX93, 3 EX90, 10 1ST CALF HEIFERS & YOUNG COWS ALL VG

Ranfurly Kleeb 32nd EX95

A prolific breeder having reared 3 sets of twins

1 bull Indiana sold at Stirling Oct 2019 6,200gns

5 heifers have sold to average 3,900gns

With 2 retained in the herd

Now rearing her 11th calf, having turned 10 years of age

Bulls,

Heifers and

Embryos usually

for sale

VISITORS

ALWAYS

WELCOME

Raceview Goldie Dreamer EX95

Roscommon Yearling champion 2016

NI Female of the Year 2019

First two sons have sold to average

13,000gns: Knockout and Limelight

Ranfurly Jackall J9 18 EX93

Supreme Champion Stirling October 2019

Sold to Strahisla Farms for 14,000gns

Already in the top 5% of the breed for 200, 400 & 600 Day

Growth and top 1% for Milk

Ranfurly Limelight L11 20

Reserve Intermediate Champion Stirling February 2022

16,000gns 2nd top price, sold to Messrs Fairhurst

A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY - 4 TH PRODUCTION SALE - SATURDAY 7 TH SEPTEMBER 2024

W.D. & J.D. HAZELTON, Cohannon House, 25 Bovean Road, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone BT71 6HR

Email: ranfurlysimmentals@hotmail.co.uk

SIMMENTALS

COMPLEMENTING

AN EXTENSIVE REGEN

SYSTEM

At The Dairy Farm, Meriden, Coventry

We visit the Beaty brothers,

Tom and Adam together with

Adam’s daughter Charlie, at

the Dairy Farm, Meriden,

Coventry, who are finding their

low maintenance grading up

Simmental herd is future fit and

complementing an extensive

regenerative farming system.


looking for a quick return

by maximising output from a

“We’re

very simple, minimum input,

self- sufficient livestock system that has to fit

in with the arable operations, which had been

managed by just the two of us until Charlie

decided to come home a couple of years

ago,” Tom explains. “And we’ve found that our

Simmentals are delivering.

“We’ve been grading up our commercial

sucklers - they’ve virtually reached purebred

status, and together with their calves, they’re

thriving on pure forage diets.

“The herd grazes our 50ha of river meadows,

which are in Countryside Stewardship,

from April turn out until December when

outwintering is extended. The herd is

introduced to strip graze 13ha stubble turnips

and brassicas prior to housing at the end

of the month. Once housed, they’re fed

silage until after calving in January when we

introduce them to homegrown rolled oats to

give milk a boost.

“The same applies to the calves; they

graze with their dams until weaned

in November, when they’re housed

and introduced to least cost

silage, ad lib homegrown oats and molasses

prior to trading in the store ring to repeat

buyers - steers averaging 12 months around

400kg, and 16 to 20-month-old heifers, an

average 450kg, apart from those retained for

replacement purposes.”

Adam continues: “We’re scheduling these

heifers to calve at 24 months and an average

650kgs - it’s a more cost-effective weight and

contributes to a smaller, more efficient cow.

Going forward we’re targeting the graded-up

Simmental herd to reach 700kg maximum

mature cow weight; we don’t want big 800kg

cows, they eat more, take up more space and

require more bedding, and they don’t wean a

bigger calf.

“The vast majority of cows and heifers calve

within the first six weeks and rearing rate

percentage is in the high 90s. We make a point

of being around during calving, however I can

count on one hand how many we’ve assisted.

Calves are lively and soon up and sucking.

Simmentals are noted for their milk, and our

cows know how to look after their calves.”

The Beatys have been running a Simmental

bull with their sucklers for the last 11 years

prior to which they had introduced a

FARM FACTS

The Dairy

Farm, Meriden,

Coventry

• 285ha mixed, tenanted

all within ELS/HLS

• 365ha mixed, contract

farmed

• 85 suckler cows,

grading up to purebred

Simmental status

• 350 ewes

Herd KPIs

• 24 months age at first

calving

• 700kgs target max

mature cow weight

• 95% calving within the

first six weeks

• 95% calves reared

• 14 - 16-year lifespan


continental sire, however the calves proved to be ‘too wild’. They

then progressed to native breed genetics, but the 12-month-old

calves weren’t sufficiently grown to meet with market demand, Tom

explains.

We looked at all the options,

however we’d spoken to one or two

finishers around the store ring and found

they liked Simmentals for their growth and

coverage; we were also aware the breed had a

better temperament and agreed it would be

much safer and quieter to work with. And

that’s proved to be the case.”

example, we’re considering introducing weigh cells to enable us to

more accurately assess herd performance and act accordingly.

“As well as launching a box meat enterprise, I’ve taken over

managing the sheep and am currently working towards closing the

flock.

“We are also planning to further incorporate our livestock enterprises

in to the rotation for example, introduce the sucklers to a forage

brassica mix ahead of potatoes, whilst grazing the sheep on OSR

undersown with a white clover companion crop mix,” she explains

adding: “The future for us is about focusing on the margins, not

the yields, by further reducing input costs and remaining profitable

in the pending ELM scheme. We are confident our Simmentals will

complement that plan.”

When Charlie Beaty returned home she says she was determined

not to let the grass grow under her feet. “I went to Harper Adams

University, graduated in Agriculture in 2017, spent the next two years

in Australia driving combines and working on a stock property before

flying home and then considering other jobs in the industry, however

I didn’t find anything that suited,” she says.

“Instead I’ve made a space for myself in the family farming business

which has eased the pressure all round. Yes, I’m the skivvy, I get a lot

of flak, however I’m all about further stepping up the unit’s efficiency

and providing all round help including introducing new ideas. For


Meriden Farm beef and lamb

box scheme

Charlie Beaty’s beef and lamb box enterprise is providing a

welcome boost to the family’s farming business.

“Yes, there are margins to be made, however we’re also getting

a lot of satisfaction from selling our own Simmental beef at

the farm gate: it’s 100% forage fed, locally slaughtered, hung

28 days, totally natural, no processing,” she says. “And it’s

particularly rewarding to hear from repeat customers - we love

the interaction; they come back saying they’ve never eaten

such high-quality meat before. We know we’re getting things

right.

“By close of 2021, we’d sold nine cattle through the beef

boxes in 12 months, whilst demand for lamb boxes has almost

doubled in the last two years to 15 boxes per month. Margins

on the lamb box are slimmer than those for beef, however we

regard lamb as a marketing tool to selling more beef.

“We keep things simple. I use social media for marketing

purposes - I’ve over 10,000 followers across Facebook

and Instagram, whilst all sales are via social media too. The

boxes have to be pre-ordered one month in advance prior

to collection at the farmgate on one set day per month.

The logistics require quite a lot of organising the day before

collection, however we don’t have any real over heads and the

whole sales operation is completed for the month in a very

short time period.”

Prior to launch, Charlie with some help from her mother, Mary

Ann carried out essential market research and then established

price points to ensure the enterprise would be economically

viable. “We used local Facebook groups to determine the level

of interest in locally reared, forage reared beef and grass-fed

lamb, and concluded that living halfway between Birmingham

and Solihull does have advantages, however we’ve since found

the majority of customers live in affluent areas within a fivemile

radius of the farm.

“While lamb was relatively

straight forward to market

with a limited volume and

number of cuts per carcase,

beef has proved more of a

challenge. One 375kg heifer

carcase can be split in seven

different cuts - quick and slow

roasting joints, rump and

sirloin steak, mince, stewing

and braising steak - packed in

to 22 general boxes, leaving

the high value rib of beef and

ribeye steaks for individual sale along with fillet steaks.

“Initial trade was helped by (Covid) lock down, particularly

in the start-up months, however, confident that we have an

established customer base with potential for growth, in the

near future we would like to increase sales to at least 12 cattle

per year through the beef boxes.”


NEWS

BOSAHAN JADE MAGIC BABY AND BOSHAN MERLIN SELL

FOR 7,000GNS AND SET EXETER LIVESTOCK MARKET

RECORD PRICE

• Further cows and calves at 5,500gns and 5,000gns

• Cows and calves average £3,382.50

Cows and calves met with a strong trade and were led at

7,000gns at the Reduction Sale of the noted Bosahan Herd of

John & Bridget Olds, Bosahan Farm, Falmouth, Cornwall, at

Kivell’s Exeter Livestock Centre, on Friday 20 th May.

Setting what was a record price for Exeter Livestock Market, was the

very first lot in the ring, the June 2018 born Bosahan Jade Magic

Baby. Sired by Heathbrow Freddie Star 14 (P) and out of Bosahan

Gold Magic Baby, Bosahan Jade Magic Baby who was PD’d back in

calf, was sold with her October 2021 bull calf at foot Bosahan Merlin

(P), a Kinclaven Infusion 17 (P) son and described as ‘one of the most

promising bull calves the Bosahan herd has ever bred’. Purchasing

the top lot at 7,000gns was John and Susan Pritchard, for their

Norton pedigree herd at Lower Norton Farm, Dartmouth, Devon.

At 5,500gns was Bosahan Husky Angelika. 2016 born, she was sold

with her November 2021 born bull calf at foot, the Vale Royal Hamish

sired Bosahan Macnamara. Bosahan Husky Angelika is by the herd's

noted Skerrington Armada and is out of Bosahan Angelika. This lot

went back to Cornwall when selling to Messrs Eustice, Hay Farm, St

Breock, Wadebridge.

Continuing the strong run for cows and calves, was the February

2018 born Bosahan Jessica Star who made 5,000gns. Jessica Star

is another sired by Heathbrow Freddie Star and is out of Bosahan

Galaxy Star. A second calver, Bosahan Jessica Star was sold with

her Knockreagh Immanuel sired, November 2021 born, bull calf at

foot, Bosahan Meteor 21, to Mr GM & Mrs SJ Reed, for their Skylark

pedigree herd at Well Farm, Bickleigh, Tiverton.

Leading the trade at 4,600gns for the three bulls entered was

Bosahan Libertine 20 (P). A heifer’s calf, and heterozygous polled, the

November 2020 born Libertine’s dam line, goes back to the fertile,

milky foundation cow Beanhill Penny. This young bull was purchased

by commercial producer PC Friend, Wadland Barton, Ashbury,

Okehampton. The further Bosahan young bulls sold for 3,200gns,

and 2,800gns respectively.

Bosahan Jade Magic Baby.

Bosahan Merlin P 2.

AVERAGES:

14 Cows and calves £3,382.50

10 Served and/or maiden heifers £2,320.50

3 Young bulls £3,710.00

Bosahan Husky Angelika.

Find us on social media @britishsimmental @britishsimms bscs2017


NEWS

OVERHILL HOUSE SIMMENTAL HEIFER MAKES

£4,000 FOR UKRAINE CHARITY

In April 2022, the January 2021 born pedigree Simmental heifer,

Overhill House Mary, from Richard McCulloch, Overhill House,

West Lothian, sold for a cracking £4,000 at Caledonian Marts,

Stirling, with all proceeds going to two charities helping children

and refugees from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Heading to

Ayrshire, Overhill House Mary, sired by Aultmore Goliath and out of

Islavale Caitlin, was purchased by Messrs Smith, Low Bow Hill Farm,

Newmilns. Overhill House Mary, was in Richard’s own words, “a

quiet, tremendous heifer with a pedigree to match and put forward

to raise money for a very worthy cause”.

With some outstanding and varied lots forward from farmers and

local businesses, the auction held by Caledonian Marts saw all

funds raised going to UNICEF’s campaign to Help Protect Children

in Ukraine, and for Central Plains Group, a regenerative farming

business with operations in Ukraine, who are raising funds to help

refugees streaming into Western Ukraine from Kiev and East Ukraine.

Well done to Richard McCulloch for putting this quality heifer

forward for such a worthy auction, and a big thank you is extended

to the Smiths for their purchase.

STRONG DEMAND AS SIMMENTAL BULLS SELL TO

6,200GNS AT THE INCHEOCH ‘WORKING GENES’ SALE

The Incheoch ‘Working Genes’ Sale of Neil & Debbie

McGowan, Incheoch Farms, Alyth, Blairgowrie, held online

on Thursday 1 September, saw a good demand for Simmental

bulls with eight selling to average £5,325, up £225 on last year.

Included in the Simmental lots were three sons of Canadian

homozygous polled Gibby’s Real Deal, who leaves maternal,

correct, easy-doing cattle, which averaged £5,800. The first bull

bid to £6,200, snapped up by Douglas Gill from Easter Ross, was

the January 2021 born Incheoch Maori, a heterozygous polled

bull bred out of the 9,000gns Dirnanean Redstar D23 and sired

by the aforementioned Real Deal. Also selling for £6,200 was

the 18-month-old Incheoch Major. Sired by Slievanagh Joker, he

is out of the homebred Incheoch Grizel I12, who goes back to

Dirnanean Fontana 14. Combining polled genetics with real power,

correctness and character, he was sold unseen to be put to Luings

in Eire with Jimmy Cosgrave.

Neil McGowan commented: “We have developed the Working

Genes sale to help match the right genetics to the right home –

that is what all the recording and data is about”. Speaking before

the sale in regard to his bulls he said “Robust bulls, bred from

functional, efficient cows has been our goal for many years now.

We run just over 200 pedigree, performance recorded cows, and

select hard for fertility, structural soundness, good temperaments

and easy calving. We find that easy fleshed, medium framed cattle

with a bit of maternal character tend to be the ones who tick the

boxes.”

Incheoch Major.

Incheoch Maori.


NEWS

MCNEE’S SIM-LUING HEIFERS SELL TO £3,150 AT STIRLING

Sim-Luing cattle sold to a top of £3,150 to lead a solid trade at

the autumn breeding Sale of Luing and Sim-Luing cattle, held

at United Auctions’ Stirling centre on 29 th October. The growing

popularity of the Simmental-Luing cross (Sim-Luing) in suckler herds

saw some 65 bulling heifers sold on the day, and with 25 in-calf

heifers also sold.

Winning the overall pair of heifers with their show pen of Sim-Luing

in-calf heifers was Andrew McNee and family from Woodend Farm,

Armadale, West Lothian. This pair of 2 ½ year-old heifers by a Finlarg

Simmental sire, Benhar Hendry a Ranfurly Confederate son, topped

the Sim-Luing In-Calf heifer section, when selling to £3,150 per head,

and were purchased by Messrs Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Midmar,

Aberdeenshire.

Robert McNee Ltd, Over Finlarg Farm, Tealing, Dundee, also sold

a single Sim-Luing In-calf heifer to £3,150, and again to Messrs

Thomson. Woodend sold 14 Sim-Luings to average £2,586, the top

average of the day. Colin Little, East Bracklinn sold 11 to average

£1,971, and to a top of £2,000. Overall, 29 Sim-Luing in-calf heifers

averaged £2,297. Sim-Luing bulling heifers were also in demand

and sold to a top of 2,300gns for Messrs Halligan and Burke, Nether

Stewarton, Peebles and were purchased by Messrs Meiklem and

Sons, Lochran, Blairadam, Kelty.

The hybrid vigour of the Simmental-Luing cross is seeing the Sim-

Luing finding favour with commercial producers, who are realising

the benefits of these hardy, easy care cattle who have strong

maternal qualities, good milk, and are top forage converters.

SIMMENTAL CHAMPION TREVERBYN NORMAN WINS

ALL-BREEDS TITLE AT CORNWALL PEDIGREE CALF SHOW

A

big congratulations to Ant Hart, Carloggas Farm, Treverybyn,

St Austell, Cornwall, who with his January 2022 born bull calf

Treverbyn Norman, won the Overall All-Breeds Supreme title at

the Cornwall Pedigree Calf Show, held on 22 nd October at the Royal

Cornwall Showground.

A heterozygous polled calf, Treverbyn Norman is by Coose

Norman P, and is out of Treverybyn Keira, a Skylark Geronimo

daughter. Having come through the Simmental classes and lifting

the Championship from Simmental judge Jonny Ward, Treverbyn

Norman then went head to head with the other breed champions

to lift the Overall title, this time in front of the judge Mrs Ria Rice,

daughter of Philip Warren the noted Launceston based butcher. In

what was the tenth staging of the Cornwall Pedigree Beef Calf Show,

this is the first time the Overall Supreme Championship has been

won by a British Simmental.

Well supported by Simmental breeders, the classes featured entries

from the Treverbyn, Bosahan, Wellatree, Angwella, Tregnether,

and Loxton herds respectively, and with the catalogue featuring

90 entries in all across the breeds. A great win for the Harts and for

Cornish Simmental breeders!

Continuing his run, Treverbyn Norman followed on by winning the

British Simmental section at the Agrifest South West event held on

Wednesday 2 nd November at Westpoint, Exeter.


NEWS

STRONACH FAMILY FEATURE IN ROYAL NORTHERN

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY (RNAS) 2022 AWARDS FOR

GOOD FARMING PRACTICE

A

big well done to immediate past BSCS President Stewart

Stronach and family, Berryleys Grange, Keith, who in October

2022 were awarded the Reserve prize in the Royal Northern

Agricultural Society’s (RNAS) prestigious 2022 Good Farming Practice

Award.

The awards were launched in 2005 and are decided following

on-farm visits to nominated businesses by an independent judge.

Entries are assessed against a range of criteria including stock, crops,

equipment, environmental management, enterprise and general

impression.

For more than 35 years, the family farm business of WS Stronach

and Partners has expanded from 200 acres to nearer 750 acres. The

mixed farm is run by fourth generation Stewart Stronach Jnr with

partner Fiona, son Michael and Stewart’s parents Stewart Snr and

Hazel. The business includes 200 suckler cows and 300 breeding

ewes with all lambs finished on grass. At the forefront of the family’s

enterprise is the renowned pedigree Islavale Simmental herd which

also keeps Stewart’s four daughters Lauren, Ellie, Emma and Aimee

busy, and regularly successfully features in Society shows and sales.

This year’s judge was Murray Mitchell of Castleton Farm, Fordoun

who said: “The high standard of entries made judging difficult

because every farm is completely unique and hard to compare,

so it was a close-run thing. It was a pleasure to visit the Stronach's

well-run, traditional family unit which they have worked hard to build

up over time, making very best use of their farm. I was extremely

impressed with the closed herd and flock they have, and I will be

watching with interest how they get on at the forthcoming (Stirling

October) bull sales, having been treated to viewing such an excellent

line-up of stock during our judging visit.” *Please see the sales

section for the October Sale report and where the Stronachs enjoyed

a memorable trade.

BRITISH SIMMENTAL

GEN III

SALE OF PEDIGREE FEMALES & WEANED CALVES

CARLISLE 1 ST DEC 2023

DATE FOR

YOUR DIARY


FOCUS ON BREEDING FEMALE

LINES KEY TO PRODUCING

‘FUTURE FIT’ MODERN

SIMMENTAL GENETICS

IN THE DENIZES HERD

Herd feature on Michael Barlow and sons John and Matthew,

and their Denizes pedigree herd at Littlewood Hall Farm, Lancashire.

Simmentals have been kept at Littlewood Hall Farm in

Lancashire since the 1980s, but a shift in focus and a

change of breeding philosophy twelve years ago, has

resulted in a huge amount of success within the breed for

the Barlow family in recent years. In fact, 2022 saw them

achieve their top price to-date when Denizes Lancelot sold

at 30,000gns, the second top price paid at a UK auction for

a Simmental bull, and their nine bulls and heifers sold at

auction over the year averaged out at £10,500.

The team includes brothers John and Matthew Barlow, who

work alongside their dad, Michael (a past BSCS President),

on the 340-acre unit, all of which is grass. On that, there

are 430 head of cattle, including 70 milking cows and

the Denizes herd of 80 pedigree Simmental cows. John

explains: “We worked away with the Simmentals over the

years, selling the better young bulls straight off the farm,

but bringing out bulls was never a priority. During my

degree in agriculture, I did a placement with Wilson and

Geraldine Strachan, working with stockman Andrew Reid

at their Balmaud herd in Banff, which really changed my

outlook on our own Simmentals. I could see the potential

with the breed and I believed we could be achieving a lot

more with them.


We considered what the

commercial buyer was

looking for – easy fleshing,

shapely bulls, with length and

back-ends – and from that time

on, we began focussing on

breeding that type of bull.”

This new objective clearly worked. Since 2010, the

Barlows’ seventy-three bulls sold at Society sales

in Stirling alone, have averaged £5,600. The family

have built up customers for every bull born in the

herd – those not sold at Society sales find homes

with dairy customers and commercial herds. To

breed bulls with the desired attributes, John says

it is the female lines they have concentrated on

improving and he cites the privately bought bull

Ashland Tornado as a turning point.

Denzies Lancelot 30,000gns. Top price Simmental in 2022 and sold at Stirling February Sale.

“We bought Tornado at five months old from

Pat and Frank Kelly in Northern Ireland, having

researched the bull’s family line. He has gone onto

breed some good sons, but it’s his daughters that

have been particularly impressive – they have bred

sons to 30,000gns and grandsons to 20,000gns.

They are very well-balanced females, which is the

type we aim to breed; structurally correct, medium

sized cows that will do well with various bulls,” says

John, who suggests this concentration on female

lines probably comes as a result of their dairy

background.

“That’s how we think with the dairy cows. They

tend to breed daughters like the mother, so if we

can get good female lines, they will breed good

calves with different bulls. We do a lot of research

into bloodlines and study what works.”

Denizes Monty 20,000gns. Supreme Champion at Stirling in October 2022.

This approach results in the Barlows often

buying in females from particular family lines off

other high health herds and then breeding them

with home-bred bulls. The 30,000gns Denizes

Lancelot, sold in February 2022 at Stirling, had two

generations of home-bred bulls on the sire side,

while the dam was Denizes Hannadante, a 13-yearold

daughter of Ashland Tornado. Likewise,

Denizes Monty, which secured the Barlows their

first overall championship at Stirling and went onto

sell for 20,000gns in October 2022, is sired by the

home-bred Denizes Hamish.

“Hamish is out of our ‘golden cow’ Auroch Eve,

which we bought as a calf. She won several calf

shows and went onto win at the Royal Highland

Show twice. Hamish was her first natural calf and

was winning calf shows too, until he broke his leg

at 11-months-old. We thought so much of him

that we paid to have it operated on and kept him

as a stock bull. His son Monty made 20,000gns

and we’ve another good son of his for Stirling in

February,” explains John.

John and Michael Barlow pictured at Stirling in February 2022.


“We’re big on pre-calving minerals and we also make sure we don’t

rush calving. In the past, we’d be too quick to feel we had to assist

with calvings, but we’ve learned to give them plenty time and they

normally calve themselves with no issues,” he adds.

When it comes to deciding which females to breed from, the Barlows

are very selective. They go by their Grandad’s theory ‘sell your best,

keep your very best and beef the rest.’

There’s a huge demand for

Simmental females and we’ve

definitely seen that increase in recent years.

They have so many positive traits – good

temperament, calving ease and milk.”

Along with keeping commercial traits in mind when breeding bulls,

the Barlows say the whole herd is run very commercially. Cows are

fed on a straw-based diet and plenty minerals and calve between

June and September, while heifers calve from 2½-years-old, in

February and March, with the calving system arranged with Society

sale dates in mind. John says they aim for a 280-day calving interval.

“That’s what Grandad always said, and it’s still relevant today. We

sell some of the best females privately or at Society sales, but there’s

a good market for other types to sell as recipients. There’s a huge

demand for Simmental females and we’ve definitely seen that

increase in recent years. They have so many positive traits – good

temperament, calving ease and milk.

“Our own breeding cows tend to get three chances – if it doesn’t

work the first time, we’ll change the bull, but if she’s still not

breeding to the standard that we’re looking for, we don’t keep her

after the third calf,” says John.


The family sold the heifer, Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7 th at December’s

NxtGen sale at Carlisle, for 8,000gns. She is a daughter of Auroch

Eve, and sired by Blackford Galaxy, another privately bought bull

that’s proved his worth in the herd. He was breed champion at

the Royal Highland in 2018 and has bred sons to 9,500gns. More

recently, Saltire Impressive joined the herd, a bull with excellent

figures, including huge growth rates but also ease of calving.

“We do pay a lot of attention to figures because we’ve found they

do make a difference. Denizes Hamish is in the top 1% for calving

ease – he was a small when born but thrived from that day onwards

and that’s what you want. The buyers are noticeably paying attention

to figures too – we had eight bulls at a sale recently, four with better

figures than the other four. There was a far higher demand for the

four with better figures, they sold easily.

“Growth is important, along with ease of calving, but customers

are also looking at milk figures. Commercial buyers often outbid

pedigree buyers at sales – it just depends where your priorities are.

For us, we would rather buy the bull we want than a tractor.”

Despite plenty of success at shows and winning the breed

championship at the Royal Highland three times, John says they are

not breeding cattle to win a show – they’re breeding for what the

commercial buyer wants.

“We’re very much focussed on sales rather than shows but having

some success at the shows definitely helped us build up the name of

the herd and it’s a good opportunity to break in the young bulls. The

main reason we show though, is because we enjoy the social side of

it!,” adds John, who has noticed an increase in new breeders over the

past 3-4 years.

“It’s a fairly accessible breed for new breeders to get into, compared

to some other breeds. If you turn up to a sale with a good

commercial bull, it will sell, no matter who you are. From Cornwall to

Thainstone, there’s a huge demand for Simmentals all over the UK.

“I think the breed is particularly relevant now. They are a long-lasting,

low input breed that can rear a calf – and as costs continue to rise,

these qualities are more important than ever,” adds John.


EASY KEEP, VERSATILE

SIMMENTALS

LEAVING MORE MONEY FOR

CUMBRIAN DAIRY FARM

Snap shot feature of the Ladds family at Benson Hall Farm, Kendal, Cumbria

where the versatility of the Simmental is adding £200-£300 per calf.

By using a Simmental bull on their dairy herd to produce

strong, sellable store cattle, the Ladds family at Benson

Hall Farm, Kendal, Cumbria have developed a low input,

high output system that works well within their busy farming

enterprise.

Brothers Richard and Chris Ladds, work alongside their wives

Beth and Brooke and parents Andrew and Cath. In all, the Ladds

milk 180 Holsteins and 22 pedigree Jerseys, with 800 breeding

ewes (North of England Mules) and 40 pedigree Texels. They also

run a contracting business and a caravan site. Within the Holstein

herd, sexed semen is used on the heifers and young cows to

breed replacement heifers, with an Angus bull used to sweep

up the heifers. For the past four years, they have been using a

Simmental bull to sweep up the young cows and on the older

cows.

Richard explains: “We have tried a few different beef breeds

over the years and thought we’d try something a bit different.

We wanted frame and carcase, but also something that would

be cheaper to feed and calving ease was a major priority. The

Simmental seemed an ideal option, so we spoke to the Barlows,

told them what we were looking for, and they were able to

provide us with a decent, easy calving bull from their Denizes

herd, which we bought privately.”

Calves are left on the dam for 24 hours before going onto a

powder replacement milk for 12 weeks, then a ration of straw

and cake until they are six months old, when they then go onto

clamp silage.


The Simmental calves hit the

ground running and are easier and

cheaper to rear than other beef breeds we’ve

tried – they do really well off silage and a

little cake. Costs obviously vary, but we think

we’re around £200-£300 per calf better off,

with the Simmentals,” says Richard.

One of the main advantages the Ladds have found is being able to

sell the calves two months quicker than previously. They are sold

as strong stores at 22-months, through Lancaster Mart, to a high

demand. The 2021 batch of stores averaged £1,380.

Richard adds: “Our steers sell to a regular buyer, who has noted that

the Simmental crosses go on and do well for him. There’s a good

demand for the heifers through the ring, with some of them being

bought as breeding heifers. We also bulled a few heifers this year and

sold them as cow and calf outfits, so we have a lot more versatility

with the Simmentals too.

“We’ve found it worthwhile buying a decent bull, as it definitely helps

to sell the heifer calves – a lot of buyers do take note of the sire.”

The current bull is Denizes Kodak, sired by the Dinton Nautical son,

Denizes Hamish, which is in the breed’s top 1% for calving ease.

“In our experience of using Simmental bulls, the breed does what

it says it’s going to do. They are versatile and easily calved and the

calves go on and do well,” adds Richard.


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DAM: SCOTLAND HILL EMILY JILLY


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Supreme & Female Champion -

Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti

THE 2022

BRITISH SIMMENTAL

VIRTUAL SHOW

KILLIWORGIE MIRANDAS LOTTI

IS CROWNED THE SUPREME

CHAMPION OF THE 2022

SIMMENTAL ‘VIRTUAL’ SHOW

• Auchorachan Malt awarded Overall Reserve

• 286 pedigree Simmentals entered the online competition

After some seven weeks of online judging, the January

2020 born heifer Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti from Steve

& Gill Gummow, Higher Killiworgie Farm, Newquay,

Cornwall, has been crowned as the 2022 British Simmental

‘Virtual’ Show Champion. In what is the third staging of the

online competition, this stylish heifer just got the nod in front

of the Male Champion and Overall Reserve, Auchorachan Malt

from D & R Durno & Sons, Ballindalloch, Banffshire.


The Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show was launched in 2020 to bring ‘some

fun and competition’ for breeders who were missing the summer

show season during the Covid pandemic. Due to its popularity in

both the inaugural year and in 2021, the Society ran the competition

again in 2022. Acknowledging that the summer show season had

returned in the 2022 year, the Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show had a

reduced format of three male and three female classes followed by

the Championships. The support was again terrific with a fantastic

286 entries received from around the UK.

The Supreme Champion Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti firstly came

through her class of 71 heifers before being awarded the Female

Championship. In all, a tremendous 185 females were entered over

the three female classes. Sired by the 2017 English National Show

Reserve Champion Lynfield Hamish 16, Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti

is out of Boars Head Miranda EX90, bred by Mr RJ Grenham, and

who goes back to the Irish-bred AI bull Seaview Prince Charming.

Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti is in-calf to the herd sire Islavale Jerico

18, who was purchased at Stirling in October 2019 for 14,000gns.

Speaking after the Championship ‘big reveal’ was announced, Gill

Gummow said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this year’s

competition. We couldn’t quite believe it when we won the Female

Championship, so to go on and win the Overall Supreme is really just

fantastic. The whole competition has again been a lot of fun and we

have loved looking at the Simmental cattle from breeders all over the

country in these last few weeks.”

Judging the Overall Championship was David Sapsed of the noted

Heathbrow Simmental herd, Codicote, Hertfordshire, which was

established back in 1995. Commenting David Sapsed said: “I’d like to

thank the British Simmental Cattle Society for asking me to judge the

2022 Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show Championship.

I felt that the Killiworgie heifer was

a really well-balanced beast, very

feminine looking and stylish, with a superb

top line, tremendous width and length, and

excellent legs and feet. All of these attributes

nudged me to choosing her as my Supreme

Champion. Given good luck she should grow

into a wonderful Simmental breeding cow.”

“It was a very difficult choice and I should take nothing away from

my Overall Reserve, the Male Champion Auchorachan Malt who

I particularly liked. He’s a tall bull, upstanding and stylish with

good legs and feet, a great body with an excellent head, neck and

shoulders. He also should have a bright future in front of him. Both

the Male and Female Champions represented great examples of

young Simmental animals. Congratulations to the champions and to

everyone who entered this year’s competition.”

The Reserve Supreme and Male Champion Auchorachan Malt

is entirely homebred. March 2021 born, Malt is by the noted

Auchorachan Hercules 16, whose sons averaged £10,500 in 2021

and have sold up to a top price to date of 18,000gns. Auchorachan

Malt’s dam is Auchorachan Hilly 8 EX90, a daughter of the 9,000gns

Team Fergus 14 EX91. Auchorachan Malt’s Championship win saw

him prevail from over 100 Simmental bulls entered across the

three classes. This classy young bull now takes aim at the Stirling

Simmental Bull Sale February 2023.

Commenting on the 2022 Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show generally, the

then BSCS President Stewart Stronach, Maisley, Keith, Banffshire, said:

“Huge congratulations to the Killiworgie and Auchorachan herds for

their Championship wins. The Killiworgie herd is based in Cornwall,

and with the Auchorachan herd from Ballindalloch in the North of

Scotland. This is the very essence of the Simmental ‘Virtual’ Show

with breeders from all over the UK coming together to compete with

their quality Simmental cattle in a fun online competition. The Virtual

Show really has gained a remarkable following on social media not

just in this country but around the world. I’d like to say a big ‘well

done’ and thank everyone who entered the 2022 competition and

again promoted the British Simmental breed so well.”

The Society would like to thank the Supreme Champion judge David

Sapsed and all of his fellow judges who kindly gave up their time to

select the winners of the 2022 show: the Female Champion judge

Richard McCulloch; the Male Champion judge Simon Key; and the

class judges Gary Christie, Jonny Hazelton, Richard Cumming, Frank

Kelly, Gavin Brown and Rob Fitton, and who all did an excellent job.

Reserve Supreme & Male Champion - Auchorachan Malt 21


CLASS 1

‘VIRTUAL’ BRITISH SIMMENTAL SHOW RESULTS

Bull calf born on or after 01/08/2021

Mixbury Hall Neon.

Auchorachan Neptune.

3 rd

Cladymore Mr Muscle.

1 st

4 th

Kilbride Farm Mustang.

2 nd 5 th

Mixbury Hall Nathaniel.

CLASS 1 RESULTS

Class name Placings Animal Owner Sire

Bull calf born on or after

01/08/2021

1 st Mixbury Hall Neon Mr VC Bailey Tilbrook Frank

2 nd Auchorachan Neptune D & R Durno & Sons Auchorachan Hercules

3 rd Cladymore Mr Muscle AW Reaney & Sons Auchorachan Hercules

4 th Kilbride Farm Mustang WH Robson & Sons Kilbride Farm Jetstream

5 th Mixbury Hall Nathaniel Mr VC Bailey Tilbrook Frank



CLASS 2

Female calf born on or after 01/08/2021

3 rd

Grangewood Wanda's Myrtle.

Haystar Diamond 2.

1 st

Grangewood Tollie's Millie.

5 th

4 th The Review 2022 | 37

Auchorachan Modesty Weigela.

Auchorachan Matilda Hilly.

2 nd

CLASS 2 RESULTS


Female calf born on or after

01/08/2021

1 st Haystar Diamond 2 G Hayes & Son Kilbride Farm Delboy

2 nd Auchorachan Matilda Hilly D & R Durno & Sons Lykke Iceman

3 rd Grangewood Wanda’s Myrtle Mr & Mrs AS & YA Leedham Ranfurly Impeccable

4 th Grangewood Tollie’s Millie Mr & Mrs AS & YA Leedham Ranfurly Impeccable

5 th Auchorachan Modesty Weigela D & R Durno & Sons Auroch Hudson

CLASS 3


Bull born on or between 01/01/2020 and 31/07/2021

Auchorachan Magic.

3 rd

Auchorachan Malt 21.

1 st

Kilbride Farm Majestic 21.

4 th

Rockytop Macduff.

2 nd

Kilbride Farm Merlin 21.

5 th

CLASS 3 RESULTS


Bull born on or between

01/01/2020 and 31/07/2021

1 st Auchorachan Malt D & R Durno & Sons Auchorachan Hercules

2 nd Rockytop Macduff Gary & Angela Christie Rockytop Jackpot

3 rd Auchorachan Magic D & R Durno & Sons Auchorachan Hercules

4 th Kilbride Farm Majestic WH Robson & Sons Kilbride Farm Jetstream

5 th Kilbride Farm Merlin WH Robson & Sons Kilbride Farm Jetstream



Heifer born on or between 01/01/2020 and 31/07/2021

3 rd CLASS 4

Auchorachan Liqueur Madie.

Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti.

1 st

Corskie Le-enna.

5 th


Kilbride Farm Eunice 327M.

Thorncliff Moya.

2 nd

CLASS 4 RESULTS


Heifer born on or between

01/01/2020 and 31/07/2021

1 st Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti Mr SA Gummow Lynfield Hamish

2 nd Thorncliff Moya Wayne Thomas Mosley Thorncliff Kiwi

3 rd Auchorachan Liqueur Madie Ryan Morgan Auchorachan Hercules

4 th Corskie Le-enna Mr WJ & J Green Bel Dhu Capercaillie

5 th Kilbride Farm Eunice 327M WH Robson & Sons Curaheen Gunshot

CLASS 5


Senior bulls born on or before 31/12/2019

Grangewood Kingpin 19.

Kilbride Farm Jetstream 18.

3 rd

Coose Gambler.

1 st

4 th

Lintmill Jedi 18.

2 nd 5 th

Skerrington Iceman 17.

CLASS 5 RESULTS


Senior bulls born on or before

31/12/2019

1 st Grangewood Kingpin Mr VC Bailey Grangewood Baron

2 nd Kilbride Farm Jetstream WH Robson & Sons Sneumgaard Imperator

3 rd Coose Gambler CH Evans & Son Auroch Deuter

4 th Lintmill Jedi Robert Turner Corskie Wham

5 th Skerrington Iceman Jim & Patricia Goldie Sowenna Aristrocrat



CLASS 6

Cow any age, In milk

3 rd

Mixbury Hall Galaxy.

Gerrard Belinda 60 th .

1 st

Newbiemains Ice Queen.

5 th

Eaton Kenita. Kilbride Farm Eunice 223H.

2 nd

CLASS 6 RESULTS


Cow any age, In milk 1 st Gerrard Belinda 60 th Kenneth Pilkington Kilbride Farm Comber

2 nd Kilbride Farm Eunice 223H WH Robson & Sons Corskie Damario

3 rd Mixbury Hall Galaxy Mr VC Bailey Mixbury-Hall Vibrant

4 th Newbiemains Ice Queen Jim & Patricia Goldie Newbiemains Albert

5 th Eaton Kenita AJ & SD Heath Eaton Hokey Cokey


DINTON SIMMENTAL

Heifers and bulls available

with polled breeding and easy calving

Elite Health Status

Miss Sandra Francis

Homestead Farm, Shaftesbury Road

Mere, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 6BJ

Tel: 01747 861879

Mob: 07974 260579

Email: dintonsimmentals@btinternet.com


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BULL BUYERS'

SURVEY

SIMMENTAL BULL

BUYERS’ SURVEY

94%

OF BULL BUYERS CONFIRM THEY WILL

PURCHASE FURTHER SIMMENTAL BULLS!

A fantastic ninety four percent of Simmental bull buyers have confirmed

that they will purchase further Simmental bulls at future Society sales.

That’s the strong endorsement of the Simmental breed following a snapshot

survey of bull buyers at Society sales held between 2017 and 2019.

The survey saw buyers through these

years being sent a detailed questionnaire

covering the initial reasons for purchasing

a Simmental, and thereafter how satisfied they

have been with the abilities and the performance

of their bulls to date. A broad range of questions

invited respondents to score and comment on

the performance of bulls bought and including:

calving ease; temperament of the bulls and

their progeny; fertility and serving capacity;

longevity and physical condition of the bull; and

performance of progeny, including growth rates

and perceived food conversion. Further questions

asked buyers about the most important traits

when buying a Simmental; the principle purpose

of the bull; use on heifers; and the importance

of herd health information, pre-sale inspections,

performance figures, and pre-sale fertility testing.

Unsurprisingly maternal traits featured highly in

the characteristics of the Simmental breed most

attractive to buyers, and including mothering

ability and easy calving; milk; producing

replacement heifers; and fast-growing progeny.

The top characteristic for buyers was temperament

and this was emphasised later in the survey with

97.18% saying that the temperament of their

bulls was good (88.73%), or average (8.45%), and

with 92.53% saying that the temperament of the

progeny was very good or good. Across these two

categories less than 5% of purchasers responded

that the bulls or their progeny had been below

average for temperament.


TEMPERAMENT OF BULLS

Good (88.73%)

Average (8.45%)

Below Average (2.82%)

STANDARD OF BULLS PROGENY

As expected (81.03%)

Better than expected (8.62%)

Average (10.34%)

Below Average (0%)

BULL BUYERS'

SURVEY

Just over 70% of buyers indicated that performance figures and EBVs

were a ‘quite’ or ‘very’ important aid when purchasing a bull. Of the

traits, EBVs for calving ease were ranked the most important and with

Maternal (Milk), a close second.

The Simmental breed has taken a lead in many aspects of herd

health at sales over the years and the importance of this is shown

in the survey with 98.59% of respondents saying that it was ‘very

important’ (83.10%), or ‘important’ (15.49%), for them to purchase

bulls from herds with a high health status. Over 90% of buyers placed

importance on bulls having passed through a pre-sale inspection

with 57.34% saying it was ‘very’ important.

Interestingly, and perhaps indicative of some strong Simmental

sales, 36.23% of buyers said that they had changed from a different

breed of bull in the previous five years, and predominantly from

other continental breeds. 53.62% of buyers run over five Simmental

bulls with a further 40.58% indicating that they had one to five

Simmental bulls. The makeup of buyers’ farms shows that 60% of

the bulls have gone to hill farms, and with 40% to lowland. The bulls

are used on mainly suckler herds (93.25%), and with the dominant

breed of suckler cows being Simmental/Simmental X, followed by

Limousin/Limousin X; Angus/Angus X; and Luing/Luing X. The largest

percentage of buyers run 31 to 100 cows (41.43%); with 37.14%

having 101 to 200; and just over 21% having over 200.

The working abilities of the breed are again highlighted with

94.12% of buyers saying that they were happy with the physical and

structural condition of the bulls bought, and with over 85% of the

bulls still working in purchasers’ herds. In an anticipated strength

of the breed, just over 92% of buyers said that they retained heifer

calves as herd replacements. 42.86% of buyers said that they used

bulls on heifers, and of those, 44.12%, aim to calve the heifers at 28

months and under.

In another strong endorsement of the performance and commercial

attributes of the Simmental breed, a remarkable 89.65% of those

surveyed said the progeny of their bulls had been of the standard

they expected (81.03%), or better than expected (8.62%), and with

10.34% saying that the progeny had been average. No respondents

replied that progeny from their bulls had been below expectations.

At the conclusion of the survey buyers were asked for ‘any other

comments’, and again these were a combination of extremely

positive, constructive, honest, and insightful points. A number

of comments remarked on what they saw as the ‘big strides’ in

ongoing improvement in the Simmental breed over the last ten

years. A further similar sentiment was that if the breed maintains

and improves its strengths in milk, easy calving, docility, and good

locomotion, ‘Simmental bulls will sell themselves’ in the forward

industry. Breeders were given some ‘signals’ for forward sales to

not overfeed bulls, and the importance of feet, good legs and

mobility. Herd health, the versatility of Simmentals on all breeds, the

importance of good growth rates, and food conversion from grass

were all noted. Producing ‘bulls that make good cows’ was also a

sentiment, with a clear overall emphasis on the desire for Simmentals

many recognised maternal strengths.

Commenting on the survey BSCS General manager Iain Kerr said: “It’s

really important for the Society to engage with Simmental buyers

to find out how satisfied they have been with their purchases, and

to outline their thoughts and feedback to breeders. The Simmental

breed is renowned for breeding quality heifer replacements and for

being first class suckler cows with plenty of milk, good fertility, easily

calved and crossing to advantage with any other breed.

We also see Simmental progeny

being easy fleshing, with good

growth rates, top weights for age, and being

the industry leader for age at slaughter. To

have these qualities recognised and endorsed

by the breeds buyers, with an approval/

repeat customer rate of 94%, is really

encouraging.

“A massive well done is extended to pedigree Simmental breeders for

these results and for consistently bringing forward a high standard

of bulls. There is an ongoing commitment from the breeders

and Society, in the sum of all its parts, to keep working hard to

consistently produce the choice and quality of bulls that commercial

beef producers and pedigree breeders require.”


TECHNICAL

NEW EBVS TO IMPROVE

MATERNAL EFFICIENCY

AND PRODUCTIVITY

With farmers facing ongoing uncertainties including changes to basic

payments and increased pressure to reduce carbon emissions, many

suckler farmers are investigating ways to improve the efficiency of

their cattle enterprises. Could AHDB’s new maternal breed evaluations

be the answer? Dr Alex Brown, AHDB’s Senior Beef Breeding &

Genetics Manager, explains more.

In the past, much of the interest in improving efficiencies has

been focused on terminal traits including growth rate and

carcase quality. However, with 70% of the cost from suckler

beef production, plus emission levels both originating from the

suckler cow, farmers are starting to turn their attention to maternal

efficiency.

For the past year, AHDB have been working to promote the

production of heifers that are efficient, profitable, and fit for the

future, under the Maternal Matters campaign. Alongside appropriate

management and nutrition, choosing the right genetics for breeding

heifer replacements is a key long-term investment, as the benefits

are cumulative and permanent.

In 2018, AHDB launched their National Beef Evaluations providing

estimated breeding values (EBVs) for five commercial carcase traits

in beef cattle, using national data from processors, breed societies

and the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS). Thanks to further

research and analysis in conjunction with Scotland’s Rural College, it

has been possible to leverage further value from routinely recorded

BCMS data, and release three new maternal EBVs through the

National Beef Evaluation database. These are:

1. Age at first calving

2. Productive lifespan

3. Calf survival

Understanding the new maternal trait EBVs

This set of EBVs is derived directly from commercial data and should

therefore be of high interest to commercial producers as well as the

pedigree sector. So, as well as being useful when making your own

breeding decisions, these EBVs could also be used as a marketing

tool when selling stock bulls. These new EBVs provide an opportunity

to have a cumulative and permanent impact on suckler herd

performance by improving your herd genetics, and they link tightly

to key maternal performance indicators (KPIs).

Age at first calving

Definition: An EBV predicting the age at which a heifer has her first

calf. Selecting for this EBV will produce animals more likely to hold

service at a younger age.

Calculated from: Birth and calving dates from BCMS

Unit of measurement: Days

Interpretation: Dirnanean Elixir has an age at first calving EBV of -42.3

days. On average, he will produce progeny who calve 21 days earlier

than progeny from a bull with an age at first calving EBV of 0.

KPI: Age at first calving.

Productive lifespan

Definition: An EBV predicting how long females will stay in the

breeding herd.

Calculated from: Birth, calving and death dates from BCMS

Unit of measurement: Parities (number of calvings)

Interpretation: Dirnanean Elixir has a productive lifespan EBV of 0.27.

Based on a herd of 100 cows, a herd sired by Dirnanean Elixir will

have an average of 13.5 more calvings between them before being

replaced, than a herd sired by a bull with a productive lifespan EBV

of 0.

KPI: Herd replacement rate


TECHNICAL

What this means for your business

We see high variation for these three traits in all breeds, and as usual

the variation within breeds is higher than the variation we see across

breeds. The heritability of these new maternal EBVs ranges from

4% (calf survival), to 11% (age at first calving). Although the genetic

influence on these traits is fairly low, there is still good progress to be

made using genetic improvement because these traits have such a

high economic value.

All the EBVs available on the National Beef Evaluations database

are available to compare across breeds, which is not possible via

breed society evaluations. However, we recommend looking at our

EBVs alongside Breedplan’s pedigree evaluation, as the two sets of

information are complementary to each other.

Calf survival

Definition: An EBV predicting the likelihood of tagged calves

surviving to 10 months of age.

Calculated from: Birth and death dates from BCMS

Unit of measurement: %

Interpretation: Dirnanean Elixir has a calf survival EBV of 4.46%. On

average, he will produce progeny who are 2.23% more likely to

survive to 10 months of age than progeny from a bull with a calf

survival EBV of 0.

KPI: Calves weaned, as a % of females put to the bull.

Remember: The EBV relates to the bull’s genetic merit. He

contributes 50% of his genetics to his progeny, therefore the average

progeny performance is 50% of the EBV value.

How to access the data

The new EBVs are hosted alongside EBVs for carcase traits on the

AHDB National Beef Evaluations website at www.ahdbbeef.egenes.

co.uk, and you can search by pedigree name or ear tag number.

You can also access them directly from the animal record page on

Breedplan.

Developments have also been made to the National Beef Evaluation

website, including details of trait definitions, release dates, and both

across and within-breed benchmarking tables, as well as a handy

reference page listing the pedigree evaluation service providers for

each beef breed. Further improvements in the pipeline include a

comprehensive FAQ page and an EBV search function.

Driving the data forward through sire recording

The production of these EBVs relies on sire details being recorded

on passports to be able to identify genetic links between bulls and


TECHNICAL

recorded progeny. In the latest genetic evaluation (December 2022),

there were over 6 million records that could not be used in the

National Beef Evaluation analysis because the sire was not recorded

in BCMS, so genetic links could not be made. We continue to urge

farmers to make sure they record known sires when registering

animals with BCMS as this is the best way to improve the range and

accuracy of these EBVs. As well as continuing to record all known

sires for your own herd, please encourage buyers of stock bulls to

do the same. Increasing the level of sire recording will allow us to

identify genetic links between cattle and improve the accuracy of the

results.

AHDB Beef & Lamb have produced a Suckler Breeding Plan to help

farmers record sires used on groups of animals if you don’t have

computer software. This can be found at https://ahdb.org.uk/

knowledge-library/suckler-breeding-plan-for-better-returns

Interested in improving the efficiency of your breeding herd? Find

out more about AHDB’s Maternal Matters campaign at https://ahdb.

org.uk/knowledge-library/maternal-matters

An update on the carcase trait evaluations

The National Beef Evaluation for commercial carcase traits was first

published in November 2018. Abattoir data flows into the database

on a weekly basis from processors, with evaluations carried out 3

times per year, in April, August, and December.

Since the first evaluation was released in 2018, the number of

pedigree Simmental cattle with carcase EBVs has risen by 23%,

meaning we now have EBVs published online for over 200,000

pedigree registered cattle. Once commercial cattle are considered,

the number of animals with published EBVs rises to over 700,000.

Breed benchmark tables are now produced for the National Beef

Evaluation, which allow you to assess the genetic merit of your cattle

on both a within and an across breed basis. The table below is an

extract from the within-breed benchmark, and we can see substantial

differences in genetic merit between the bottom 5% and top 5% of

cattle for each trait. For example, on average, progeny from a top 5%

bull for age at slaughter will finish to a constant carcase weight 15

days earlier than progeny from a bottom 5% bull. Because of the level

of variation in the population and the high heritability of the carcase

traits (~40%), using these EBV’s in your breeding decisions should

result in good genetic progress for carcase traits.

As always, the top performing bull for a particular trait or index

isn’t the best bull for every system. When using EBVs to assist your

breeding decisions, make sure you have identified your target

market, and what your cattle need to achieve to meet those

requirements, so that you can identify which traits should be the

strongest focus for improvement.

More information on bull selection, breeding and genetics can be

found in AHDB’s choosing bulls for better returns manual at https://

ahdb.org.uk/Contents/Item/Display/22686

National Beef Evaluation – Simmental within-breed benchmark

Trait Bottom 5% Bottom 25% Average Top 25% Top 5%

Days to slaughter 8.96 0.04 -6.16 -12.37 -21.28

Carcase weight -18.15 -9.62 -3.68 2.26 10.79

Carcase conformation -3.06 -2.1 -1.43 -0.76 0.21

Carcase fat class -0.99 0.22 1.06 1.9 3.12

Average daily carcase gain -0.03 -0.01 0 0.01 0.03

Age at first calving 13.45 -1.08 -11.19 -21.3 -35.83

Productive lifespan -0.33 -0.1 0.06 0.22 0.45

Calf survival 0.82 2.34 3.39 4.44 5.96



TECHNICAL

HEIFER REPLACEMENT

STRATEGIES: COST

REDUCTION IN THE

SUCKLER HERD

In 2019, Sarah Pick, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager, undertook

a Nuffield Farming Scholarship investigating heifer management

practices in the suckler herd. Here, she discusses her main findings

which remain highly relevant today.

Age at first calving can have a big influence on suckler

profitability, with heifer management costs equating to around

10% of the total cost of production. Calving heifers at two

years of age, rather than three, has been shown to be an effective

way of reducing those costs. Studies have shown that calving heifers

at two not only reduces management costs but also increases the

number of calves the heifer produces over her lifetime.

Calving heifers at two years of age is still quite uncommon within

the English suckler herd, due to concerns over additional feed costs,

increased risk of calving difficulties and challenges getting first

calved heifers to rebreed again.

The USA, Canada and Australia have been calving heifers successfully

at two years of age since the 1970s, and therefore, as part of my

Nuffield Scholarship, I wanted to travel to these countries to address

some of the challenges preventing English suckler farms from

implementing the practice.

What I found was that successful heifer development was

underpinned by:

• Genetics

• Nutrition

• Selection


TECHNICAL

Genetics

Selecting animals purely on their visual characteristics is risky and

can result in undesirable animals being bred. The producers I visited

had clear breeding goals and were effectively using genetics to

achieve them. Many of the estimated breeding values (EBVs) which

were being selected for included calving ease daughters, age at first

calving, scrotal circumference, mature size and milk.

They saw the importance of focusing on the female rather than the

finished animal, with one producer asking: “Why do we raise cattle

the finisher wants, when two-thirds of the cost of a finished animal

relates to the suckler cow?”

Nutrition

One of the biggest challenges with calving heifers at two years of age

is getting them to rebreed again after their first calving. Interestingly,

body condition before calving is the most important factor

controlling when heifers come back into bulling after calving.

During my travels, most producers that I visited calved heifers down

at body condition score 3, to prevent an extended postpartum

interval (time between calving and bulling). Calving thin heifers

not only influences their reproductive success but also influences

colostrum quality, leading to an increased risk of calf mortality.

Selection

Implementing a strict selection criteria ensures that only the most

suitable heifers are retained in the herd. Most herds I visited did not

retain heifers from cows which:

• Required assistance at calving

• Calved late in the breeding season (+42 days)

• Had large teats

• Had a bad temperament

The producers I visited were operating a 60-day breeding

period so that calving was compact and management easier.

This also indirectly selects for fertility, with only the most fertile

heifers reaching puberty and successfully conceiving within the

recommended short bulling period.

Replacement heifers are the lifeblood of the suckler herd and a

valuable source of genetics, and therefore ensuring that only the

most functional heifers are retained is essential. By implementing a

well thought out breeding plan and carefully choosing the genetics

you want within your herd, age at first calving can be reduced,

leading to a more productive and profitable suckler herd.


TECHNICAL

SIMMENTAL MATERNAL

TRAITS CAN BE

KEY FOR SUCKLER

COW EFFICIENCY

AND PROFITABILITY

Here Lesley Wylie, Beef Specialist, SAC Consulting, takes a look

at the key maternal traits required for suckler beef profitability,

and highlights what the role of the Simmental breed in suckler

cows may be in the forward industry.


TECHNICAL

The popularity of the Simmental breed has increased

considerably in recent years, with a 13.5% increase in pedigree

registrations and 19.8% increase in birth notifications in the

last 12 months. Whilst this only indicates pedigree calves born, the

demand for this breed will be filtering down into the commercial

sector due to the many positive attributes that the Simmental breed

can bring to the suckler cow.

The high cull cow values seen this year, alongside profitability

challenges, have encouraged farmers to clear out those older or

problematic cows that perhaps don’t suit their system anymore. This

has provided a great opportunity to rethink what the ideal suckler

cow looks like for their system, that is perhaps one that is less reliant

on inputs but still producing a marketable animal, be that store or

finished.

From a maternal point of view the Simmental breed ‘s influence on

a suckler cow is clear to see in the milkiness of the cows, helping to

produce calves with strong weaning weights and less reliance on the

feed bag to get to these weights.

With labour availability on farms continuing to be a challenge, there is

a real need for docile cows that can calve down with little intervention

that produce calves that get up and suckle quickly, again with very

little assistance.

Fertility is key to suckler beef profitability with UK average weaning

percentages at around 85%, yet the cattle and sheep enterprise

profitability booklet produced by QMS each year shows that to

breakeven suckler producers need to wean nearly 92 calves per 100

cows. Therefore, the breed needs to ensure that these cows, whilst

producing a live calf, need to get back in calf in quickly, with relatively

short bulling periods.

Most breeds have been guilty of chasing 400-day weight figures,

leading to larger mature weights. However, one problem with this

is that a high 400-day weight EBV tends to lead to increased calving

difficulties, another is that finishers are reporting that some of these

cattle are harder to get the desired level of finish on, as they just keep

growing and struggle to lay down adequate fat levels.

From an emissions perspective reducing cow size by 10% would

reduce emissions due to the lower feed and fertiliser requirements the

cow would have.

Many producers argue that a larger cow gives you a higher cull value

but if she is costing you more every year to keep than a smaller cow it

is a false economy. Looking at a 200-day winter, a 600kg cow requires

75MJ ME per day which is 2,600 MJ ME over the winter less than a

750kg cow that requires 88MJ ME per day. Financially this could result

in a potential saving of £34,200 for a herd of 100 cows based on

760kg less silage per cow (based on silage cost of £45/t FW).

At a time when feed costs are exceptionally high and the end market

has implemented weight limits, it makes sense to consider where the

optimum mature cow size is for the breed, to ensure it can produce

suckler cows with relatively low maintenance requirements that are

also easy fleshing.

From a terminal point of view the growth rates of Simmentals

continue to be strong and this has resulted in the breed being joint

top (alongside Charolais) of the leaderboard for the December 2022

AHDB National Beef evaluations Days to Slaughter EBVs. This trait is

important for two reasons:

1. Farm profitability – good growth rates and better use of feed

results in less days to slaughter, which decreases the costs to finish

that animal.

2. Carbon footprint – it is well documented that reducing age of

slaughter to 18 months from 24 months will reduce methane

emissions from beef by around 10%.

Looking to the future, the breed needs to maintain its strong maternal

traits and be careful not to over select on muscle or 400-day weights,

which would have a detrimental effect on fertility and ease of

finishing. If fertility, milk, calving ease and other important maternal

traits are lost in favour of terminal genetics, then they may take many

generations to get back.

Improved grassland management with help with lower cost

production systems in suckler enterprises and with that we need cattle

that can utilise the grass well and still maintain strong growth rates.

The industry is currently one of the most scrutinised sectors which

continues to face many societal and environmental challenges.

There is continued pressure on the viability of livestock, food security

concerns and the role they play in the environment, biodiversity and

what effect they have on carbon emissions.

lesley.wylie@sac.co.uk


ADVERTORIAL

Science into practice: IVP

Cattle breeders seeking to improve their herd’s genetic potential

are introducing In-Vitro embryo Production (IVP), a costeffective

service from specialist artificial breeding technology

company, AB Europe. “IVP is a widely used method globally for

producing embryos where it outcompetes MOET for its flexibility and

multiple benefits to breeders and their donor animals,” explains AB

Europe’s vet, Gavin Tait.

“IVP is providing breeders with opportunities that could never have

been dreamt of. The process features some of the most technically

advanced procedures, initially developed in human IVF, to produce

embryos from collected oocytes which are fertilized within a petri

dish by selected semen and subsequently cultured for seven days

until the fully developed embryos can be transferred or frozen. IVP

can be performed in sexually mature heifers and in calf breeding

females enabling cattle breeders to keep steps ahead.”

Heifers + IVP

We are performing IVP in beef heifers at around 10 to 11 months of

age, and dairy heifers from as young as eight months. There will be

variation between breeds and individual animals mainly attributed

to sexual maturity, however you should be able to gauge if she is

sufficiently mature to collect from according to her size and if she

has started to cycle.

AB Europe IVP vet, Gavin Tait

The IVP process allows you to start collecting oocytes – unfertilized

eggs, from heifers at a considerably younger age over MOET which

requires animals to be 13 to 15 months of age and is more size

dependent.

Collecting oocytes from younger animals is enabling breeders to

produce embryos and realise the potential from their highest genetic

value animals much sooner. For example, if we collect from a ninemonth-old

heifer, her first calf will be born by the time she is 18

months of age.

Young heifers are averaging around three embryos within a range

of one to 10 embryos compared with cows averaging five, and we

have found from experience that collecting at an early age doesn’t

compromise her future breeding potential at all. We’ve collected

from heifers which have gone on to achieve a normal pregnancy.

Pregnant donors + IVP

IVP provides an exclusive opportunity to collect oocytes from in-calf

females. The service is practical up to 12 to 14 weeks of gestation,

after which point it becomes very donor dependant as to whether

her ovaries can still be reached by the vet. We carry out the same

process as we do for non-pregnant animals, the success rate is the

same and there is no difference in hold rates.

IVP is allowing breeders to continue to collect oocytes from their

‘best’ animal while she is in calf; they no longer have to hesitate

whether or not to perform IVF and compromise her becoming out of

synch with the rest of the in herd, or even miss a year of breeding.

Vitrification - hook carrying rapidly frozen embryo

Embryo vitrification

Vitrification is another process which was developed in human

IVF and has since been introduced to the cattle breeding sector.

Vitrification features a two-part process; initially the embryo is

dehydrated - all the liquid inside them is removed, after which it


ADVERTORIAL

is rapidly frozen on a specially designed hook. The technique prevents ice crystals

forming within each embryo which could be detrimental when it thaws. It is also the

preferred method of freezing used in human IVF. (See image p54).

As long as embryos are stored in liquid nitrogen they can be stored indefinitely,

regardless of the processing or storage method. We find that Grade 1 embryos tend to

hold equally as well, whether they are vitrified or conventionally frozen. However, there

is a marked improved hold rate when Grade 2 embryos are vitrified.

GRADE 1

GRADE 2

GRADE 3

Picture perfect embryo. Inner cell mass (ICM) is neat and

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ICM cellular distribution less compact with minor fragmentation

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viable for freezing or transferring

A group of embryos

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QP

Advert


TOP 20 Sires 2022

AUCHORACHAN HERCULES

TOPS THE SIRE RANKINGS

FOR THE MOST PEDIGREE PROGENY REGISTERED IN 2022

With a few ‘new movers’ hitting the

rankings, the 2016 born Auchorachan

Hercules has moved straight into the

number one position of most calves registered

to a sire in 2022, with 71 calves added to

the BSCS Herdbook. Auchorachan Hercules

was bred by D&R Durno & Sons, Glenlivet,

Ballandalloch, Banffshire, and was the result of

an embryo purchased from the Ranfurly herd of

David Hazelton. Sired by the noted 12,000gns

Auchorachan ACDC, Hercules is out of the

Ranfurly herd’s prolific show cow South Park

King Kong Weikel 2 nd EX93. Clearly making his

mark, Auchorachan Hercules breeder Michael

Durno says: “Hercules has bred really well and is

passing on all his great attributes to his progeny

including length, carcase, style, and character!”

Auchorachan Hercules carries a +11 figure for

Maternal (Milk) placing him in the top 5% of the

breed. In October 2021 Auchorachan Landmark

sold at Stirling for 18,000gns, the highest price

for a Hercules sired calf, and with Hercules sons

at sale averaging £8,500 to date. In the summer

of 2022, Auchorachan Hercules was sold in a

private deal to Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie

Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire for their

Newbiemains pedigree herd.

In second place with 53 calves registered to

him in the year, and another new entrant to the

top 20, is Denizes Hamish from MA Barlow and

Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire.

January 2016 born Denizes Hamish is by Dinton

Nautical and is out of the herd’s much decorated

show cow Auroch Eve, a two time Simmental

Champion at the Royal Higland Show. In

October 2022, the Hamish son Denizes Monty

won the Supreme Championship at the pre-sale

show of Simmental bulls before going on to sell

for 20,000gns. Hamish’s first 12 sons sold at

Stirling have averaged 7,500gns. Commenting,

John Barlow says: “Denizes Hamish is breeding

progeny with the full package of pedigree and

performance figures, the noted Simmental

maternal traits, and with shape and muscle. He’s

leaving some very modern Simmental calves.”

Denizes Hamish is in the breed’s top 1% for

Calving Ease Direct, the top 5% for gestation

length, and the top 1% for both Eye Muscle Area,

and Retail Beef Yield.

Other noted entrants to the top rankings include

Coose Lincoln (42); Curaheen Bandit (41); Annick

Klondyke (39); and PHS Polled Worldwide 14 (39).

Auchorachan Hercules

Denizes Hamish

TOP 20 Sires – 2022 2022 2021

AUCHORACHAN HERCULES 16 71 36

DENIZES HAMISH 16 53 33

KILBRIDE FARM HAKA 16 48 47

COOSE JERICHO 47 46

WILLIAMWOOD ICEMAN 17 47 48

DRUMAGARNER HUGHES 16 45 60

COOSE LINCOLN 42 11

CURAHEEN BANDIT 41 29

RATHNASHAN LEONARDO (ET) 41 15

COOSE GAMBLER 41 38

SALTIRE IMPRESSIVE 17 39 42

ANNICK KLONDYKE 19 39 29

PHS POLLED WORLDWIDE 14W 39 11

WOLFSTAR GORDY 15 38 36

BALLINALARE FARM GALAXY 15 38 60

SACOMBE KESTREL 19 37

RANFURLY CONFEDERATE C24 11 36 48

KILBRIDE FARM HANS 16 35 37

SWAY HECTOR 16 35 43

DENIZES KINGSTON 19 34 15


GOLDEN COW

AWARD

Introduced in 2018, the Golden Cow is a replacement for the Elite Cow Scheme. As well as looking at the

EBV’s for a cow and her progeny, the Golden Cow also takes into account the physical attributes of the cow

from the Classification scores awarded to her.

Qualifying criteria for Golden Cow Award

• Cow must have five calves with an average calving Interval of 13 months (twins are classed as one calving)

• Cow must have indexes above breed average

• All calves must have indexes above breed average

• Cow must be classified as Excellent

Once awarded Golden Cow status this award remains whilst the cow is live and active in the herd book.

Golden Cows

COW

ISLAVALE ELISHA EX 93

KILLIWORGIE ELIZA EX 90

MIDHOPE EVERLIGHT EX 94

ISLAVALE FASHION EX 92

ISLAVALE FREDA EX 91

STRATHISLA FATE’S TWIGGY EX 90

STRATISLA FOXY’S MIRA EX 93

STAR GREEN DAPPY’S GRAPEFRUIT EX 91

STRATHISLA GHITA’S GERALDINE EX 90

STRATHISLA GLORIA’S GERALDINE EX 91

OWNER

MR W S STRONACH

MR S A GUMMOW

MR W J & J GREEN

MR W S STRONACH

MR W S STRONACH

STRATHISLA FARMS

STRATHISLA FARMS

MR P V JOLIFFE

STRATHISLA FARMS

STRATHISLA FARMS


‘MODERN’ KILBRIDE FARM

SIMMENTALS HIGHLIGHT A

50 YEAR COMMITMENT

TO PROGRESSIVE

PEDIGREE BREEDING

Feature on the highly regarded Kilbride Farm Simmental Herd of the

Society’s recently elected BSCS President Norman Robson, and the

Robson family, based at Ballyclare, Co Antrim.


Angus, Norman, Billy and Michael Robson.

Elected in October 2022, British Simmental Cattle

Society President Norman Robson is the third member

of his family to hold this role – following in his father

Billy and brother Michael’s footsteps. It is testament to

the family’s enduring passion for the Simmental breed,

which they’ve now been involved with for more than half a

century.

Based in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, Norman and Michael run

the Kilbride Farm herd in partnership, with Billy and Eileen

officially retired, but still helping out – as do Norman’s son

Angus and Michael’s son Matthew. It was founded in 1971,

with the purchase of four heifers from Germany, which

formed part of the breed’s first importation to Northern

Ireland. A further six heifers were bought the following year,

which formed the basis of the herd.

Norman explains: “My father wanted to get into pedigree

cattle and he felt that the Simmental offered us the most

opportunities, which proved to be the case. Much of the

progeny of those first females were exported to America –

there was a big demand for Simmentals over there, and at

that point they couldn’t import directly from Europe, but

they could from us.”


Kilbride Farm Iris 17F, dam of Iris 25LP.

Kilbride Farm Eunice 213G.

The family worked away at improving the herd, using the best semen

they could buy at that time, until their first stock bull was acquired

in 1980. Billy ventured to France to select the bull ‘Orage’, which did

exactly what they hoped he would. “Orage certainly put a stamp

on the herd. He helped us increase growth, conformation and milk

within the herd, and sired our first champion at the Perth Bull Sales,

Kilbride Farm Perry, which went on to sell for 6,000gns, in 1985,” says

Norman.

A few years later, the stock bull Moncur Sensation was bought

privately and became the first Simmental to win the inter-breed title

at Balmoral Show, also winning the breed’s Male of the Year title the

same year, in 1989. Another bull that proved particularly influential

on the herd in the earlier days was Milnafua Graduate, bought at

Perth in 1998, which sired sons to 11,000gns, in addition to many

high performing daughters.

Norman says: “Graduate daughters were very square females that

calved easily on any bull and had plenty milk – we’ve had a lot of

good bulls out of Graduate cows. While we were using Graduate, he

hurt himself, which resulted in us using a home-bred bull, Kilbride

Farm Newry, a son of Dovefields Gallant. We used him for two

years before selling him to AI Services.” Newry went onto have a

huge influence on the breed and was one of the most used AI sires

ever – topping the registration figures for several years in a row. For

the Kilbride Farm herd, he sired successful breeding females and

sons that made five-figure prices, including Kilbride Farm Strabane,

which was champion at Perth in 2006 and sold for 10,000gns to the

Blackford herd.

Another privately bought bull that performed well was Seaview

Prince Charming, sire of the 2008 Perth champion Kilbride Farm

Tarrant, which made 10,000gns to Corskie. And, Cairnview Snazzy,

bought at Perth for 15,000gns, went onto be the sire or grand-sire

to four Stirling champions, including Kilbride Farm Comber, the

October, 2012 champion, which made 20,000gns.

The herd’s top price to-date is the 22,000gns Kilbride Farm Foreman,

sold at Stirling in February 2016, where he was placed reserve

supreme champion. His sire, Crugmelyn Brenin, was bought privately

after being spotted at the English National Show. In addition to

Foreman, a further two sons of Brenin sold privately at five-figure

prices and his daughters became some of the best in the herd, with

a few still remaining. Norman explains: “We do a fair bit of research

before selecting a stock bull; we look at breeding lines and which

ones are consistently doing well. Based on his genetics, we bought


the homozygous polled bull Sneumgaard Imperator, as a threemonth-old

calf from Denmark. Michael was over there judging and

visited the herd – they had two exceptional cows and he was a son of

one of them.

We have been gradually introducing

the polled gene over the years,

slowly, in order to also maintain the qualities

that our herd has become known for.

Imperator has helped accelerate this.”

Imperator has been breeding well and as a result, 75% of the cows in

the herd are now polled. The Robsons are also using a home-bred

son of Imperator, Kilbride Farm Jetstream, which is out of a Brennin

daughter. Of his first crop of calves, four sons sold to pedigree herds

in 2022, and a further three are entered for the upcoming sale at

Stirling in February ‘23.

In addition to realising the long-term benefits of breeding polled

cattle, the Robsons also appreciate the advantages that new

technology has brought to the breed. “We have always supported

performance recording and can see the improvements that

have been made in the breed as a result of having access to this

information. If we’re importing a stock bull, we always take into

account the growth rates and calving ease, from whatever system

that country has. We have a 300-sow pig unit and have witnessed the

major improvements that the pig industry has been able to make by

using this technology.”

At present, the cattle herd comprises just short of 100 breeding

pedigree cows, with half calving in the spring, from the end of

March, and the rest between August and October. Norman says they

run a commercial system and the cows are ‘not pampered in any

way’. “They are housed on slats through the winter and they need to

be very structurally sound to hold up to those conditions. The cows

are naturally fleshed so they are cheap to keep over the winter. The

spring calves are speaned when they come in, at six to seven months

old, with the early autumn-born calves speaned in April when they

go out to grass and the later autumn ones kept on the cow until

June,” he adds.

Bulls and heifers have always been sold at Society sales at Stirling

and Dungannon, but also privately, off the farm. This method


to celebrate the herd’s 50 th anniversary, where 13 heifers sold to

average 4,500gns. At home, no bought-in females have been added

to the herd for around 20 years. Instead, bulls are carefully selected

to go on the five main cow families – Eunice, Dora, Laura, Iris and

Fanni, which have all been breeding well for several generations.

Whilst Kilbride Farm stock often makes it into the top prize-list at

pre-sale shows, the Robsons have not shown at summer shows for

many years. Norman says they enjoyed their new-found free time the

year of Foot-and-mouth when the shows were cancelled and haven’t

gone back to it since.

Norman Robson.

increased in popularity during lockdown and Norman notes that the

demand for private sales has remained high since then. Post-Brexit

protocols with regards to movement rules, have resulted in Northern

Ireland sellers being far more cautious when it comes to taking bulls

across the water to sales. “There was a time when we would take a

dozen bulls to Perth or Stirling, but there’s no way we would risk that

now, with the current movement restrictions. I’d say the bulls that

we sell at home are a slightly different type to the ones we send to

Stirling, where a slightly bigger framed bull is more in demand. We

have a good market for polled bulls sold from home.

“Those that don’t make the mark are kept entire and sold at just

over a year old, direct to ABP. The last batch that went weighed an

average 453kg and averaged out at £1,893 per head. Amongst them,

there was one E grade, one R grade and the rest all U grades. The

Simmental has always been renowned as a maternal breed, but it can

also compete in the store market too, with impressive growth rates

and days to slaughter.”

However, the demand for Simmental females, both pedigree and

commercial, continues and in 2021 the family held an online sale

“It also helps us protect the health status of the herd, but I can

definitely see the benefits of showing at the summer events, from a

promotional and social point of view”, he says.

“My father first got into Simmentals because he could see the

potential of the breed and the opportunities for the breed to progress

have never been greater.

We must build on the performance

benefits the Simmental breed offers

all types of farming systems – no other breed

has the flexibility of the Simmental; from

crossing on a Luing cow on the hill, to high

output lowland suckler herds and as a

crossing sire onto the dairy herd.

"With the environmental impact of beef farming under such scrutiny,

the efficiency and sustainability of the Simmental will come to the

fore – I’m proud to be President of the Society at this time and can

hopefully help promote this message,” adds Norman.

Kilbride Farm Jestream.



SYMA

SIMMENTAL YOUNG MEMBERS ASSOCIATION

Simmental Young Members featured

strongly throughout the Simmental

year in 2022 playing an integral part

at shows, sales, and major events. Here

we have a montage of just some of the

highlights of Simmental Young Members

participating, achieving, and showing their

fantastic abilities, including:

Exhibiting the Champion at Borderway Agri

Expo; showing at the summer ‘majors’;

winning young handlers championships at

Stars of the Future; preparing and showing

at the Stirling Bull Sales; calf show young

handlers championships; stockjudging at

the English and NI National Shows; and

winning young stockpersons awards at

Stirling.

The SYMA continues to be the forum

for young members to develop their

interest and knowledge in all things

Simmental and cattle breeding generally.

Hugely important it is a foundation for

the development of young Simmental

members and the improvement of the

Simmental breed in the future.


LOOKING TO BUILD A

SIMMENTAL FUTURE

Simmental young members can

be found in all the affiliated Clubs

around the UK and the Society is

keen to grow SYMA membership

and activity. Collectively,

with support from the SYMA

officeholders, and the British

Simmental Cattle Society, events are

organised at both local and national

level and can typically include:

• National and regional SYMA

stockjudging

• Exchange visits and trips

• Courses in cattle preparation,

feeding, halter training,

clipping, showing cattle and

general stock knowledge

• Herd visits and open days

• Technical days and online

courses on cattle breeding,

genetics, EBVs and genomics

• Marketing of Simmental cattle

and use of online forums for

breed promotion

• SYMA social events

The Simmental Young Member

Association is a fantastic forum for

you to learn more about cattle and

the livestock industry generally.

It’s a lot of fun, educational, and a

great opportunity to meet and mix

with people who share a common

interest in British Simmental, one of

the UK’s leading beef breeds.

Want to join the SYMA and help

us grow the organisation? Then

please contact us at information@

britishsimmental.co.uk or on 02476

696513



Welcome to

New Members

Great to see new breeders from all geographies of the UK joining the Society in 2022. A warm

welcome is extended to all and we hope that you enjoy your membership of British Simmental as

you build your pedigree herd.

MEMBER’S NAME REGION PREFIX

N & N ABRAHAM Northern Ireland CORHOLLAND

S & L AWDRY Cornwall TRENDEAL

JOHN BOSHER South East DORNEYLILLIES

J M & M E EUSTICE Cornwall HAYVIEW

SCOTT ANDREW EWING Scotland OVERTON

E & M FAIRHURST & SON North East FAIRHURST

PATRICK J FITZSIMONS & ANDREA MCKIBBIN Northern Ireland BALLYFITZ

HUGH P & CIARAN HAMILL Northern Ireland OAKTOWN

MR ALEX HEATH Midlands SUREFIRE

MARK HERON North East BRINKBURN

PHILIP & SHEA LARGEY Northern Ireland LAGAN

IAN MAGILL Northern Ireland BALLYROLLY

WARREN MCCONNELL Northern Ireland BINNIANVIEW

MARK MCKINSTRY Northern Ireland BALLYAULKAN

SAMUEL, RICHARD & ROY MORRISON Northern Ireland OTAGO

MR R F & MRS RJ PARKER East Anglia TAVERHAM

AD & JM PRITCHARD Midlands LILWALL

J G A RAYMONT & SON Cornwall TREVEAN

M W RIDGWAY Scotland NETHERHOWDEN

DESSIE ROONEY Northern Ireland ROSEMOY

RUSSELL & JESSICA STEER South West RUSHLADE

P & E STEWART Scotland MOSSYWOOD

SAM & CHARLIE TANNER South West NORTONBROOK

STUART TANNER South West HOMEMEADFARM

SION WYN JONES & SONS Wales PERTH

RUARIDH JOHN MACARTHUR Scotland DALMORE

JAMES MCCOMB & ANDREW WHITE Northern Ireland MILLCOMB

FINLAY SOUTTER Midlands MILLENNIUM

ANNA VERNON Midlands FERZILL


FAREWELL TO DEAR FRIENDS

JUDY MCGOWAN

Dirnanean Simmentals

1943 - 2022

The sudden death of Judy McGowan,

Incheoch, Alyth, in November has

seen the Simmental breed lose one of

its long serving supporters. Judy was a firstclass

organiser and with this ability she helped

husband Finlay establish, run and promote the

Dirnanean Simmental herd and was actively

involved in various livestock clubs, breed

societies and events. She was widely respected

by the farming industry who recognised her

practical knowledge and her ability to get things

done.

Judy was born 20 minutes after her brother

Walter to James and Annie Biggar of Chapelton,

Castle Douglas on 24 th July 1943. The twins

were the eldest of the family that grew with

Kay and later Donald. The house was often full

of international visitors and conversations in

‘The Bull Room’ (based around bull sales, herd

sires and shows), were really about the great

characters from all over the world who visited

often.

Although brought up amongst pedigree herds

of Galloways and Shorthorn cattle, the family

involvement with the Simmental breed started

when her father, along with great friend Frank

Young of Congeith and accompanied by William

Young of Skerrington Mains, were dispatched to

Switzerland to select an early importation for the

UK. James Biggar remembered seeing a young

bull calf called Neff running down a hillside

and striding into a byre with all the character he

would end up bringing to the breed worldwide.

Following education at Haugh-0f-Urr, Ambleside

and ‘the Mount’ in York, she enrolled at

Edinburgh University attaining an MA degree in

Physical Geography and Political Economy, with

Moral Philosophy and Psychology. However, her

proudest achievement of this time was receiving

the Queen’s Guide Award.

Guides opened the door for traveling and she

visited Israel and spent some time living in a

kibbutz. She was always very supportive of any

organisation encouraging young people to

travel – and then very welcoming to the stream

of people who have landed at her door. She

was always quick to organise a laundry, work

out what they needed to see and supply more

contacts while filling a table with food.

In 1964 she travelled to Canada, meeting up

with family and cattle contacts – including a

visit with her twin brother Walter who was doing

similar – working at the Lowada Hereford ranch

at the time. It was not long after her return home

that Walter was tragically killed in a car accident

while still in Canada.

A stint at secretarial college in London honed

skills that took her to the Borders to help set

up a service helping farmers with records

and bookkeeping that became Farm Business

Records (FBR). A keen interest in the Young

Farmers movement introduced her to many firm

friends but also grew into a job which took her

back to Edinburgh for a few years as assistant to

National Secretary, Bob Gregor.

While working for rural Scotland’s unofficial

marriage agency – she met Finlay, not at a

Young Farmers event, but a Shorthorn dinner

dance in the Station Hotel, Perth at a February



Bull Sale. They were married on the 1 st June

1973.

The couple took on a small hill farm in the

Lomond Hills of Fife and after three years the

chance came up to buy a 5000 acre hill farm,

well up a Highland Perthshire glen – lock, stock

and barrel. The couple scraped absolutely

everything together to forge a deal and moved

to Dirnanean on the last day of 1976. A flitting

in a lorry through snow – with Neil as a toddler,

Clare on the way and Meise – 1 Swiss Simmental

cow. A strong marriage, one Simmental cow

and a whole lot of debt and determination was

how Finlay and Judy’s farming adventure really

began.

Taking over the resident herd of Luing cattle

proved to be a turning point in their farming,

but it was with the Simmental breed they found

the most success initially. Show and sale success

with bulls including Stuartslaw Joseph, Congeith

Malcolm, Dirnanean Nugget and Norseman,

sparked Judy’s involvement with the breed and

she became secretary of the Scottish Simmental

Club for 14 years – organizing events and trips

as far afield as Norfolk and Northern Ireland with

busloads of members intent on seeing cows and

getting up to all sorts of nonsense. She really

enjoyed trying to keep them all shepherded and

the camaraderie of it all.

The Simmental Club dinner in the City Mills hotel

in Perth, which she organised with a ceilidh

and charity raffle, brought many old friendships

together, kindled new ones and also inspired a

lot of mischief – but also good-will towards the

breed. Her go-to people for getting those nights

going were many, but included Jim Webster,

Hector MacAskill and Alastair Houston – and I

like to fancy they may all be having a good time

again, without us.

One of Judy’s proudest achievements was

organising the Dirnanean Open Day in 1984

where the ‘Sim-Luing’ was launched as a

branded breeding female. Although the day

included a wealth of speakers, a trailered farmtour

around the hill, lunch and a bar (Judy found

a way around licensing arrangements) her best

memories were of the people that came and the

fun that they had later that day.

A farm move for a few years to Stuartslaw near

Duns was a steppingstone to the more extensive

stock farm they were looking for and the family

were soon on the move again to Incheoch,

Alyth, in 1994 where they finally settled. Both

children based there too, returning after spells

of work and travel and later joined by Neil’s wife

Debbie and then grandchildren Tally and Angus.

In just short of 50 years of marriage the couple

moved house 10 times.

Settling down at Incheoch Judy produced the

Luing Journal for a year, which then turned into

the position of secretary of the Luing Cattle

Society for the best part of a decade. She was

in this role over the Foot and Mouth outbreak

in 2001 when everything turned on its head –

there was great demand from herds restocking,

and with direct farm to farm sales only, the Luing

office held a big role in getting new herds set up

- a challenge she relished.

During her time with the Luings, Judy dealt

with a growing membership and registrations,

but was most proud of the joint open days held

in conjunction with Simmental and Charolais

cattle societies – when commercial herds were

showcased. Breed complementarity and hybridvigour

was the message, but it didn’t interest her

as much as what people could achieve when

they worked together.

Simmentals took Judy on many adventures

– parties at the Royal Show, expeditions into

blizzards in Canada looking for polled cattle and

various trips to Ireland, sometimes returning

with a bull, but always rejuvenated by meeting

people.

Retirement from some farm duties meant

actively organising community events and

organisations including the Isla Parishes

churches and Skene Tryst Lunch club for

the elderly in the district. Judy continued to

be actively involved in the farm, often with

clipboard to hand, and took great pleasure in

the challenge of the annual on-farm ram and

bull sale, particularly enjoying the opportunity to

meet friends – old and new.

She is survived by her husband Finlay and the

farm is now run by son Neil and daughter-in-law

Debbie, with the help of Judy’s daughter Clare.

Judy also has two grandchildren.

The Dirnanean Simmental herd was dispersed in

2015, with a core of females starting son Neil’s

Incheoch herd. When writing the foreword

for the sale, Judy was asked what her best

memories were of the Simmental cattle. She

had many – but they were all about the people

she had met, the parties and the fun that was

had. This pedigree cattle business is really about

people and friendships – and the Simmental

world has lost a good friend in Judy McGowan.



IVIE HAIR

WASHAWAY SIMMENTALS

1940 – 2022

Ivie was born in Scotland where his grandfather and

father farmed in Largs, Ayrshire. In 1960 the family

took the major decision to buy Hendra Farm, St Kew in

Cornwall. The organisation of moving their stock led to the

unprecedented sight of a train pulling cattle wagons into

St Kew station, which featured in the local press with black

and white pictures capturing the event for posterity. Life

continued with the family milking and breeding Hereford

cattle, until Ivie was offered the opportunity to manage

Pencarrow Estate for James Molesworth St Aubyn in 1989.

Ivie and Jennie, who he met in 1983, settled into the

bungalow where he remained until his death. Initially

continuing the home farm Hereford suckler herd, Ivie

encouraged the transition to Simmentals in the early 90’s

obtaining foundation females from the Lancombe, Sacombe,

Hendra, Huntsland, Langford, Felixstowe, Dunninald and

Efford herds. The herd was expanded using AI and a stock

bull Carnon Warleggan, acquired from John Langdon. A

decade later the Pencarrow herd was dispersed due to the

owner’s ill health. Ivie and Jennie bought some land and

cattle from the estate and the Washaway Simmental herd was

established.

A Cornwall Simmental Club foundation member and

serving on committee for many years, Ivie’s passion for the

Simmental breed never dwindled. He attended the 2022

Royal Cornwall Show aided by a mobility scooter, oxygen

cylinder and Jennie’s caring assistance. Ivie advised and

mentored several fledgling Simmental herds in the county,

including Killiworgie, Sowenna and Pennytinney. His

experience, zest for life and mischievous humour will be

missed.

BETTY WILSON

CAIRNVIEW HERD

1943 - 2022

Betty was born at Cauldhame Farm, Dunlop,

Ayrshire, to William and Jean Struthers. She was

the fourth daughter of five girls, in what was

a close family. Betty always enjoyed working outside

with her dad, being given the name Tam – the son her

dad never had. Betty attended Dunlop Primary and

Stewarton High schools. After leaving school, she went

to secretarial college before starting work with Mortons

Auctioneers in Kilmarnock. After Betty’s eldest sister

married, she came back home to work. Sadly their dad

died suddenly in 1961 and the family farm was sold.

Betty married Sandy Wilson in 1963 and had three

children, Robert, Jean and Sandra. This marriage ended

and Betty met Andy (also Wilson) and they were married

in 1988, now becoming Betty Struthers Wilson. When

married, they lived at Cairnview, Kilmacolm, which is

where the Simmental herd got its prefix. Betty was never

sure if Andy loved his cows more than her. They moved

to Burnhouse and then to Westcroft in 1998. Some great

friends were met through the Simmental Society and

happy times were spent at Simmental outings, including

the Stirling Bull Sales and taking the caravan to the Royal

Highland Show. The kist parties were the highlight of the

show, meeting old and new friends, and the good craik.

When Betty managed to drag Andy away from the cattle,

they enjoyed cruising and a visit to the Toronto Winter

Fair.

Betty leaves behind a loving husband and dear friend

Andy, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren

and step family.

Our condolences to his widow and three sons.



IAN STEELE

BLAKEWELL HERD

5 th December 1946 – 23 rd January 2022

Ian William Steele travelled a less than usual route into

the Simmental breed. Born and brought up in the

city of Hull, son of William and Maude and brother of

Patricia and Margaret, his early life passions were football

and motor vehicles. This saw him leave school to take up

an apprenticeship with Hull Corporation and train as a

fitter on the buses.

Life takes twists and turns that can never be foreseen and

through a friend he met Margaret Douglas, the eldest

daughter of a farmer from Easington, a village on the

coast, 20 miles from Hull. As they say, one thing leads to

another and Ian and Margaret were married on the 23 rd

March 1968 and set up home on Blakewell Farm going

on to have two sons, Andrew and Barry. Shortly after

the marriage, a decision needed to be made; should Ian

continue to commute to Hull to work or should he change

direction and start to work on the farm, which at the time

carried a dairy herd, a pig breeding and finishing herd,

laying hens and an arable enterprise. This was the start of

his farming life, working alongside Margaret’s father and

uncle and explains why the business has always traded as F

Douglas & Sons.

Ian and Margaret’s first foray into the Simmental breed

occurred in 1992 when purchasing Longfield Cindy from

Ken Jobling’s sale in the same area of Holderness. That

same year, they joined the Simmental Society and their

30 years association with the breed had started. Later

additions included females from the Island, Brinkton,

Salisbury, Sterling, Solway and Greenside herds.

Ian made many friends through Simmental cattle. Shows

such as Driffield, Great Yorkshire, North Yorkshire,

Northumberland and Lincolnshire were successfully

attended regularly throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s.

It was always nice to come away with a few rosettes

and they certainly had their fair share from animals such

as Blakewell April’s Glory and Blakewell Evening Kiss.

Ian always referred to these years as the best years for

showing due to the friendships forged and the banter that

he enjoyed so much. On the back of this, successful sales

came at Carlisle on a regular basis as well as supporting

sales at Thirsk, Newark and Skipton.

Ian took particular pleasure from animals he sold going

on to be successful for other breeders. Never really one

for the limelight, he loved it when his granddaughters

were old enough to get involved with the cattle. He

encouraged them into the show ring and was at his

happiest watching proudly from the edge, always ready

to help out if a heifer misbehaved.

It’s probably fair to say that Blakewell animals always

bred better than they sold. Ian loved his cattle and their

future breeding potential was paramount – showing was

fun, a holiday away from the farm, a chance to catch up

with friends. Rosettes were a bonus not a priority. All the

cattle were genuine and their health was his main priority.

Indeed, the Blakewell herd would be one of the first

in the Simmental breed to gain Elite Health Status and

this guaranteed a ready market for his heifers, if not for

pedigree or commercial use, then as embryo recipients.

No one ever bought a Blakewell animal not knowing that

should anything go awry, Ian would be more than fair.

Since Ian passed away, we have been overwhelmed with

the messages from fellow breeders and friends within the

Simmental community. The most common description of

Ian that we receive is that he was a Gentleman. That’s not

a bad way to be remembered and as Ian himself may have

said, “It’ll do”.



PAUL RADBURN

DILMORE HERD

1956 - 2022

Paul passed away in March 2022, aged 66, following

a very short illness. He farmed a smallholding

in Claines, Worcester, consisting of around 50

Simmentals and a few Hereford cows. He was born in the

small village of Cutnall Green near Droitwich and lived in

the countryside all his life. Although not originally from

farming stock, he just loved the outdoor rural life and

all his friends were farmer’s children. He spent hours at

weekends and school holidays down on the farm.

His parents and grandparents were market gardeners but

Paul was always more interested in the chickens, ducks

and geese who shared the fields. They had a pig sty at the

bottom of the garden so his dad bought a couple of small

pigs for Paul to look after as a young teenager, and that

was the beginning.

A family friend in the village had a livestock transport

business so Paul soon became a “driver’s mate” helping to

load animals and deliver them to other farms and markets.

Paul didn’t get on well at school, mostly because his mind

was already made up – he wanted to be outside caring

for animals and couldn’t see the point of academic stuff.

As soon as he was old enough he got his HGV license

and joined the company transporting animals around the

county. He loved it.

As he grew older he wanted more animals for himself and

was lucky that when his aunt retired from the Post Office

in Cutnall Green, she bought a cottage in Claines which

had a pig farm attached. Paul lived there with his aunt

for the next 40 years. Paul developed the pig farm and

supplemented his income by running his own haulage

lorry with his name across the top.

But it was always about the animals. At its peak the

pig farm had over a hundred breeding sows and was

very hard work. The trade became quite poor and Paul

couldn’t make a living from the pigs, so he made the

switch to breeding high quality pedigree cattle. Firstly

Charolais then Simmentals and recently adding a few

Herefords. Whatever animals he reared, his buyers would

always comment on how well they looked and how well

they had been cared for. Simmental breeders were often

calling to find out if he had animals for sale.

Paul was a big strong man but very gentle with it. He

became a carer for his aunt and looked after the house

they shared. He was a very private man and never

married. He treated his animals as his family and would

do anything for his neighbours and local farmers. They

held him in high regard as a friend and this became very

obvious in the days and weeks following his death when

many of them turned up to help feed and care for his

animals in such difficult circumstances.

Paul would never have done well on Eggheads or

University Challenge but he made up for it with other

talents. It is doubtful if many of the Eggheads would

be much good at reversing a large trailer full of cows

through a small gateway. Paul was brilliant at it.

For a big “no nonsense” type of man, he was incredibly

tolerant and calm when things weren’t going well. He has

been severely challenged and let down by many builders

and contractors whilst trying to get his barn conversion

completed over the last two years and it is such a shame

that he was only just starting to enjoy his hard work. He

will leave someone with a brand new bungalow but he

will leave us all with lots of warm and positive memories.


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Kirtleton House, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, DG11 3HD


SIMMENTALS BREEDING

QUALITY FEMALE

REPLACEMENTS, AND TOP

QUALITY STORE CATTLE

FOR THE MANSON FAMILY AT BRODIESHILL

Feature on Colin and Robert Manson, Brodieshill Farm, Alves, Forres

and their 140 cow Simmental based suckler herd. The Mansons will

welcome visitors on 8 th July 2023, when they host a British Simmental

Open Day at Brodieshill Farm.

Since introducing the Simmental as a dual-purpose sire,

the Manson family from Morayshire has been able to

produce home-bred, medium sized replacements which

can sustain the type of ground on their unit.

Father and son team Colin and Robert Manson, farm at

Brodieshill, Alves, and have built up a good reputation for

selling hi-health commercial bulling heifers and store cattle

sold through Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre.

The family has been at the 550-acre Brodieshill unit since 1947

and they now farm a total of 1100 acres which includes 400

acres of spring barley for malting, 25 acres of beans, 200 acres

of rotational grazing and the rest permanent pasture, much of

which is reclaimed hill ground.

Robert Manson.


Outwith the commercial suckler herd of 140 cows,

the family also keeps 500 breeding ewes, 100

of which are Suffolk cross Mules lambed early

in February. The main batch lamb in mid-March,

with the first lambs away by the end of June

when sold direct to Woodhead Bros at Turriff or

Dunbia. Roberts’ wife Nicola has also diversified

and opened a natural play area earlier this year,

where she holds sessions for parents and children

to explore, play and assist with animal care, and

become more familiar with the farming seasons

through information boards.

Colin and Robert previously used the Charolais as

a terminal sire over Simmental crosses, producing

bull beef and finished heifers, and bought in

all replacements from other herds. “The first

Simmental cross heifers were purchased 18 years

ago from Bill and Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie,

and we’ve never looked back since,” said Robert.

“Simmentals are docile and good to work with,

and we needed a big, framed female that was

fit to handle bigger Charolais calves. The only

downside was that we couldn’t produce our own

replacements with the Charolais, and we were

having some difficult calvings so that’s why we’ve

now moved to Simmental bulls, with a Salers used

over the heifers for easier calving.”

The first Simmental bull used was Burghbridge

Ricardo, purchased on recommendation from

Gibby Scott, and the family now tend to buy

top-quality bulls from local herds such as Islavale,

Rockytop and Blackford. One of the dearest stock

bulls to date is the 11,000gns Blackford Island

Warrior, which is leaving more flesh and shape,

with the recent Islavale sires doing equally well

and bringing size into the breeding herd.


At present, the herd includes 140 suckler cows which are split calving

from the end of February onwards and then from the end of July.

All heifers have been pelvic measured since 2015 to cull out any not

suitable for breeding.

“We like to run a tight calving period, so bulls are out with the cows

for 12 weeks and just 6 weeks with the heifers,” commented Robert.

“Since moving away from the Charolais, we haven’t seen much of a

difference in the weights of the calves, and we generally find that the

Simmental calves are a good weight for age. The males used to be

kept entire, but we soon realised that the stots could stand up to the

other breeds in the store ring, so that’s the system we are following

now.”

The Simmental is capable of

thriving on this type of ground, but

it helps that our cows are medium-sized and

generally weigh around 800kg.”

The spring cows are kept outside until the end of January, before

coming inside and being wormed/fluked and blood tested for the

Premium Cattle Health Scheme, which the herd has been a member

of since 2016. They are also vaccinated with Rotavec prior to calving

at the end of February and are then housed with their calves until

May time, before calves are introduced to creep feed from mid-

July. These cows and calves spend all summer on the reclaimed hill

ground which Robert said is old grass and tough going.

kept inside for six weeks before being sold privately. The autumn

calving cows calve outside next to the steading and they’re housed

from the end of November. Only the cows and heifer calves head

outside in May, with heifer calf outfits weaned from their mothers

and kept inside on feed until being sold six weeks later.

With the Simmental being the only terminal sire amongst the cows,

the females at Brodieshill are almost pure. Around 15 is kept for each

herd, with the remainder sold to returned buyers through Thainstone

in May, at 18 to 19-months-old.

Last year’s consignment averaged £1,625 (-£150 on the year) and the

herd received a top price to date of £1,950. “We still have a fattening

pen on the farm for any heifers that we don’t think would make

the grade for breeding,” commented Robert. “We only sell what we

would be happy to breed from ourselves.”

Robert is finding the Salers to be a successful cross over the heifers,

producing hybrid vigour and females with good udders and feet.

“I think it’s important that breeders keep focus from a commercial

point of view and focus on maternal traits,” concluded Robert.

“When buying stock bulls, it’s important that they can produce

replacements. As such we look for long, deep bulls with a bit of

shape that will pass through onto our females.”

*Look out on the Society’s Facebook page for details of the 2023

British Simmental Cattle Society Open Day at Brodieshill Farm on

Saturday 8 th July.

“The Simmental is capable of thriving on this type of ground, but it

helps that our cows are medium-sized and generally weigh around

800kg,” said Robert. “If we were breeding bigger Simmental cows

around the 900kg-1000kg mark, I don’t think they would cope as

well.”

Calves are weaned in mid-October and receive the first vaccination

and wormer in September when the cows are scanned, and then

are brought inside one month later when they receive their second

vaccination. They thrive on a mix of home-grown barley, silage,

beans, and cattle 35 pellet from Harbro, before being sold in

February at Thainstone, where last year’s batch averaged 507kg at

£1,197.57, and at 334 days.

More recently, autumn-born bullock calves have been weaned and


Denzies Monty, Stirling Champion Oct 2022

FEEDING FOR SUCCESS

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HEATHBROW

Dispersal Sale

October 23rd 2023

at Stirling

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Heathbrow Ko Ko Star (P)

Champion at Great Yorkshire 2021

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Decendant from AWL Starlet (P) family

Heathbrow Important (P) EX 93

4 Interbreed Championships

Unbeaten during 2019

European Simmental of the Year

Stock Bull at Blackford & Heathbrow

Decendant of the

Dirnanean Sarah EX 90 family

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Polled Simmentals

Where Female Families Matter Most

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Email: highheath@btinternet.com Tel: 07836 782184


storersmithsimmentals

Spath Farm, Ashbourne Road, Uttoxeter. ST14 5AP.

www.storersmithsimmentals.co.uk Facebook: Storersmith Simmentals

Tel: 01889 563200. Richard: 07508 403333. Louise: 07977 487042.


SHOWS

SHOW

REPORTS

2022


SHOWS

RUAS Balmoral Show

Supreme Overall & Female Champion Ashland Topaz Lopez.

‘STYLISH’ ASHLAND

HEIFER SCOOPS SUPREME

SIMMENTAL TITLE

AT 2022 RUAS BALMORAL SHOW

• Ashland Topaz Lopez takes

Reserve Overall in the Interbreed

Beef Champion of Champions

• Ashland Topaz Mair takes Overall

Interbreed Reserve in the Beef

Junior Champion of Champions

The September 2020 born heifer Ashland Topaz Lopez bred

by Pat Kelly, and son Frank, from Tempo, County Fermanagh,

came through a small but quality entry to lift the Female

Championship and the Overall Supreme Simmental Championship

on day one of the 2022 RUAS Balmoral Show, held on Wednesday

11 th May at Balmoral Park, Belfast.

Judge David Lowry.

• Ashland Topaz Lopez earlier wins

the Interbreed Beef Performance

Heifer Championship award


RUAS Balmoral Show

SHOWS

This ‘stylish’ heifer immediately caught the eye

of the Simmental judge, Mr David Lowry, who

runs the 65-cow Keeldrum Herd based at Lanark

in Scotland, and who returned to home soil

to judge the Simmental entry at the four-day

show. Originally from County Down, the former

auctioneer has been living in Scotland for 22 years.

Commenting Mr Lowry said:

The Champion is a very

stylish and powerful

heifer, with tremendous length.

She oozes style and ring presence,

is full of breed character, and

displays great locomotion. Just a

great heifer, and a worthy

winner!”

Reserve Overall & Reserve Female Ranfurly Stella 12 th .

Sired by the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive, she is

bred from the Ashland Brandy daughter, Ashland

Topaz 2 nd , one of ten cows in the herd. This muchadmired

heifer had previously won the Simmental

Senior championship at the inaugural Four Breeds

Calf Show, held at Dungannon in November

2021. For the Ashland herd this was their second

supreme Balmoral title, having previously won the

award in 2007 with the home-bred Ashland Lady

Diamond 3 rd .

Following up on her Overall Supreme

Championship in the Simmental judging, day two

of the show saw Ashland Topaz Lopez lift the first

beef Interbreed title on offer at the show, when

being crowned Interbreed Beef Performance

Heifer Champion. Open to heifers born after 1 st

July 2020, the aim of this Interbreed, judged by

Albert de Cogan from County Cork, is to highlight

the heifers which best combine the traditional

values of conformation, and the scientific values of

performance data.

Junior Champion Ashland Topez Mair.

Capping a tremendous show for the Kellys,

Ashland Topaz Lopez went on to be tapped out as

the Reserve Overall Champion in the Interbreed

Beef Champion of Champions, judged by Michael

Durno, Ballindalloch, Banffshire. Commenting,

Frank Kelly said: “It’s been a tremendous week and

my father and I are both delighted and humbled

to win the Simmental Supreme Championship and

take these Interbreed honours against such high

quality opposition and at such a major show”.

Lifting the Overall Simmental Reserve

Championship, and the Overall Reserve Simmental

Female Champion was Ranfurly Stella 12 th from

David and Jonny Hazelton’s 20-cow herd in

Dungannon. Born in October 2020, Stella 12 th

is by Whitemire King Kong, and bred from the

Male Champion & Reserve Junior Champion Craigy Max 21.


SHOWS

RUAS Balmoral Show

Hillcrest Champion daughter Raceview Fancy Winty – purchased at

Roscommon in 2016 for 4,600 Euros. This heifer is a maternal sister

to the 9,000gns Ranfurly Jackpot, sold at Stirling in February 2020.

“The Reserve Champion is another classy and stylish heifer, with

great length and good locomotion,” added the judge David Lowry.

Brothers Shane and Paul McDonald of the Coolcran herd, Tempo,

Co Fermanagh, won the Simmental Junior Championship award

with the January 2021 Ashland Topaz Mair. Purchased privately from

Pat and Frank Kelly last autumn, this heifer was also sired by Saltire

Impressive, the sire of the Overall Champion, and bred from the

Whitemire King Kong daughter Ashland Topaz 3 rd , a maternal sister to

the dam of the Overall Champion.

Continuing the Simmental run of form across the show, this heifer

went on to take the Overall Interbreed Reserve in the Beef Junior

Champion of Champions, again judged by Michael Durno. “The

Junior Champion is a powerful junior heifer, with great width and

tremendous fleshing ability,” commented David Lowry.

Reserve Male Champion Ballinalare Farm Mack.

Claiming the Male and Reserve Junior Championship honours was

the March 2021 bull Craigy Max bred by William, Jane, Jamie and

Lewis Dodd from Saintfield. Sired by Longbeach Darius, his dam

Ranfurly Kleeb 35 th was purchased at the Ranfurly herd’s second

production sale in 2016 and is one of 12 pedigree cows in the Craigy

Herd. David Lowry added: “This junior bull is a fine example of the

breed, and has a level top line, with great width throughout, and

good locomotion.”

The Reserve Male Championship went to Ballinalare Farm Mack, an

eleven-month-old bull bred by Joe and Alan Wilson, Rathfriland.

He was sired by the herd’s 8,200 Euros stock bull Rabawn Ernie,

Champion at the Irish Society’s 2014 sale in Tullamore. His dam

Ballinalare Farm Helena 2 nd , is an Auchorachan Wizard daughter out

of Glenturk Tulip, a heifer won by Joe Wilson in a charity raffle.

Joe and Alan Wilson also won the award for the best pair of

Best Pair of Simmentals - Ballinalare Farm Lizabel & Ballinalare Farm Ladybird.

Simmentals. The winning duo were Ballinalare Farm Ladybird and

Ballinalare Farm Lizabel, described by the judge as well balanced and

matching heifers. They are both daughters of the 10,000gns herd sire

Denizes Fantastic – Reserve Junior Champion at Stirling in February

2016.

Supreme Champion Ashland Topaz Lopez & Reserve Supreme Champion Ranfurly Stella 12 th .


SHOWS


SHOWS

Royal Cornwall Show

Supreme Champion Killiworgie Elderflowers Kiwi.

KILLIWORGIE ELDERFLOWERS

KIWI WINS SIMMENTAL SUPREME

AT THE ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

• Leeherd Legend take Simmental Male & Overall Reserve

• Simmental Team of Five Wins Reserve Interbreed

Whilst the 2022 show season largely returned to normality

across the country, Covid still had a role to play in the run

up to the 2022 Royal Cornwall Show held on 9 th – 11 th June

held at Wadebridge, North Cornwall. After a positive test, the invited

judge Michael Durno of the noted Auchorachan herd, Ballindalloch,

had to withdraw only a few days prior to the show. Ably stepping up

to the plate at short notice was Mrs Judith Borlase, of the equally

noted Sacombe herd, Hertfordshire. The following is an edited report

on the show of British Simmentals and with Judith’s reflections

throughout:

Commenting generally on the day Judith Borlase said: “It is always

a pleasure to return to my home County, especially the Royal

Cornwall Show, and to be amongst the Cornish breeders who are

doing a tremendous job in promoting the breed and breeding good

Simmental cattle. It was great to see such enthusiasm and also

younger breeders showing for the first time. They will have learnt

a lot from their experience and from the help and encouragement

other breeders gave them”.

“In the first class, bulls born before 1 st January 2021, I had three

bulls, all very different in type. My winner Leeherd Legend from Jake

Gregory of the Kurlycoat herd, Kerling Farm, Truro, is a very modern

bull, with great power, depth of natural fleshing, with a tremendous

spring of rib, who stood on good feet and legs. The April 2015 born

Skylark Geronimo from Ant Hart, Carloggas Farm, Treverbyn followed

him, a bull full of breed character, depth, and mobility. In third was

David Reeves’s home bred bull Tregnether Jackpot, a long clean bull,

shown in his working clothes, one I’m sure will do an excellent job,

and we will hear more about his progeny. With sadly no junior bulls

forward, my Male Champion was Leeherd Legend, who I later tapped

out as the Reserve Supreme Champion and followed by Skylark

Geronimo in Reserve.

Speaking on the Cow or Heifer born in 2019 class Judith said “Here

I had two October born heifers forward. Steve and Gill Gummow’s

Killiworgie Elderflowers Kiwi, and Killiworgie Hemaras Kandice.

For me Killiworgie Elderflowers Kiwi had the edge over her stable

companion. She oozed femininity, had great depth, mobility, and was

tremendous across the plates with natural flesh. I look forward to


Royal Cornwall Show

SHOWS

seeing her with a calf at foot, and this is why I also later chose her as

my Overall Supreme Champion.

“In the next class, Heifer born in 2020, my first heifer Ant Hart’s

Treverbyn Lily, with a nine-month advantage, just had the maturity

and stature to pip Steve and Gill Gummow’s Killiworgie Elderflowers

Lily. They were followed by the Hawkey family’s Sowenna Lauren a

very nice heifer but a slightly different type to my first two. Next up I

had a class of three heifers born between 1 st January and 31 st March

2021. Ant Hart’s Treverbyn Milly and Treverbyn Molly followed by the

Grose family’s Trewarnevas Megan Jolene. My first two heifers were

very closely matched, but on the day, Milly just edged Molly. In the

final class of heifers born on or after 1 st April 2021, I found my Junior

Female Champion in Ant Hart’s, July born Treverbyn Morwenna.

From the moment she entered the ring she had that ‘wow factor’ and

‘look at me’ presence. She did not disappoint when I handled her and

is definitely one to watch in the future. She was followed by stable

companions Treverbyn Maddie and Treverbyn Myra, and Maddie

was my pick for the Reserve Female Junior Champion”. Thursday

night also saw the club provide aged Simmental sirloin joints for

the herdsmen’s supper kindly provided by Bowlands Foods and the

excellent beef was the talk of the cattle and sheep sheds the next day.

Friday brought sunshine to the show and the interbreed competitions.

The Simmental Team of Five selected by Judy Borlase went on to be

crowned as Overall Reserve Interbreed Champions. Capping a fine

show, the final day saw four young handlers paired up with Simmental

entries. Big congratulations to Charlie Carey for taking Reserve young

handler and well done to all exhibitors and prize-winners.

Royal Cornwall Show Team of Five Interbreed Reserve Champions.

Junior Simmental Champion Treverbyn Morwenna.

CHEGWIDDEN SIMMENTALS

Members of SAC

Herd Health Plan

Elite Herd Status

Accredited Free

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& LEPTO

Breed plan

performance

recorded

VISITORS WELCOME

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CONTACT JEFF & VIV HALL, CHEGWIDDEN FARM, ST LEVAN, PENZANCE, TR19 6LP

Tel: 01736 810516 Mob: 07831834013 Email: halls@chegwiddenfarm.com


SHOWS

Royal Highland Show


Royal Highland Show

SHOWS

Overall & Female Champion Islavale Lullaby.

BACKMUIR WINS

2022 ROYAL HIGHLAND

SIMMENTAL SUPREME

WITH ISLAVALE LULLABY

• Backmuir Win Overall Supreme & Female Championship

• Annick Ginger’s Lucia Takes Overall Reserve

• Drumsleed Legacy Lifts Male Championship

• Denizes Monty Crowned Simmental Junior Champion

• Brandane Millie Wins Junior Female

• Blackford Local Hero Wins Marks & Spencer Beefbreeder Interbreed

• Simmentals Place Champion & Reserve in Marks & Spencer Beefbreeder Interbreed

The cattle and the crowds were back to normal at Ingliston,

Edinburgh, as the 2022 Royal Highland roared into life on

Thursday 23 rd June and featuring a strong Simmental section of

some seventy-five entries.

Judge for the day was Northern Ireland’s Joe Wilson who runs the

noted Ballinalare Farm herd of some 60 Simmental cows at Dorans

Hill, Newry, County Down. Played out in front of a large ringside

crowd, and after working through some ten classes of bulls and

females, the judge tapped out Islavale Lullaby from Reece & Andrew

Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, as his Female Champion

and as the 2022 Simmental Overall Supreme Champion.

Judge Joe Wilson of the Ballinalare Farm herd.


SHOWS

Royal Highland Show

Bred by Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange,

Keith, this April 2020 born heifer by Shacon

Hannibal 16 and the first calf out of Islavale

Inspire GP 82, was purchased by the Simmers for

8,000gns at the Society’s inaugural Simmental

Next Generation Sale of females and weaned

calves at Carlisle in December 2021, where she

had also stood Overall Champion.

Commenting on his choice of Champion Joe

Wilson said:

“This heifer just had

tremendous quality

throughout. Super stylish, she

was full of breed character, was

well fleshed and moved really

well. Overall a terrific heifer and

just the kind of Simmental I’d

love to take home with me!”

Reserve Female & Overall Reserve Supreme Annick Ginger’s Lucia.

Of the show generally, Joe went on to say: “With

the advent of Covid I’ve been waiting some three

years to judge the Highland! It’s been a great

honour and fully lived up to expectations. I’d like to

congratulate all the exhibitors for the quality of the

stock forward and have no hesitation in saying that

the future of British Simmental looks very bright.”

For the Simmers, this Supreme Championship win

was the ‘next step up’ and followed hard on the

heels of the last full Royal Highland in 2019 and

where the Backmuir herd secured the Reserve

Overall Supreme Championship with Sterling FCUK

Impuls. Established in 2018, the Backmuir herd

now features some 80 pedigree Simmental cows

and is already an increasingly prolific herd in both

the sale and show ring. Commenting after the

judging a delighted Reece Simmers said: “It hasn’t

quite sunk in yet but it’s a tremendous honour

to win the Simmental Supreme Championship at

what is the blue riband show in Scotland and with

such a rich history. The standard of competition

here within the breed and from fellow exhibitors

is really high. To come through that and win the

Championship is just fantastic and quite humbling.”

Male Champion Drumsleed Legacy.

Of Islavale Lullaby, Reece Simmers continued:

“Islavale Lullaby was bought as a new bloodline

and as an investment in the future of Backmuir

Simmentals. We are really pleased with how she

has come on and very much hope that she will

be a cornerstone female in the herd.” Mr Simmers

noted that Islavale Lullaby had been served by the

herd’s 18,000gns stock bull Wolfstar Jackaroo who

was purchased at Stirling in February 2020.

It was very much a Simmental ladies’ day and

taking the Reserve Female Championship and

Overall Junior, Junior Male and Overall Reserve Male Denizes Monty.


Royal Highland Show

SHOWS

Reserve Junior Male Corskie Mikah.

Junior Female & Overall Junior Reserve Brandane Millie.

Heathbrow Koko Star.

the Overall Reserve Supreme Championship

was Annick Ginger’s Lucia from the herd of the

late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse Farm, By Irvine,

Ayrshire. February 2020 born this heifer, by herd

sire Wolfstar Gold Digger and out of Annick

Colleen’s Ginger VG 88, placed second in her

class to the Overall Supreme, before following her

all the way through to the Championship places.

Following a string of wins at local and regional

shows this summer, a strong Annick team at the

Highland saw the herd pick up the Reserve Overall;

the Reserve Female; the Reserve Junior female;

along with two first prizes, two seconds, and a

third in the classes, and a reserve in the group

of three. The Annick group comprised of Annick

Trixibelle 29 th ; Annick Desiree’s Midnight; and the

young bull Annick Maximus 21. The 2022 show

season provided a showcase for the Annick herd

which was, at the time of the show, set to be fully

dispersed at United Auctions Stirling Market on

Saturday 10 th September and following the sad

passing of Lachlan Quarm last year.

Lifting the Male Championship was Gerald and

Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, Laurencekirk

with their April 2020 born bull Drumsleed Legacy

20. This bull is by the herd’s stock bull Wolfstar

Gordy, who himself has had sons up to 11,000gns,

and is out of Drumsleed Farina 14. No stranger

to the showring herself, Drumsleed Farina has

twice been Reserve Champion at the Simmental

Scottish National Show and her last son sold for

11,000gns. For the 100 cow Drumsleed herd, the

Male Championship was secured for the second

year in a row with Drumsleed Hivy having won this

accolade, along with the Overall Simmental title,

at last year’s 2021 Royal Highland Showcase event.

Fantastic supporters of the Royal Highland since

1983, the Drumsleed herd have secured numerous

titles including three Overall Supremes in 1998,

2002, 2010, and the showcase event in 2021.

Another bull to secure a bounty of prizes was

Denizes Monty from MA Barlow & Sons, Four

Oaks, Near Leyland, Lancashire. This January

2021 born bull placed first in his class of thirteen

young bulls, the largest on the day, before

moving through the gears to take the Overall

Junior Championship; Junior Male; and Overall

Reserve Male Championship titles. Full of breeding

and performance figures, Denizes Monty is by

Denizes Hamish who has sold bulls up to 9,500gns

and with his first eleven sons having averaged

6,000gns. He is out of Denizes Trixi-Belle 6 th , who

herself has had sons up to 10,000gns. Again strong

supporters of the Royal Highland, the Denizes herd

have had a strong last six years at the full show

which have seen them win three Supremes, an

Overall Junior & Reserve Male; a Reserve Male; and

with Michael Barlow himself judging in the other

year. Next stop for Denizes Monty was the October

2022 Stirling Simmental Bull Sale.


SHOWS

Royal Highland Show

Taking the Reserve Junior Male Championship

was the January 2021 born Corskie Mikah from

Mr WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers.

This young bull placed second in his class to the

Junior Male Champion, and again in the day’s

largest class, before following him through to the

Reserve position. Corskie Mikah is by Kilbride Farm

Haka and is out of Corskie Elissa VG 88 who is a

Dirnanean Bradley 10 EX 93 daughter. Later in the

day the Corskie herd picked up the Group of Three

award with Corskie Mikah being joined by the

heifers Corskie Mimic and Corskie London.

Back in the females and winning the Junior Female

Championship and Overall Junior Reserve was

Brandane Millie from the herd of Jimmy McMillan,

The Beeches, Back Lane, Bradwell Ash, Bury St

Edmunds. A well-known figure in Simmental show

and sale rings around the UK over a prolonged

number of years, this was Jimmy McMillan’s first

time showing at the Royal Highland on his own

behalf. No stranger to the winners’ circle, Jimmy

has been at the halter of a number of Supreme

Champions at the Highland and including for such

noted herds as Darsham and Sterling respectively.

On this occasion Brandane Millie is out of Sterling

Candy’s FCUK, a female bought at the Sterling

Sale, and whose first calf was the aforementioned

Sterling FCUK Impuls, the Simmers 2019 RHAS

Reserve Supreme Champion. Sired by the AI bull

Sterling Gino 15, this young heifer is February

2021 born. With a show record behind her already,

Brandane Millie was Reserve Interbreed at Suffolk

Show and will now move on to the Royal Norfolk.

First time and welcome exhibitors in Simmental

classes at the Royal Highland Show were David

& Lesley Sapsed, all the way from High Heath

Farm, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Their long journey

met with reward when securing two red tickets

in the classes. First up was the April 2019 born

Heathbrow Koko Star, last year’s Supreme

Champion at the Great Yorkshire, and who won

the class for Females calved before 3 years or due

to calve before 3 years old, in Milk, or in calf born

in 2019. The Sapsed’s second first prize winner was

for Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy who secured the Female

born in 2017 or 2018 in Milk or certified in Calf at

the time of Show.

Rolling on to the second day, Friday 24 th June

and the Simmental breed secured the first beef

Interbreed of the show when winning not only the

Marks & Spencer Beefbreeder title but also landing

both the Champion and Reserve positions. This

Interbreed title takes into account a combination

of the animal’s conformation and performance

figures. Winning the Interbreed, in front of judge

Michael Durno, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, was the

December 2020 born Blackford Local Hero (P)

from the noted Mr WG MacPherson (A FIRM),

Heathbrow Girlie's Ivy.

Marks & Spencer Beefbreeder Champion Blackford Local Hero.

Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness. This young polled bull is by the

show sire Heathbrow Important (P), and is out of Blackford Echo VG

86, a Curlieu Knight daughter. This is another bull that went to the

Stirling Simmental October 2022 Bull Sale. For the MacPhersons, this

latest win made it a nap hand of five Interbreed wins over the years

with Simmentals in the Marks & Spencer Beefbreeder competition.

Lifting the Reserve was the previously mentioned Corskie Mikah from

WJ & J Green.

To common acclaim it was great to be back at the Royal Highland

Show and a big thank you and congratulations are extended to all the

prize winners and exhibitors and to the Simmental judge on the day,

for a job very well done, Mr Joe Wilson.


Great Yorkshire Show

SHOWS


SHOWS


THE SUN SHINES ON

POPES PRINCESS LUMI

AT THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW

• Popes Matchmaker

21 wins Male & Junior

Male, and Reserve Junior

Interbreed

• Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy

lifts Overall Reserve

Supreme

The prolific Popes herd of Messrs J H and V

G Wood, Dutton, Lancashire, lifted the blue

riband Simmental breed championship title

in glorious sunshine at the 2022 Great Yorkshire

Show, Harrogate, held in July with their April

2020-born heifer Popes Princess Lumi. Judging

the Simmental section was Norman Robson of

the noted Kilbride Farm Simmental herd, Doagh,

Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

Overall Champion Popes Princess Lumi.

With a strong pedigree behind her, Popes Princess

Lumi is sired by the AI bull Team Celtic 11 and is out

of the herd’s much admired Popes Princess Cleo

EX95, who has previously won Overall Interbreed

titles at both the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh

Shows. Lumi’s granddam, Popes Nellys Princess

was the Simmental Overall Supreme Champion at

the Royal Show back in 2007.

Claiming the Reserve Championship title was

the class winner Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy with her

four-month-old bull calf at foot, Heathbrow

Nationwide 22, who was bred and exhibited by

DA & LA Sapsed, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Girlie’s

Ivy is a heifers calf bred out of Heathbrow Girlie’s

Freesia and sired by the homebred Heathbrow

Findlay. Her bull calf Heathbrow Nationwide 22

is sired by the 10,000gns stock bull Blackford

Galaxy 15. It was a stout defence of a terrific run

that has seen the Heathbrow herd win the last two

Simmental Supreme Championships at the Great

Yorkshire Show with Heathbrow Important taking

Reserve Champion Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy.



SHOWS

the award in 2019, and with Heathbrow Koko Star

(P) repeating the feat last year. For good measure

Heathbrow Important also secured the Overall

Interbreed title in 2019.

Popes Matchmaker.

Commenting on the day, Norman Robson said:

“Thank you to the Great Yorkshire Show for the

invitation to judge at what is one of the largest

livestock shows in England. It was an unbelievably

warm day and I’d like to congratulate all of the

exhibitors for expertly presenting what was a small

but select show of Simmental cattle.

The Female and Overall Champion was an easy

winner for me on the day. A near perfect example

of the Simmental breed, she had growth for

age, shape, soft flesh, style, femininity and good

locomotion. My Overall Reserve Champion was a

strong cow with a good calf at foot and again had

a lot of good Simmental attributes about her.”

It was the Popes herd who dominated the day with

a strong Simmental team securing both breed and

interbreed honours. In addition to Popes Princess

Lumi winning the Female and Overall Supreme

Champion, the young bull Popes Matchmaker

21 took first in his class followed by the Male

Championship, and Junior Championship, and

before going on to be Reserve Junior Interbreed

Champion. The classy Popes Trixies Mikala also

took first in her class and the Simmental Reserve

Junior Champion award. Long time Simmental

exhibitors at Harrogate, the Great Yorkshire

Show is an event where the Woods have enjoyed

much success having previously secured Overall

Individual Interbreed titles, the equally prestigious

Blytheswood Interbreed Pairs title, as well as

Supreme Championships, and Overall Junior

Championships in the Simmental section.

The March 2021 born bull Popes Matchmaker,

described by the judge as “a very smart junior

bull with plenty of shape and potential”, is by the

12,000gns Denizes Impressive, and is out of the

Banwy Wonderboy daughter Popes Whispers Della

(TF) EX90. The herd’s Reserve Junior Champion

was the March 2021 born heifer Popes Trixies

Mikala. Again by Denizes Impressive, Trixies Mikala

is out of Popes Trixies Inoa whose grand dam

is Greenside Trixie-Belle 5 th , the mother of the

famous Popes Laird who has bred so well in the

Corskie herd. With a show record behind her,

Popes Trixies Mikala was the Overall and Female

Champion at the Simmental Calf Show held at the

English Winter Fair in 2021.

Dermotstown King Kong.

Popes Trixies Mikala.

Taking the Reserve Male Championship was

Dermotstown King Kong exhibited by David

Donnelly, Atlow House, Ashland, Derbyshire.

Originally bred by Christopher White, Republic of

Ireland, this 2018 born ‘well-muscled senior bull’,

is by Dermotstown Delboy EX92, and is out of

Broomfield Belle.


SHOWS

Royal Welsh Show

Supreme & Female Champion Gwili Melody 2.

GWILI MELODY HITS

THE TOP NOTE

AT THE 2022 ROYAL WELSH SHOW

• Hirwaun Lemon & Lime takes the Reserve Supreme

• Bannhill Farm Lord wins Male Championship

The glorious summer weather continued at the 2022 Royal

Welsh Show held on the spectacular showground at

Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, on the 18 th - 21 st July. From within a

small but quality Simmental section, the Female and Overall Supreme

Champion came in the shape of Gwili Melody 2 exhibited by Callum

Croft, Pontarddulais, Swansea. This February 2021 born heifer, bred

by Mr MK Beynon, Pontarddulais, Swansea, is by the Irish bred Coose

Jericho, and is out of Gwili Emma, a Popes Barclay daughter. Judging

the Simmental entries was Chris Martindale of the Forsdale herd,

Coedfa, Oswestry, Shropshire, and he was quick to praise the quality

of his Champion: “Gwili Melody is a really classy heifer. She’s long &

clean with a good top line and is well-muscled. A modern Simmental

female and a very worthy Champion.” Of the overall show Chris went

on to say: “It was a great honour to judge the Royal Welsh and I’d like

to thank the RWAS for the invitation. It was arguably the hottest day

of the year and as such I’d also like to say well done to the exhibitors

and to thank them for putting on a good show of cattle.”

Judge Chris Martindale.


Royal Welsh Show

SHOWS

Commenting on his Championship win, which was full of

family sentiment, a delighted Callum Croft said:

It means a lot to have my

breeding and family’s effort

recognised by such a prestigious event

and at a show which I have attended

every year since the age of four! Melody

is one of the best heifers we have had in

our herd and I am excited to see what

she produces in the future. Her dam,

Gwili Emma is one of the last cows

my grandfather bred. She has been an

exceptional cow with three sets of backto-back

twins and is scanned again with

another.”

Following through to take the Reserve Supreme and Reserve

Female champion was Mr A Davies, Ponthirwaun, Cardigan,

Ceredigion, with his August 2020 born Hirwaun Lemon &

Lime. This heifer is sired by the AI bull Team Celtic 11, who

has bred almost 350 sons and daughters in the national

Simmental herd, and is out of Mainview Jezabel, a Milnafua

Graduate daughter.

The day’s Male Champion was Bannhill Farm Lord, a February

2020-born bull sired by Saltire Impressive 17 and bred out

of Ballinalare Farm Fuscia. Exhibited by Mr and Mrs MO and

LD Jones, Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire, a prolific winner at

previous Royal Welsh Shows, Bannhill Farm Lord was bred

by Alan Wilson, Rathfriland, Co Down. Underlining their

day, Mr & Mrs Jones also won the Junior and Reserve Male

Championships for their bull Penwern Merlin, a 15-month-old

son of the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy and out of Deerhurst

Helen 16. Penwern Merlin was bred by Mr R W Jenkins,

Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion.

Reserve Supreme & Reserve Female Champion Hirwuan Lemon & Lime.

Male Champion Bannhill Farm Lord.

Reserve Male Champion Penwern Merlin.

Best Group of Four – Gwili Melody 2, Mwnt Mwynwen, Penwern Merlin & Hirwaun Lemon & Lime.


SHOWS

NI Simmental National Show

Supreme Overall & Female Champion Ashland Topaz Lopez.

‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’

ASHLAND HEIFER WINS

2022 NI SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW

‘A superb heifer and the type of animal that every pedigree herd

owner aspires to breed’, is how Scottish judge and the then BSCS

President Stewart Stronach described Ashland Topaz Lopez, the

Supreme Overall Champion at the NI National Simmental Show

held within the Armagh County Show on Saturday 11 th June.

Born in September 2020 Ashland Topaz Lopez was bred by Pat

Kelly, and son Frank, from Tempo, County Fermanagh. She is

a daughter of the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive, and is bred

from the Ashland Brandy daughter, Ashland Topaz 2 nd , one of ten

cows in the herd. Stewart Stronach added: “The Female and Supreme

Champion is an exceptional heifer. She is very correct, square and

long, and has great breed character and ring presence. This is a once

in a lifetime heifer!”

Ashland Topaz Lopez was Senior Champion at the inaugural Four-

Breeds Calf Show at Dungannon last November. Her latest success

comes hot on the heels of winning the Simmental Championship,

Beef Performance Heifer Interbreed Championship, and the Reserve

Principal sponsors Mark Forsythe and Rodney Brown, Danske Bank, and Scottish judge

Stewart Stronach BSCS President with the Supreme & Reserve Supreme Champions.


NI Simmental National Show

SHOWS

Interbreed honours at Balmoral Show in May. Stewart Stronach,

who runs the 160-cow Islavale Herd alongside a 40-cow

commercial enterprise, said it was a great honour to judge the NI

National Show.

It has been an amazing show, with

quality entries in all classes. I have

really enjoyed judging, and I’d like to thank

the exhibitors for putting on such a great

show. One of the highlights for me was the

pairs class. Seven top-quality pairs filled

the ring, and it was a tremendous spectacle.

The Simmental breed is definitely in good

hands in Northern Ireland!”

The one-day event, held in conjunction with the 175 th Armagh

County Show attracted a good turnout of exhibitors and

spectators from across the Province and further afield. The

Kelly family’s Ashland prefix was also behind the breeding of

the Junior Champion, Reserve Female and Reserve Supreme

Champion Ashland Topaz Mair. Born in January 2021, this heifer

was purchased privately last autumn by brothers Shane and Paul

McDonald for their Tempo-based Coolcran Herd. Again sired by

Saltire Impressive, this one is bred from the Whitemire King Kong

daughter Ashland Topaz 3 rd – maternal sister to the dam of the

Supreme Champion. She was Junior Champion at Balmoral Show,

and went on to secure the Reserve Junior Interbreed honours.

Stewart Stronach commented: “This is another very correct and

stylish heifer. Similar to the Champion, there isn’t much between

them.”

Junior, Reserve Supreme & Reserve Female Champion Ashland Topaz Mair.

Male & Reserve Junior Champion Coolcran Maximus.

Shane and Paul McDonald had a memorable day at the NI National

Show, also chalking up the Male Championship and Reserve

Junior award with the home-bred bull Coolcran Maximus. This

September 2021 bull is by Wolfstar Elusive, and is bred from the

Ashland Brandy daughter Coolcran Lady Erin – Reserve Female

Champion at Balmoral Show in 2015. “This is a super young bull

with a lot of potential for the future. He boasts great shape and

length, and is square over the plates,” added the judge.

Claiming the Reserve Male Championship was Ballinalare Farm

Mack, a yearling entry bred by Joe and Alan Wilson, Rathfriland.

He is by the 8,200 Euro stock bull Rabawn Ernie and is out of a

home-bred dam by the 20,000gns Stirling Junior and Supreme

Champion Auchorachan Wizard. This young bull also secured the

Reserve Male title at Balmoral Show. “Another wide and correct

young bull. There is very little between the male champions,”

concluded Stewart Stronach.

The young handlers’ classes were judged by Fiona Sutherland. The

top placed junior handler was Jamie Dodd from the Craigy Herd

based at Saintfield. The senior handling class was won by Thomas

McAlister from the Ranfurly Herd in Dungannon. NI Simmental

Club Chairman Keith Nelson thanked everyone who contributed

to the success of the show. “Special mention to our judges,

Armagh County Show, principal sponsor Danske Bank, and the

numerous agri businesses and local companies who sponsored

the various classes at the show.”

Junior Handler class winner Jamie Dodd with Judge

Fiona Sutherland and Trevor Nesbitt, Fane Valley Stores.

Thomas McAlister, Dungannon, won the senior handler class at the NI National

Simmental Show. He was congratulated by judge Fiona Sutherland, Scotland; and

Trevor Nesbitt, Fane Valley Stores.


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English Simmental National Show



SHOWS

Supreme & Female Champion & Supreme Interbreed Beef Champion Popes Princess Lumi.

POPES PRINCESS LUMI WINS

THE 2022 ENGLISH NATIONAL

AS SIMMENTALS ‘LIGHT UP’ THE

ROYAL LANCASHIRE SHOW

• Popes Princess Lumi wins Overall Supreme

• Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd lifts Overall Reserve

• Popes Princess Lumi wins Overall Supreme Interbreed

• Popes, Denizes, and Heathbrow combine to win Interbreed Team of Four

• Hannah Wood and Callum Leedham win Young Breeders’ Stockjudging

The Royal Lancashire Show, Salesbury Hall, Ribchester, provided

the stage for a quality line up of Simmentals at the breed’s 2022

English National Show, held on Saturday 23 rd July. In typically

damp Lancashire conditions, the April 2020 born in-calf heifer Popes

Princess Lumi from Messrs JH & VG Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton,

Preston, lit up the day in front of the healthy ringside crowd when

lifting the Supreme Overall Championship and Female Championship

titles before the judge Iain Green of the noted Corskie herd,

Fochabers, Moray. Adding to what was a terrific couple of days for

the Popes herd and the Simmental breed, Popes Princess Lumi went

on to win the show’s Supreme Overall Interbreed title the following

day and this time under the watchful eye of judge and well-known

Carlisle auctioneer, James Little. From the many sponsors involved,

the Overall Supreme Championship was sponsored by the Midlands

based Town & Country Meats.

Popes Princess Lumi’s further win at the Simmental English National

Show followed hard on the heels of the recent Great Yorkshire

Show, where this stylish heifer had also won the breed’s Overall and

Female Champion titles. With a pedigree packed full of top breeding


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lines, Popes Princess Lumi, who is in calf to Popes Barclay, is by the

prolific AI bull Team Celtic 11 and is out of the herd’s decorated show

cow Popes Princess Cleo EX95, who herself has previously secured

Overall Interbreed titles at both the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh

Shows respectively. Lumi’s granddam, Popes Nellys Princess was

the Simmental Overall Supreme Champion at the blue riband Royal

Show back in 2007 and, like her granddaughter, won the Royal

Lancashire Show Interbreed in 2006. This female breeding line all

goes back to Tintoside Nelly’s Wonder, a daughter of the breed’s

much noted Cloford Nelly.

Commenting on his Supreme Champion, the Simmental judge Iain

Green said:

This heifer was full of style and

carried tremendous length and

width whilst being very correct on her legs

and good on her feet. She is a great example

of the Simmental breed and just has

everything to go on and be a top breeding

female.”

Of the show generally Iain Green went on to say: “It’s an absolute

honour to have been asked to judge the Simmental English National

Show and within what is a new venue for the event at the Royal

Lancashire Show. I’d like to congratulate all of the exhibitors who

entered what was a select and terrific show. The standard on display

puts the breed on a sound footing for the future and the quality of

the females really shone through.” A past British Simmental Cattle

Society President, Iain Green runs 200 pedigree Simmental breeding

females along with 400 Simmental cross sucklers. No stranger to the

show ring he has previously judged the Simmental section at such

shows as Balmoral; Royal Welsh; Stirling Bull Sales; Royal Norfolk;

and interbreeds at the Royal Highland, and Three Counties to name

a few.

For the 50 breeding female Popes herd, this was a second English

National Show Supreme Championship, following on from a win

with Popes Rhona back in 2018. With the Royal Lancashire being in

the Wood’s home ‘backyard’, the Popes team enjoyed an outstanding

show day and secured a host of titles including: Individual Interbreed;

Supreme Simmental Champion; Female Champion; Male Champion;

Junior Champion; The Pairs; and the Dam Group. Quite a haul!

Speaking at the end of the day, Vikki Wood said: “It’s been a super

Simmental show and just great to see the breed on the front foot

and with such an interest at ringside. We are really delighted to have

done so well with the team and its extra special to win at the Royal

Lancashire and a show where we can sleep in our own beds at night!”

Of the Popes cattle forward Vikki Wood went on to say; “Our simple

aim is just to continue to breed quality bulls and females that are

market relevant, and that keep improving and modernising the Popes

Simmental herd. Commercially the breed has all the attributes of

milk, fertility, growth and terrific carcases. We think the Simmental is

hard to beat in what it can offer commercial beef producers.”

Keeping it very much a day for the Red Rose county, the Reserve

Overall Supreme Champion, and Reserve Female Champion came in

the shape of the winner of Class Five, Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd from

Reserve Supreme & Reserve Female Champion Denizes Eve's Beauty 3 rd .

Supreme & Reserve Champions Popes Princess Lumi & Denizes Eve's Beauty 3 rd .

Male & Junior Champion & Interbreed Best Homebred animal Popes Memphis.

Reserve Male & Reserve Male Junior Champion Popes Matchmaker.



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MA Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancs. Another Simmental

female packed with quality bloodlines, the January 2020 born

Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd ’s parents are both previous Supreme

Champions at the Royal Highland Show. The sire is Blackford Galaxy

15 whilst the dam is the multi title winning Auroch Eve, an Auroch

Ace daughter. Of his Overall Reserve, Iain Green said: “Just another

tremendous Simmental female. Again, a well grown heifer, full of

length, and with great breeding potential.” Denizes Eve’s Beauty

3 rd is in-calf to Denizes Lancelot who sold for 30,000gns at Stirling

in February this year. The Reserve Overall Championship was

sponsored by Carlisle auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington.

Senior Bull Champion Dermotstown King Kong.

Denizes breeding also featured strongly in the Popes show line

up with the bull Denizes Impressive, purchased by the Woods for

12,000gns at the Stirling February 2019 Sale, being the sire of a

number of the day’s prize winners. Amongst these included the

Overall Male Champion, and Overall Junior Champion, Popes

Memphis who was at his first summer show. The February 2021

born Popes Memphis is by Impressive and is out of Popes Diamonds

IO. Again with plenty of breeding on the dam line, Diamonds is by

Popes Fearless, who himself has featured in winning Royal Welsh

and Great Yorkshire Pairs Interbreeds with Popes Princess Cleo, and

is out of Clonguish Diamond who was purchased for 10,000 Euros

in Ireland. Come the Sunday, Popes Memphis also picked up an

Interbreed Championship when winning the title for Best Homebred

animal. At the backend of 2021, Popes Memphis also won the Male

Championship in the Simmental Calf Show at the English Winter Fair.

Of Popes Memphis, Iain Green said:

Senior Cow Champion Heathbrow Girlie's Ivy.

This is a very impressive young bull

with great potential. He has length

and width and super locomotion. I’m sure this

bull will go on to have a great future as a

high-end breeder’s bull.”

Describing him as ‘one of the best bulls we have bred to date’, Vikki

Wood said that ‘a lot of interest’ has been shown in this exciting

young bull.

Junior Female Championship -Popes Trixies Mikala.

Following this bull through from his class and to take Overall Reserve

Male, and Junior Male Reserve, was another from the Popes herd

in the shape of Popes Matchmaker. Again by Denizes Impressive,

this March 2021 born calf is out of the Banwy Wonderboy daughter

Best Group of Four D A & L A Sapsed with Heathbrow Lavender, Heathbrow Girlie's Laurel, Heathbrow Girlie's Ivy & Heathbrow Koko Star.


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Popes Whispers Della (TF) EX90. With a summer track record behind

him, Popes Matchmaker had secured the Junior Interbreed Reserve

and Simmental Male Championship at this year’s Great Yorkshire

Show.

Taking the Senior Bull title and the Lord Hesketh Cup was the 2018

born Dermotstown King Kong shown by David Donnelly, Atlow

House, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. This bull, bred in Ireland, is by the

well-known Dermotstown Delboy and is out of Broomfield Belle.

Back in the females, and the Burytown Trophy for the Best Senior

Cow was won by the 2017 born Heathbrow Girlies Ivy from David

and Lesley Sapsed, High Heath Farm, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Entirely homebred, Girlies Ivy is by Heathbrow Findlay 14, and is

out of Heathbrow Girlie’s Freesia (P) (TF) EX93. A further title for the

Heathbrow herd was secured when they won the Memorial Trophy

for the Best Calf at foot with the January 2022 born Heathbrow Nova

Star (P). Again with plenty of breeding behind him this heifer’s calf

is by Heathbrow Important, the multi-title winning stock bull, and is

out of Heathbrow Koko Star (P) the 2021 Supreme Simmental Overall

Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show. Capping a fine show for this

noted herd, Heathbrow won the Simmental Group of Four award,

and also had Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel featuring in the winning

Interbreed Team of Four.

Continuing their roll call of prizes, the Woods team also picked up

the Junior Female Championship with the March 2021 born heifer

Popes Trixies Mikala. Once more by Denizes Impressive, this calf

is out of Popes Trixies Inoa whose grand dam is Greenside Trixie-

Belle 5 th , the mother of the herd’s noted bred bull Popes Laird.

Popes Trixies Mikala was the Overall and Female Champion at the

Simmental Calf Show held at Stafford in 2021, and this year was

Simmental Reserve Junior at the Great Yorkshire.

Recapping the breed’s Interbreed success on the Sunday, the

Supreme Beef Champion award went to Popes Princess Lumi; the

winning Interbreed Team of Four comprised of Popes Princess Lumi,

Popes Princess Maya, Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd , and Heathbrow

Girlie’s Laurel; the Interbreed Best Homebred animal was won by

Popes Memphis 21; and the Reserve Interbreed Pair went to Popes

Memphis 21 and Popes Trixies Mikala.

Special mention must also go to the Young Breeder’s Stockjudging

held on the Saturday afternoon. Hosted by the Simmental Society,

and open to all breeds at the show a fantastic eighteen young

breeders of the future had a go with a heady mixture of enthusiasm

and no little skill. The senior section prize went to Hannah Wood

of the Popes herd, with Callum Leedham of the Grangewood herd,

Pickering, North Yorkshire, picking up the junior section prize. Earlier

in the day Callum had also secured the Forsdale Trophy for the Young

Stockman within the English National Show.


Scottish Simmental National Show

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Islavale Lullaby, Overall Simmental Supreme & Female Champion, and Interbreed Champion.

ISLAVALE LULLABY ‘ROCKS’

TO SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL

NATIONAL SHOW CHAMPIONSHIP

FOR THE BACKMUIR HERD

• Backmuir achieve the 2022 double of Scottish National Show, and Royal

Highland Show Championships with Islavale Lullaby

• Islavale Lullaby wins the Overall Interbreed at the Black Isle Show

• Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd takes Simmental Overall Reserve

The April 2020 born heifer Islavale Lullaby scooped the Overall

Supreme Championship for Reece and Andrew Simmers,

Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, at the 2022 Scottish National

Simmental Show, held within the Black Isle Show, on Thursday 4 th

August. For good measure the stylish Islavale Lullaby then went on to

win the day’s Overall Individual Interbreed title.

This latest win at the Scottish Simmental National Show secured

a memorable 2022 double for the Simmers with Islavale Lullaby,

following on from their Simmental Supreme Championship at the

Royal Highland Show in June.

Bought for 8,000gns at the British Simmental Cattle Society’s

inaugural Next Generation Sale of females and weaned calves at

Carlisle in 2021, where she also stood Champion, Islavale Lullaby was

bred by Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith. By Shacon

Hannibal 16, she is the first calf out of Islavale Inspire GP 82, an Atlow

Dixon 12 EX91 daughter. Described in June as ‘a new bloodline for

the herd with all the qualities to be a cornerstone female’, Islavale

Lullaby has been served by the Backmuir herd’s 18,000gns stock bull

Wolfstar Jackaroo, who was purchased at Stirling in February 2020.

Commenting on his Champion, the judge for the day John Moore of

the noted Omorga herd, Beragh, Omagh, Northern Ireland, said: “My


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Champion on the day Islavale Lullaby was just exceptional, a really

super heifer. She has all the qualities you would want in a modern

breeding female and I just knew that she would go on to do well in

the Overall Interbreed, I am really delighted that she was crowned

the Interbreed Champion.” Of the Scottish Simmental National Show

generally John Moore went on to say: “I was delighted to be asked

to judge the National Show and I would like to thank the Scottish

Simmental Club and also the Black Isle show for their very warm

welcome. It was a great show of animals, especially the females

which really impressed me.”

At the conclusion of the Scottish Simmental National Show, Islavale

Lullaby did indeed move on to secure the Overall Individual

Interbreed Championship of the Black Isle Show and this time in

front of interbreed judge Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet.

The Scottish Simmental National Show rounded off the 2022 series

of breed National Shows which saw the English National within the

Royal Lancashire, and the Northern Irish National within the Armagh

County Show.

Reserve Supreme Champion & Reserve Female Champion Denzies Eve’s Beauty.

Commenting, the Society’s General Manager Iain Kerr said:

These Simmental National Show

events provide a tremendous

promotional window through which to see

the depth of quality within the Simmental

breed across the UK and to highlight

established genetics and youngstock with

forward potential. A big well done is extended

to all exhibitors through the summer who

have showcased the breed so well.”

Lifting the Overall Reserve Supreme and Reserve Female Champion

at the Scottish Simmental National Show was Denizes Eve’s Beauty

3 rd from MA Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancs. With a pedigree

full of performance and quality bloodlines, the January 2020

born Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd parents are both previous Supreme

Champions at the Royal Highland Show, with the sire being Blackford

Galaxy 15 and the dam being Auroch Eve, a two-time Highland

Champion and voted as the Highland’s Simmental Champion of the

Decade in 2020. This latest title for Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd follows

hard on the heels of this heifer securing the same Reserve Overall

position at the recent English Simmental National Show, where she

also featured in the winning Interbreed Team of Four.

Overall Junior & Female Junior Champion Corskie Mimic.

Reserve Junior Champion & Male Junior Champion Corskie Mikah.

Of his Reserve Champion, John Moore said: “Another quality female,

Denizes Eve’s Beauty 3 rd was a different type of female to the

Champion but equally good in her own way. A strong heifer, she’ll

make a great cow and go on to do well in the future.”

Throughout the show summer the quality of Simmental females has

been very much to the fore and that again proved to be the case

at the Simmental Scottish National Show. Lifting the Overall Junior

Championship, and the Junior Female title was Corskie Mimic from

the noted Corskie herd of Mr WJ & J Green, Corskie, Garmouth,

Fochabers. January 2021 born, Corskie Mimic is by Kilbride Farm

Haka 16 and is out of Corskie Imitation EX90, an Auchorachan Farmer

14 daughter. Doubling up in the Juniors, the Corskie herd also lifted Best Calf born in 2022 Corskie Nutmeg.



SHOWS

Judge John Moore with Richard Pettit - Scottish Club

Secretary & Patricia Goldie - Scottish Club Chairperson.

Male & Senior Male Champion Backmuir Kingsley.

the Junior Male Championship, Overall Junior Reserve, and Reserve

Male Champion with the January 2021 born Corskie Mikah. Another

by Kilbride Farm Haka, Corskie Mikah is out of Corskie Elissa VG88

who is a Dirnanean Bradley 10 EX93 daughter. Earlier in the summer

this young bull, who went to the October Stirling Sale, placed Reserve

Junior Male Champion at the Royal Highland Show. Rounding off a

strong show the Corskie team also took the red ticket in the Calf Born

in 2022 class with Corskie Nutmeg 22, again by Kilbride Farm Haka

and this time out of Corskie Jasmine, a Bel Dhu Capercaillie daughter.

Capping a fine show for the Backmuir team, and a strong summer

season, the homebred Backmuir Kingsley 19 took the Overall Male,

and Senior Male Championship awards. This bull is by Islavale

Hamilton 16 and is out of Starline Kristle 24 th , a Skerrington Warlord

2 daughter. For the record, the roll call of titles at the Scottish

Simmental National Show for the 80-cow Backmuir herd included:

Interbreed Champion; Overall Supreme; Female Champion; Male

Champion; Overall Senior Champion; Senior Male Champion and

Best Pair.

Another herd to feature strongly on the day was the noted Blackford

herd of Mr WG MacPherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, Inverness, who

took four red ticket first prizes in the classes before moving on to

take the Reserve Senior Male; Reserve Junior Male; and Reserve

Junior Female Championships. Standing second in his class to the

Supreme Champion and taking the Reserve Senior Male position was

Blackford Local Hero 20 (P). This young polled bull is by the show

sire Heathbrow Important (P), and is out of Blackford Echo VG 86, a

Curlieu Knight daughter. At this year’s Royal Highland, Blackford Local

Hero 20 (P) led a Simmental 1-2-3 when winning the Marks & Spencer

Beefbreeder Interbreed. This is another bull that went to the Stirling

Simmental October 2022 Bull Sale.

Reserve Junior Champion Blackford Mustang.

Reserve Junior Female Champion Blackford Malia.

Taking the Reserve Junior Male title, and placing first in his class,

was another Heathbrow Important (P) son, in the shape of Blackford

Mustang 21 (P). April 2021 born, this bull is out of Blackford Frosty

VG89, a Kilbride Farm Doubleaction 12 EX93 daughter. Continuing

the run, the August 2021 born Blackford Malia also won her class

before moving on to the Reserve Junior Female title. With the same

sire as the day’s Reserve Overall, Blackford Malia is by Blackford

Galaxy 15 and is out of Blackford Wagtail VG86, a Kilbride Farm

Strabane daughter. The remaining Blackford red tickets came in the

shape of Blackford Hyalite, a Kilbride Farm Doubleaction daughter

who won the class for best female born before 31 st July 2019, and the

Ranfurly Confederate son Blackford Mosby 21, who won the best bull

born on or between 1 st July 2021 to 31 st December 2021. Supreme & Reserve Supreme Champions Islavale Lullaby & Denzies Eve's Beauty 3.


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Borderway Calf Show

A ‘NOBLE WYNN’ FOR

NEWBIEMAINS

AT THE BORDERWAY CALF SHOW

• Newbiemains win Junior and Senior Championships, plus

the Overall Supreme

• Springfield Niagra lifts Reserve Supreme

The British Simmental Cattle Society and North West Simmental

Club annual calf show took place within Harrison &

Hetherington’s Borderway Agri Expo at Carlisle on Friday 28

October. Featuring 14 classes including a young handlers section,

Simmental breeders travelled from throughout Scotland and the

North of England to show off their Simmental young stock.

The judge for the day was Varrie Loggie, who had travelled from

Strathaven, Lanarkshire for the event. Having grown up with

Simmental cattle, Varrie now spends her evenings and weekends

helping her mum and dad Jim and Elizabeth Dyet, whilst working in

graphic design during the week. The family have 90 head of cattle,

including 60 pedigree Simmentals in the noted Merkland herd, as

well as 700 sheep on their 600 acre holding.

After working through the classes and section winners, Varrie’s

pick for the Supreme Champion was the young bull Newbiemains

Noble Wynn, bred and exhibited by Jim and Patricia Goldie,

Annan, Dumfrieshire, and who had been tapped out as the Junior

Champion just moments before. “This is a young bull with lots of

breed character, full of length and with plenty of shape. He’s got

tremendous potential and I look forward to seeing how he gets on in

the future” Varrie said. At only eight months old, Newbiemains Noble

Wynn is the first son to be shown by the 9,000gns Auchorachan

Kennedy, who was purchased by the Goldie’s at Stirling in February

last year. His dam is the homebred Newbiemains Kannwynn,

bred from one of the herds top female lines. Her grandmother

Newbiemains Eclypse was a Royal Highland Show and Great

Yorkshire Show champion. The next stop for the Champion was back

at Carlisle in December to feature in the high-profile Simmental

NxtGen II sale at Borderway Mart on Friday 2 December.

The Goldies had a very successful day, winning three classes and

also securing the Senior Championship with their August 2021

born bull Newbiemains Moosala. From the first crop of calves by

the homebred Newbiemans Jericho, who has now been sold for

commercial breeding, he is the second calf bred out of Newbiemains

Icandy. Icandy’s sire Woodhall Fantastic has bred very successfully

for the herd with four of his sons being sold to an Italian AI stud who

the Goldies have been dealing with for the past three years and have

now sent a total of seven bulls to. Jim and Patricia established their

pedigree Simmental their herd back in 2004, after using Simmental

bulls over their dairy herd. Building their herd from the best stock

available, they are pioneers of type classification within the breed, a

process which has helped them to establish high quality female lines

and in turn has created a demand for their bulls.

Supreme & Junior Champion Newbiemains Noble Wynn.

Senior Champion Newbiemains Moosala.

Reserve Supreme & Reserve Junior Champion Springfield Niagara.


Borderway Calf Show

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The Reserve Supreme and Junior Champion was bred and exhibited

by Gavin Brown, of the Springfield Simmental herd. This was his

second visit to the show having secured the Supreme Championship

last year and with Springfield Major. Gavin who topped the female

section at 6,000gns at the recent Stirling Sale, is based in Penicuik,

Midlothian. In the eight years since he has joined the Simmental

Society, he has grown his herd from his two foundation cows to its

present 30 head. Exporting Simmental bulls and semen to Turkey and

China, his Facebook sales have now grossed over £68,000 alone.

Gavin’s Reserve Champion was the April born bull Springfield

Niagara. From the second crop of calves sired by Islavale Jabba, who

has bred daughters to 6,000gns and averaged £4,700 for his eight

progeny sold to date, Niagara is out of Springfield Italia, who goes

back to the Irish-bred Shiloh Freedom, the first stock bull purchased

to work at Springfield.

Reserve Senior Champion Chestermann Gibble Lulu 3.

The Reserve Senior Champion, Chestermann Gibble Lulu 3, was

bred and exhibited by N and N Gwynne, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

Out of the homebred Chestermann Wick Lulu, a Kilbride Farm Wick

daughter, this November 2021 born heifer is sired by the homebred

Chestermann Gibble, classified as EX93, who has bred bulls to

7,000gns. Mr Gwynne is a long-time supporter of the Borderway

Simmental Calf Show, with him showing for the ninth consecutive

year.

The young handlers section was split into two age groups this

year for the first time and the junior class of 10 to 15 year olds was

won by Callum Leedham, who travelled across from Rowan Farm,

Lockton, Pickering, North Yorkshire, with his Mum and Dad Andrew

and Yvonne, who had themselves earlier topped class five with their

January 2022 born heifer Grangwood Wanda’s Myrtle. This is the

second time that the 15-year-old Callum has won the young handlers

at the Calf Show. A keen Simmental enthusiast, he has shown an

animal at this year’s English National show, where he also took part

with great success in the young person’s stock judging. William

Loftus of the Clearwater herd, Preston Lancashire placed second and

with Cloe Fitton, Bolton, Lancashire, placing third.

The senior section of 16 to 28-year-old was headed up by Abby

Forsythe in her second consecutive win. At 24, Abby is an Agricultural

Officer for the Scottish Government and has been involved with

cattle showing all of her life. Taking an interest in Simmental

over the past eight years, she can regularly be found helping the

Newbiemains herds at Society sales and shows. Placing second

in the class was Frank Gwynne of the Castlewigg Simmental herd,

Newtown Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway.

Judge Varrie Loggie with Junior Young Handler winner Callum Leedham.

Judge Varrie Loggie with Senior Young Handler winner Abby Forsythe.

Senior Champs.

Junior Champs.


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Stars of the Future Pedigree Calf Show

QUALITY SIMMENTAL

CALVES ‘A STAR TURN’

AT STIRLING

• Overhill House Neil wins Overall Junior Champion

• Islavale takes the Senior and Junior Female titles

• Springfield Moss wins Overall Senior Champion

A

high-quality show of Simmental calves lit up

the ring at the Stars of the Future Pedigree

Calf Show, held at United Auctions Stirling

Livestock Centre on Saturday 12 th November.

A much-anticipated annual event, the Stars of

the Future is becoming an annual showcase of

the strength in depth of Simmental breeding

combined with calves destined for forward sales

at Stirling, and the establishing Next Gen sale of

females and weaned calves at Carlisle.

Judging this year’s Simmental section and

Championships was Gayle Campbell of the noted

Saltire herd at North Berwick, East Lothian, who

had a catalogued entry of forty-four Simmentals to

work through, with breeders from the North East

to the South West of Scotland.

Taking top honours in the juniors, Richard

McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian lifted the

Junior Male and Overall Junior Championship

with Overhill House Neil. January 2022 born, this

calf is by Islavale Heston, who was purchased

for 24,000gns at Stirling in February 2018,

and is out of Overhill House India, a Curaheen

Drifter daughter. Islavale Heston is proving to

be a consistent breeder in the 160 cow Overhill

House herd and has bred calves sold at Stirling

at up to 8,000gns so far. Having featured in the

Championship prizes previously, this was the herds

first time showing at Stars of the Future for a few

years.

Winning Reserve in the Junior Males, and Reserve

Junior Overall, was Islavale Noah from Mr WS

Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Born

2 nd April 2022, this entirely homebred bull is by

Islavale Kerching, and is out of Islavale Glossy

EX92, a Delfur Casanova daughter, and described

as a ‘tremendous breeding cow’ in the herd.

The Islavale then headed to the Simmental Next

Generation II Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle

Overhill House Neil - Overall Junior Champion & Junior Male Champion.

Islavale Noah - Reserve Overall Junior Champion & Reserve Male Junior Champion.



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on December 2 nd with the herd’s Stars of the Future Overall Junior

Female Champion, Islavale Nestle, and the Senior Female Champion

Islavale Mango.

All round, it was another strong day for the prolific Islavale herd.

Following on from the recent Stirling bull sales where the herd

averaged a remarkable £13,500 for seven bulls sold, Islavale breeding

featured in all four of the Stars of the Future section and overall

champions, and with specific wins for the herd in both the Junior

Female and Senior Female Championships, and Reserve Overall in

both the Junior and Senior sections. Commenting, Stewart Stronach

said:

Stars of the Future is a first class

event to promote calves with

forward potential, and it’s a nice time of the

year to get calves out to show. We are

delighted to feature in the Championship

prizes and within a show that we thought

was a great advertisement for the Simmental

breed.”

Islavale Nestle - Junior Female Champion.

Rounding off the event for the family, Emma Stronach powered

through to win the Intermediate Champion Young Handler title and

followed by the Reserve Overall Young Handler award.

After working through the heifer calves, the Overall Junior Female

Champion came in the form of the Stronach family’s Islavale Nestle.

The 22 nd April 2022 born Islavale Nestle is by Coose Lincoln EX90,

and is out of Islavale Elisha EX93, a Curaheen Bandit daughter. On

the day both the Junior and Senior Female Champions were the first

calves to be shown from Islavale by their herd sire Coose Lincoln

EX90, a bull bought privately out of the Republic of Ireland just prior

to the Covid lockdown. Nestle’s dam Islavale Elisha EX93 also has

some performance behind her, having previously bred the 7,600gns

Islavale Jammy Dodger, a bull who was sold online during the Covid

crisis at the 2020 Stirling May Sale. Following Islavale Nestle through

from the class and to take the Reserve Junior Female title was

Rockytop Jewel’s Nutmeg, from Gary & Angela Christie, Birchfield,

Glass, Huntly. This calf, 14 th April born, is another entirely homebred

heifer being by Rockytop Inferno 17, and out of Rockytop Friday’s

Jewel, a Kilbride Fearless daughter.

Taking the day’s Overall Senior Championship and Overall Senior

Male was Springfield Moss from Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm,

Penicuik. This calf, 18 th July 2021 born, is by the herd’s stock bull

Islavale Jabba and is out of Cleenagh Eliza, a Drumlone Anchor

daughter. This latest title comes hard on the heels of the recent

Simmental Calf Show at the Borderway Agri Expo and where

the Springfield herd lifted the Reserve Supreme and Junior

Championship with another Islavale Jabba son, Springfield Niagara.

An Islavale Jabba daughter topped the females at the recent October

Stirling Simmental Sale and with progeny from the bull sold at sale so

far averaging £4,700. Speaking afterwards Gavin Brown said: “Stars

of the Future was a great show with really good numbers and the

quality was right up there. The age range was slightly extended for

the senior classes, so we were able to enter our two senior bulls and

fortunately this is where the success came from with our Champion,

Rockytop Jewel's Nutmeg - Reserve Junior Female Champion.

Springfield Moss - Overall Senior Champion & Senior Male Champion.

Islavale Mango - Reserve Overall Senior Champion & Senior Female Champion.


SHOWS


Springfield Moss. At this point we are aiming to take him to Stirling

in February next year. His dam was purchased back in 2015 and she

has gone on to be a great breeder for us, producing two heifer and

four bull calves so far, and two of these bulls have been sold back

through Stirling.”

It was back to the Stronach team for the day’s Senior Female

Champion and Overall Senior Reserve, in the form of the November

1 st 2021 born Islavale Mango. Another by Coose Lincoln EX90, the

same sire of the day’s Junior Female Champion, Mango is out of

Islavale Faith EX90 a Woodhall Walker daughter.

Commenting on her choice of champions, and the overall show, the

judge Gayle Campbell said: “The Simmental breed has continued to

evolve and improve since I first stepped into the judging ring. Today

there is a favour towards darker animals but based around both the

maternal traits that the Simmental is renowned for, and also the

breeds ever improving terminal qualities”. Of the Simmentals at Stars

of the Future, Gayle went on to say; “The standard was really high

across the classes with some excellent calves forward. When judging

females I am looking for stylish and balanced animals, they need to

be feminine and show great breed character, but with a sweetness

about them. I certainly found that with my Champions Islavale Nestle

and Islavale Mango, two terrific calves. My choices for the Male

Champions also just caught my eye as soon as they came into the

ring. I was looking for young bulls with potential, power and shape,

and Overhill House Neil and Springfield Moss certainly fit the bill

and have a lot of future in them. A great show of Simmental calves

and well done to all of the exhibitors.” A passionate advocate of the

Simmental breed, Gayle Campbell first judged Simmental classes at

the Stirling May Sale in 2011 and since then has gone on to judge at

shows throughout Scotland and also at such shows as the English

Winter Fair.

Standing Reserve Senior Male Champion was Newbiemains

McGregor from Jim and Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan,

Dumfriesshire. Another entirely homebred calf, the September 2021

born Newbiemains McGregor is another from the first crop pf calves

by Newbiemains Jericho and is out of Newbiemains Janabelle, a

Newbiemains Golden Eye 15 EX91 daughter. This further title adds

to the Goldies recent strong showing at the Simmental Calf Show at

Borderway Agri Expo where the herd won the Senior Championship

with another Newbiemains Jericho son, Newbiemains Moosala,

and also lifted the Junior and Overall title with Newbiemains

Noble Wynn. Competing in a strong class at Stars of the Future

Newbiemains Noble Wynn stood second in his class to the Overall

Junior Champion Overhill House Neil.

Newbiemains McGregor - Reserve Senior Male Champion.

Delfur Weigela - Reserve Senior Female Champion.

Emma Stronach, Intermediate Champion Young Handler.

Winning the Reserve Senior Female title, having won the class for

females born 8 th August to 16 th October 2021, was Delfur Weigela M1

from Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour. Born 18 th October 2021, Delfur

Weigela M1 is by Woodhall Instinct 17, and is out of the Auchorachan

ACDC daughter Delfur Margaret D100. Woodhall Instinct 17 was also

the sire of Delfur Maverick who was sold for 16,000gns at the recent

October Stirling Simmental Sale. Further Woodhall Instinct sons,

Delfur Mean Machine and Delfur Marvel, took first and second place

in the class for Senior Males born on or between 18 th October and

28 th December 2021.

Gayle Campbell, Simmental judge for the day, in action.


English Winter Fair

SHOWS

Popes Weikels Nadine - Champion.

POPES WEIKELS NADINE WINS

SIMMENTAL CALF SHOW

AT THE ENGLISH WINTER FAIR

• Popes Calves Take Overall Champion & Reserve

• Wroxall Megga Mountaine Wins Reserve Male

It was another red-letter day for the prolific Popes herd of JH and

VG Wood, Popes Farm, Clitheroe Road, Preston, Lancashire, when

they won both the Overall Championship and Overall Reserve

title at the Simmental National Pedigree Calf Show, held within the

English Winter Fair at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire, on Saturday 19 th

November. Judging the Simmental section was the well-known

Danny Wyllie, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.

Taking the top honours on the day was the stylish April 2022 born

heifer Popes Weikels Nadine, who is by the Irish-bred Clonagh Latin

Lover and is out of Popes Weikels Gracie VG85. Gracie was the

outcome of an embryo bought from Northern Irish breeder David

Hazelton to introduce breeding from that herd’s famous Weikel

female line. All five of the Popes entries shown at the English Winter

Fair were from the first crop of calves by the herd’s Clonagh Latin

Lover, who was purchased for 6,500 Euros. A bull full of breeding,

Clonagh Latin Lover was purchased for his maternal influence,

being out of the noted Clonagh Darling Eyes who was the online

Simmental Miss World in 2018 and Overall Irish Simmental of the Year

in 2017 and 2018. Sired by Manor Park Hansome, Clonagh Latin Lover

combines pedigree with performance having excellent Maternal

(Milk), and Carcase figures.


SHOWS

English Winter Fair

Simmental team in the Duke of Norfolk Trophy from the Popes herd.

On the day, Popes calves sired by Clonagh Latin Lover won the

respective male and female sections before moving on to secure the

Overall and Reserve Overall titles. For the Woods family it was the

second year in a row that they had secured the double at the English

Winter Fair, and followed on from a highly successful show year at

both the Great Yorkshire and English National shows.

Commenting afterwards, Vikki Wood said: “As a family we are

delighted to win this Championship again and at the same time

to help put on a good promotion of the British Simmental breed

along with our fellow exhibitors.” Of the Champion, and Clonagh

Latin Lover generally, Vikki went on to say: “Latin Lover was bought

primarily for his maternal lines and to breed what we hope will be

the herd’s next generation of females. Our aim and type in breeding

females is to have the typical Simmental attributes of sweetness,

femininity and breed character, correctness, and with no extremes.

The Champion calf today looks to have those attributes at this early

age.”

Taking the Overall Reserve and Overall Reserve Female title was

Popes Diamonds Nella. Another April 2022 born calf by Clonagh

Latin Lover, Nella is out of Popes Diamonds IO who is a Popes

Fearless daughter. In the bull calves the Championship honours

went to the Wood’s April born Popes Nexus. This calf, now being

provisionally aimed at the October 2023 Stirling Bull sale, is again

by Latin Lover and is out of Popes Nellys Illia, a Swingletree Emporor

daughter who goes back to Tintoside Nellys Wonder.

100 progeny for the herd, with sons sold to 5,000gns. This was the

Wroxall herd’s first time showing at the English Winter Fair, but they

have had a successful summer securing Championship and Reserve

titles at both the Staffordshire County Show and the Three Counties

Show this year.

A feature of the weekend was the Simmental breed promotional

stand put on by the Midlands Simmental Club and situated at the

main ringside. With some tremendous display cattle, professional

breed promotion and literature, and plenty of home baked

hospitality, the stand was extremely busy over two days. In a fine

reward for all of the Midlands Club’s hard work the stand was judged

the best Breed Society stand before securing the Best Trade stand at

the show.

The promotional cattle, showing the outstanding maternal attributes

of the breed, were three crossbred bull calves out of pure Simmental

cows, and supplied by CH Evans and Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall,

Warwick. February born, the calves weighed up to 458kgs for a 26 th

February born calf, and to a daily live weight gain of 1.81kgs.

Wroxall Megga Mountain - Reserve Male Champion.

Winning the Reserve Bull Championship and the Senior Bull

Calf Class was Wroxall Megga Mountaine (P) from CH Evans and

Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick. October 2021 born, Megga

Mountaine is by the herd’s noted Coose Gambler (P) and is out of

the homozygous polled Wroxall Jazz Superior (PP), a Wroxall Electric

daughter. Coose Gambler (P) was the Irish National Ploughing

Match Junior Champion Bull in 2016 and the Reserve Champion of

Europe in the World Simmental Championship online competition in

2020. Owned by the Evans’ since 2017 Gambler has produced over


Livescot Pedigree Calf Show

SHOWS

SPRINGFIELD MOSS IS ‘THE BOSS’

AT LIVESCOT PEDIGREE CALF SHOW

• Springfield Win Championship

and Reserve

Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Penicuik continued his strong

run at the 2022 winter calf shows when he picked up both

Simmental Champion and Reserve at the fledgling Pedigree

Calf Show, held within the Live Scot event at Lanark Agricultural

Centre on Friday 25 th November.

Lifting the Championship award was the July 2021 born Springfield

Moss. Sired by Islavale Jabba and out of Cleenagh Eliza, a Drumlone

Anchor daughter, this latest title follows on from the recent Stars of

the Future Show and where Springfield Moss won both the Overall

Senior Championship and Overall Senior Male.

The judge at Live Scot was Garry Patterson of the noted Aultmore

herd at Upper Forgie, Keith, Moray, who commented on his

Champion: “Springfield Moss is a good, correct bull with fantastic

style and I look forward to seeing what he can achieve in the future.”

Springfield Moss will now be aimed at the February 2023 Stirling

Simmental Bull Sale.

Making it a Springfield one-two was the April 2022 born heifer

Springfield Nita, who lifted the Simmental Overall Reserve

Championship. Again by Islavale Jabba, this calf is out of Springfield

Goldie, a Popes Barclay daughter. Of his Reserve, Garry Patterson

said: “My choice of Reserve is a very young, sweet heifer full of

potential, and just the kind of Simmental heifer that I like”.

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SHOWS

NI Simmental Calf Show

Senior Champion Coolcran Maximus from S & P Mcdonald. Shane McDonald pictured alongside sponsor Ann Kennedy.

COOLCRAN AND LISGLASS

CALVES LEAD THE WAY

AT NI SIMMENTAL CALF SHOW

• Coolcran Maximus Wins Senior Champion

• Lisglass Nightingale Lifts Junior Championship

A

fantastic display of Simmental cattle was the

general ringside consensus at the second

staging of the Four Breed Calf Show held

in Dungannon Farmers Market on Saturday 26 th

November 2022. Judging of the Simmental classes

was in the very capable hands of Neil McIlwaine of

the well-known Corrick Herd, Newtownstewart,

Co Tyrone and sponsor of the Simmental section

was Ann Kennedy from Centra Ballinderry Catering

Service.

Winning the Senior Championship was Coolcran

Maximus from Shane and Paul McDonald, Tempo,

Co. Fermanagh. This September 2021 born calf is

by the 10,000gns sire Wolfstar Elusive and is out of

the Ashland Brandy daughter Coolcran Lady Erin,

the Reserve Female Champion at Balmoral Show

in 2015. Commenting on his Senior Champion,

Neil Mcilwaine said: “This is an excellent example

Junior Champion Lisglass Nightingale from Leslie and Chris Weatherup.

Chris Weatherup pictured alongside sponsor Ann Kennedy.


NI Simmental Calf Show

SHOWS

of a clean, modern Simmental bull. He has great locomotion with

excellent width, topline, and squareness of his plates. Just a very

well-balanced bull with fantastic length.”

Earlier this summer, Coolcran Maximus won the Male Championship

and Reserve Junior Championship at the NI Simmental National

Show at Armagh County Show.

Reserve Senior Champion Ranfurly Lady Diana 41 st M14 from WD & JD Hazelton.

Lifting the Junior Championship was Lisglass Nightingale from Leslie

and Chris Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. January 2022 born,

Lisglass Nightingale is by Omorga Jaguar, a Mullynock Gallant sired

bull, and is out of the homebred Lisglass Gypsy, a Kilbride Farm

Bantry daughter. Of his Junior Champion, Neil Mcilwaine said: “This

is a well grown, very stylish heifer with an excellent top line and

plates. Again, she has great locomotion and really oozes femininity.”

Taking the Reserve Senior Champion was Ranfurly Lady Diana 41 st

M14 from WD & JD Hazelton, Dungannon Co Tyrone. October

2021 born, this heifer is by Auchorachan Hercules 16, and is out of

Ranfurly Lady Diana 33 rd . Ranfurly Lady Diana 41 st is another calf to

have featured at the NI Simmental National Show and where she won

her class for junior heifers born between September and December

2021.

Reserve Junior Champion Haystar Diamond 2 from G Hayes & Sons.

Back to the juniors and it was Haystar Diamond 2 from G Hayes &

Son, Lisburn, Co Antrim, that won the Reserve Junior Championship.

January 2022 born, this calf is by Kilbride Farm Delboy and is out of

Raceview Her Royal Diamond. Earlier this year, Haystar Diamond 2

won class two of the British Simmental Cattle Society’s Virtual Show

and from a class of 63 heifers from all round the UK.

Winning Drumbulcan Nathan from Kenneth Stubbs.

Drumnagarner Nikki from Eamon McCloskey. Pictured is Eamon McCloskey, family

and Sponsor Ann Kennedy.

Scribby Farms Nelson from Keith

Nelson. Young Harvey Nelson

pictured alongside his Dad.

Prize Winning Pair from the Drumbulcan Herd of Kenneth Stubbs, with

Drumbulcan Nala and Drumbulcan Nelson. Pictured are Kenneth’s daughters Zara

Clarke and Alice Bradley.


SHOWS

Welsh Pedigree Calf Show

Pistyll Nitro.

PISTYLL ‘NITRO’ BLOWS AWAY

THE COMPETITION AT THE WELSH

PEDIGREE CALF SHOW

• Hirwaun Nos Da placed Reserve Overall Supreme

The Inaugural Welsh Multibreed Pedigree Beef Calf show held

at Carmarthen Livestock Market on Saturday 10 th of December

2022 proved to be a great success, with ninety entries forward

from fourteen breeds represented and with the Simmental classes

having twelve calves forward.

The days Simmental Supreme Champion, Male Champion, and winner

of the Wynnstay Group Plc Perpetual Shield, was an entry from the

Pistyll herd of GA & HM Francis, Abergorlech, Carmarthenshire. Pistyll

Nitro 22, is a May born bull by the popular AI sire Ballinalare Farm

Galaxy and is bred out of Pistyll Heledd, a daughter of the herd’s Irish

bred stock bull Carbery Fintona. From one of the herd’s best dam lines,

his granddam Celtic Glamour is a full sister to the 8,000gns Pistyll Sam.

Speaking to Mr Francis after the show he said “We were delighted to

be tapped out as Champions, and within what was such a good quality

of Simmental calves forward. We have been breeding Simmentals

for 30 years now and our 15 breeding females are doing well for us.

We run them alongside our 45 strong suckler herd on which we use

our Simmental bulls, selling the resulting calves at Ludlow, bulls for

beef at 10 months and heifers at 14 months. Our aim is to show Pistyll

Nitro through next summer, and including at the Royal Welsh, before

potentially taking him to Stirling next October. His half-brother Pistyll

Major 21 is entered into the Stirling February 2023 sale”.

Judge on the day was Anthony Eynon, Cwm Miles, Carmarthenshire,

of the Barlo pedigree Simmental herd. A Simmental breeder for

over 30 years, he runs his operation on a ‘strictly commercial’ basis.

Commenting on his pick for Champion he said

When choosing a bull, I’m looking

for a bull which will leave good a

commercial carcase. The Champion stood out

to me on the day, he was the youngest and

smallest calf there but I felt he had

tremendous all round potential and especially

with his commercial conformation qualities”.


Welsh Pedigree Calf Show

SHOWS

Standing Reserve Supreme Champion, was the April-born Hirwaun Nos

Da 22, who had been tapped out as the Reserve Male Champion just

moments before. A heifer’s calf bred out of the Salisbury Challenger

daughter Hirwaun Kitty VG8, he is sired by the popular AI bull

Curaheen Bandit. Nos Da was bred and exhibited by the Davies family,

Ponthirwaun, Ceredigion; Aled and Rachel, their two girls Catherine

and Lilly and Aled’s father Huw, of the five cow strong Hirwaun herd,

which was established in 1996 and is run alongside their pedigree

sheep enterprise of 50 breeding ewes consisting of Blue and Badger

Face Texels. Hirwaun Nos Da will also be shown again in the summer

and the family are aiming him at Stirling next October.

The Simmental Female Champion was Fole Vivian 93, an October

2021 born heifer sired by the 16,000gns Blackford Falcon. Vivian

was purchased as a calf at foot at Worcester in May at the Fole Herd

dispersal sale of Joe & Rachel Ede, Checkley, Stoke on Trent. Her dam

is the Dellfield Wyvis daughter Fole Vivian 69 who, since her purchase,

has produced a second calf also by Blackford Falcon.

Vivian was exhibited by her new owners Richard and Jennifer Jones

who, along with their sons Gareth and Robert, run the Willowgreen

Simmental herd at Helygenlas, Peniel, Carmarthenshire. The family’s

main business is their dairy, where they run 150 cows to produce

milk for their First Milk contract for Tesco, which is used to produce

Pembrokeshire cheese. They purchased their first Simmental bull 10

years ago and are now producing ‘cracking’ Simmental sired calves

which they sell at 3 – 4 weeks old at Carmarthen and Whitland, with

them holding the centre record of £460.00 for the top priced 3-weekold

calf at Carmarthen.

Fole Vivian 93.

Showing the calf on the family’s behalf were Richard and Jennifer’s

daughter and son in law, Elin and Steven John. Commenting after the

show Richard said, “We are delighted that this calf has done so well on

her first show outing. We intend to show her again in the summer and

time willing we are hoping to take her to the Royal Welsh Show in July”.

The Reserve Female Champion was an entry from Merion Jones,

Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire. A well-known figure in Welsh

Simmentals Mr Jones, whose Dyfed Simmental herd consists 20

cow and followers, has been a member of the Society for some 40

years. Alongside his Simmental cattle, Merion also keeps a small

herd of Welsh Black cattle and over 60 breeding ewes, consisting of

Jacobs, Herdwicks and Dutch Spotted. His Reserve Champion was

the 11-month-old Dyfed Angharad 8, a polled heifer sired by the Irish

bred Coose Jericho and out of Dyfed Angharad 6 th who goes back to

Losning Iver.

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SIMMENTAL:

THE BACKBONE TO A COMMERCIAL

LOW INPUT, HIGH OUTPUT FAMILY

FARMING BUSINESS

The Review features the Turner family at Stone Acton Farm, Church

Stretton, Shropshire and where the multi trait strengths of the Simmental

breed are providing the basis of a flexible low input system.

Simmental genetics have played a major role in the

Turner family’s low input, high output commercial beef

enterprise for more than four decades, and they have

a firm future - pedigree heifers are being introduced to the

unit to develop a new added value aspect to the business.

“Simmentals have consistently demonstrated great maternal

instincts, they look after their calves and produce a lot of

milk which encourages good growth rates, and they mature

sufficiently early to calve at two years,” James explains.

“They’ve also proved to fit our system being good forage

converters, the same reason why we thought introducing

the Hereford to a new crisscross breeding strategy over

50% of the herd would work, and it’s proving to be

complementary, retaining all the maternal traits and adding

to the docility element.”

The Hereford has not only achieved the Turner’s quest for

hybrid vigour, but it has also opened up two new buyers

for added value markets. All store calves by a registered

Hereford bull, apart from those retained for replacement

purposes, are sold to finishers for Waitrose’s Hereford Beef

Scheme and a local butcher interested in selling branded

meat.


Phil & James Turner

Over half a century ago the Turners farmed a

miscellany of native bred sucklers. Charolais

was the first Continental breed to be introduced

to Stone Acton, before swapping for the

fast-emerging Simmental in the late ‘70s.

“Temperament and ease of calving led us to source

a pedigree Simmental bull and the breed has stood

the test of time here for going on 45 years,” says

Phil.

“We bought a few in calf cows and went on to

steadily grow the pedigree herd. We did the county

show circuit and sold bulls and replacement

heifers, however by the late 80’s we realised

it was becoming too time consuming, so we

decided to rack back and concentrate on running

a commercial spring calving herd producing store

cattle along with replacement heifers for sale.

Calves continue to be either sold weaned at eight

months averaging 365kgs or overwintered on

forage diets and sold as yearlings at an average

425kgs.”

“Wroxall genetics have remained at the heart of

the herd with bulls bought privately and selected

for polled bloodlines, with EBVs for ease of calving

used as a guideline,” James explains. “Wroxall

Hannibal threw some very shapely calves, however

it was Wroxall Accumulator and Wroxall Hannibal

who left the best bloodlines. They not only had

FARM FACTS

The Turner

family: James,

his father Phil

and uncle,

Simon

Stone Acton

Farm, Church

Stretton,

Shropshire

• 320 acres LFA grassland

inc Mid-Tier

• 20 acres woodland

• 100 Simmental

and Hereford cross

Simmental breeding

females

• 5 pedigree Simmental

heifers

• 24 months age at first

calving

• 96% scan

• 97% calves reared inc

twins

• 10 to 14 crops of calves


shape, but they were also well fleshed and had very good growth

rates. We are optimistic our new herd sire, Wroxall Lost Property

will deliver similar quality calves – his first are due on the ground in

2023.”

Attention to detail is paramount at Stone Acton, a level of

management that’s reflected in the herd’s performance. “All the

heifers, for example, calve at 24 months, and in the last five years

they’ve all reared their own calves,” James explains. “The whole herd

achieves an average 97% calves reared from females put to the bull.

In a so-called normal year, we would have between 95 and 105 cows

and heifers in calf. We would normally only lose one or two calves

and then if we’re lucky have one or two sets of twins, ensuring most

cows would have at least one calf, all being well. However there have

been exceptional years - in 2017 we had 17 sets of twins off 96 in calf

cows and heifers.

“We bolus every female to enhance fertility and provide

supplementary buckets pre calving, otherwise the herd totally

depends on forage – grazing and quality silage and hay, and the

majority calve in the first six weeks.”

Simmental is demonstrating the longevity factor too for the Turners.

All cows would have at least 10 calf

crops and some up to 14. We still

have cows that were born here in 2006, they

started annually producing calves in 2008

and are scheduled to calve again in March

2023.

“We also pride ourselves on maintaining herd health. Apart from

buying in high health status bulls, the herd has remained closed for

over three decades. It is currently BVD accredited, Lepto vaccinated

and Johne’s free.


“In addition, we’ve always invested in both Simmental and Hereford

poll bulls and as a result don’t have to do any dehorning at all;

polling takes away the stress for both us and the animal and removes

any potential growth checks,” says James.

2023 sees the Turners embarking on a new journey when they

introduce the first new pedigree Simmental genetics to their Stone

Acton herd in 30 years. “We considered we needed some new

bloodlines and buying in registered stock is providing us with the

opportunity to rebuild the pedigree herd and develop a new added

value enterprise.

“We’ve purchased five heifers from the Mixbury Hall herd, specifically

selected for their high health status being BVD and IBR accredited,

Johne’s Level I and Lepto vaccinated.”

To the future and James says the family is planning to maintain a

flexible low input system. “There’s scope to make more from forage,

potentially cutting back on the volume of sheep taken on winter

tack, making minimal fertiliser applications, exploiting the red

clover introduced to the silage leys and introducing GS4 mixes.” It’s

a strategy that perfectly fits with Simmental which will continue to

have a firm place.”


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Still doing a ‘Stirling’ job

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THE BUNGALOW, KINGS LANE, SWAY, LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE, SO41 6BQ

Tel: 01590 682648 or 07540 690496 Email: lorry55@hotmail.com


SIMMENTAL

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INTRODUCING SIMMENTAL TO

NORTHUMBERLAND SUCKLER HERD

ADDS MILK, GROWTH,

AND EASE OF

MANAGEMENT

Alnham Farm located within the Northumberland National Park, has been run

for over 90 years by four generations of the Sordy family who firmly believe

the time spent working amongst the animals is a key to the suckler herd’s

success. Alnham Farm joined the AHDB Farm Excellence project in 2021 for a

four-year period as one of its four Monitor Farms.


Talk to Harry Sordy about the Sordy family’s

suckler herd’s genetics, and he says

Simmental has proved to be a great piece

in the jigsaw puzzle. “Whilst Angus had formed

our herd’s backbone, we’d been losing cow

performance and wanted to add extra milk and

subsequent growth. So we introduced Simmental

as a maternal line back in 2015 in an attempt to

add some hybrid vigour and the crisscross strategy

has achieved our objective. We’ve some very

milky cows producing a good solid calf,” he says.

“They’re weaning calves at an average 300kg at

eight months.”

What’s more the Simmental has not only enhanced

performance but also the family’s quest for

improved ease of management. The entire herd

comprising 230 breeding females and followers is

mostly managed by the Sordy’s stockman, Craig

Hardy. “They’ve such a quiet temperament which

makes them so easy to manage, in fact I could

take on and manage significantly more cows if a

decision was taken to expand the herd,” he says.

While we are calving, I

walk through the shed

and check every five hours

around the clock, they really do

calve themselves. Last season saw

as few as 3% of the cows and

heifers requiring assistance, and

seven out of those eight cows

were twin bearing.

“Then the Simmental’s strong maternal instincts

kick in, I rarely have to teach a calf to suck, and

both cows and heifers look after their calves; we

don’t get mismotherings.”

Turning the clock back and Craig says calving is

now a far cry from before the Sordy’s replaced

Charolais with Simmental genetics and established

a split calving herd. “We had to pull far too many

calves - the Charolais Angus combo was just not fit

for purpose,” he says.

FARM FACTS

Alnham Farm,

Alnwick,

Northumberland

• 1,216ha mixed farm rising

to 1,650’ inc

• 1,102ha permanent

pasture and temporary

grassland

• 33ha arable

• 20ha kale mix

• 100ha temporary pasture

(ryegrass and herbal leys)

• 230 spring calving cows

• 2,500 breeding ewes


Harry continues: “We’ve been selecting Simmental sires for maternal

traits and ease of calving, and preferably homozygous poll too –

we’re trying to cut down on dehorning, it’s one job we don’t like to

do. Furthermore, we take EBVs seriously and would never buy a bull

without accompanying data. We’re currently running three bulls

including two from Incheoch - they’re good commercially raised

bulls leaving easily calved well fleshed calves.”

Nowadays, the Sordys are running one spring calving herd which is

split between Simmental cross Angus genetics which they return to

the Simmental bull, while Angus cross Simmentals go to the Angus.

Craig explains: “We select the heifers for replacement purposes

according to their dam’s performance and temperament. Hybrid

vigour kicks in and since the calves are much better grown reaching

a minimum 400kgs at 14 months bulling, the strategy has enabled

us to go from calving heifers at 28 months to 24 months. The bulk

of those heifers calve within the first two weeks, while the entire

herd calves within three cycles; any that fall outside are culled.” Last

season the herd scanned 95% and reared 93% calves.

Pre and post calving the herd thrives on forage, a silage-based diet

supplemented with straw and pot ale syrup whilst housed. Plans are

to turn out to graze if there’s sufficient grass two days after calving,

however this is a weather dependent decision. Cows and steer calves

continue grazing a paddock system until weaning at eight months

when steers are housed, whilst cows with heifer calves are more

commercially raised and drafted to the hill.

All progeny, apart from replacements, have historically been sold on

to the store market at 10 to 12 months, however Harry says the family

is changing strategy.

No one knows where the store

market will be, it’s uncertain,

whereas finishing provides us with more

control, so we are trying to see if finishing off

forage can be cost effective.”

The suckler herd is part of the bigger picture at Alnham Farm.

“Historically the cattle have been hill improvers and extremely

complementary to the 2,500 ewe outdoor lambing flock. “The herd


Outwintering at Alnham Farm: three main groups have been

established

continues to be a hugely valuable asset, they’re one of the farm’s

building blocks and will have a place going forward if we continue to

have anything to do with the decision making,” says Harry.

While we are living in uncertain times, there are so many good

farmers out there to learn from. We are frequently picking up and

reading that we’d be better off trying to reduce our costs rather than

increasing output. We’ve identified housing cows for 20 weeks of the

year from 1 November as one of our biggest costs and consequently

a key area for focus,” he says.

“We don’t expect to completely eliminate the housing period,

however, ideally we’d like to cut it by eight weeks to 10 to 12 weeks

while continuing to house all the cattle a head of calving in March

and make savings in terms of straw and fuel. So far, so good – by the

third week of December the Simmental crosses were coping well

outdoors. “If the weather does turn really bad, we always have the

sheds available to bring the cows inside.”

Alnham Farm joined the AHDB Farm Excellence project in 2021 for

a four-year period as one of its four Monitor Farms, a network of a

further 15 AHDB Strategic Farms.

• 40 Angus and Simmental cross heifers bale grazing

4ha of deferred grass, with haylage bales which are

estimated to last until the mid-January

• 70 Simmental cross cows on 9ha of bale grazing

• 60 Angus cross cows strip grazing 34ha of hill

“We have been quite particular about the sites we have

chosen. They all have quite shallow soils and free draining,

meaning they’re less likely to poach,” Harry explains.

“After weaning, well-conditioned Angus cross cows are

turned away onto hill ground, where they remain until mid-

January, weather permitting. These are the unit’s priority

group and if the weather does turn, they will be the first ones

to be housed.”

The Sordy family are not against calving outside, however

they feel they need to build their confidence in the system

first. “We went on a study tour to the Scottish Borders with

the Monitor Farm programme and visited farms which were

already outwintering. Learning from other farmers in this way

is so valuable.”



AREA CLUB OFFICERS

CHAIRPERSON

SECRETARY

1. SCOTLAND

Patricia Goldie

Newbie Mains Farm, Annan, Dumfrieshire,

DG12 5QY

Mobile: 07802 698723

Tel: 01461 205135

Email: patriciam.goldie@outlook.com

Mr. Richard Pettit

Den Farm, Fochabers, Morayshire, IV32 7PQ

Mobile: 07739 079403

Email: rmspettit71@gmail.com

1

2. NORTH EAST

2

Andrew Leedham

Midhope Hall Farm, Midhopestones, Sheffield,

S36 4GW

Tel: 01226 764192

Email: grangewood13@gmail.com

Katie Boyes

Deerholme Grange, Marishes, Malton, North

Yorkshire, YO17 6UG

Tel: 07495 667532

Email: bigkb98@icloud.com

4

3

3. NORTH WEST

Peter Burgess

High Keenley Fell Farm, Allendale, Hexham,

Northumberland NE47 9NU

Mobile: 0771 0447807

Email: tilbrooksimmentals@gmail.com

4. NORTHERN IRELAND

Mr Keith Nelson

Lakeview Farm, 39 Clogh Road, Scribby,

Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 7DJ

Mobile: 07764895100

Email: keithnelson39@tiscali.co.uk

Miss Sarah Ford

High Keenley Fell Farm, Allendale, Hexham,

Northumberland NE47 9NU

Tel: 01434 618344

Email: nwsimmentalclub@gmail.com

Julie Stinson

55 Boho Road, Roscultan, Springfield,

Enniskillen, N. Ireland BT74 5AQ

Tel: 02866 341411

Mobile: 07999 622201

Email: julies345@hotmail.co.uk

6

9

7

5

11

8

5. MIDLANDS

10

Hannah Wood

Popes Farm, Clitheroe Road, Dutton, Preston

PR3 2YT

Mobile: 07738 643229

Email: hannahv.wood@hotmail.com

Andrea Booth

Gun Lane Farm, Gun Lane, Nether Heage,

Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 2JX

Tel: 07774 797344

Email: andrea.booth@talktalk.net

6. WALES

Aled Davies

Wern Villa, Ponthirwaun, Cardigan,

Ceredigion, SA43 2RL

Tel: 01239 710497

Mobile: 07866 282766

Email: aledtal76@hotmail.co.uk

Callum Croft

Gwalyrhwch Farm, Llanedi, Pontarddulais,

Swansea, SA4 0YT

Tel: 079201 09398

Email: cjbcroft@icloud.com

CHAIRPERSON

9. SOUTH WEST

Mr A J Curry

Lowerdown Farm, Felton, Bristol, Somerset,

BS40 9UF

Tel: 01275 472268

Mobile: 07546 207496

Email: ljajcurry@hotmail.co.uk

SECRETARY

Rachel Reed

Well Farm, Bickleigh, Tiverton EX16 8HQ

Tel: 01884 855508

Mobile: 07866 259995

Email: well.farm@btinternet.com

7. CENTRE WEST

Richard Price

Old Woodbury Farm, Drove Road, Gamlingay,

Sandy, SG19 2HS

Tel: 01767 651053

Email: richard.price@lowther.co.uk

Clare Price

Old Woodbury Farm, Drove Road, Gamlingay,

Sandy, SG19 2HS

Tel: 01767 651053

Mobile: 07887 753324

Email: whalegreensimmentals@gmail.com

10. CORNWALL

Mr B R Wynter

Bolankin Farm, Crows-An-Wra, St Buryan,

Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6HY

Tel: 01736 810787 / 07590 501096

Email: brwynter@outlook.com

Bridget Olds

Bosahan Simmentals, Bosahan Farm,

Constantine, Falmouth, TR11 5QB

Tel: 01326 340976 / 07890384094

Email: oldsbosahan@aol.com

8. EAST ANGLIA

11. SOUTH EAST

James Brice

1 Countess Wells Cottage, New Road,

Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9JE.

Mobile: 01728 720116

Email: jamesrobinbrice@gmail.com

Zara Curson

Hollybrook Farm, Pound Lane, Welbourne,

Dereham, Norfolk NR20 3LG

Mobile: 07824 380334

Email: zaradack82@hotmail.co.uk

Bridget Borlase

Sacombe Hill Farm, Sacombe Hill, Watton at

Stone, Hertfordshire, SG14 3NL

Tel: 07850 443136

Email: info@bridgetbs.co.uk

Brenda Hide

42 Strand Meadow, Burwash, Etchingham,

East Sussex, TN19 7BP

Tel: 07703 277600

Email: brendahide@hotmail.co.uk


Scottish Simmental Club

Report by Richard Pettit, Secretary

Through 2022 the country thankfully started moving out of

the covid restrictions and back to ‘some kind of normality.’

Scotland is of course the home of the Stirling sales, the

breed’s largest sales of the year, and it was another very strong year

of performance. Breed record sale averages were achieved at both

the February and May fixtures, and were capped off by yet another

record average in October of £7,559, up by £1,597 on the year.

Scottish vendors and buyers were very much to the fore, and then

again at the second staging of the Next Generation Sale at Carlisle

in December where they featured in the championship awards

and leading prices on the day. Well done to all of the breeders and

buyers involved across these sales in the year. Avoiding duplication,

please see all of the respective reports and pictures from the Stirling,

Aberdeen, Next Gen II, and Annick Dispersal sales within the sales

section of this year’s Review.

Annual General meeting

Kicking off the year at the Scottish Club’s AGM, Patricia Goldie was

re-elected as Chairperson with Jim Dyet as Vice-Chairperson. New

members elected to the committee included: Gavin Brown, Ross

King, Geoff Anderson and Tom Bruce. Big thanks are extended to

retiring committee members Jonathan Gunn, Nadia Gwynne, and

Emma McAlister for their time, input and hard work.

Highland Show

It goes without saying that everyone was delighted to get back to

the Royal Highland show! The Simmental judge was Joe Wilson,

Ballinalare herd, Northern Ireland, who placed Islavale Lullaby as his

Supreme Champion, from Reece and Andrew Simmers, Backmuir,

with Annick Gingers Lucia from the Annick herd taking Reserve.

Gerald and Morag Smith were awarded the Male Championship with

Drumsleed Legacy.

On the Friday night in a packed marquee of members and friends,

everyone enjoyed a hog roast with some ‘extended’ socialising and

plenty of laughs. Along with the Society, the Club also extended

some hospitality to the breed’s bull buyers of the year and this again

went extremely well. Please see the show section in the Review for

the full show report and pictures, and see here some additional

presentation pics.

Simmental Promotion at Scotsheep

In early June the Scottish Club joined forces with the Society to

have a breed promotional stand at Robert & Hazel McNee’s Over

Finlarg Farm, Tealing, Dundee, who along with their children Kate &

Alan, hosted a memorable NSA Scotsheep 2022 event. The McNees

run the Finlarg pedigree Simmental herd within their 740-acre unit

and the Simmental fingerprint both pedigree and commercial was

very visible on what was a cracking day. On the promotional stand

the Simmentals ‘shared’ a display pen of quality Sim Luings, the

increasingly popular and easy managed suckler females, along with

the Luing Cattle Society and which drew much attention.

Phill Simmers being congratulated

by Club Chairperson Trish Goldie on

winning the Supreme Championship

with Islavale Lullaby.

Matt Gilliland accepting the Reserve

Championship award on behalf of the

late LD Quarm for Annick Ginger’s

Lucia from Judge Joe Wilson.

SimLuing heifer at Scotsheep.

Gerald Smith accepting the Male

Championship award for Drumsleed

Legacy from Judge Joe Wilson.

John Barlow accepting the Junior

Championship award for Denizes

Monty from Judge Joe Wilson.


REGIONAL CLUB REPORTS

Contracting; D. Woods; Netherton Tractors; Highland Tractors;

Caithness Livestock Breeders; Simpsons Oils; United Auctions; Ross

Agri Services; Aberdeen & Northern Marts;

Dingwall and Highland Marts; Johnston and Carmichael; Norvite Ltd;

Charlie Smith; Gavin Brown; and ABP.

Please see the show report and pictures in the show section of this

publication.

Jimmy McMillan accepting the award

for his Junior Female Champion

Brandane Millie.

Ben McSporran being presented the

Young Stockperson award by judge

Varrie Loggie.

Scottish National Simmental show

With the previous staging being held in 2019, the Scottish National

Simmental Show made a welcome return in 2022 when being held

within the Black Isle Show in August. The show started on Wednesday

night with a BBQ cooked by Cameron MacIver (Coltfield) and

myself, and was greatly enjoyed by all who attended. May I take this

opportunity to once again thank ABP for sponsoring the steaks.

A big thank you goes to our judge John Moore from the well-known

Omorga herd in Northern Ireland, who did an excellent job. John

placed Reece and Andrew Simmers, Backmuir, with Islavale Lullaby

as his Overall Champion, with the furthest travelled exhibitor John

Barlow, all the way from Lancashire, awarded Reserve Champion

with Denizes Eves Beauty 3 rd . The Championship win secured a

memorable double for the Simmers following their earlier win at the

Highland with Islavale Lullaby.

Patricia presented the Club’s former show convenor, Tom

Henderson, with a portrait of his top priced bull Blackford Worzel,

by way of thanking Tom and his family for all his hard work over the

years in organising the Scottish National Simmental Show.

Thanks to all the following sponsors, without whom we couldn’t

have run the Scottish National Simmental Show:

Mill n Mix (main sponsor); Roadhead Feeds; Ravenhill Ltd; Denis

Brinicombe; A Young Engineering; Moray Coast Vets; M.A.M.

Scottish National Simmental Show 2023

Please note that the 2023 Scottish National Simmental Show will

be held within Dumfries Show on Saturday 5 th August. This is a new

venue for the National and in an important area for the breed to

really put on a Simmental showcase. We hope that you will be able

to support it. Look out for updates on the Club’s Facebook page

and please also contact Dumfries Show for entry forms at info@

dumfriesshow.co.uk

Other Scottish Based Events in 2023

On Saturday 8 th July, the Club along with the Society will be hosting

an open day at commercial producers Colin and Robert Manson,

D & G Manson & Sons, Brodieshill Farm, Forres, Inverness. The

Mansons have 145 head of suckler cows, the majority of which are

Simmental crosses, calving in the Spring and they breed all of their

own replacements.

On Tuesday 6 th June 2023, the Scottish Simmental Club plan to have

a promotional stand within the Scottish Beef Event which will be

hosted by Dalswinton Estate, situated in the heart of the Nith Valley,

seven miles north of Dumfries.

Deepest Respects from the Scottish Club

Lastly, and with great sadness, the Club’s sincere condolences

are extended to Finlay McGowan and family, on the sad news in

November of the passing of Judy McGowan. Hugely popular and

respected, Judy played a massive part in the Simmental breed on

a number of levels and was of course the Club’s hard-working

secretary for some 14 years and up until 2001. Sincere condolences

are also extended to Andy Wilson, Cairnview, on the loss of his wife

Betty, again a well-recognised figure within the breed, and also in

November. It is sad that we have to report and reflect on these losses

and please see fitting tributes within the Review.

Thank you to Tom Henderson for

his work at the National Show.

Scottish National Show Champions.


North East Club

Report By Katie Boyes, Secretary

2022 was a quiet year for us in the North East

Club but did see the dispersal of two fantastic

herds, the loss of a long lived member of the

Club, and the marriage of another.

We started the year attending the funeral of Ian

Steele, a much-loved member of our club. Ian

passed away in January and his death came as

a big shock to all of us. I and many others have

fond memories of Ian’s cheerful happy smile that

was contagious to all. He was knowledgeable

and always willing to share this and help you.

Ian and Margaret’s herd, known as the Blakewell

Herd, sold through Selby auction market. The

sale was absolutely packed to the rafters, with the

trade topping at £4,100 for the impressively bred

Caistor Empress. Her offspring and breeding were

heavily sought after on the day. These cattle and

the bloodlines are an absolute credit to Ian and

Margaret.

In May at Carlisle, Gerald Towers dispersed his

herd, compromising of the Tidkin and Jet herds.

In a strong sale, the herd topped at 5,000gns for

Tidkin Natalie’s Illusion sold with her heifer calf

at foot. Fifteen cows and calves averaged over an

impressive £3,300. Gerald has been a very active

member in the Club in years gone by, standing as

chairman twice and again always cheerful, even

with a glass of wine in tow! On the day, the cattle

sold from Wales to Scotland and the Tidkin/Jet

name is firmly on the map!

Cattle at the Blakewell Dispersal Sale.

Albeit sad, herd dispersals and funerals are a funny

way to meet and catch up with friends. The stories

and tales people have to share are fond memories

of past times.

May also saw the NBA’s Beef Expo held at

Darlington Auction, and it was great to see a

very busy event. The Simmental stand featured a

stock bull, and a commercial cow and calf unit,

and drew a lot of attention on the day from local

farmers and breeders in attendance. Third prize in

the event’s stand competition was a nice bonus! I

believe events like these are a great way to show

the capability of our breed and having commercial

cattle on the stand gives people something to

really think about. A big thank you to Richard

Sanders for the fantastic bull he supplied for the

day, and to Irving Pearson for the cow and calf.

At the May Worcester sale, Grangewood Lucas

topped the trade. This bull was entirely home bred,

sold for 5,500gns and went down to Herefordshire.

The Tidkin Dispersal Sale.

NBA Beef Event stand competition presentation.



Up at Stirling and the Grangewood herd again had success with

selling another bull, Grangewood Liberator to 7,500gns.

Yvonne & Callum Leedham with judge Varrie Loggie at Borderway Agri Expo.

Grangewood Musketeer at the the English National Show.

In the summer the English National Show was held at the Royal

Lancashire show. Our only exhibitors there was the Grangewood

herd. However with thanks to Jennie Hassall and Katie and Callum

Leedham entered the stock judging competition and Callum won the

junior section! A really big well done to Callum Leedham, there was

a lot of young competitors! More success for Callum followed at the

Borderway Agri Expo young handlers class where he also won that

too!! I know myself how much fun and skill it takes to win a young

handlers class. Now I am just out of the age bracket it’s great to see

all the younger generation coming up through!

I would also like to congratulate Jayne Pick's daughter, Sarah on

her recent marriage. A lot of you will know Jayne for her extensive

secretary stint with the Club, and I know all of us really did appreciate

the work she did for us. Again, congratulations to Sarah and we

would all like to wish you happiness and health.

Unfortunately this year due to personal commitments we have not

held our usual herd competition, however next year we have a few

ideas up our sleeve. These include the herd competition, a local farm

open day, and also a stock judging afternoon.

If any clubs are wanting to host a club exchange trip, the North East

Club is hoping to organise a summer trip, and we would be happy to

host too!

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North West Club

Report by Peter Burgess, Chairman

Events and gatherings slowly began

to resume in 2022 after being mostly

absent for the previous two years.

Our first gathering was the AGM where

all officers remained in place. Myself as

chairman, Sarah Ford as secretary and Clive

Houldey as vice chairman.

Our second event was a farm walk and

stock judging kindly hosted by Ian Bell and

Rebecca Dickens at Hallbankgate, Brampton.

We were joined by members of the Border

Charolais Club and with some neighbours

and friends also attending, this ensured a

very healthy turn out.

Ian and Rebecca farm 7,000 acres spread

over two farms, one owned and the other,

mostly hill, rented from the RSPB. Ian and

Rebecca are committed to increasing

biodiversity and habitats on the farms and

work hand in hand with the RSPB to achieve

this. Cattle include Simmentals, Charolais

and hill cows such as Luings and Galloways.

A total of 1,000 ewes, a mixture of hill and

lowland, are also kept. Recently, fenceless

collars have been introduced allowing cattle

to be “enclosed” on the hill with, as the

name suggests, no fences. One of the most

impressive features of this being the ability

to move the ‘fence’ using only Ian’s phone.

Ian and Rebecca put in lots of time and effort

to ensure we had some testing stock-judging

to occupy us, and also a guess the weight

of a bullock won by Club member Harry

Houldey. Many thanks to Stephen and Wendy

Dickinson for scoring the competition.

We were also treated to a falconry display

by farm neighbour Bernie Christie which

certainly held everybody’s attention. Ian and

Rebecca were joined by family members in

Ian Bell & Rebecca Dickens showing

the club around their cattle.

providing a marvellous array of refreshments

which were much appreciated by all present.

On behalf of all who attended I would like to

heartily thank everybody who contributed

to this informative, interesting and enjoyable

event.

On to Borderway Agri Expo held within

Carlisle Mart in October. Again the calf show

Borderway Agri Expo calf show.

and stand were organised by the North West

Simmental Club and the Simmental Society.

Judging the calf show this year was Varrie

Loggie of the Merkland herd. Varrie worked

her way competently through the quality

show of calves, made up of eight classes,

before moving on to a strong pairs class and

two Young Handlers classes.



Borderway Agri Expo Simmental Calf Show Judge

Varrie Loggie with Supreme & Junior Champion

Newbiemains Noble Wynn and breeder Jim Goldie

with helper Grant Rhind.

The show report can be found in the show

section of the Review, so on behalf of

the Club, and the Society, I would firstly

like to thank Varrie for giving up her time

and carrying out the judging quietly and

confidently. Secondly a huge thanks to

everybody who exhibited their calves. It

takes time and commitment to do this

and is much appreciated. Thirdly a big

thank you to all the club members who

sourced sponsorship and to the sponsors

themselves, some of whom are regulars at

this event. Lastly thank you to Joel McGarva

for his commentary and to H&H staff for

stewarding.

It was great to see a successful second staging of the Next Generation Sale in

December and here in the North West region at H&H’s Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

The promotional and hospitality stand this

year was moved in close proximity to the

show ring and we hope to continue build

upon the profile of this at next year’s event.

The quality of the cattle on the stand was

excellent, again supplied by Irvine and

Yvonne Pearson. A huge thanks to you both.

On the stand club members and Society staff

ensured visitors were well catered for when

calling in.

Our final event of the year was our Christmas

meal, again held at the Lowther Arms,

Hackthorpe. Comfortable surroundings,

good food, great company and another of

Wendy Dickinsons legendary quizzes made

for a very enjoyable evening.

I would like to finish by thanking all club

members for their support and help at

events through the year. With a special

mention to Sarah as club secretary for

pulling everything together.

Best wishes to all for the coming year.


NI Simmental Cattle

Breeders’ Club

Report by Keith Nelson, Chairman

Overview of 2022

This past year has seen a lot of

work in the NI Simmental Club as

we continue to get back to some

normality, since things ground to

a halt during the unprecedented

time of the Covid 19 pandemic.

It has been a transformative and

challenging time, navigating the

club and its activities back to

normality again.

In 2022 an emphasis has been

placed on creating successful

shows and sales for the Simmental

Breed here in Northern Ireland.

I believe that that a successful

club is built on all club members

co-operating, collaborating, and

chipping in for the betterment

of the club and the breed, and

celebrating our breeders’ successes

and achievements both at home

and away. In respect to this I would

like to thank those people who

have played their part in carrying

out their respective duties to the

full and in doing so have helped

and supported me in my role as

chairman over the past year.

February 2022 - Stirling Bull Sales

2022 kicked off in a busy manner for some

of our NI Breeders, with several Club

breeders making the journey to the annual

Stirling Bull Sales. We were also delighted

that Mr Andrew Clarke (NI Club Vice

Chairman) from Breaghey Herd, Tynan, Co

Armagh, was judge on the day.

A number of our breeders came home

with great success. Mr Noel Kilpatrick from

the Ballymoney Herd, clinched Overall

Simmental Champion with Ballymoney

Leonard, who sold for 7,800gns. Messrs

David & Jonathan Hazelton achieved

Reserve Intermediate Champion, with

Ranfurly Limelight 16,000gns.

Ranfurly Limelight, which sold for

16,000gns. This is the Ranfurly herd’s top

price to date for a pedigree bull. Mr Joe

Wilson from the Ballinalare herd, achieved

first prize in his class with Ballinalare Farm

Legacy, who went on to sell for 10,000gns.

The Kilbride Farm herd of the Robson Family

achieved 9,000gns for Kilbride Farm Lucky

Strike and their team of five bulls averaged

£7,181.00. Messrs Cecil McIlwaine and

sons Neil & Scott from the Corrick herd,

Newtownstewart, achieved a top price of

8,000gns for their bull Corrick Logic. Please

see the full report and pictures in the sales

section of the Review.

The Society sales, are fully reported

in the sales section of this Review

but I would like to touch upon

some Northern Irish breeders

achievements within them.

Keith Nelson.

March 2022 - NI Simmental Society Spring Sale

Next up was the very successful Society

March Sale, held on Friday 25 th March in

Dungannon Mart. Our judge on the day

was Mr Sean McGarry, (Clonguish Herd)

Longford, Ireland. By agreement there was

a brilliant turn out of stock on the day, and

the top price bull was Lisglass Leo selling for

3,500gns from Messers Leslie & Christopher

Weatherup, of the Lisglass herd. The next

highest price was the Male Champion

Corrick Laird from Mr Cecil McIlwaine &

Sons of the Corrick Herd selling at 3,000gns.

Please see the full report and pictures in the

sales section of the Review.



May Sale 2022 - Swatragh Mart

This was the NI Simmental Club’s first time to hold a sale at

this venue. Mr Ryan Gilmour of the Gillview herd was judge on

the day. There was a great clearance of both bulls and heifers,

and the commercial trade was very successful with a 100%

clearance. Prices peaked on the day at 3,700gns for Dunrock

Mighty from new breeder Mr Chris Quinn of the Dunrock herd

in Cookstown.

Swatragh Sale - Dunrock Mighty.

Next top price was 3,300gns for Corrick Laser from Mr Cecil

McIlwaine & Sons of the Corrick herd, Newtownstewart,

Omagh.

Females reached a top price of 2,600gns with Drumagarner

Lacy, bred by Mr Eamon McCloskey of the Drumagarner herd,

Kilrea. Mr McCloskey

also sold Drumagarner Swatragh Sale - Corrick Laser.

Lorraine for 2,000gns.

Swatragh Sale - Drumagarner Lacy.

Overall 10 bulls were

sold at an average

of £2,768.00, four

females sold averaged

at £2,086.00, with

commercials peaking at

£1,320.00.

Royal Ulster Agricultural Show

Balmoral 2022

The Royal Ulster Agricultural 153 rd Annual Show was held at

Balmoral Park. There was a small turn out of stock on the

day, but these were superb quality stock. The judge on the

day was Mr David Lowry, from the Keeldrum herd based

in Lanark in Scotland. The Female and Supreme Overall

Champion was Ashland Topaz Lopez, bred by Messrs Pat &

Frank Kelly of the Ashland herd, Tempo, Co Fermanagh. The

Reserve Female and Reserve Supreme Simmental Champion

was Ranfurly Stella the 12 th , bred by Messrs David & Jonathan

Hazelton from the Ranfurly herd, Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Please see the full report in the show section of the Review.

Overall Champion & Reserve Ashland Topaz Lopez & Ranfurly Stella.

National Show June 2022: 175 th Armagh Show

Our Northern Ireland Simmental National Show was held at

the 175 th Armagh show and took place on Saturday the 11 th

June 2022 in Gosford Park, Co Armagh. It was a fantastic and

memorable show with up to 60 entries of quality stock to be

judged under the eye of the then British Simmental Society

President Mr Stewart Stronach. I was personally very impressed

with the stock on the day with the Simmental breed going on

to win best breed on display of the show. Well done to all our

NI Simmental breeders who brought and showed their stock on

the day. Frank and Pat Kelly from the Ashland herd, Tempo, Co

Fermanagh, had a very successful day with their female Ashland

Topaz Lopez, winning the well-deserved prestigious prizes of not

only Female and Supreme Overall Champion, but also Interbreed

Champion of the Show. A fantastic year for this heifer. Please see

the full report and pictures in the show section of the Review.

NI National Show Overall Champion & Reserve Ashland Topaz Lopez & Ashland Topaz Mair.


Stirling Bull Sales October 2022

The Stirling Bull Sales in October 2022, saw a small number of NI breeders heading across to the annual sale. Held during the sale

week, the AGM of the British Simmental Cattle Society took place during this time and with the standout highlight being our Club

member Mr Norman Robson of Kilbride Farms, Doagh, Ballyclare, being elected to the office of president. Norman becomes the 27 th

president of The British Simmental Cattle Society and the sixth from Northern Ireland. I again unreservedly congratulate Norman on

this achievement and wish him good luck in his new role.

Northern Ireland Simmental Club Sale, October 2022

The Northern Ireland Simmental Club Sale

took place in Dungannon Mart on October

24 th , 2022, with Mr Paul McArdle (Broomfield

herd) County Monaghan, Ireland, being

judge on the day. There was solid trade

and a great demand for good quality

stock. The sale also saw a high demand for

commercial heifers, peaking at 1,400gns.

The pedigree sale topped with the Reserve

Male Champion, Corrick Major selling at

4,800gns from Messers Cecil, Neil & Scott

McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, Omagh. The

McIlwaine Family also secured 3,700gns for

Reserve Female Champion Corrick Luma.

A memorable day for the McIlwaine family.

Mr David McElmurry of the Wellbray herd,

Dungannon, Co Tyrone, sold Wellbray Diana

Kim for 3,600gns. The Female Champion and

Reserve Supreme Champion was secured by

Breaghey Vida, bred by Andrew & Zara Clarke

of the Breaghey herd, Tynan, Armagh, who

sold for 2,000gns. See a full report in the

sale section of the Society’s website.

Corrick Major.

Corrick Luma.

Simmental Awards

Night 3 rd November

2022

Members of NI Simmental Cattle

Breeders Club attended a recent

club meeting and presentation of

awards in Dungannon, on November

the 3 rd 2022, where a very good

turnout of our Club members and

sponsors was achieved. An enjoyable

evening was had, looking back over

a successful show and sale season,

as we recognised and celebrated

the great successes and work of our

breeders, club and club members

over the past year, and giving thanks

for our sponsors for their continued

support. Again I wish to convey my

congratulations to our club prize

winners and to thank all exhibitors

who supported the summer shows.

2022 Prize Winners

The Kelly Family had a winning streak,

winning the Perpetual Cow Bell; and Bangor

& Six Road Ends Farmers Union Perpetual

Trophy, for Balmoral Female Champion;

the Bobby Gamble Perpetual Challenge

Trophy for the Best Simmental Heifer

at Balmoral Show; the Bobby Dickson

Perpetual Championship Trophy, for

Supreme Champion at Balmoral Show; the

NI Simmental Club Silver Award for the Best

Exhibit Bred in Northern Ireland; and the

Danske Bank Crystal Award for Female of the

Year – won by Ashland Topaz Lopez.

McDonald Brothers Shane & Paul McDonald

had great success winning: the DANI Rose

Bowl for Best Performance recorded Bull

(Coolcran Maximus); the Animal Health

Trophy for the Best Pair (Coolcran Maximus

& Ashland Topaz Lopaz); the Newsletter

Shield, for the Junior Champion at Balmoral

(Ashland Topaz Mair); the Danske Bank

Reserve Female of the Year – Crystal Bowl

Winner (Ashland Topaz Mair) and Danske

Bank Male of the Year – Cow Bell Winner,

(Coolcran Maximus,) Coolcran herd.

The Betty Walker Memorial Perpetual

Challenge Cup for Club Member of the Year

–awarded to Mr Mathew Cunning by Mr.

Keith Nelson (Chairman).

Young Stockperson of the Year Shield and

Thelma Gorman Cup awarded to Jamie

Dodd, Craigy herd by Chairman Keith

Nelson.

Chairman Keith Nelson, some of our

National Show Sponsors 2022 and secretary

Julie Stinson.

The WH Robson & Sons Trophy – Autumn

Sale Champion – Dressogue Mario. Awarded

to Mr Seamus O’Kane, Dressogue Herd.

The Ulster Farmers Mart, RJ Allen Cup –

Best Opposite Sex Winner – Breaghey Vida.

Winner Mr Andrew Clarke, Breaghey herd.



Mr Kelly with trophies.

Mr McDonald with trophies.

The S H Watterson Perpetual Cup for the

Highest Price Bull – winner Lisglass Leo by

Messers Leslie & Christopher Weatherup,

Lisglass herd.

Mr William Dodd, Craigy herd, Saintfield,

awarded Irwins Feed Perpetual Cup for Best

Junior Bull – Craigy Max and the WM Black

Memorial Perpetual Cup, received for the Best

Simmental Male at Balmoral Show.

Our other worthy winners, unable to attend

were as follows

Messrs Cecil, Neil & Scott McIlwaine, Corrick

herd, won the Danske Bank Silver Salver for

Champion of the Spring Show and Sale. Best

Pedigree Animal – Winner Corrick Laird, also

taking The Bruce’s Hill Cattle Company Trophy

for the Overall Champion at the Autumn show

and sale. Winner: Corrick Laser.

Mathew Cumming being awarded a trophy by

Keith Nelson.

Keith Nelson & National Show sponsors.

Seamus O’Kane being awarded a trophy by

Norman Robson.

Leslie Weatherup being awarded a trophy by

Keith Nelson.

Jamie Dodd being awarded trophy & shield by

Keith Nelson.

Andrew Clarke being awarded a trophy by Keith

Nelson.

William Dodd being awarded his trophy.

Messrs William & George Nelson,

Drumacritten herd won the Trophy for

the Best Opposite Sex to the Champion

at the clubs Spring show and sale. Winner

Drumacritten Lilly.

Four Breed Calf Show – 26 th

November 2022

The Four Breed Calf Show was held on the

26 th November 2022 at Dungannon Mart. The

judge was Mr Neil McIlwaine, of the Corrick

herd, Newtownstewart, Omagh. This calf

show was one of the year’s highlights with a

fantastic display of quality Simmental calves

on show, testament to the bright future for the

Simmental breed in Northern Ireland. Nearly

40 calves were entered and there was a great

crowd of spectators watching around the

show ring. Please see the report and pictures

in the show section of the Review.

Next Generation Show &

Sale 3 rd December Carlisle

A small number of NI breeders brought stock

to the second Next Generation Show & Sale

on 3 rd December in Carlisle. Messrs David

& Jonathan Hazelton, the Ranfurly herd,

enjoyed success with Ranfurly Stella 13 th

securing 5,000gns. We were also delighted

that a further NI breeder, Chris Weatherup of

the Lisglass herd, acted as the pre-sale show

judge.

In concluding I would commend that overall

it has been a successful year for the NI

Simmental Breeders Club and I wish all our

Club members, breeders and exhibitors a

successful and prosperous year in 2023.


Midlands Club

Report by Jennie Hassall, Chairman

It was nice in 2022 to be back out and

about and seeing each other!

We started the year with our annual quiz,

kindly hosted by Chris and Kath Martindale.

It was again a great evening with many

challenging questions, and an even more

challenging picture round. April saw Richard

Storer Smith generously open his farm

to club members for stock judging and a

cattle preparation demonstration by John

Barlow. It was lovely to welcome some new

members and the cattle were a great display

for people to judge.

Young Stockjudging Competitors English National Show.

Senior Stockjudging Junior Winner Hannah Wood.

John Barlow at the Club's cattle dressing demo.

July saw the English National Show held

within the Royal Lancashire show and it

was lovely to see so many of the Midlands

Club members around the ring on judging

day. Many congratulations to the Wood and

Barlow families on their success. After the

judging was complete, the Midlands Club

hosted the young members stock judging.

Prizes for the entrants and winners were

kindly donated by Lady Barber (Lambclose

Simmentals) and Chris and Kath Martindale

(Forsdale Simmentals). There were 17 young

entrants on the day and the judging was

very close. After a terrific contest the Junior

winner was Callum Leedham and the Senior

winner was Hannah Wood. Please see the

show section of the Review for a full report

on the English National.

Young Stockjudging Junior Winner Callum Leedham.



The Club’s annual herd competition was

kindly judged by Clare Price, and we

received the results as follows, at the annual

dinner held at Stafford County Showground.

The meal itself was a great success and

saw everyone enjoying an evening of good

food and laughter. Thanks to the Wood

family for providing the tasty beef. The herd

competition results are as follows:

Midland Herd Competition Results 2022

Small Herd

1 st Chris and Kath Martindale (Forsdale)

2 nd David & Sue Donnelly (Atlow)

3 rd Nick Goddard (Ashes)

4 th Tom & Jennie Hassall (Fishpool)

Medium Herd

1 st Paul Jolliffe (Star Green)

2 nd David Loftus (Blackpool)

3 rd Richard Storer-Smith (Storersmith)

4 th Stephen Wainwright (Booth)

Large Herd

1 st Jimmy & Vikki Wood (Popes)

2 nd CH Evans & Son (Wroxall)

3 rd Greasley Estate, Lady Barber (Lambclose)

Cow Family

1 st Paul Jolliffe (Dappy)

2 nd David & Sue Donnelly (Valentine)

3 rd David Loftus (Hosanna)

Stock Bull

1 st Coose Gambler - CH Evans & Son

2 nd Clonagh Latin Lover - Jimmy & Vikki Wood

3 rd Corskie Inlaw - Greasley Estate, Lady Barber

Calf At Foot Born 2022

1 st Chris and Kath Martindale Forsdale Ninja 22 (P)

2 nd David & Sue Donnelly Atlow Newton 22

3 rd Paul Joliffe Star Green Dappy’s Naomi

Maiden Heifers

1 st Jimmy & Vikki Wood (Popes)

2 nd CH Evans & Son (Wroxall)

3 rd Greasley Estate (Lambclose)

In-Calf Heifers

1 st CH Evans & Son (Wroxall)

2 nd Jimmy & Vikki Wood (Popes)

3 rd David & Sue Donnelly (Atlow)

Overall Herd

Vikki & Jimmy Wood

Reserve Overall Herd

Joint = CH Evans & Son (Wroxall) & Paul Joliffe (Star Green)

Judges Prize

Jennie Hassall

Herd Competition Section Winners with Judge Clare

Price. Medium Herd Paul Joliffe, Large Herd Hannah

Wood, & Small Herd Chris Martindale.

Herd Competition Overall Winner Vikki

Wood with Judge Clare Price.

The busy Simmental stand at the English Winter Fair.

Club Dinner.

Herd Competition Joint Reserve Overall Winners

Paul Joliffe & Josh Evans with Judge Clare Price.

The last event we hosted for the year was

the breed promotional stand at the English

Winter Fair, Bingley Hall. With a great effort

from Richard Storer Smith, Andrea Booth,

and Kath Martindale, and with quality

crossbred cattle supplied by the Evans Family

(Wroxall), the stand won Best Breed stand

and Overall Champion stand of the show.

This was a great honour for the Club and

we continue to aim to promote the breed to

the best of our abilities. There were also 16

quality Simmental calves in the cattle lines.

A great show and many congratulations

go to the Wood family for taking home the

Champion.

I would like to take this time to wish all

breeders well for the year to come as we

look forward to 2023.

Simmental entries at the English Winter Fair.

English Winter Fair Stand Winners.


Welsh Simmental Club

Report by Aled Davies, Chairman

It’s been a year of getting back to normal

in all walks of life, be it going to the pub

without a mask or having gatherings

without the aid of zoom, and a welcome

return to a full time table of shows!

On 10 th March we had our AGM which was

held via Zoom for convenience this year,

with lots of us busy calving and lambing. All

club officials were re-elected for the 2022

year. Thanks also to Iain Kerr for zooming in,

and a good discussion was had following the

official part of meeting.

Moving on through spring/summer shows

we started in May with Cothi Bridge show,

then on to Aberystwyth, Tivyside, Cardigan,

Pembrokeshire County, Llandeilo, Denbigh

and Flint just to name a few. Not to forget

of course the Royal Welsh Show at the end

of July. Numbers may have been low but

the quality was there. Congratulations go

to Callum Croft on his champion with Gwili

Melody 2 nd , and to Aled & Rachel Davies for

their Reserve Champion Hirwaun Lemon

& Lime. A big congrats also to Catherine

Nicholas for winning the young stock person

shield during the show. This was judged on

the quiet by Anwen Jones of the Cefngwlad

herd, who was watching what and how the

young people conducted their duties for

the duration of show. Congratulations and

well done to all exhibitors for supporting

this year’s shows in difficult financial times,

which are not only affecting the farming

Catherine Nicholas receiving the young stock person

shield at RWAS 22 from Arwel Jones brother of

Anwen Jones who judged the competition.

industry.

Moving on to 2023 and hopes for the Royal

Welsh Show in particular. I urge all members

in Wales, and across the whole Society,

some of who have exhibited there before,

and to newcomers. PLEASE think about

supporting the show. The Royal Welsh is one

of the biggest, if not the biggest, agricultural

show in Europe and it deserves to have a

bigger presence of Simmental cattle. It’s a

tremendous promotional shop window to

the huge audience in attendance and across

the coverage on many TV channels. It would

be great to get this show back to how it was

not too long ago and to keep the Simmental

flag flying in Wales. Diolch/Thanks.

In mid August we had our annual herd

competition judged by our past members,

now resident in Scotland, Nick & Nadia

Gwynne of the Chestermann herd. They

travelled from north to south, west to

east visiting 13 herds. It was lovely to see

members and have a presentation afternoon

a few days later with Tomos, the youngest

Gwili Melody 2, Mwnt Mwynwen, Penwern Merlin and Hirwaun Lemon & Lime.



of the Chestermann clan, joining us for a

terrific Sunday lunch at The Falcon Hotel in

Carmarthen. Nick said a few words before we

got on with the awards commenting on how

hard a task it had been, with that being down

to ‘how good the cattle were all over Wales’.

This really was lovely feedback for us all. A big

congratulations go to the Welston herd, our

Overall Champions, belonging to Anthony,

Lesley and Harry Davies. It was great to see

Anthony at the presentation looking fit and well

after a few tough years battling health issues.

Moving on to the winter shows and to our own

Welsh Winter Fair, where we had a busy few

days with lots of people calling in for a hot

drink and a mince pie. Thanks to Callum for

providing a young bull to display and big thanks

go to all members that helped man the stand

and to Iain Kerr and Sue Stenner from HQ who

were both in attendance.

Our last event of the year was the Club Calf

Show, held this year within The Welsh Multi

Breed Pedigree Calf Show in Carmarthen cattle

market. This is a new event for the calendar

and what a start, they had with over 130 calves

from 13 breeds. Well done to all involved and

I’m sure this event will grow year on year.

Congratulations go to the Francis family with

their May born Pistyll Nitro, a Ballinalare Farm

Galaxy bull calf, who won the Simmental

Championship, and with ourselves Reserve

Champions with a March born Curaheen Bandit

bull calf, Hirwaun Nos Da. Later on that day the

Francis family went on to collect the Interbreed

Continental Championship award. Da iawn

chi. Well done to all the young handlers with

Catherine, Lilly, Harri and Griff representing

the Simms and doing very well. Our future is

safe in their hands. Please see a short report on

the Welsh Pedigree Calf Show within the show

section in this Review.

The Royal Welsh Winter Fair Stand.

Hosts of the stand and Club Representatives Callum Croft, Aled Davies & Merion Jones.

On a sad note, this year we lost a good friend

of the cub In Henry Gwynne, father of Nick

Gwynne, Chestermann Simmentals, and a past

club member. Henry was a character to say

the least and was very proud of his family’s

achievements within the Simmental breed.

This is my last report as Chairman as I come

to the end of my three year term. I have

thoroughly enjoyed the honour of being Welsh

Club Chair and would like to thank everyone

who has helped me along the way. We are

only a very small Club and find it difficult

at times. However, I am sure if we all keep

working together for the good of our beloved

Simmentals, the Club and the breed will

flourish.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy 2023.

Callum Croft's Fforest Napoleon was our bull on the stand at the Welsh Winter Fair.


East Anglian Simmental Club

Report by James Brice, Chairman

This year has seen a few changes within

our club. We had our AGM in April at

Wensum Valley Golf Club and after

many years of service as secretary, Hayley

Clarke stepped down. Our extended thanks

go to Hayley for her dedication and hard

work over 9 long years, and also to Nigel

Darling who stepped down as chairman.

Zara Curson of the Hollybrook herd, has

taken on the role of secretary and also

treasurer so we thank her for that, and with

myself, James Brice from the Rendham herd,

taking over the chairman’s role.

In the year, we have seen two herds join the

Club in the form of Paul & Sharrie Cade from

Cade Simmentals, and Sam Steggles with his

children re-introducing Wacton Simmentals

(which was first established in 1973 by Sam’s

grandfather Russell Steggles). We offer both

of them a very warm welcome.

With Covid restrictions seemingly in the past,

2022 has been a much more productive

year. With many aspects of life returning

to normal, the much-anticipated return of

agricultural shows was welcomed by all,

having been missed off the calendars for

the past two summers. This was the boost

many breeders needed and after leaving

their show equipment gathering dust, they

were able to polish it up and spruce their

best animals up once again. It has been

great to see animals from the East Anglian

Club competing again on the show scene

across the country, but in particular it was

lovely to see the local shows take centre

stage in our region. All of our Club members

who showed did well this year, bringing

home rosettes and championships between

them. To name a few Paul & Linda Gunther,

with the help of Holly Lutkin and Sharon

Morter, won breed champion at the South of

England show with their two-year old heifer

Fircovert Ladybird, and with Hayley and

Andrew Clarke taking Reserve with their bull

Williams Josef.

At the Royal Norfolk Show it was Heathbrow

Koko Star (P) who was Breed Champion,

bred by D.A and L.A Sapsed, Hertfordshire.

However our Club members didn’t

disappoint with first places coming from

Andrew and Hayley Clarke, Paul Gunther,

Jimmy McMillan and the Guiltcross herd

of Marcus and Helen Searle. This was the

Searle’s debut year showing their homebred

animals and their January 21 born bull

Guiltcross Marler impressed the judge

Garrett Behan (Clonagh herd), winning first

and then taking Reserve Champion on home

turf.

A massive congratulations to Jimmy & Kath

McMillan with their trio of heifers: Brandane

Millie, who won Best in Breed and went on

to take Reserve Interbreed Champion at the

Suffolk Show. Jimmy also enjoyed huge

success at the Royal Highland with Brandane

Millie being crowned Junior Female and

Overall Junior Reserve Champion. In fact,

wherever Jimmy and his trio of heifers went

Paul and Linda Gunther with South of England Simmental Champion Fircovert Ladybird.



With covid restrictions over, we have

been able to get together a bit more as a

Club in 2022. We recently had a talk from

a local vet on sustainable cattle farming

and greenhouse gases which was very

interesting! Going into 2023, the Club have

some events in the planning, with herd

visits being booked in. We hope to hold an

abattoir visit to HG Blakes for Club members

as well as local commercial breeders and

buyers, to show off the best Simmental bred

carcases, as well as a possible butchery

demonstration. We would also like to hold

a cattle trimming demonstration for our

young, and not so young, handlers to see

how to dress cattle for shows.

Jimmy McMillan.

showing this year, they came home with

rosettes and sashes. To top off their success,

Brandane Lulu topped the Next Generation

sale at Carlisle in December at a staggering

18,000gns when being sold to Reece and

Andrew Simmers of the Backmuir herd,

Banff.

It was great to see the Simmental classes

represented so strongly in East Anglia and

this is also shown in our Club, as member

numbers continue to grow with a positive

blend of youth and experience. Our young

handler of the Club, William Clarke had

a good year too, winning his class at the

Suffolk show, Overall Champion at the South

of England Show, and Reserve Champion

at our local Alysham show. William also

took second place at the Norfolk and fourth

at the Great Yorkshire show. Some tough

competition was faced at times with William

being one of the youngest in the older age

of 16 plus classes. Huge congratulations

goes out to him.

The East Anglian region also saw great

achievement for Paul and Sharrie Cade,

when Cade Maverick took top price of

5,200gns at the Melton Mowbray Multibreed

Sale in March (please see the sales section

in the Review). We hope that the 2023 sale

at Melton will again be a success and hope

that breeders not just from the East Anglian

club support this sale but those from further

afield too. This sale is well supported by

buyers so it will be good to see as many

Simmentals there flying the flag for our

wonderful breed. This is a fledgling sale with

real opportunity so I really hope that you can

support it.

The summer was somewhat hot and dry but

the Simmental as a breed seemed to cope

admirably with these conditions and once

again showed what a complete package

they are. We were delighted to welcome

Ann Jukes, along with husband Tony,

to judge our herd competition. Ann was

very impressed with the standard of cattle

considering the tough weather conditions

they had faced. In commenting she said: “To

judge a herd under this year’s extreme harsh

conditions made me decide as to what my

judge’s choice class was to be based on.

I concentrated on what I saw under such

dry conditions and with no supplementary

feeding, Simmentals doing an amazing

job of rearing calves and being back in calf

again. A difficult task for any stockman under

such drought conditions”

Our extended thanks and gratitude go

to Ann and Tony for spending their time

judging our herds.

Ann and Tony Jukes receiveing gifts of thanks at the

end of the East Anglian Herd Competition.

However the event we are looking forward

to the most has to be the English Simmental

National which is to be held at the Royal

Norfolk again on 28 th & 29 th June. We hope

to see as many breeders as possible there

showcasing what a fantastic Simmental

breed we have. Look out for further

announcements and please book your cattle

entries in at the earliest opportunity!

East Anglia Simmental Club 2021 Herd

Competition Results

Best Bull Calf

1. Rendham Neptune

2. Key Nicholas

3. Goddard Notorious

Yearling Bull

1. Rendham Mikah

2. Williams Marcelo

3. Hollybrook Maximum

Stock Bull

1. Wolf star Jumanji

2. Williams Joseph

3. Fir covert Lucifer

Best Heifer Calf

1. Key Topaz Clara (979)

2. Rendham Nala

3. Williams Nelly

Family Group

1. Honeysuckle Family (Fircovert)

2. Princess Bangle Family (Key)

3. Thursford Tina Family (Hollybrook)

Overall Herd

1. Rendham Herd – James & Robin Brice

2. Williams Herd – Mrs H Clarke

3. Key Herd – GD Key & Sons

Group Of Yearling Heifers

1. Fircovert heifers – Mr P Gunther

2. Goddard heifers – John Roger Goddard

3. Guiltcross heifers – MG Searle

Cow And Calf

1. Williams Honey Bear and Naughty Bear

2. Fircovert Kitty and Nancy

3. Key Princess Bangle and Nicholas

Judges Choice

1. Theberton Herd – Mr & Mrs LJ Dowley

2. Fircovert Herd – Mr P Gunther

3. Goddard Herd – John Roger Goddard


South West Simmental Club

Report by Rachel Reed, Secretary

Our first event of the year was the Worcester sale,

which as always oozed with quality cattle showing

true Simmental attributes with the price rewarding

these fantastic cattle. Please see the full report in the sales

section of the Review but the headlines were:

• 17 bulls sell, up 8 on the year, to average £3,996

• 7 bulls sell at 4,000gns and more

• Popes herd lifts Champion & Reserve in the bulls

• Fole Dispersal Sale tops at 3,200gns

• Grangewood Lucas 5,500gns

Devon County Show

Jake Gregory of the Kurlycoat Herd took Simmental

Champion with Leeherd Legend.

Leeherd Legend.

Dawn and Steve Shapland being presented their prize by Matt Harris.

Herd Walk to David and Kath

Edwards

A visit to the Silver Moor Herd was enjoyed by many

members on an extremely hot day in the summer. The herd

comprises of around 40 cows and their followers, with

replacements into the herd being selected for easy calving

animals. Members enjoyed fantastic hospitality and a very

welcome social.

South West Herd Competition

We welcomed the return of our herd competition this

year, after an unwelcome break due to Covid. With 18

herds entered the quality didn’t disappoint our judge, Matt

Harris. Dawn and Steve Shapland of the Brynsworthy Herd

were crowned the Overall Herd Winners. The Shaplands

welcomed over 40 people to a fantastic herd walk and

complimentary pub lunch with Matt Harris presenting the

awards. A fantastic day and insight into their herd totaling 70

head of cattle, including some tremendous blood lines from

across the South West.

Brynsworthy Cattle.

Brynsworthy Cattle.



Herd competition results

Overall Herd

Dawn and Steve Shapland (Brynsworthy)

Reserve Overall Herd

Bridget and John Olds (Bosahan)

Large Herds

1 st - Cook Family (Ryall)

2 nd - Graham and Sarah Reed (Skylark)

3 rd - Stephanine Hooper (Tregnether)

Medium Herd

1 st - Dawn and Steve Shapland (Brynsworthy)

2 nd - Bridget and John Olds (Bosahan)

3 rd - Jim Buckland (Wellatree)

Small Herd

1 st - Adrian and Len Curry (Winford)

2 nd - Ant Hart (Treverbyn)

3 rd - Steven Buckland (Angwelha)

Cow And Calf - Devon and Somerset

1 st - Dawn and Steve Shapland - Cwarre Cinderella Firefly

Cow And Calf - All Counties

1 st - Bridget and John Olds - Bossahan Kellie Pearl Celia

Best Youngstock

1 st - Jim and Jean Buckland (Wellatree)

Heifer Calf 2022 Born

1 st - Killiworgie Neeta rose – Gill and Steve Gummow

Bull Calf 2022 Born

1 st - Winford Nobbleman – Len and Adrian Curry

I/C Heifer

1 st - Wellatree Limoges – Jim and Jean Buckland

Novice

Steven and Amy Buckland (Angwelha)

Flexi (Knowledge)

Sandra Francis (Dinton)

STOCK BULL

1 st Coose Monopoly P – Ant Hart

AGM

Our AGM in October

saw our secretary Dawn

Shapland step down. We

thank Dawn for all her

hard work and dedication

over many years. Dawn

is succeeded by myself,

Rachel Reed from the

Skylark herd in Tiverton.

With new members of the

committee stepping in, the

Club would like to thank

all our fantastic committee

members from over the

past years. They have

contributed a huge amount

of knowledge, effort and

dedication to the breed

and the club, and we can’t

thank them enough for this.

On the evening we were Dawn Shapland accepting her

thank you gift from Rachel Reed.

also pleased to have Iain

Kerr, the Society’s General

Manager, join us for dinner and to introduce himself to members.

Agrifest South West

The club enjoyed a day at Agrifest South West with a breed promotion stand, speaking to

many farmers and breeders. We saw quality cattle in the show ring as well as on the stand,

which were provided by Ant Hart from Cornwall. Ant also had the Overall Champion Male

Calf - Treverbyn Norman, with John May of the Priorton Herd taking the Heifer Champion.

South West Club members at the SW AGM.


Cornwall Simmental Club

Report by Barrie Wynter, Chairman

2022 started with the spectre of Covid still affecting the Club’s

social calendar. Cornwall Club activities resumed in April,

following meeting requests at the 2021 AGM for a show

craft day. Steve and Gill Gummow kindly offered to host at Higher

Killiworgie and welcomed twenty-three members and friends to a

detailed demonstration by Barnaby Bridgman, covering the entire

process from halter breaking to washing, the use of cattle coat

products and the art of ring craft. Our life member Roger Pascoe also

shared his knowledge and observations.

Early May saw members attend the Society’s Worcester Sale, with

seventeen out of twenty one bulls selling to average just under

£4,000, including Killiworgie Lieutenant at 4,000gns. May also saw

the Bosahan herd’s reduction sale with Kivells at Exeter Livestock

Market. The forty-one head on offer sold to a top price of 7,000gns

for Bosahan Jade Magic Baby with her October polled bull calf

breaking the market record. The sale generated a lot of interest with

lots finding homes in Wales, Cheshire, and Derbyshire besides the

South-West.

Many thanks to everyone who helped with setting up and taking

down the hospitality marquee at the Royal Cornwall Show which

made a welcome return in June. A special acknowledgement to

Charlie and Jenny Harris, who together with Focus Farm Vets,

ensured visitors were well fed and watered. Please see the report and

pictures from the County’s premier show within the show section.

July heralds the start of the one day show season. Seven herds

successfully produced their Simmental cattle at five shows with

unprecedented inter-breed results.

Cornwall Simmental Club members enjoyed a stellar week of awards

at Cornwall’s one day shows during July, following a successful

Royal Cornwall Show in June. Starting in the east of the county

at Liskeard on Saturday 9 th , Ant Hart triumphed in the continental

breed two-year-old heifer class with Treverbyn Lily and Treverbyn

Morwenna stood second in the yearling heifer class to the eventual

section champion, judged by James Neale. On the same day, the

Buckland family enjoyed Supreme Champion success in the west at

the Praze Fair Show with Wellatree Limoges, selected over the dairy

choice and tapped forward by Brian Coombes a local breeder of

pedigree Ayrshires.

Stithians quickly followed on Monday 11 th July where Killiworgie’s

in-calf two-year-old heifer Elderflower’s Kiwi stood champion

Simmental, with Angwelha Jacky and calf at foot in reserve; selected

by Barrie Wynter. Kiwi went on to secure Champion Beef Interbreed

and took the reserve spot in the supreme. Kiwi, joined by Treverbyn

Lily and Wellatree Limoncello, were awarded the team of three,

taking home the Archie Opie Memorial Trophy and completing a hat

trick of interbreed team wins for the Simmental breed in consecutive

years at the show.

At Camborne Show on Saturday 16 th July, Killiworgie Elderflower’s

Kiwi continued her purple patch taking Simmental Champion under

Adrian Curry, with the yearling Wellatree Maddi standing Reserve.

Kiwi went on to head the Beef Interbreed Championship and

Supreme Championship of the cattle section. Wellatree Limoncello

and Wellatree Limoges won the interbreed Avon Trophy for the best

pair of uncalved heifers. The Buckland’s Wellatree entries also gained

the most points in the show trophy. Kiwi, Limoncello and Limoges

joined by Killiworgie Elderflower’s Lily and Wellatree Maddi made up

the Simmental team of five. The Simmentals, in front of the judge and

Devon Cattle Society Chairman David Martin, landed the prestigious

Harry Cock Challenge Trophy after standing in the reserve spot on

more than one occasion in previous years.

Club President Penny Lally presenting club class winners rosettes for Pairs to Steve

Gummow with Killiworgie Elderflowers Kiwi, and Daniel Gummow with Killiworgie

Hemaras Kandice.

The Camborne Show winning team of five.



Launceston show rounded off July and Cornwall Simmental Club

members are to be applauded for promoting the Simmental breed

by entering the any other beef breed sections with success. Steph

Hooper and David Reeves won the bull class with Tregnether

Jackpot, Ant Hart headed the senior heifer class with Treverbyn

Lily and Piers Hawkey topped the line in the junior heifer class with

Sowenna Libra, who went on to be awarded champion of the section

by Barnaby Bridgman.

The relentless sunshine continued into August and Camelford Show

completed the Cornish one day show season. Ant Hart enjoyed

another successful day in the Pure-Bred Beef classes with Treverbyn

Lilly winning the heifer class and Treverbyn Morwenna standing

second. Lily then headed the section, emerging champion under

Peter Chapman. Two herds made successful raids across the border.

The Buckland family’s Wellatree Limoges landed the Supreme

Interbreed Championship at Okehampton show and Ant Hart the

Simmental championship at Holsworthy with Treverbyn Lily.

Friend's cattle at Wadland Barton, near Okehampton.

The Cornwall Simmental Club runs an annual most points

competition for members attending one day shows. Wellatree

emerged the worthy 2022 winners with 47 points and Treverbyn

were close behind collecting 42 points.

After three years the Cornwall Pedigree Beef Calf Show returned,

with a revised schedule for 2022 born calves. Five herds with

eighteen entries catalogued, competed for the Simmental trophy

under continental judge Jonny Ward. Treverbyn Norman P (Coose

Monopoly P x Treverbyn Kiera), a January born bull, bred by Ant

Hart, was tapped out as champion over Bosahan Nigella Ingrid

Venus, before emerging as Supreme Champion of the show, the

first Simmental calf in ten shows to land this award. Norman has

continued a winning run into November, taking the Simmental Calf

Championship at Agri-Fest and the pedigree calf championships at

both the Liskeard prime-stock show and the Cornish Winter Fair at

Wadebridge.

The Friend family.

run 175 suckler cows and in turning to continental bulls settled on

easy handling Simmentals being the most suitable for their spring

calving system requiring milky dams. Currently six bulls run with the

herd, five Simmentals and one North Devon, with the hybrid vigour

injected by the native breed continuing to be an important feature.

With the virtual photo competition proving so popular during

lockdown, the British Simmental Society held a scaled back number

of classes over nine weeks during the summer. Against some

extraordinarily strong entries the Female Champion and Overall

Supreme award came to Cornwall. Steve and Gill Gummow are to be

congratulated on an amazing result with Killiworgie Mirandas Lotti.

See the full report in the Review.

Pedigree Calf Show Champion Treverbyn Norman.

Congratulations to Jake Gregory on winning the Simmental

Championship at Devon County Show with his bull Leeherd Legend

and recently being awarded Cornwall Young Farmer of the Year at

the annual Cornwall Farm Business Awards hosted by the Addington

Fund.

August saw the Cornwall club reinstate its annual Commercial Open

Day. After three years of planning members and breeders from

Bristol to Lands End travelled to Okehampton at the kind invitation

of the Friend family who were open and engaging, willing to answer

questions and generous with their hospitality. The Friends

The Club welcomed Robert Macgregor from Team Simmentals,

Perth, Scotland, to Cornwall to judge the 2022 herd competition.

With nineteen herds, thirteen pedigree and six commercials entered,

the task entailed over four days of travelling across Cornwall,

culminating in a presentation dinner at Constantine Social Club.

Congratulations to all that entered, it was heartening to see the

Simmental breed thriving in the county and meeting new members.

Many thanks to our president, Penny for providing accommodation

and Robert for the following comments:

“More years than I can remember have passed since I visited Cornwall

with the Scottish club, taking in the National Show at Royal Cornwall,

and visiting herds in the southern part of the county. I was deeply

honoured to be asked back to judge your herd competition in 2022.

I must start this short report by thanking firstly Penny for hosting and

especially Barry for chauffeuring me around the four hundred plus

miles we covered over the four days. I think I would still be trying to

find some of you if not for his excellent navigational skills!


I was delighted to see so many outstanding cattle, both in the

pedigree and commercial sections, which would not look out of

place anywhere in the country. The stock bulls being used in many

herds were on a par with anything you would see around the UK, and

this consequently showed through in the young stock on display.

The stock cows were quite exceptional across all the herds I visited.

Whilst I understand why some herds castrated their bull calves

due to TB issues in the south west, I believe the potential for some

particularly good young bulls is being missed, such was the quality

on show. The standard in all the commercial herds was excellent

and I only wish I had had more time to spend wandering around the

stock on show. One of my great pleasures is walking through fields

of good cattle... much more enjoyable than looking at fields of barley

or wheat!

As stated, the pedigree herds were all an incredibly high standard

but three stick in my mind that I would like to highlight: Bosahan,

Killiworgie and Wellatree. What also struck me on my travels was the

enthusiasm shown by the younger members. This can only be good

for the future of the breed and Simmentals in Cornwall.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone I visited for your hospitality and

warm welcome, and the enjoyable evening at the dinner and prize

giving. Hopefully, I can make a return to your beautiful county in the

not-too-distant future and welcome some of you to Perth to see my

own cattle”.

Best Commercial Herd - Peter &

Steph Hooper and David Reeves.

Jim Buckland - Wellatree - Most

Points at One Day Shows.

John Olds - Bosahan Best Large

Herd & Overall.

Steven Buckland - Angwelha - Best

Small Herd.

Young Member Lucy Hosken.

Herd Competition Prize Winners 2022

Pedigree Competition

Bull calf born in 2022

1 st - Piers Hawkey & Family - Sowenna Nemo

2 nd - Anthony Hart – Treverbyn Norman P

3 rd - Viv Hall – Chegwidden Noah

Junior bull born on or between 01/07/2021 & 31/12/2021

1 st - John and Bridget Olds – Bosahan Magus

2 nd - Piers Hawkey & Family – Sowenna Mr Bean

3 rd - Megan Wellington – Pennytinney Maverick

Stock Bull

Ist - Anthony Hart – Coose Monopoly P

2 nd - Viv Hall – Chegwidden Fergal Gallant

3 rd - John and Bridget Olds – Kinclaven Infusion P

Heifer calf born 2022

1 st - Steve and Gill Gummow – Killiworgie Neeta Rose

2 nd - John and Bridget Olds – Bosahan Norah Harmony P

3 rd - Piers Hawkey & Family – Sowenna Miracle

Junior heifer born on or between 01/01/2021 – 30/06/2021

1 st - John and Bridget Olds – Bosahan Magic Baby Doll

2 nd - Jim and Jean Buckland – Wellatree Maddie

3 rd - Anthony Hart – Treverbyn Milly

Junior heifer born on or between 01/07/2021 – 31/12/2021

1 st - Steve and Gill Gummow – Killiworgie Ivy’s Marcia

2 nd - John and Bridget Olds - Bosahan Minnie Miss Natalie

3 rd - Anthony Hart – Treverbyn Morwenna

In-calf heifer (due to calve before the age of 3)

1 st - Steve and Gill Gummow – Killiworgie Miranda’s Lottie

2 nd - Jim and Jean Buckland – Wellatree Limoncello

3 rd - Steven Buckland – Angwelha Fantastic Lottie

Cow any age

Ist - Steven Buckland - Angwelha Jacky

2 nd - Viv Hall – Chegwiddden Florence’s Jasmine

3 rd - John and Bridget Olds – Bosahan Gold Magic Baby

Young stock

1 st - Steve and Gill Gummow - Killiworgie

2 nd - John and Bridget Olds - Bosahan

3 rd - Jim and Jean Buckland – Wellatree

Homebred female, Judges choice

1 st - Steve and Gill Gummow Killiworgie Miranda’s Lottie

2 nd - Jim and Jean Buckland – Wellatree Limoncello

3 rd - Steve and Gill Gummow – Killiworgie Ivy’s Marcia

Pedigree herds commercial exhibit

1 st - John and Bridget Olds – Maestro Sim Steer

2 nd - Piers Hawkey and Family – Blue x Sim Cow

3 rd - Steph Hooper & David Reeves – Sim x Blonde

Young Members Prize

Lucy Hosken - Tregowris

Champion Small Herd

Steven Buckland - Angwelha

Reserve Champion Small Herd

Adele Jewell - Rosewin

Champion Large Herd

John and Bridget Olds - Bosahan

Reserve Champion Large Herd

Steve and Gill Gummow - Killiworgie

Overall Champion Herd

John and Bridget Olds - Bosahan

Reserve Champion Herd

Steve and Gill Gummow - Killiworgie

Commercial Competition

Best animal (Dam or sire to be Pedigree or Pure-Bred)

1 st - Steph Hooper & David Reeves

2 nd - Ian Backway & Family

3 rd - Liam Vague & Family

Best progeny group (minimum 3 animals)

1 st - Steph Hooper & David Reeves

2 nd - Edward White

3 rd - Ian Backway

Best Commercial Herd

Steph Hooper and David Reeves

Reserve Commercial Herd

Ian Backway & Family



After three attempts we held our belated 30 th anniversary dinner and

dance in October at the Penventon Park Hotel, Redruth, attended by

a healthy sixty members and guests. A fantastic meal was enjoyed,

with much excitement over the alternative raffle for good prizes,

and a round of Irish Bingo. The evening finished with entertainment

provided by Proper Job.

Suckler calf sales have been well supported with improved trade,

proving that quality sells and it was pleasing to see repeat buyers

around the ring. Well done to Messrs AP & SR Hooper, Castle and

Dinas (£900) and Mrs Williams from Pendeen (£845) for winning the

classes at Truro Livestock Market, also thanks to Messrs Bennetts

(£650), Richards (£800), Roberts (£760), and Vague (£870) for

bringing Simmental sired cattle forward. Increased numbers at

Hallworthy saw a tremendous trade, with Jim and Jean Buckland

(Wellatree) heading the market with their pen of three nine-month

pedigree steers to £1,140. While local vendor, N M Sanders of

Davidstow, with twelve, six & seven-month-old x-bred heifers,

topped out at £675 and was awarded the female prize. These sales,

sponsored by the Club and Society, endorse the Society promotions

that the Simmental breed offers the best returns to commercial

enterprises in terms of weight for age and days to slaughter, and this

has lead to increasing enquiries for bulls.

Suckler Calf Sales 2022.

Sanders Heifers at Hallworthy.

Our final social event for the year was the Cornwall Simmental Club

Quiz Night at the Victoria Inn, Roche. The club topped and tailed the

results with Lionel and Jane Pascoe’s team taking the spoils closely

followed by Jim and Jean Buckland’s team. In all a lovely evening

enjoyed by everyone regardless of scores.

We concluded the year with our AGM at which we welcomed Bill

and Susanne Harper (founders of Harpers Feeds) to give us an

enlightening presentation on sustainable farming, including the

benefits of fermenting home-produced manure to produce lowcost

fertilizer. They are also involved with a Genus project using

Simgus semen on dairy herds. Batch buying calves from a single

herd at approximately ten days, they pay current deadweight prices

for liveweights at loading and are monitoring growth and finishing

rates using daily live weight gains from a home-produced tailored

ration. Their goal is 5kgs mixer wagon input for 1 kg gain and they

are presently achieving 6:1, they are looking forward to receiving the

results from this new venture.

As I end our 2022 report, I wish Cornish herds success with their

investments this year from the Annick, Vale Royal, Popes, Bosahan

and Coose herds. A warm welcome to our new members and a

sincere thanks to everyone for all your support either participating or

attending club events, shows and sales, representing the breed and

our club. The Cornwall Club is always delighted to welcome other

breeders to the county, whether as individuals or clubs looking for

that hidden gem. May we continue to learn from each other.

Bosahan Magenta Clover, Kinclaven Infusion, Bosahan Lucy Clover, Bosahan Mille Ivette & Bosahan Ivette Alesha.


CORNWALL SIMMENTAL CLUB

WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO ORGANISE HERD VISITS

REGIONAL CLUBS AND BREEDERS ARE WELCOME

Ian and Sandra Backway - Commercial

List of Club Members

Jim, Jean, and Steven Buckland - Wellatree & Angwelha

Bob and Don Cowell – Hawkhill & Commercial

Jimmy & Elaine George & Son – Commercial

Jake Gregory - Kurlycoat

Jonathan & Alison Grose & Sons - Trewarnevas

Steven and Gill Gummow – Killiworgie

Viv Hall - Chegwidden

Ant Hart – Treverbyn

Keith, Caroline, and Piers Hawkey -Sowenna

Peter & Steph Hooper and David Reeves – Tregnether & Commercial

George and Lucy Hosken – Tregowris

Adele Jewell - Rosewin

Penny Lally - Chyanhal

John and Bridget Olds – Bosahan - Secretary m: 07565 757792

JGA Raymont & Son (Mark) – Trevean & Commercial

Kevin Thomas – Crowgey

Liam, Rueben, Iyla and Amelia Vague – Vague & Commercial

Paul Wakeham - Commercial

Megan Wellington – Pennytinney

Edward White - Commercial

Liz Williams – Commercial

Mrs P Williams - Commercial

Barrie Wynter - Bolankin - Chairman m: 07590 501096

For locations, directions and more

information about Members’ pedigree and commercial herds please

use Google Maps link:

CORNWALL SIMMENTAL CLUB MEMBERS - Google My Maps

FOR 2023 EVENTS VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE


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South East Simmental Club

Report by Bridget Borlase, Chairperson

English National Show Best Group of Four – DA & LA Sapsed with Heathbrow Lavender, Heathbrow Girlies Laurel, Heathbrow Girlies Ivy & Heathbrow Koko Star.

Our first club event of 2022 was our AGM in April

coupled with a farm walk, kindly hosted by

Brockhurst Limousins. We had a well-attended AGM

where we discussed all the club activities and were given

a tour of both the Brockhurst Limousin herd and Daisy

Jones’s Crouchvalley Simmental herd. Both herds had some

excellent cattle to look at, which members thoroughly

enjoyed before moving to an excellent Sunday lunch at

the local pub! Our thanks to both Daisy Jones and Doug &

Harvey Mash for their hospitality extended to the Club.

Worcester Sale Female Champion Crouchvalley Mavis.

Summer shows were back with a bang and shows in our

area were well attended by many club members. It was great

to see Simmentals holding their own at these shows with

reasonable numbers and good quality cattle being bought

forward. Notable mentions must go to Paul & Sharrie Cade

and family; David & Lesley Sapsed; Andrew, Hayley & William

Clarke; Daisy Jones; Rhys Grenham; and James & Rachael

Griffin, who had great results at many of these shows as well

as some featuring prominently at the English National Show

which was held at The Royal Lancashire Show.

The Bailey family’s Mixbury Hall herd again had a very strong

showing in the Society’s Virtual Show, which has proven

to be a great platform for those members wishing to show

off their cattle but without the available time to attend the

shows.

Mixbury Hall Neon - Class Winner in the Virtual Show.

Melton Mowbray sale topper Cade Maverick.



Steve & Lorraine Blomfield with Sway Monarch.

It was also a good year on the sale front for

Club members. At Worcester in May, Daisy

Jones’s Crouchvalley Mavis took the Female

Championship and sold for 2,150gns, with

Paul & Sharrie Cade’s Cade Khloe felling for

the top price female on the day at 2,500gns.

The Cades also topped the Society’s sale

at Melton Mowbray at 5,200gns for Cade

Maverick.

Sometimes ‘Dreams do Come True’ and

in October we were all delighted to see

Steve & Lorraine Blomfield sell their first

bull through Stirling, Sway Monarch, for

8,500gns to the noted Dargill pedigree

herd of J C McLaren. This bull's breeding

is a testament to Steve & Lorraine’s

many, many years of commitment to the

Simmental breed. Also of note at Stirling in

October, James & Rachael Griffin sold their

Junior bull Hemingford Moonraker to the

Glenlossie herd of Messrs A D Sutherland.

Congratulations to all involved.

Our Autumn farm walk, which features

the prize giving for our annual herd

competition, was kindly hosted by Chris

Patmore of the Norman herd in Essex. The

day was well attended, and Chris showed

us around his herd which is predominantly

polled. Again, it was interesting to see some

very good cattle.

Richard McInnes kindly judged our annual

herd competition last summer and as

always, it was a hotly contested event within

our Club, and takes several days to judge

with many miles to be covered. So we are

indebted to Richard for giving up his time

and judging the competition so ably. The

full results are below but congratulations

to everyone who took part. Prizes were

particularly well spread this year with David

& Lesley Sapsed’s Heathbrow herd once

again coming out on top as Champion herd.

Herd competition results

Judge: Mr R McInnes

Small Herd

1 st - R Grenham (Boars Head) Reserve Champion Overall Herd

2 nd - J & R Griffin (Hemingford)

3 rd - J Woodman (Challiewood)

Medium Herd

1 st - P & S Cade (Cade)

2 nd - A & H Clarke (Williams)

3 rd - S Key (Key)

Large Herd

1 st - D & L Sapsed (Heathbrow) Champion Overall Herd

2 nd - Messrs Bailey (Mixbury Hall)

3 rd - Messrs Hawkins (Chates)

Best Heifer Calf

1 st - Beeches Nancy

2 nd - Boars Head Grace

3 rd - Cade Deb’s Nora

Best Bull Calf

1 st - Challiewood Nobelstar

2 nd - Heathbrow Nova Star

3 rd - Mixbury Hall Nigel

Best Young Stock

1 st - R Grenham (Boars Head)

2 nd - D & L Sapsed (Heathbrow)

3 rd - Messrs Bailey (Mixbury Hall)

Best Maiden Heifers

1 st - D & L Sapsed (Heathbrow)

2 nd - Messrs Bailey (Mixbury Hall)

3 rd - S Key (Key)

Best Stock Bull

1 st - Islavale Jammydodger - R Grenham

2 nd - Tilbrook Frank - Messrs Bailey

3 rd - Sacombe Jameson - P & S Cade

Best Cow & Calf

Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy & Heathbrow Nationwide.

Cow family

Heathbrow Girlie

Best Young Stockperson

Joint: William Clarke &

Judges Special Prize

Mr C Patmore

The Club year was rounded off by our

Autumn dinner which was held at The

Farmers Club in Whitehall. Historically since

the formation of the club this has been a

mainstay of our Club calendar, so it was

great for everyone to be able to meet up

back in London for the first time since precovid.

The dinner was described by everyone

as the best they had ever had at this venue,

and it was a great way to round off the Club

year and to look forward to 2023 and all that

it may bring.


FROM COMMERCIAL TO PEDIGREE,

SIMMENTAL

ADDING VALUE

TO A TRADITIONAL

SUCKLER ENTERPRISE

The Review features Andrew and James Barnes, Hall Farm, Little

Lawford, Rugby, Warwickshire, whose aim with their commercially run

pedigree herd is to breed the ‘ideal Simmentals’, homozygous polled

with good mobility and temperament, with milk and easy calving, and

with the carcase qualities to meet bull finishing targets.

Suckler beef and sheep have been integral to

Andrew and James Barnes’ mixed farming

strategy for over 25 years, and they appear future

fit. “Our livestock are helping to maintain soil health

and graze permanent pasture and river meadows in

the Mid-Tier scheme, along with five-year grass leys

we introduce to the arable rotation.”

Simmental came to the fore when the brothers

decided to take control of their herd and also add

value to the business; in 2018 they planned to invest in

the breed and start to slowly grade up the commercial

suckler herd. “Finding fertile suckler replacements was

proving such a challenge we decided to breed our

own,” Andrew explains. “We’d had experience farming


FARM FACTS

Hall Farm,

Rugby, Warks

• 324ha (800 acres)

• 150-cow pedigree

Simmental herd and

followers

• 620 ewes

Highcross herd

KPIs

• 24 months age are

first calving

• 100% heifer scan

• 700kg mature cow

weight

• 98% calves reared

various Continental beef breeds – we used

to sell store or finished. However, we did like

our Simmentals; they were milky, fertile, have

tremendous growth and a quiet temperament.

They did a really good job for us.

Heifers for breeding purposes are selected on

various criteria including dam’s milkiness, calving,

feet and legs and temperament.

“When you are choosing a breed, then I think

it’s important to have cattle you enjoy working

with. For us, Simmentals tick all the boxes and

as a family farm, we are happy to have our

children around the herd which is important to

us. We also want to still be alive at the end of

the calving season.”

The Barnes had scheduled to initially buy

in pedigree Simmental heifers, that was

until Thame Farmers Mart gave them the

heads-up that John Rixon was planning to

disperse his well regarded Lopemede herd,

which happened to be running in a relatively

low input system similar to their own. “The

opportunity was pure luck,” he says. The

Highcross prefix was registered and the rest is

history.

“We continue to run the pedigree herd on a

pure commercial basis and are finding it is

thriving in a forage led system with paddock

grazing and aftermaths, extending from

immediately after calving in February/March

to November. Breeding animals are reared

on a silage based TMR, while bulls destined

for slaughter are grown on a more intensive

diet, to finish at 12 to 14 months at an average

400kg to 420kg deadweight and within spec

– R+ and U+.

“They are tested for polled status before

calving, while breeding bulls are selected

according to potential. We have already

traded a number of bulls to commercial

producers and pedigree herds, selling into

pedigree herds is the icing on the cake,”

says Andrew.

The Barnes are firm believers in calving

at 24 months. “The heifers are sufficiently

mature and fertile to serve from 14 months.

In May 2022 we bulled 40 heifers achieving

100% conception rate and they are all

due to calve within a 55-day window.

The heifers are going on to mature at

approximately 700kg to 720kg, and we are

optimistic that they will last for eight crops

of calves.”


TOWARDS A 100% POLLED

SIMMENTAL HIGHCROSS HERD

Polling Note

Polling is a genetic mutation. The poll

allele (P) is dominant and the horned allele

(p) recessive.

Every parent has a pair of alleles at each

gene, and they pass on one of these alleles

to their offspring. A calf will receive one

allele (P or p) from the sire and one allele

(P or p) from the dam.

• Two polled alleles = homozygous

polled (PP)

• One polled, one horned =

heterozygous polled (Pp)

• Two horned alleles = homozygous

horned (pp)

James & Andrew Barnes with a

young Highcross polled bull.

The Barnes brothers rate dehorning as one of the worst jobs working with cattle. “Even

after adopting the most stringent welfare practices, it’s stressful for both the calf and

the operator. The calf doesn’t know what’s happening, becomes stressed and kicks

which I strongly believe affects its future handling and possibly its temperament.

Dehorning is also time consuming,” Andrew comments.

Animals which are visually horned must

have two copies of the horned gene (pp),

however visually polled animals maybe

heterozygous - they may carry one horned

gene and one poll gene, (Pp).

Only DNA testing can accurately

distinguish which genes each animal

carries.

The objective for their Highcross herd of pedigree Simmentals is to breed a herd that

is 100% homozygous (PP) for the polling gene, without sacrificing the breed’s noted

maternal traits, growth or shape. And despite facing challenges, within five short years

of the programme’s launch, between 50% to 60% of the youngstock born in 2022 have

been confirmed homozygous polled PP. “We are thrilled with progress to date,” he says.

“We’re fortunate we’ve had a head start. Lopemede was one of the UK’s first and

largest polled Simmental herds which had been developed over 20 years and slowly

progressed by sourcing polled genetics largely from Denmark. When we purchased the

herd, this was a new concept to us. Nowadays breeding polled cattle is like switching a

light on in a dark room.”


After a calf is born,

and its sire or dam

have already been tested PP,

then all we have to do is put the

ear tag in, jot down its sex and

weight. We are saving at least

10 minutes per calf, as well as

the stress,” he explains.

Unsurprisingly, I haven’t met

anyone else using a homozygous

polled bull who would go back to

horned and nor would we.”

Progressing the Highcross breeding programme

has proved to be a demanding journey for the

Barnes. “Sourcing outcross homozygous stock

bulls in the UK is very difficult. In fact, only a

handful of PP tested bulls have been offered at

the breed society’s official sales in the last three

years, consequently the majority of the bulls we

use are sourced from Denmark where breeders

are amongst the most internationally advanced

when it comes to breeding homozygous PP

cattle with quality conformation, milk and

calving ease.”

“The Danish sires introduced to Highcross

include Egebjerggards Pesto PP and Rosas

Munk PP together with Jaegergard Leopold PP,

Vingegaard Lucas Pp, Rosas Munk PP, Rosas

Loftus PP, Langmose Ricci PP, Bakkely Pedro PP,

Svend PP, and Nygard Ras Pp.”

Apart from the Danish bulls, all other sires used

in the Highcross herd are DNA tested to ensure

they have the correct combination of poll genes.

The Barnes also test every animal pre-sale – at

the farm gate or in the ring as well as every

heifer pre-calving, for polled status and sire

verification. “If for example a bull’s parentage

is heterozygous polled Pp, then we are very

mindful to inform farmers of the theoretical

chances of how many horned calves he could

throw.”

He adds: “Having achieved the level of success

we have to date with the herd’s next generation,

then we believe we are well on the road towards

fulfilling our objective to breeding that ideal

Simmental - homozygous polled PP with good

mobility and temperament, combined with

those essential maternal traits – milk, easy

calving along with growth, shape and carcase

quality meeting our bull finishing targets 390kg

to 410kg within 12 to 14 months.”


SALES

BSCS SHOW, SALE,

& EVENT DATES 2023

Please see here a list of provisional BSCS sale, show, and general event dates for 2023. As always, these dates

are correct at the time of publication but in instances may be subject to change. Where any dates are changed,

updates will be notified to members through email, social media, and the Society’s website.

FEBRUARY

Stirling Bull Sales, United Auctions

MARCH

Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone

Dungannon Sale, Bulls & Females

Melton Mowbray Multi Breed Sale

APRIL

BSCS Worcester Sale

MAY

Stirling Multi Breed Sale

Royal Ulster (Balmoral) Show, Belfast

Carlisle Sale (Multi Breed), H & H

JUNE

Open Day, Mixbury Hall herd of Mr V Bailey,

Brackley, Northants

Scottish Beef Event, Dalswinton Estate

Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge

Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, Edinburgh


(within Royal Norfolk Show)

JULY

Open Day at Mansons of Brodieshill Farm,

Alves, Moray

Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate

Royal Welsh, Llanelwedd

Northern Ireland National Simmental Show

(within Antrim Show)

AUGUST

20 th

1 st

24 th

25 th

29 th

1 st

TBC

7 th

8 th

22 nd

10 th - 13 th

12 th - 13 th

8 th - 10 th

22 nd - 25 th

28 th - 29 th

11 th - 14 th

24 th - 27 th

Scottish Simmental National Show (within

Dumfries Show)

Welsh National Simmental Show, (within

Pembrokeshire Show)

Farm Walk/Open Day, Dewisland Herd of Mark &

Emma Evans, Haverfordwest, Pembs

OCTOBER

Cornwall Pedigree Calf Show, Wadebridge

Stirling Bull Sales, United Auctions

NW & BSCS Pedigree Calf Show within Borderway

Agri Expo, Carlisle

NOVEMBER

Stars of the Future, Stirling

English Winter Fair, Staffordshire

Live Scot (Scottish Winter Fair), Lanark

Northern Ireland Club Calf Show, Dungannon

Welsh Winter Fair, Llanelwedd

DECEMBER

BSCS Next Generation Sale III, H&H, Carlisle

Welsh Pedigree Calf Show, Carmarthen Livestock

Market

5 th

16 th - 17 th

18 th (TBC)

21 st (TBC)

22 nd - 24 th

27 th

11 th

18 th - 19 th

24 th - 25 th

25 th

27 th - 28 th

1 st

9 th


SALES

SALE

REPORTS

2022


SALES

Stirling February

Denizes Lancelot 30,000gns.

30,000GNS DENIZES LANCELOT LEADS

RECORD BREAKING SIMMENTAL SALE

AT STIRLING

89 bulls sell,

up by 25

on the year, and with a

clearance rate of 86%

30,000gns

is the second top price for

a Simmental bull sold at

auction in the UK

Sale average sets a

new breed

record of £6,835

up by £353

86

Eight bulls made

over 10,000gns,

with 25 in all making

7,000gns or more.

Orkney buyers purchase ten bulls

Brandane leads the

females at 6000gns


Stirling February

SALES

The May 2020 born Denizes Lancelot from Lancashire breeders

MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes Walton Lane, Leyland,

sold for 30,000gns, to lead an electric Simmental bull trade at

United Auction’s Stirling Agricultural Centre on Monday 21 st February.

Under the gavel of auctioneer Raymond Kennedy, some fierce

bidding saw the bull race to 30,000gns before being knocked

down to Richard McCulloch for his noted 160 cow Overhill House

Simmental herd at Armadale, West Lothian. Commenting on Denizes

Lancelot after the sale Richard McCulloch said: “Very much a modern

Simmental, Lancelot is a tight, clean bull with a great top and plates,

and the pedigree and figures to match. Just full of style with a

beautiful head, and the red colour I was looking for, I think he’s an

all-round breeders bull and he continually caught my eye as I went

through the bulls in the lines.” Speaking of the 30,000gns price,

the second highest paid for a Simmental at auction in the UK, Mr

McCulloch went on to say: “There was a lot of competition for the

bull and as a breeder I think this is the level of investment that you

have to pay to secure a breeders bull of this quality.” Later in the sale

Richard McCulloch also purchased the September 2020 born Corskie

Lambe for 5,550gns from Mr WJ & J Green.

Prolific sellers at the Stirling Simmental sales, the Barlow’s 30,000gns

sale of Denizes Lancelot smashed the 70-cow herd’s previous top

price at sale of 17,000gns. Commenting after the sale a ‘buzzing’

John Barlow said: “It’s been a great sale for the Simmental breed.

We’re delighted to sell Denizes Lancelot to a top breeder and very

much hope that he goes on to do well at Overhill House. As a herd

our primary aim is to produce first quality Simmental bulls for the

commercial producer. In type we’re trying to breed bulls with no

extremes that are long, clean through the front with no middle, have

a good top line and plates, and with good locomotion. Within that

aim, to sell bulls to breeders is a real bonus on top.”

Ranfurly Limelight 16,000gns.

Wolfstar Loose Cannon 13,000gns.

Denizes Lancelot, who stood second in his class, is one of the first

bulls offered at Stirling by the homebred sire Denizes Impeccable 17.

He is out of Denizes Hannadante 9 th , at 13 years old one of the oldest

cows in the herd who has previously bred bulls to 15,000gns and

who is back in calf to Denizes Hamish. On the day, the Denizes herd

sold four bulls to 30,000gns; 10,000gns (Intermediate Champion);

9,500gns; and 4,000gns respectively.

With a bit of fizz and pop in the trade, as commercial buyers

competed with pedigree breeders, the sale saw 89 bulls sell in all, up

by 25 on the year and to a new Simmental breed record sale average

of £6,835, which was up by £353 on the previous year. The strong

demand saw an 86% clearance rate of the 103 bulls forward. Trends

in the sale saw ten bulls in all sell to Orkney buyers, and with seven

bulls heading to England and Wales. Speaking after the sale, the

then British Simmental President Stewart Stronach said: “There was

a tremendous atmosphere in and around the Simmental sale which

underpinned the day and realised a record breed average with a

tremendous clearance rate. We’re seeing consistently strong sales

for the breed and I think commercial producers are really looking for

the double-barrelled advantages of the Simmentals. The modern

Simmental maintains its renowned maternal qualities and crossing

ability with any breed. If you add into that the tremendous growth

rates in progeny, and number one age at slaughter capabilities,

I think there’s real recognition of Simmentals efficiency and

profitability in the industry.”

Northern Irish bulls were to the fore throughout the sale, and the

second top price of the day was the 16,000gns Ranfurly Limelight

Wolfstar Las Vegas 12,500gns.

Islavale London 12,000gns.


SALES

Stirling February

from the 20-cow herd of WD and J Hazelton, Cohannon House,

Dungannon. This much-admired July 2020 bull is an Auchorachan

ACDC son out of the noted cow Raceview Goldie Dreamer, who was

yearling Champion at Roscommon in 2016 before being purchased

for 9,000 Euros, and then NI Female of the Year in 2017. In the

pre-sale show, Ranfurly Limelight had been placed as Reserve

Intermediate Champion by the judge Andrew Clarke of the noted

Breaghey herd, Tynan, Co Armagh. Purchasing this bull was E&M

Fairhurst, Bankend Farm, Austwick, By Lancaster, for their newly

establishing Fairhurst pedigree herd. Commenting Mr Fairhurst

said: “This bull just had a bit of everything for me. I like the breeding

on both sides of the pedigree and the bull in himself has a lot of

style and presence and is very correct.” For the Ranfurly herd, the

16,000gns marked their top price at sale for a pedigree bull to date

and eclipsing their previous mark of 15,000gns.

Having a track record of the top two prices at this corresponding

fixture in 2020, the Wolfstar herd of Mr A King, Wolfstar, Ormiston,

East Lothian, again produced another impressive double when

selling bulls to 13,000gns and 12,500gns. Leading the way at

13,000gns was the April 2020 born Wolfstar Loose Cannon who had

stood second in the third class of the day. By Team Celtic 11 and out

of Wolfstar Ellie, this bull is a full brother to the 18,000gns Wolfstar

Jackaroo, the Champion and top price at the aforementioned 2020

Stirling Sale. This bull was purchased by JC MacIver for his Coltfield

pedigree herd at Wester Coldfield, Forres, Moray. Coming to the

sale, Mr McIver had seen the Wolfstar bull on Facebook and had also

looked at his pedigree and performance figures. “We were looking

for a bull that was long, clean, and with good conformation. The

breeding of the bull was important and we know previous Wolfstar

bulls have gone on to breed well. We have just over 20 pedigree

cows at present and are looking to increase that to around forty. The

aim is to use Wolfstar Loose Cannon from May and we think he’s a

bull that will complement our females.”

Ballinalare Farm Legacy 10,000gns.

Islavale Lockdown 10,000gns.

From the same class, and selling one lot before, was Wolfstar Las

Vegas who made 12,500gns when selling to commercial producer

JH Logan & Co, Dalfask Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire. A well-fleshed dark

red bull, Las Vegas is by Islavale Guy and is out of the Team Celtic

daughter Wolfstar Gladrags. Running some 250 cows the Logans

selected the Wolfstar bull for his length and shape and with the

Islavale and Team Celtic breeding on either side of his pedigree.

The prolific Islavale herd of WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange,

Keith had another strong day’s trading with their team of seven bulls

grossing £56,100 and to average a mighty £8,014. Having won

the Supreme Championship some eight times in previous pre-sale

shows, Islavale pulled off a herd ‘first’ when on this occasion they

won both the Senior Championship and Reserve Senior and with

both being by Corskie Highlander who is classified EX92. Lifting the

Senior title and taking the herd's top price on the day of 12,000gns

was the March 2020 born Islavale London. This big upstanding bull,

with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +8 is out of the growthy cow Islavale

Benita VG 88. Buying the Senior Champion were Reece & Andrew

Simmers for their 50-cow Backmuir pedigree herd at Backmuir

Farm, Keith, Banffshire. In addition to the pedigree Simmentals, the

Simmers run a large-scale cattle enterprise featuring some 600 cows

in all and heavily influenced by Simmental genetics.

The Reserve Senior Champion, who stood second in his class to

the section Champion was Islavale Leonardo. Again March 2020

born, this bull is out of Islavale Mistress who is classified VG 89.

Denizes Lord 9,500gns.

Kilbride Farm Lucky Strike 9,000gns.


Stirling February

SALES

Purchasing this bull at 9,000gns was the commercial producer C&G

Thomson, Wester Tulloch, Midmar, Aberdeenshire. Mr Thomson had

not seen the bull before Stirling but was impressed with him at first

sight describing him as a long, clean bull and ‘just perfect’ for their

commercial cows. Previously Mr Thomson has purchased Islavale

Kacy from the Stronachs for 11,500gns at an October Stirling Sale.

Continuing the run of prices from the Islavale herd, the May 2020

born Islavale Lockdown sold for the five-figure price of 10,000gns.

This calf is by the herd sire Shacon Hannibal and is out of Islavale

Teresa 16 (ET) EX 94. Shacon Hannibal is also the sire of the

8,000gns Islavale Lullaby who was the Champion Female at the

Society’s successful Next Generation Sale in Carlisle in December

2021. Purchasing this calf was AJ Bulmer for his quickly establishing

Habton pedigree herd at Coultas Farm, Great Habton, Malton,

North Yorks. In what was only his second trip to Stirling, Mr Bulmer

was ‘thrilled’ and very impressed with his purchase describing him

as ‘really stylish, solid straight through, with plenty of width and

backend’. The aim from here is to use the bull from May and across

both pedigree and commercial cows.

First in class four was Ballinalare Farm Legacy from Mr J & Mr A

Wilson, Dorans Hill, Newry, Northern Ireland. May 2020 born,

this calf is by Kilbride Farm Bantry and is out of the Auchorachan

Wizard daughter Ballinalare Farm Evita who is a full sister to the

noted AI sire Ballinalare Farm Galaxy. Buying this bull at 10,000gns

was R&N Barclay, Harestone, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Commenting,

Mr Barclay said: “We had seen a video on Facebook and had been

very impressed by the class of this bull and the power behind him,

attributes which were confirmed when we saw him. Ballinalare Farm

Legacy will join the herd as a junior stock bull and will begin working

in the middle of May.” The Barclays run a noted herd of some 280

cross cows.

By the same sire as the day’s top price, the Intermediate Champion

Denizes Logic from the Barlows sold for 10,000gns. Combining

breeding and performance, this July 2020 born bull is by Denizes

Impeccable and is out of Raceview Fenella Beauty who is from the

highly noted Matilda cow family. Featuring good calving figures,

this bull was bought by Strathisla Farms, Strathisla, Moolies, Meigle,

Blairgowrie, which runs the pedigree Strathisla herd of 60 cows

along with 150 suckler cows. Commenting, Adrian Ivory said: “I liked

this bull's length and soft fleshing, and he’s from a female line that’s

bred consistently well and through many generations. I look for a

combination of colour, figures, breeding, locomotion and looks, and

this bull ticks a lot of those boxes.”

Continuing their run of prices, the June 2020 born Denizes Lord

made 9,500gns and was another bull to go to Orkney when selling

to JI & WN Stout, Whitehall, Stronsay. This calf, is by the increasingly

prolific Denizes Hamish, whose first ten calves sold, prior to the sale,

have averaged 5,500gns. Combining shape, pedigree, and figures,

Denizes Lord is in the breed’s top 5% for calving ease. Lord is out of

the Ashland Tornado daughter Denizes Melody 11 th .

A strong team of five bulls forward from WH Robson & Sons, Kilbride

Farm, Doagh, Ballyclare, saw a top price of 9,000gns and with the

five in all grossing £35,904 to average £7,181. Leading the way was

the August 2020 born homozygous polled bull Kilbride Farm Lucky

Strike PP. This calf by Kilbride Farm Gruffalo (P), placed first in his

class in the 2021 Virtual Simmental Show. His dam Kilbride Farm Iris

22JP is noted as breeding well in the herd and with his grand dam

Kilbride Farm Iris 17F having been voted third best Simmental cow in

Europe in 2020. This bull sold north to Caithness and to the Ackergill

pedigree herd of W&J Coghill, Ackergill Mains, Wick. Commenting

Mr Coghill said: “We are delighted to get this bull. We had seen

him online prior to the sale and were very interested in him as he

is homozygous polled and this is a route we want to go down with

the herd." The Robsons sold further bulls at 8,500gns; 6,200gns;

6,000gns; and 5,500gns respectively.

The pre-sale Supreme Champion came in the shape of the winner of

Class 10, and also the Junior Champion, Ballymoney Leonard from

Mrs MH Kilpatrick, Banbridge, Northern Ireland. September 2020

born, this bull is by Saltire Impressive 17 and is out of Ballymoney

Orla from the noted Ballinalare Farm Beauty line. Ballymoney

Leonard sold for 7,800gns to the noted commercial producer JM

McIntosh, Genoch Mains, Dunragit, Stranraer.

Islavale Leonardo 9,000gns.

Corskie Leopard 8,500gns.

Kilbride Farm Lord of the Ring 20 8,500gns.


SALES

Stirling February / Aberdeen March

In the small show of females, the Overall Champion came in the

shape of the very stylish April 2020 born heifer Brandane Laura from

Mr J McMillan, Wagon Lodge, East Church, St Kenninghall. Full of

breeding, this heifer is by Atlow Dixon and is out of Sterling Bacardi’s

Funky and described as one of the best female lines from the noted

Sterling herd dispersal sale in 2017. Buying the female Champion at

6, 000gns was PA&SM Cade for their Cade pedigree herd at Paddock

Farm, Buckden, East Anglia.

AVERAGES:

89 Bulls (+25) £6,835 (+£353)

13 Females £2,423

OTHER LEADING PRICES:

8,500gns Lot 467 Corskie Leopold, sold to A H Smith

8,500gns Lot 499 Kilbride Farm Lord of the Ring, sold to Lour Farms

8,500gns Lot 507 Auchorachan Longshot, sold to W Dunlop & Son

8,500gns Lot 510 Braidwood Luke, sold to Garvald Mains Farm

8,200gns Lot 490 Pitmudie Lancelot, sold to G A & H M Francis

8,000gns Lot 504 Corrick Logic, sold to C & M Bruce

8,000gns Lot 531 Broombrae Loon, sold to M M & A Campbell

7,800gns Lot 535 Ballymoney Leonard, sold to Genoch Mains Farms

7,500gns Lot 449 Popes Lucifer, sold to C & G Thomson

7,500gns Lot 454 Rockytop Lacoste, sold to H MacDonald

7,500gns Lot 479 Lagavaich Lewie, sold to A & B Kerr

7,500gns Lot 554 Islavale Libra, sold to D Hodgson

Auchorachan Longshot 8,500gns.

Pitmudie Lancelot 8,200gns.

8000GNS ISLAVALE LOKI LEADS ABERDEEN

SIMMENTAL SPRING SALE

Islavale Loki, from Mr WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith made

8,000gns to lead the Society’s Aberdeen Sale held within the Royal

Northern Agricultural Society’s Spring Show & Sale at Thainstone

on, Wednesday 2 nd March.

March 2020 born, Islavale Loki is by Corskie Highlander 16 EX 92, and

out of Islavale Fashion EX92, a Curaheen Bandit Daughter. Earlier

he had been placed as Champion Simmental in the pre-sale show

judged by the well-known Liam Muir, Stenness, Orkney. Purchasing

the day’s top price Simmental was commercial producer R&E

Chapman, West Cockmuir, Strichen Fraserburgh.

Placing as the Reserve Champion was Backmuir Lewis who went

on to make the second top price of 7,800gns for breeders Reece &

Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire. Buying this bull

was W&V Leith, North Crannoch, Crossroads, Keith. March 2020

born, Backmuir Lewis is by Islavale Imperial 17, and is out of the Team

Celtic daughter Wolfstar Islay.

Selling at 6,500gns was Corskie Lomax from WJ&J Green, Corskie,

Garmouth, Fochabers. This April 2020 born bull, with a +8 figure for

Maternal Milk, is by Drumagarner Hughes and out of Corskie Helissa

VG85. Buying this bull was WJ Fraser & Son, Auchnarrow, Glenlivet,

Ballandalloch. At 6,000gns was Pitmudie Lonestar from Heather

Islavale Loki 8,000gns.

Duff, Pitmudie Farm, Brechin, Angus. Lonestar is by Hiltonstown

Irish, and is out of Pitmudie Freesia. Another April 2020 born bull,

Pitmudie Lonestar was purchased by AJ Blackhall, Tarland, Aboyne.

In all, nine of the thirteen Simmental bulls forward sold and to

average £5,471.


Dungannon / Melton Mowbray March

SALES

LISGLASS BULL SELLS TO 3,500GNS AT

DUNGANNON SIMMENTAL SALE

Simmental bulls sold to a top of 3,500gns at the British

Simmental Cattle Society’s show and sale, held at Dungannon

Farmers’ Mart on Friday 25 th March.

Sale leader was the first prize winning Lisglass Leo TSI+77 SRI+90,

bred by the father and son team of Leslie and Christopher

Weatherup, Ballyclare. Sired by Islavale Frontier, his dam is the homebred

Liglass Iona – one of 35 cows in the herd. This eighteen-monthold

bull is no stranger to success, having won the Reserve Senior

Championship at the inaugural Four Breeds Calf Show at Dungannon

in November last year. Ranked in the breed’s top five per cent for eye

muscle area at +5.5, he sold to JA Humphrey from Coleraine.

The second highest price of the day of 3,000gns was paid to Cecil

McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, for the Male

Champion Corrick Laird TSI+77 SRI+81. Sired by Seafort Gill, this

nineteen-month-old bull is the first calf bred from the Omorga

Tarbuck daughter Corrick Jenny. He sold to B McDermott from

Fintona, County Tyrone. Founded over 40 years ago, the Corrick

herd comprises of 20 pedigree cows. The McIlwaine’s have sold

Seafort Gill sons to a top of 8,000gns, with three averaging £5,250

per head at Stirling and Dungannon.

Female trade peaked at 2,600gns, paid to William Nelson, and son

George, Rosslea, for the September 2020 born Drumacritten Lily. She

caught the judge’s eye to claim the Female Championship plaudits.

Sired by the 14,000gns Saltire Impressive, this heifer is bred from

the Raceview King daughter Drumacritten Wanda EX91 – one of ten

cows in the County Fermanagh-based herd. Buyer was Ian Magill

from Millisle who has recently established the Ballyrolly Herd.

Lisglass Leo 3,500gns.

Coolcran Lambrini 2,500gns.

Averages:

6 bulls £3,045

6 heifers £1,601

Corrick Laird 3,000gns.

CADE MAVERICK SELLS FOR

5,200GNS AT MELTON MOWBRAY

The January 2021 born Simmental bull Cade Maverick from

PA&SM Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden, East Anglia, sold for

5,200gns when being the first bull in the ring at the Melton

Mowbray Multi Breed Sale held on Saturday 26 th March at Melton

Mowbray Livestock Market.

Cade Maverick is the first calf to be offered for sale from the herd’s

stock bull Sacombe Jameson, and is out of Heathbrow Ingrid, a

Celtic Comet daughter. With a little show track record behind him,

Cade Maverick had placed as the South East Simmental Club Junior

& Reserve Overall Champion at the Melton Mowbray Calf Show in

November 2021. Purchasing the bull was Messrs Clouds.

This is the second year in a row that the Cade herd, which comprises

of 26 breeding females, has topped this fledgling sale with Cade

Kolossal taking the lead Simmental price at last year’s event.

Cade Maverick 5,200gns.


SALES

Stirling May

8,800GNS ISLAVALE LUXOR LEADS

NEW RECORD STIRLING SIMMENTAL

MAY SALE AVERAGE

Stirling Simmental May

Sale Average

of £5,632

up by £287

25 bulls sell,

up by 4 on the

year, with an 81%

clearance

81

13 bulls make

5,000gns

and over

The strong commercial demand for pedigree Simmental bulls

continued at the Stirling Simmental Sale on Monday 2 nd May

at United Auctions Stirling Agricultural Centre, with a record

average for the May fixture of £5,632, up by £287, for the 25 bulls

sold. The new mark eclipsed last year’s figure which was also a

Simmental record average for the May Sale.

Topping the sale at 8,800gns was the September 2020 born Islavale

Luxor from WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith. This bull, a

heifer’s calf by Curaheen Bandit, and out of Islavale Candy 4 VG 86,

was purchased by Messrs Farquharson & Son, Deuchar Farm, Forfar,

Angus, for use in their 50-cow commercial herd. Commenting Clark

Farquharson said: “In visiting the Islavale herd the quality of the

females and the breeding behind this bull was very impressive. We

like the Simmentals for their milkiness and quiet temperament and in

purchasing this bull we very much hope it’s an investment in taking

the females in the herd to that next level.” For the prolific Islavale

herd it was another great day’s trading with further Islavale bulls

selling for 8,500gns, 7,800gns x 2, and 6,000gns to an average of

£8,139 for the five sold.

Following at 8,500gns was Islavale Luther 20 who had stood second

in his class to the day’s pre-sale Supreme Champion judged by

Jonathan Gunn of the noted Mavsey herd at Lybster, Caithness. The

September born Islavale Luther, a twin to a male, is by the AI sire

Dermotstown Delboy and is out Islavale Hope, a Wolfstar Elusive

daughter. With both sire and dam classified to EX92 and EX91

respectively, Luther is from a maternal breeding line and with a

Maternal (Milk) figure of +8. Purchasing this bull was Delfur Farms,

who run the Delfur pedigree herd at Rothes, Aberlour. Speaking

after the sale, Gary Patterson, the Farm Manager at Delfur Farms

said: “Islavale Luther was just an eye-catching bull, very correct, and

with good width. He has a depth of good breeding behind him, and

I think has all the potential to be a quality female breeder.” Delfur

Farms presently has 140 head of cows and the majority of which are

pedigree. The aim from here is to introduce Islavale Luther as the

junior stock sire and with him being put to a ‘good number’ of the

pure cows.

The Stirling Simmental trade continued the run of breed sales

that has seen a commercial and pedigree demand produce both

increased averages and clearance rates. Commenting after the sale,

Iain Kerr, the Society’s General Manager said: “With an increasing

industry cost base, commercial producers are looking for all-round

efficiency. The benchmark of the Simmental breed is milky fertile,

Islavale Luxor 8,800gns.

Islavale Luther 8,500gns.

Overhill House Marley 7,800gns.


Stirling May

SALES

easy calving females. Add that to fast growing Simmental sired

progeny and being the leading beef breed for age at slaughter, and

Simmentals are ticking a lot of boxes for the forward beef industry.”

As well as the increased breed average, the sale saw 25 of the 31

bulls forward sell to give an 81% clearance rate, and with 13 bulls in

all making 5,000gns and over.

Three bulls made 7,800gns. The first of these was another from the

Stronach team in the shape of the heifer’s calf Islavale Lionel 20.

September 2020 born, Islavale Lionel is by Ranfurly Confederate

C24 11 EX 94, and is out of Islavale Bramble 6 GP 82, a twin to a

female. Purchasing Islavale Lionel was Charles Barclay, Craigscorrie,

Beauly, Inverness-shire. A further bull at the 7,800gns mark was

Islavale Lazarus who stood second in his class to the Reserve Overall

Champion. November 2020 born this calf is by the herd’s prolific

sire Atlow Dixon 12 EX 91, who has previously had bulls at up to

15,000gns. From a milky female line, Islavale Lazarus 20 is out of

Islavale Girlie 5, and was snapped up by J Melville & Son, Ardwell

Farm, Girvan, Ayrshire.

Late in the sale was the January 2021 born calf Overhill House Marley

21 from Richard McCulloch, Armadale, West Lothian. A second prize

winner in the day’s last class, this bull also hit the 7,800gns price

when selling to regular Simmental buyer Liam Muir, Upper Onston,

Stenness, Stromness, Orkney. With a Maternal (Milk) figure of +7,

Overhill House Marley is by Islavale Heston and is out of Overhill

House Imogen, a Mohona Fletcher daughter. The previous lot in

the ring, Overhill House Mick 21, another Islavale Heston son, made

5,500gns when selling to T Brown, Scrainswood Farm, Alnham,

Alnwith.

Selling at 7,500gns was Grangewood Liberator from Mr & Mrs AS &

YA Leedham, Pickering, North Yorkshire. A bull with tremendous

width, the November 2020 born Liberator is by Ranfurly Impeccable

14 17 and is out of the Omorga Volvo daughter Grangewood

Tollie’s Hope. Grangewood Tollie’s Hope is a full sister to the

19,000gns Grangewood Baron, and is also the dam of the 7,000gns

Grangewood Keegan the top price and Overall Champion at

Worcester in 2021. Selling back to England, Grangewood Liberator

was bought by GW Woolhouse & Sons Ltd, Church Farm, Ravensfield,

Rotherham.

A good team of bulls from Mr WJ&J Green, Corskie, Garmouth,

Fochabers met with some solid prices and topping at 6,800gns

for Corskie Locke 20. Featuring both depth of pedigree and

performance, this September 2020 born bull is by Kilbride Farm

Haka and is out of Corskie Hannette whose breeding includes both

Greencap Ace and Bel Dhu Capercaillie. With strong growth figures

and a Maternal (Milk) figure of +12, this bull was sold to the Borders

and G Wealleans & Son, Greenlaw, Duns, Berwickshire. Also from the

Green team, Corskie Look Out 20 made 6,500gns and sold to North

Yorkshire and Andrew Blades, Home Farm, Appleton, Roebuck. A

third Corskie bull, Corskie Lunn 20 made 5,000gns on the day and

went to Mountquhanie Farms, By Cupar, Fife.

Selling pedigree Simmental bulls for the first time at Stirling was

Ryan Smith, Towiemore, Keith, who made a first-class debut

when realising 6,500gns for Redhill Lachie 20. A dark red bull, the

November 2020 Redhill Lachie was bought as a young calf at foot

and one of several purchases from the Redhill herd of Danny Leslie.

By Islavale Joker 18, and out of Redhill Jo-Jo, this calf was purchased

by WW Dunlop & Son, Commonside, Hawick.

Islavale Lionel 7,800gns.

Grangewood Liberator 7,500gns.

Corskie Locke 6,800gns.

Redhill Lachie 6,500gns.

At 6,000gns was the first prize winner and Reserve Overall

Champion, Islavale Lambourgini 20 from the Stronach team.

October 2020 born, Islavale Lambourgini is by the consistent

breeding Corskie Highlander 16 EX 92, who has bred calves up

to 15,000gns, and is out of Islavale Amanda 2 EX 93. Strong on

classification in the breeding, and from a milky female line, Islavale

Lambourgini was bought by John Meikle, Kirkton of Lundie, Dundee.


SALES

Worcester May

5,500GNS GRANGEWOOD LUCAS TOPS

WORCESTER SIMMENTAL SALE

17 bulls sell,

up 8 on the year,

to average £3,996

7 bulls sell at

4,000gns and

more

Popes herd lifts Champion &

Reserve in the bulls

Fole Dispersal

Sale tops at

3,200gns

Grangewood Lucas from Mr & Mrs AS&YA Leedham, Rowan

Farm, Lockton, Pickering, North Yorks sold for 5,500gns

to lead the British Simmental Cattle Society’s May Sale at

McCartneys Worcester Livestock Market on Saturday May 7 th .

Fully homebred, this November 2020 born bull is by Grangewood

Glenlivet and is out of Grangewood Faith’s Imelda, a Grangewood

Damascus daughter. Earlier in the day, Grangewood Lucas had stood

first in his class in the pre-sale show judged by Anthony Davies of

the Welston herd, Milton, Tenby Pembrokeshire. Purchasing the top

price bull, who was +7.8 for Calving Ease Direct putting him in the

top 1% for the breed, and +8 for Maternal (Milk), was Richard Bell

for the 300-cow Bowley Herd of CM Mercer, Bowley Court Farms,

Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster, Herefordshire, and who run up to

12 Simmental bulls.

Strong supporters of the Worcester Simmental Sale, this is the third

Worcester Sale in a row that the Leedham’s have topped the fixture

and following on from the 7000gns Grangewood Keegan in 2021,

and who was also sired by Grangewood Glenlivet. Following hard

on the heels of their top price was Grangewood Mastermind 21 who

made 5,000gns when selling to JW Fenten, Biggin Moor, Buxton.

This third prize bull, January 2021 born, is by the 8,500gns Ranfurly

Impeccable 14 17, and is out of Grangewood Polly 4 th , a Popes Laird

daughter. A good sale at Worcester for the Leedhams followed on

from the Stirling Simmental Sale in the previous week that saw them

sell Grangewood Liberator for 7,500gns.

Grangewood Lucas 5,500gns.

The Worcester Simmental Sale fixture saw a solid demand for bulls

with 17 out of the 21 forward selling to average £3,996. Seven bulls

sold at 4,000gns or more and including three at the 5,000gns mark.

Also selling at the 5,000gns mark was the September 2020 born

Wroxall Lost Property 20 from long standing Warwickshire based

Simmental breeders CH Evans & Son, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick.

With polled genetics on either side of the pedigree, this calf is by

Coose Gambler (P), and is out of Wroxall Hannah Patience, a Losning

Iver (P) daughter. Purchasing this bull was WS Turner & Sons, Stone

Acton Farm, Wall Under Haywood, Shropshire.

The third bull at the 5,000gns mark was Beanhill Leon 20 from Mr &

Mrs J&BE Kimber, Beanhill Farm, Chippenham, Wiltshire. A heifer's

calf, the October 2020 born Beanhill Leon is by the prolific AI sire

Ballinalare Farm Galaxy, and is out of the Tilbrook Earl sired Beanhill

Inca VG 86. With solid performance figures behind him, Beanhill

Leon arrived at Worcester with a show record as well, having been

Beanhill Leon 5,000gns.

the Simmental Senior Champion at the 2021 Borderway Agri Expo,

and Welsh Winter Fair respectively. With a combination of pedigree

and performance, this bull was snapped up by the Dewisland

pedigree herd of Mr & Mrs Mark Evans, Upper Harglodd, St Davids,

Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Later in the sale, Beanhill Landmark


Worcester May

SALES

carries a lot of style and with plenty of breed character. He’s well put

together and is a bull with a lot of potential.” Purchasing the day’s

Champion, who carried an impressive Maternal (Milk) figure of +11,

was Chase Farms (Gilmorton Ltd), The Chase, Gilmorton. Following

through from the same class to take the Overall Reserve was Popes

Maddox 21, who is also February 2021 born. This calf another

by Denizes Impressive 17 and out of Popes Diamonds Hesta, was

bought by RB Gough, The Gippols, Harley, Shropshire. The third bull

from the Popes team, Popes Mowgli, a Camus Harold son, also sold

for 3,800gns when going to Scotland after being purchased by Gavin

Dunbar, Firm of Hole O’ Clean Farm, Ardgaith Farmhouse, Perth.

Grangewood Mastermind 5,000gns.

The final bull at the 4,000gns mark was Killiworgie Lieutenant 20

from Cornish breeder Mr SA Gummow, Higher Killiworgie Farm,

Newquay. This November 2020 born calf, who featured strong

calving figures, is by Islavale Jerico 18 EX 93, and is out of the Dinton

Nautical daughter Killiworgie Eliza EX 90, a classified Golden Cow.

This bull was another to join the Bowley Herd of CM Mercer, Bowley

Court Farms, Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster, Herefordshire.

In the sale of females in the Society section, the top price was the

2,500gns paid for the polled heifer Cade Khloe (P) from PA&SM Cade,

Paddock Farm, Buckden, East Anglia. This first calving heifer is by the

Heathbrow Impulse 17 (P) a half brother to the noted show winning

bull Heathbrow Important, and is out of one of the herd’s foundation

cows Thursford Debs 10 th EX 90. This heifer was purchased by GD

Swerling & Sons, Upper Bottom House Farm, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks.

Lifting the Overall Female Championship in the pre-sale show was

young Daisy Jones, Blencathra, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex with

her stylish January 2021 born heifer Crouchvalley Mavis. This heifer

is by the AI sire Sterling Herkules and is the first calf out of Brideland

Kara. Making 2,150gns, Crouchvalley Mavis was another purchased

by the aforementioned GD Swerling & Sons. For Daisy Jones and her

five-breeding female Crouchvalley herd, it was a Championship win

in her first time showing and selling at a Society sale.

Storesmith Lister 4,800gns.

20, another Ballinalare Farm Galaxy son, sold for 3,000gns to M&B

Farms, Mulhampton Farm, Upton Bishop, Herefordshire.

Selling at 4,800gns was Storersmith Lister 20 from R&L Storer

Smith, Spath House, Ashbourne Road, Uttoxeter. A heifer's calf, and

September 2020 born, this bull is by Curaheen Bandit and out of the

Kilbride Farm Comber 11 daughter Storersmith Jumper. Purchasing

Storersmith Lister was AW Francis who runs the Furzedown pedigree

herd at Furzedown Farm, Okehampton, Devon. The very next lot

Storersmith Lex Luther 20, another Curaheen Bandit son, made

3,500gns in selling to DN Eynon, Gwern-Genny, Wormbridge,

Hereford.

A first-time vendor at this Worcester Simmental Sale fixture was

M/S JH & VG Wood who run the 130-cow Popes herd at Popes

Farm, Dutton, Preston, Lancashire. In a successful show and sale

debut, entries from the herd took both Champion and Reserve in

the pre-sale show of bulls. Lifting the Championship and selling at

4,200gns was the young February 2021 born Popes Marksman 21,

a Denizes Impressive 17 son and out of the first time calver Popes

Nellys Harmony. Commenting on his Champion the judge Anthony

Davies said: “This is just my type of young bull who is very modern,

The Worcester Simmental Sale also saw the Dispersal Sale of the Fole

herd of Joe & Rachel Ede, Stoneleys, Checkley, Stoke on Trent after

over 30 years of breeding. The high health herd offered cattle with

a depth of pedigree and performance behind them and met with

a solid demand. Leading the way at 3,200gns, and the top priced

female across the sale, was the noted polled in-calf heifer Fole Vivian

89. Sired by the homozygous polled Lopemede Hawaii 16 (PP), and

out of Fole Vivian 82, this quality heifer was bought by L Renshaw & I

Brassington for their Dovefields pedigree herd at Church Broughton,

Derbyshire. Also at 3200gns and from the same family was Fole

Vivian 88 (P). Another by Lopemede Hawaii 16 (PP), and out of Fole

Vivian 81, this in-calf heifer was snapped up by Daniel Warrington for

his Follane herd at Godley Farm, Fole Lane, Uttoxeter.

Selling at 2,900gns was Fole Vivian 82, the dam of the top price Fole

animal, and who was sold with her fourth calf at foot, the January

2022 born bull calf Fole Navigator 22, a Blackford Falcon son.

Another to go to a pedigree herd this strong outfit was bought by

Barry Harding for his Hallway herd at Cornerfields Farm, Denham,

Uxbridge, Bucks.

At 2,800gns was the polled Fole Nutwood Victoria 53 (P). January

2019 born and another by Lopemede Hawaii 16 (PP), this second

calver had calved again on 15 th April and was sold with her twin

Blackford Falcon bull calves at foot to the Tarsmill herd of GR

Greenow, Cilunow, Dinedor, Hereford.


SALES

Worcester May / Carlisle May

AVERAGES:

Society Sale

17 Bulls £3,996

6 Cows/Hfrs with calf at foot £2,012.50

6 Maiden Heifers £2,003.75

Fole Herd Dispersal

8 Cows/Hfrs with calf at foot £2,782.50

7 Heifers £2,250

3 Young Bulls £1,067.50

Auctioneers: McCartneys

Sponsors: Farmers Guardian (the Marts The Heart).

Fole Vivian 3200gns

CHESTERMANN BULLS AT 6,200GNS AND

6,000GNS, TAKE THE TOP PRICES AT

CARLISLE SIMMENTAL MAY SALE

5,000gns Tidkin

Cow and Calf leads

Tidkin & Jet Dispersal Sale

15 Tidkin

cows and calves see

strong

average

of £3,353

28 Simmental

lots in all

gross

£94,920

4 Bulls

average £5,565

Bulls from the Chestermann herd of N&N

Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm, Whithorn,

Newton Stewart, sold to 6,200gns,

and 6,000gns to lead a ready demand for

Simmental bulls and females at the Society’s

Sale at Carlisle on 14 th May. Sitting alongside

the Society’s Sale was the Dispersal Sale of

the Tidkin & Jet Simmental herds of Gerald &

Jessica Towers, Turners Arms Farm, Yearby,

Redcar, Cleveland and which saw a top price

of 5,000gns paid for a cow and calf, and

with fifteen cow and calf outfits averaging a

healthy £3,353.

Leading the way in the bulls was the

September 2020 born Chesterman

Leonardo. Entirely homebred, this bull is

by Chesterman Gibble 15 EX93, a daughter

of the herd’s noted Hirwaun Non, and is

out of Chestermann Empire Sage EX90, a

Sterling Empire daughter. Earlier in the day

Chestermann Leonardo had won the class of

Simmental bulls and Overall Championship

Chestermann Leonardo 20 6200gns.


Carlisle May

SALES

Judge Ian Wainwright with the May Carlisle Champion and Reserve from the Chestermann Herd.

in front of the judge and commercial producer Mr Ian Wainwright,

Todhall Farm, Cupar, Fife. Commenting on his Champion Mr

Wainwright said: “This is a very good commercial bull. He’s a well

grown, growthy, easy fleshing bull with plenty of length and good on

his legs.”

Purchasing the top price was IHG Warden, Skelfhill Farm, Hawick,

Roxburghshire who will be putting the bull to work on 30 Luing cows

to breed the increasingly popular Sim Luing.

With a nifty sale one-two, the Gwynnes also sold the day’s Reserve

Champion, Chestermann Lexus 20 for 6,000gns to Aucheneck

Estates, Killearn, Stirlingshire. Also September 2020 born, Lexus

20 is another by Chestermann Gibble EX93 and this time out of

Chestermann Empire Tracey 2 VG86. The 50 breeding female

Chestermann herd are regular consignors at Carlisle Simmental Sales

and have secured numerous Championships at this corresponding

fixture over the years with their first being back in 2006 with

Chestermann Siegfried.

Some quality pedigree Simmental females from the Tidkin and Jet

Herds met with a strong demand from a busy ringside and sold to a

top of 5,000gns for the 2017 born Tidkin Natalie’s Illusion, who was

sold with her third calf at foot, the Clonagh Lexus P sired heifer calf,

Tidkin Natalie. Tidkin Natalie’s Illusion is by Auroch Ace and out of

Hockenhull Natalie 39 th . After a visit to view the night before, the top

lot was purchased by Bruce Lambie for his Fallhills pedigree herd at

Fallhills Farm, Howgate, Penicuik, Midlothian.

Fifteen Tidkin cows and calves averaged £3,353, with further units

making 4,200gns, 4,000gns, and 3,600gns respectively with 10 lots

in all in the Dispersal making 3,000gns and more.

Selling at 4,200gns was the March 2019 born Tidkin Katherine who

was sold with her first calf at foot, the Clonagh Joker Poker sired

Tidkin Molly. Tidkin Katherine is by Clonagh Eclipse Truly and is out

of Tidkin Beyonce. Purchasing this unit, and with Tidkin Katherine

PD’d in calf to Clonagh Lexus (P), was DF & MG Littlefair for their

Crabshires herd at West Farm, Staindrop, Darlington.

Tidkin Natalie's Illusion & Heifer calf, Tidkin Natalie 5,000gns.

The April 2018 born Tidkin Jade made 4,000gns when selling with

her Clonagh Joker Poker bull calf at foot Tidkin Mascot 21. This

second calver, PD’d in-calf to Clonagh Lexus (P), is by Clonagh

Eclipse Truly, and is out of Tidkin Whisper. Buying this outfit was JA&E

Dinwoodie, Aucherbeck Farm, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.

The Tidkin and Jet herds had a heavy influence of stock bulls used in

the herd from the Clonagh herd of Garret Behan, Republic of Ireland.

One of these stock bulls, the 2019 born polled bull Clonagh Lexus

(P), made 4000gns when selling to the pedigree Eifed herd of Mr DW

Jones, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, Wales.

AVERAGES:

BSCS MAY SALE

4 Bulls £5,565

3 Heifers £1,820

TIDKIN & JET DISPERSAL SALE

1 Stock Bull £4,200

15 Cows/Hfrs with Calves at Foot £3,353

5 Heifers Served/In-calf £2,541


SALES

Stirling October


Stirling October

SALES

28,000GNS ISLAVALE MAGNUM FIRES

STIRLING SIMMENTAL BULL SALE TO

A NEW BREED RECORD AVERAGE OF

£7,559, UP £1,597 ON THE YEAR

New Simmental Breed

Record average of

£7,559 for 45 Bulls,

and up by £1,597 on

the year

Two Bulls over

20,000gns,

with 10 bulls over

10,000gns in all, and 29 at

5,000gns and above

Seven Islavale Bulls

Average

£13,500

Sale

grosses

£366,315 Springfield

Heifer tops

females at 6,000gns

The March 2021 born Islavale Magnum from WS Stronach,

Berryleys Farm, Keith, Banffshire sold for 28,000gns to fire the

Simmental bull trade to a new breed record sale average of

£7,559, up by a remarkable £1,597 on the year, at the breed’s October

Sale held at United Auctions Stirling on Tuesday 19 th October 2022.

With commercial producers competing fiercely with pedigree

breeders for the quality bulls on offer, two bulls made over

20,000gns with ten in all over the 10,000gns mark and twenty-nine

at 5,000gns and more. The total Simmental sale gross on the day

came to £366,315.

A tremendous team of Islavale bulls broke new ground for this

prolific Simmental herd with the 28,000gns topping their previous

sale best of 24,000gns and seven bulls in all selling to an incredible

average of £13,500. Five of the bulls broke the five-figure mark. The

sale leader, Islavale Magnum, is by the noted AI sire Team Celtic

and is the first calf at sale out of Islavale Harper who herself had

stood as the Senior Champion as a yearling heifer at Stars of the

Future in 2017. Combining a depth of pedigree with performance

figures showing +14 for Maternal (milk), this classy dark red bull was

purchased for the Delfur pedigree herd of Delfur Farms, Rothes,

Aberlour.

Islavale Magnum 28,000gns.

Commenting on behalf of Delfur Farms, which runs a 120-cow herd,

new herd manager Garry Patterson said: “This is a big investment for

the future, but we were looking for a bull that will put a serious stamp

on the herd and help us to take that next step. I thought Magnum

was a standout bull the minute I saw him, and with his breeding and

performance figures he’s just the full package. We wanted a bull

which will click with our females, breathe new life into the herd, and

to take that next step. We very much think and hope that Magnum’s

daughters will have the potential to do that and produce some first

quality bulls at the same time.”

The 28,000gns top price surpassed the Islavale herd’s previous top

sale mark of 24,000gns, and the average for the seven bulls sold

smashed the previous best for a herd that has been consistently at

Denizes Monty 20,000gns.


SALES

Stirling October

the top end of Simmental sales over a number of years. Speaking

after the sale, and commenting on the bulls they are breeding,

Stewart Stronach said: “We breed the type of Simmental bulls that

we like and what we think meet the needs of the market. Our aim is

to breed correct, big square bulls, good on their plates with plenty

of length, free flowing in their locomotion, and with character, style

and presence. Our main aim is breeding first quality Simmental bulls

for commercial producers and with sales to pedigree breeders a

real bonus on top. We’re really delighted with this trade and hope

and trust that the bulls sold go on to do well in their new herds.” In

addition to the 28,000gns top price, further Islavale bulls sold on

the day for 18,000gns; 13,000gns; 10,000gns x 2; 6,000gns; and

5,000gns.

Selling at 20,000gns was Denizes Monty from MA Barlow and Sons,

Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire. On the previous day this

January 2021 born bull placed first in his class, before moving

on to secure the Senior Championship and the Overall Supreme

Championship in the pre-sale show and in front of the judge Chris

Martindale who runs the noted Forsdale herd at Coedfa, Oswestry,

Shropshire. Commenting on his Champion Mr Martindale said: “What

a modern Simmental bull this is. He’s clean throughout, has a super

top line, has width shoulder to shoulder, and a back end to die for.

The breed is known for its maternal traits of milk, fertility, and calving

ease. A bull like this will retain those advantages and by adding

terminal traits just gives you something very modern that ticks all the

boxes for breeders and commercial beef producers.”

The Supreme Champion went to Northern Ireland when being

purchased by Mr HJW and JC Moore for their noted Omorga

pedigree herd at Beragh, Omagh, Co Tyrone and who said: “I’ve

seen this bull as a calf and through the summer and he’s just a very

modern Simmental. I feel he’s the whole package with the breeding

behind him, top figures, full of shape but with style and class. Monty

brings new breeding to the herd, and I’m delighted to have bought

him.”

For the Barlows the pre-sale show marked a first time Stirling

Supreme Championship for their Denizes herd that has previously

enjoyed a string of section wins and top prices at Stirling with their

highest sale price to date being the 30,000gns Denizes Lancelot in

February of this year. Denizes Monty is by the noted Denizes Hamish

who had previously sired bulls up to 9,500gns (with his first twelve

sons at Stirling averaging 7,500gns), and who is out of the herd’s

highly noted Auroch Eve. Monty is out of Denizes Trixi-Belle 6 th who

herself is the mother of Denizes Impressive, the sire of the sale’s

Reserve Supreme, Popes Matchmaker. Through the summer Denizes

Monty had stood as Junior Male and Reserve Male at the Royal

Highland Show, and he was sold with strong performance figures for

calving ease, gestation length, and Maternal (milk).

Speaking after the sale, British Simmental Cattle Society General

Manager Iain Kerr said: “It’s great to see a Simmental sale with an

average of over £7,500gns, a new record mark, and continuing

a series of strong sales and averages for the breed over this past

year. There were breeders buying bulls today, but the trade was

underpinned by commercial producers competing for the bulls of

their choice and willing to pay five figure prices. The Simmental is

a maternal mainstay of the UK suckler herd and the efficiency of

females in milk, fertility and easy calving, combined with growthy,

fast finishing progeny is just adding up for commercial producers.

We would have liked to have seen more bulls sold but there was a

strong demand for the quality lots of offer and we have to be mindful

Islavale Mint 18,000gns.

Delfur Maverick 16,000gns.

Corskie Mikah 11,000gns.

Coltfield Murray 11,000gns.


Stirling October

SALES

of the continued move to spring calving, and farmers taking time

to consider at present in a very cost-conscious moment for the

industry.” A further seven bulls were sold after the sale and up to

7,000gns.

Corskie Monarch 10,000gns.

Islavale Mojo 10,000gns.

Islavale Maximus 10,000gns.

Sway Monarch 8,500gns.

The Junior Champion came in the shape of Islavale Mint, who went

on to sell for 18,000gns to Crudie Farming Company, Crudie Farm,

Arbroath, who run the 45 cow Crudie pedigree herd alongside a

predominantly Simmental commercial herd of 120 cows, and with 30

Blue Greys. The April 2021 born Islavale Mint is by the noted herd sire

Corskie Highlander, who has previously had calves up to 15,000gns,

and is out of Islavale Amber 5 VG 86, an Islavale Echo daughter. With

an emphasis on ease of calving, milk, fertility and temperament,

the Simmental is the go-to breed for Crudie both commercially and

pedigree, and herd manager Kenny McKeague was delighted with

their purchase: “Islavale Mint is a very typical Simmental bull with

what we’re looking for to add to the herd. He has a tremendous top

line, is very square, has a good leg in every corner, and with a lot of

breed character in his head. He’ll go home for a period of isolation,

and we’ll aim to put him to some cows come March time.”

Immediately recouping a little of their outlay on the top price

purchase was Delfur Farms, Rothes, Aberlour when they made

16,000gns for Delfur Maverick the second prize bull in the third

class of the day. March 2021 born, Delfur Maverick is sired by the

10,000gns Woodhall Instinct 17, a previous Stirling Junior Champion,

and is out of the Auchorachan ACDC sired Delfur Denise, one of

the top and easiest calving lines in the herd. Again with a depth of

breeding, and strong figures including a +11 for Maternal (milk),

this bull was purchased in a two way split between the Fallhills

herd of Bruce Lambie, Fallhills Farm, Penicuik, and the Innerwick

herd of Mr and Mrs L Moffatt, Innerwick Farm, Dunbar, East Lothian.

Speaking after the sale Bruce Lambie said: “I am really delighted

to buy a share of this bull and he was my number one pick of the

sale. He ticked all the boxes for both Dorothy (Moffatt) and I being

a long clean bull with great shape and with good legs and feet. This

is the first time that I have purchased a bull with Dorothy. There’s a

family connection and the same high health status in the herds, and

Dorothy helped me get a start in the breed in 2013 when I purchased

my first two heifers from her”.

Another strong team of Simmental bulls came from the noted

Corskie herd of Mr WJ and J Green, Corskie, Fochabers, Garmouth,

who made 11,000gns; 10;000gns; 7,500gns; 6,500gns; and 5,500gns

respectively to gross £42,525 and at a cracking average of £8,505.

Leading the way was the 11,000gns Corskie Mikah who placed first

in the second class of the day. Arriving at Stirling with a strong show

record behind him, Corskie Mikah had placed Reserve Simmental

Junior Male Champion and Reserve Interbreed Beef Breeder

Champion at the Royal Highland Show in June and went onto be

Junior Male Champion and Reserve Overall Junior Champion at the

Scottish National Show, at the Black Isle. Sired by Kilbride Farm Haka

and out of the Dirnanean Bradley daughter Corskie Elissa VG 88, this

bull was purchased jointly by J Milne and Son, Oldwhat Mains, Turriff,

and David Ross and Fiona Shand, who run the Fortmartine herd at

New Deer, Turriff.

Also selling at 11,000gns was Coltfield Murry, from JC MacIver,

Wester Coltfield, Forres, Moray. Bred out of Coltfield Izzie G 79, who

goes back to Newbiemains Cocaine, he is sired by the 14,000gns

Rockytop Invader. The May 2021 born Murry, successfully shown

through the summer, was purchased for export by the well known

Garret Behan who runs the 65-cow Clonagh Simmental herd in


SALES

Stirling October

Popes Matchmaker 8,000gns.

The two further bulls at the 10,000gns price, both came from Islavale

team of the Stronach family. Islavale Mojo, a March-2021 born bull

was the first through the ring and was snapped up by Pitgaveny

Farms, Elgin, Morayshire, for their Pitgaveny herd. A previous

purchaser of Islavale genetics, Mojo again caught their eye after he

stood first in his class in the pre-sale show, and in front of Islavale

Magnum the day’s top price bull. Islavale Mojo is by Curaheen Giant,

who has bred Stirling champions in the past for Islavale, and is out of

the Popes Laird daughter Islavale Britney Ex 94. Islavale Mojo carried

a Maternal (milk) figure of +9. The Stronach’s other 10,000gns bull

was the blue ticket winner and April 2021-born Islavale Maximus. This

calf is a son of the popular Irish bred AI bull Dermotstown Delboy

E92 and is out of Islavale Chloe Ex 91, a daughter of the 15,000gns

Atlow Dixon Ex 91. With both muscle and milk, Islavale Maximus goes

to work with the high-end commercial herd of A and J Craig, Castle

Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, who are again repeat buyers from the

Islavale herd.

All the way from Hampshire, and in what was the herd’s first time

at Stirling was Mr and Mrs S and L Blomfield, Lymington, with their

February 2021 born bull Sway Monarch 21 (PP). This bull brought

something different to the sale with him being the only homozygous

polled bull in the catalogue and, despite being full homebred,

featured some Czechoslovakian and Canadian bloodlines in his

pedigree. By the homozygous polled Sway Kingsman 19 (PP), and

out of Sway Babycham (P), the long trip reaped its reward when Sway

Monarch made 8,500gns in selling to the Dargill pedigree herd of J C

McLaren and Partners, Knox House, Crieff, Perthshire.

Team MacGregor 8,000gns.

Portlaoise, Republic of Ireland. A long-time purchaser of British

Simmental bulls, going back to his purchase of the 8,500gns Banwy

T-Rex at Perth in November 2007, Mr Behan was delighted with his

new acquisition, and commented: “We focus on bulls with feminine

traits and showing and sales are a huge part to the herd’s success.

Throughout the years and in particular the last ten the herd has, we

think, achieved unrivalled success. In the past nine National Irish

finals the herd has claimed the overall title at six of them including

the champion and reserve in 2010”.

Three bulls were sold for 10,000gns, and with the first being another

from the Corskie team in the shape of Corskie Monarch, and who

had stood second in his class to the aforementioned Corskie Mikah.

Buying this bull was J Barclay and Son for their Whiteknowes herd at

Ardiecow Farm, Fordyce, Banff. Also sired by the 10,000gns Kilbride

Farm Haka, he is bred out of Corskie Highness VG 86, a daughter

of the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie, and one of the best and

most consistent cow families within the herd. Commenting on his

purchase, Mr Barclay said, “This is the first Corskie bull we have

purchased, and we were looking to bring some new bloodlines

into our stock. He looks a good strong bull, and I really liked his

back pedigree. Monarch will be working alongside our other four

Simmental bulls and over the 270 head suckler herd. Calving in the

spring and autumn, we keep around 50 heifers for replacements

to our mainly purebred Simmental suckler herd and sell the others

finished to Morrisons”.

The first of two bulls through the ring at 8,000gns was the presale

show Reserve Supreme and Intermediate Champion Popes

Matchmaker from the noted Popes herd of JH and VG Wood,

Popes Farm, Dutton, Lancashire which comprises of 60 cows and

followers with 80 to calf. Full of breeding, performance, and figures,

Popes Matchmaker is by Denizes Impressive who is out of Denizes

Trixi-Belle 6 th , the mother of the 20,000gns Supreme Champion

and the same breeding line as Popes Laird. Matchmaker’s dam

is the noted Popes Whispers Della whose dam line goes back to

Greenside Whisper. With a Maternal (milk) figure of +12, Matchmaker

is another bull who has had great success in the show ring this

season, being crowned Reserve Junior Interbreed Champion and the

Simmental Male and Junior Champion at the Great Yorkshire show

in July. Heading all the way to Cornwall, this bull was purchased by

Steve and Gill Gummow, to work in their well-known Killiworgie

Simmental herd in Newquay. Killiworgie Simmentals have bred

five figure bulls at Stirling, are prolific herd competition winners in

Cornwall and the South-West, and this year won the 2022 Simmental

Virtual Show competition.

Matching the 8,000gns price tag and snapped up by Snaigow

Farming, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, was the April 2021-born Team

MacGregor, a heterozygous polled bull by Lopemede Gregg and out

of Team Melody, a daughter of the 10,000gns Auchorachan Winger.

Team MacGregor, with strong figures for calving ease and a Maternal

(milk) figure of +9, was bred and exhibited by Mr R J Macgregor,

Perth, Perth and Kinross.

A small but high-quality offering of Simmental females averaged

£3,045 for the eight sold. Topping the lots at 6,000gns was the

stylish Springfield Minstrel from Gavin Brown, Penicuik, Midlothian.

A 15-month-old heifer out of Woodhall Cheeky and sired by Islavale

Jabba, Springfield Minstrel was purchased by JH and VG Wood,


Stirling October

SALES

Dutton, Lancashire, for their noted Popes herd. Commenting, Vikki

Wood said: “This is just a dark red heifer with a lot of class and the

type of female that we feel we could breed from for progeny aimed

at the Stirling market.”

The Woods went on to purchase four heifers in all from Gavin Brown,

with Springfield Melody and Springfield Meg, being knocked down

for 4,800gns and 4,000gns respectively, and Springfield Magic at

2,600gns. Melody, a July 2021 born lass, is by the same sire as her

6,000gns shed mate Minstrel, Islavale Jabba, but this time bred

out of Springfield Imogen, who goes back to the Irish-born Shiloh

Freedom. Springfield Meg, who has been running with Kilbride Farm

Landmark, is sired by Team Celtic and is out of Springfield Ivory,

who also goes back to Shiloh Freedom. In the pre-sale show of bulls

the Springfield herd had one red ticket and went on to sell bulls at

5,500gns, 5,000gns and 4,000gns.

OTHER LEADING BULL PRICES:

7,500gns Lot 646 Corskie Meldrew, sold to M Cruickshank

7,000gns Lot 688 Backmuir Mustang, sold to J & R Stanger

7,000gns Lot 691 Backmuir Macallan, sold to I J Blackhall & Sons

7,000gns Lot 731 Strathisla Mandarin, sold to W J Hollingsworth

6,500gns Lot 647 Overhill House Marshall, sold to McKenzie

Craiglands Ltd

6,500gns Lot 668 Auchorachan Malcom, sold to C & V Fraser

6,500gns Lot 680 Broombrae Monty, sold to A D Sutherland

6,500gns Lot 682 Auchorachan Magic, sold to A P Whyte

6,500gns Lot 733 Corskie Megastar, sold to C H Evans & Sons

6,000gns Lot 694 Islavale Merlin , sold to J Walker & Sons

6,000gns Lot 706 Blackford Mustang, sold to P & M Grant

AVERAGES:

45 Bulls £7,559 (+£1,579)

8 Females £3,045

Advertise your animals for

sale online today!

www.simmentalmarket.co.uk


SALES

NXTGEN II Carlisle December

BRITISH SIMMENTAL

GEN



SALES

Brandane Lulu 18,000gns.

18,000GNS BRANDANE LU LU HITS

THE HIGH NOTE AT SIMMENTAL NEXT

GENERATION II SALE

18,000gns

a breed centre

record price

Heifers average £5,202, up

by £806 on the year,

and a new breed centre

record average

Overhill House

sells to

9,000gns

8,000gns

Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7 th

makes the top maiden

heifer price

Islavale leads the

weaned calf trade

at 6,500gns

Jimmy & Kath McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds sold the

in-calf heifer Brandane Lu Lu for 18,000gns to lead the second

staging of the Simmental Next Generation Sale of females and

weaned calves at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart on Friday 2 nd December.

Getting the sale off to a fast start being the second lot in the ring, this

upstanding February 2020 born heifer is by Sterling Gino and is out

of Sterling Candy’s FCUK. Purchasing the top price was Reece and

Andrew Simmers for their noted Backmuir herd at Keith, Banffshire.

Brandane Lu Lu is a full sister to Sterling FCUK Impuls who previously

sold to the Backmuir herd for 13,000gns at Stirling in February 2019.

At the inaugural Next Generation Sale last year, the Simmers bought

the Female Champion, Islavale Lullaby and went on with her to win

the Simmental Championship at the Royal Highland Show, and also

the Simmental Scottish National Show. Commenting afterwards

Reece Simmers, who watched the pre-sale show online and bid by

telephone thereafter, said: “We saw Brandane Lu Lu at the Royal

Highland this summer and we thought a lot of her sister who has


SALES


identical breeding and who we purchased back in 2019. Brandane

Lu Lu is just a quality heifer. She is powerful and has size but is sweet

and feminine at the same time. We like the fact that she is due to calf

to Atlow Dixon in January and that just gives you a bit of a quicker

return. We are looking for ever improving quality over numbers

in the Backmuir herd and just to add one or two in that vein when

the opportunity arises.” The Backmuir herd presently consists of

approximately 80 pedigree cows.

The establishing Next Generation Sale II again saw some breed

record marks set, combined with new entrants to the breed buying

some of the leading lots on the day. The 18,000gns top price was a

centre record for the Simmental breed and eclipsed the 16,000gns

price achieved at last year’s sale. Twenty-two heifers sold to average

a very healthy £5,202 which was up by £806 on the year, and again

a new centre record average for the Simmental breed. Fourteen lots

in all made 4,000gns or more and the sale saw a 74% clearance rate.

Speaking after the sale, the British Simmental Cattle Society’s General

Manager Iain Kerr said: “The Next Generation Sale is a fixture that

the Society aims to become established and recognised for offering

primarily Simmental females with style, quality, a depth of bloodlines,

and full of forward potential. Quality is the key, and with the ready

trade and averages for the heifers, I think this second staging of Next

Gen is another positive step forward for the breed.”

Richard McCulloch, Over Hill House, Armadale, West Lothian attained

the day’s second top price when selling Overhill House Luna for

9,000gns. This December 2020 born heifer offered both quality

and a depth of bloodlines being sired by Curaheen Drifter, who has

had sons at 21,000gns and daughters to 17,000gns, and being out

of Woodhall Bliss, a daughter of the noted Annick Talisker. PD’d

in-calf to the herd’s 26,000gns Pistyll Kingsman, this combination

of breeding and performance saw Overhill House Luna being

snapped up by D&R Holdings, Low Bowhill Farm, Newmilns, Ayrshire.

New members to the Society but longer term supporters of the

Simmental breed, D&R Holdings have previously bought Simmental

females privately from the Corskie herd. Later in the day the same

purchasers snapped up the January 2022 born Overhill House Nancy

for 6,000gns, and the second top price in the weaned calf section.

Earlier this young heifer had placed second in her class to the

Champion Weaned Calf in front of the judge Chris Weatherup from

the noted Lisglass herd, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. Overhill House Nancy

is by the herd’s 24,000gns stock bull Islavale Heston, and is out of

the Mohona Fletcher sired Overhill House Isla.

The leading maiden heifer price on the day was the 8,000gns paid

for Denizes Eve’s Beauty 7 th from the strong team offered by the

Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland,

Lancashire. With outstanding breeding behind her, this March 2021

born heifer has Royal Highland Show Champions as parents, being

by the 2018 Champion Blackford Galaxy and out of the multi-title

winning dam Auroch Eve who was the Royal Highland Champion

in 2015 and 2016, and who was also voted the show’s Simmental

Champion of the Decade. Purchasing this animal was RE & SH

Steggles, Honingham, Norfolk, for their establishing Wacton pedigree

herd. Commenting, Sam Steggles said: “I saw Denizes Eve’s Beauty

7 th online and just really liked her. This was reaffirmed when I saw

her in the flesh at Carlisle and the combination of looks and depth

of breeding is I think a good fit and really suited to the Wacton herd.”

The Wacton herd was established in 1973 by Sam’s grandad but was

largely bought out in the late 1990’s. Never losing his love for the

breed Sam Steggles is re-establishing the Wacton herd and now has

Overhill House Luna 9,000gns.

Denizes Eve's Beauty 7 th 8,000gns.

Newbiemains Lady Gaga 7,000gns.

Heathbrow Girlie's Laurel 7,000gns.



SALES

eight animals in the herd within the space of a few months. Later in

the day a further purchase for the Wacton herd came in the shape of

the 4,500gns Brandane Mint from Jimmy and Kath McMillan. This

April 2021 born heifer is by Sterling Gino, the same sire as the day’s

top price, and is out of the Mendick Butch sired Sterling Bacardi’s

Funky. Again with a little bit of homework involved, Sam Steggles

had been to view this heifer on farm prior to the sale.

Islavale Nestle 6,500gns.

Denizes Matilda 8 th 6,000gns.

Overhill House Nancy 6,000gns.

Popes Nightrider 2,500gns.

Selling at 7,000gns was the served heifer Newbiemains Lady

Gaga from Jim & Patricia Goldie, Newbie Mains Farm, Annan,

Dumfriesshire. With ‘different and new bloodlines’ Lady Gaga is

by the imported Irish bull Ardunsaghan Kool Kid and is out of the

Islavale Cracker sired Moorglen Hit The Diff. Newbiemains Lady

Gaga was one of two profile purchases on the day by Ryan Morgan

who runs the establishing Swannay pedigree herd at Swannay Farm,

By Evie, Orkney. Ryan Morgan purchased at last year’s inaugural

sale and was again very impressed with the standard of Simmental

cattle on offer at Next Generation II. Of his purchase he said: “I hadn’t

seen either of the heifers before arriving at Carlisle but they both just

stood out for me straight away. Newbiemains Lady Gaga will fit right

in with the Swannay herd and her projected calving date just really

works. Ranfurly Stella 13 th is a heifer with style and offers some great

figures which is something that I look closely at when purchasing any

animal.” For the Goldies it was another successful Next Generation

Sale and following on from last year’s joint top female price of

9,000gns achieved for Newbiemains Lady Wag.

The aforementioned Ranfurly Stella 13 th made 5,000gns for her

breeder WD & JD Hazelton, Colhannon House, Dungannon, when

selling to Ryan Morgan. October 2021 born this maiden heifer,

with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +10, is by the 14,000gns Ranfurly

Jackall who was Supreme Champion at Stirling in 2019, and is out

of Raceview Fancywinty EX93 from the herd’s noted Matilda Stella

family. Featuring figures and breeding, Stella 13 th ’s dam Raceview

Fancywinty has previously bred the 9,000gns Ranfurly Jackpot,

and also Ranfurly Stella 12 th , the 2022 Reserve Champion Female at

Balmoral Show. These two purchases for Ryan Morgan add to the

growing Swannay herd of Simmentals and with a forward aim of the

herd selling at Society sales in the future. In addition to the pedigree

cattle, Swannay Farm carries a commercial suckler herd and also run

400 head of sheep.

Hertfordshire breeders DA&LA Sapsed, High Heath Farm, Codicote,

Hitchin made 7,000gns for Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel when being

another purchase by Reece & Andrew Simmers for their Backmuir

pedigree herd and who noted her as being ‘a great example of the

Simmental breed’. A red ticket winner in the first class of the day,

this October 2020 born heifer arrived at Carlisle with a significant

show record behind her, having Interbreed honours and a class first

prize at the Simmental English National Show, and a further first

prize at the Royal Norfolk. Heathbrow Girlie’s Laurel is by Scotland

Hill Cairo 11 EX91, and is out Heathbrow Girlie’s Ivy VG88, part of the

Hockenhull Girly family that has bred very well at Heathbrow. Girlie’s

Laurel was sold PD’d in-calf to Heathbrow Important who won the

online European Simmental Bull of the Year in 2019. The sale of

Heathrow Girlie’s Laurel is a taster of the quality within this 40-cow

herd which will be dispersed, due to retirement, at Stirling in the

autumn of 2023.

A much-anticipated entry was the youngest calf in the catalogue in

the shape of Islavale Nestle from the Islavale herd of WS Stronach,

Berrleys Farm, Grange, Keith, and she didn’t disappoint when lifting


SALES


the Champion Weaned Calf title and going on to sell for 6,500gns,

the top price for a weaned calf on the day. Sired by Coose Lincoln,

and out of the Curaheen Bandit daughter Islavale Elisha EX93, Islavale

Nestle arrived at Carlisle having recently won the Junior Female

Championship at the Stars of the Future Calf Show in Stirling. With

a +8 figure for Maternal (Milk), this young calf was snapped up by

the noted Popes herd of JH&VG Wood, Popes Farm, Clitheroe Road,

Preston, Lancashire. Commenting, Jimmy Woods said: “We had seen

photographs of Islavale Nestle from the Stars of the Future show and

thought she looked a lovely feminine calf. When we saw her, she

really is a sweet heifer, full of character, and will hopefully go on to

prove to be a real asset in the Popes herd. As always, genetics play

a big part in our choice of animals to purchase and we like Nestle’s

breeding on both sides of her pedigree.”

The winner of class two in the females was Denizes Matilda 8 th

(P) from the MA Barlow & Sons team, and who went on to sell

for 6,000gns to a further new breeder James Anderson & Son,

Headshaw Farm, Oxton, Lauder, Berwickshire. A blood red heifer

from the herd’s noted Matilda family being out of Denizes Matilda

2, Denizes Matilda 8 th is by the homozygous polled bull Slievenagh

International 17 (PP). April 2021 born, Denizes Matilda 8 th was a

class winner at the 2021 Simmental Calf Show at the Borderway Agri

Expo. With a very solid day’s trading the Denizes herd sold heifers at

8,000gns, 6,000gns, 4,000gns, and 3,500gns through the sale.

Taking first prize in class three was Islavale Topaz 18 from WS

Stronach, Berrleys Farm, Grange, Keith, and who went on to make

5,000gns when selling to the Delfur herd of Delfur Farms, Rothes,

Aberlour. Entirely homebred this heifer calf is by Islavale Echo 2 13

EX92 and is out of Islavale Topaz 11 GP83. The Topaz line is noted as

being one of the best breeding families in the herd and with Islavale

Topaz 18 herself having a Maternal (Milk) figure of +7.

Averages

22 Heifers served or maiden £5,202.27

2 Bull Calves £2,362.50

5 Heifer Calves £3,759.00

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

BRITISH SIMMENTAL

GEN III

SALE OF PEDIGREE FEMALES & WEANED CALVES

CARLISLE 1 ST DEC 2023


SIMMENTALS

BROOMBRAE MAJOR SOLD TO COGENT

LISGLASS GOLDSTAR

CHAMPION OF EUROPE 2020

BROOMBRAE MAGNUM

SIRED BY GOLDSTAR

LOON - BY GOLDSTAR

SOLD FEB FOR 8,000gns

HARRIET N5

AT 6 MONTHS - BY GOLDSTAR

SONS & DAUGHTERS OF GOLDSTAR FOR SALE PRIVATELY

GORDON CLARK - BROOMBRAE FARM, AUCHTERMUCHTY, CUPAR

FIFE, KY14 7EE Tel: 07850 885468 Email: glclark@gmx.com



Semen for Private Sale from Society Members

Sire Herdbook Number Vendor of Semen Contact Details

Atlow Dixon M082827 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Auchorachan Hercules S003111 D & R Durno & Sons 07718 467868

Auchorachan Wizard M072755 Mr J & Mr A Wilson 07517 461408 / 028 406 31863

Auroch Ace I000891 Mr G W Smith 01561 320555

Auroch Hudson (P) I002148 D & R Durno & Sons 07718 467868

Ballinalare Farm Galaxy M089523 Mr J & Mr A Wilson 07517 461408 / 028 406 31863

Beeches Kestrel M053174 Mr G W Smith 01561 320555

Bel Dhu Capercaillie M079624 Mr J Green 01343 870387

Blackford Galaxy M045303 Mr M A Barlow 01772 601403 / 07921 674041

Blackford Worzel M072312 Mr C Houldey 07703 488277

Blue Cedar King Kong 19 (PP) M100190 UK Sires/Nigel Darling 01458 555551 or Nigel Darling 07799773084

Bosahan Dynamo M082581 Mr M A Barlow 01772 601403 / 07921 674041

Cairnview Snazzy M066099 W H Robson & Sons 028 933 40304 / 07968 814 180

Camus Brandy M029502 Mr J & Mr A Wilson 07517 461408 / 028 406 31863

Chegwidden Alfie M073024 Mrs V Hall 07831 834013

Chestermann Varney M070859 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Clonagh A Super Star I000967 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Clonagh Tiger Gallant I000656 D & R Durno & Sons 07718 467868

Corskie Highlander M090778 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Craighill Laser M055418 Mr G W Smith 01561 320555

Curaheen Bandit I000966 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Curaheen Giant I001673 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Curaheen Vobster I000776 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Denizes Exclusive S002913 Genus 01270 616616

Denizes Hamish M090827 Mr M A Barlow 01772 601403 / 07921 674041

Denizes Inferno M095434 Genus 01270 616616

Dirnanean Bradley M076366 Mr J Green 01343 870387

Drumlone Anchor M074121 Mr WE & KM Nelson / Mr LA Richardson 028 67751625 / 077644895100 / 07855 436203

Heathbrow Grand Slam 15 M088330 D A & L A Sapsed 01438 820216 or 07836 782184

Heathbrow Tristar M067265 Mrs Hayley Clarke 07799 693582

Hirwaun Rooney M064400 Mr A Davies 07866 282 766

Islavale Echo 2 M085472 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Islavale Frontier M086926 Mr R S & M E Weatherup 07811 020070

Islavale Guy 15 M089112 Alex King Ross 07921256010

Islavale Jerico M096342 Mr S A Gummow 01637 880523

Kilbride Farm Hans (PP) M092351 W H Robson & Sons 028 933 40304 / 07968 814 180

Killiworgie Emperor 13 M083562 Mr S A Gummow 01637 880523

Lakeside Warrior M071338 Mr S A Gummow 01637 880523

Manor Park Hansome M092520 Mr C Houldey 07703 488277

Milnafua Graduate M045753 W H Robson & Sons 028 933 40304 / 07968 814 180

Omorga Baldwin M076745 AI Services (Robin Boyd) 028 90833123

Omorga Isaac M093767 AI Services (Robin Boyd) 028 90833123

Popes Laird M055700 Mr J Green 01343 870387

Promi (PP) I001148 Mr & Mrs L Moffat 01368 840270

Ranfurly Confederate C24 M080428 Mr W S Stronach 07779 782777

Ranfurly Impeccable S003073 Mr & Mrs AS & YA Leedham 07835254858 or grangewood13@gmail.com

Ravensworth Carefree M033574 Robinson Farms (Carbrooke) Ltd 01485 518088 or robinson@lugdenhill.co.uk

Shacon Hannibal S003142 AI Services (Robin Boyd) 028 90833123

Shanehill Victor M070321 Mr C Houldey 07703 488277

Skerrington Armada M074417 PJ & B Olds 07890384094

Slievenagh International 17 (PP) M094872 Mr M A Barlow 01772 601403 / 07921 674041

Slievenagh International 17 (PP) M094872 AI Services (Robin Boyd) 028 90833123

Sneumgaard Imperator (PP) I001191 W H Robson & Sons 028 933 40304 / 07968 814 180

Team Fergus M086029 D & R Durno & Sons 07718 467868

Tiset Darwin I000865 Judith Cockerill 01295 690274 / 07979 404388


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GOODS 2023

Reliability

5.0%

59%

3.6%

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129Reliability

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Calvings

139

Herds

60

282 days

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4.9%

Calvings

139

Herds

60

282 days

3.2%

6.5%

0

PROOF

RELIABILITY

PROVEN

STATISTIC

GENUS ABS

BREED AV.

To place your order please contact the Society office by phone on 02476 696513 or by email at

information@britishsimmental.co.uk

PROOF

130 RELIABILITY BSI

1

2

PROVEN

STATISTIC

0 BSI

JACKETS, GILETS & HOODIES

1. Mens Soft Shell Jacket

YVING SURVEY ON DAIRY COWS ONLY

Colour: Black Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL £80.00

2. Ladies Soft Shell Jacket

Colour: Black Sizes: 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18 £80.00

3

4

3. Mens Soft Shell Gilet

Colour: Black Sizes: S / M / L / XL / XXL / 3XL / 4XL £35.00

4. Ladies Soft shell Gilet

Colour: Black Sizes: 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18 £35.00

5. Chunky Hoodie

Colours: Grey / Black Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL £50.00

5

6

6. Mens College Hoodie

Colours: Grey / Black / Red Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL / 3XL / 4XL / 5XL £35.00

6. Ladies College Hoodie

Colours: Grey / Black / Red Sizes: 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18 £35.00

POLOSHIRTS & T-SHIRTS

7. Mens Poloshirt

Colours: Grey/ Black Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL £20.00

7

8

8. Ladies Poloshirt

Colours: Grey/ Black Sizes: 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18 £20.00

9. Adult T Shirt

Colours: Grey / Black / Red Sizes: S / M / L / XL / XXL £15.00

9. Childrens T Shirt

Colours: Grey / Black / Red Sizes: 3-4 / 5-6 / 7-8 / 9-11 / 12-13 £12.00

9

10

ACCESSORIES

10. Cap

Colour: Grey One Size adjustable £10.00

11. Beanie

Colour: Black One Size £7.00 11

12

12. Pom-Pom Beanie

Colour: Grey One Size £12.00

13. Ties

Colours: Navy / Green / Burgundy One Size £10.00

14. 50 th Anniversay Ties

Colour: Red One Size £10.00 13

14


Calving Ease (cows)

GENUS ABS

BREED AV. 10

4.9%

70

Calving Ease (cows)

1.5%

Gestation Length

Gestation 100 Length

282 days 10

Calf Quality

Calf Quality

129

52%

Calf Survivability

82

81

70

Calf Survivability

82

70 BSI 130 BSI

3.6%

BeefAdvantage

QP

Advert

81 Calving Ease (heifers)

100 BSI

GENUS BEEF CALVING SURVEY ON DAIRY GENUS COWS BEEF ONL CAL

Killiworgie LOCKDOWN 20

70 BSI

QP

Advert

Calving Ease (heifers)

Blair MARIO 21

Denizes McGREGOR 21

HP

Advert

Premier Collection Simmental Sires

Learn more at WWW.ABSGLOBAL.COM/UK or talk to your

Genus ABS representative today.

Alpha Building, London Road, Nantwich, CW5 7JW 01270 616681


PEDIGREE BULL LEVY SEMEN

(ROYALTY) SCHEME

The Society’s levy scheme enables semen from a bull to be sold

for both pedigree and commercial use at a standard price. The

owner of the bull can set a levy price over and above the cost

of the semen. This means that if the semen is used for a pedigree

registration, then the levy fee is charged to the breeder of the calf.

The Society’s ILR2 system automatically collects this fee and credits

it back the owner of the levy bull on a quarterly basis.

The scheme gives the opportunity for sensible and realistic pricing

to both the pedigree breeder and commercial producer, and the

opportunity for extended choice and increased use of the given

bulls. If you have a bull that you would like to enter onto the scheme,

then please email information@britishsimmental.co.uk for an

application form and further information. Only bulls that have not

had semen distributed from them for either pedigree or commercial

use are eligible for entry to the scheme. A levy fee is charged for calf

registrations from both AI and natural service.

*Please note that the entry fee to place a bull on the Society’s

Levy (Royalty) Scheme is £100+VAT.

Bulls registered under the Pedigree Bull Levy (Royalty) Scheme are

listed below. Members should note that the pedigree registration levy

is additional to the purchase of semen and payment must be made

to the Society at the time of registration either by direct debit for

TelReg/Online, or by cheque for paper registrations. Owners of the

Levy Rights receive payment on a quarterly basis from the Society.

ANIMALS NAME/HERD NO

LEVY OWNER NAME, PHONE, FAX & EMAIL

LEVY FEE

(EX VAT)

Alchester Kracker 19 (M100180) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Auchorachan Wizard (M072755) Mr J Wilson Tel: 028 302 63342/61938 Fax: 028 302 67919 Tel No2: 028 406 31863 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Ballinalare Farm Galaxy 15

(M089523)

VAT

TOTAL

Mr J Wilson Tel: 028 302 63342/61938 Fax: 028 302 67919 Tel No2: 028 406 31863 £25.00 £5.00 £30.00

Banwy Wonderboy (M073205) M/S J H & V G Wood Tel: 01254 878971 Mobile: 07813 063431 Email: vgwood@tiscali.co.uk £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Beanhill Mighty (M102916) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Bel Dhu Capercaillie (M079624) Mr J Green Tel: 01343 870211 Email: iain@wjjgreen.co.uk £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

Blackford Galaxy (M089467) Mr M A Barlow Tel: 01772 601403 Mobile: 07921 674041 £60.00 £12.00 £72.00

Blackford Rory (M012204)

Boddington Estates Ltd Tel: 01242 680609 Fax: 01242 680998 Email: manager@

sterlingsimmentals.co.uk

£22.00 £4.40 £26.40

Blair Mario (M102646) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Blue Cedar King Kong 19 (M100190) Nigel Darling Tel: 01603 452060 Mob: 07799 773084 Email: nigel@intwoodfarm.co.uk £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

Bruchag Glenfiddich (M090175)

M/S R & P McAlister Tel: 01700 831276 Mobile: 0780 3127073

Email: randpmcalister@btconnect.com

£37.50 £7.50 £45.00

Camus Beaver (M075223) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Camus Brandy (M029502) Mr J Wilson Tel: 028 302 63342/61938 Fax: 028 302 67919 Tel-Number 2: 028 406 31863 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Carnkern Titan (M015902) William Jones & Son Tel: 028 944 32069 £45.00 £9.00 £54.00

Clonagh Latin Lover (I000656) D & R Durno & Sons Tel: 01807 590213 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Clonagh Tiger Gallant (I000656) D & R Durno & Sons Tel: 01807 590213 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Coose Gambler (I001762) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Coose Jericho (I001991) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Coose Las Vegas (P) (I002328) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £45.00 £9.00 £54.00

Corrick Kentucky Kid (M054467) P Clements & Partners Tel: 01359 251233 Fax: 01359 251233 Mobile: 07770 773752 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Corskie Jeffery (M096178) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Darsham Playboy (M061211) P Clements & Partners Tel: 01359 251233 Fax: 01359 251233 Mobile: 07770 773752 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Denizes Exclusive (S002913) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Denizes Ibraham (M095584) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Denizes Inferno (M095434) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Denizes Kilimanjaro 19 (M100980) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Denizies Lancelot (M101092) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £60.00 £12.00 £72.00

Denizes Macgregor (S003330) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Denizes Malibu (S003354) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Dinton Nautical (M058805) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00


Dirnanean Bradley (M076366) Mr J Green Tel: 01343 870211 Email: iain@wjjgreen.co.uk £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

Dirnanean Nugget (M008567) Moncur Pedigree Herds Mobile: 07768257528 Email: russell@taypack.com £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Drumlone Anchor (M074121) Mr W E & K & M Nelson Tel: 07764895100 (Keith) Email: keithnelson39@tiscali.co.uk £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Falondene Cincinnati (M079495) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Garmouth Kingston (M098967) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Grangewood Baron (M077594) Mr & Mrs Ward & Sons Tel: 01555 840497 Email: jward@wardplant.com £25.00 £5.00 £30.00

Heathbrow Tristar (M067265) Mrs Hayley Clarke Tel: 07799 693582 Email: info@williamslivestock.com £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Heywood Andrew (ET) (S001297) Mr C J G Clarke Tel: 01473 890287 £25.00 £5.00 £30.00

Hockenhull Maverick (M057803) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Innerwick Lorenzo 20 (M103293) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £29.17 £5.83 £35.00

Keeldrum Clio 11 (M079129) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Keeldrum Schubert (M065739) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Kilbride Farm Comber (M078617) M/S J H & V G Wood Tel: 01254 878971 Mobile: 07813 063431 Email: vgwood@tiscali.co.uk £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Kilbride Farm Delboy (M082204) Mr R J Boyd Tel: 028 2582 0070 Mobile: 07799 346784 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Kilbride Farm Escalop (M084884)

W H Robson & Sons Tel: 028 933 40304 / 07968 814180 Fax: 028 933 49486

Email: robsons31@btinternet.com

£40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Kilbride Farm Glenhead (M089513) Mr R J Boyd Tel: 028 2582 0070 Mobile: 07799 346784 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Kilbride Farm Newry (M059151)

Killiworgie Lockdown 20

(M100841)

W H Robson & Sons Tel: 028 933 40304 / 07968 814180 Fax: 028 933 49486

Email: robsons31@btinternet.com

£40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Losning Iver (P) I001195 Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Mendick Butch (M076345)

Boddington Estates Ltd Tel: 01242 680609 Fax: 01242 680998

Email: manager@sterlingsimmentals.co.uk

£30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Omorga Baldwin (M076745) AI Services (NI) Ltd Tel: 02890 833123 or 07799346784 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Omorga Isaac (M093767) AI Services (NI) Ltd Tel: 02890 833123 or 07799346784 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Omorga Prince (M060676) J L & C J Weatherup Tel: 028 933 40971 Mobile: 07875 728826 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Pistyll Kingsman (M102016)

Richard McCulloch Tel: 01501 735726 Mobile: 07976 408284

Email: nicolemorgan1015@gmail.com

£60.00 £12.00 £72.00

Popes Barclay (M078191) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Popes Grandslam (M090828) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Popes Jameson (M098086) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Popes Jasper (M098084) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Popes Kontiki (M099054) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Popes Lachlan 20 (M102092) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Popes Laird (M055700) Mr WJ & J Green Tel: 01343 870211 Email: iain@wjjgreen.co.uk £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

Sacombe Juggernaut (M096599) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Sacombe Kestrel (M101305) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Scotland Hill Loxley (M102959) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Shacon Hannibal 16 (S003142) Mr R J Boyd Tel: 028 2582 0070 Mobile: 07799 346784 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Silver Birch A Mans A Man 09

(S002610)

Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £25.00 £5.00 £30.00

Simply Like a Legend (S003306) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Skerrington Franklyn (M086236) A J & S D Heath Tel: 01952 541374 Mobile: 07971 814082 £30.00 £6.00 £36.00

Starline Klassik (M054547)

Sterling Cotswold 11 (S002721)

R H Widdicombe Tel: 01803 732277 Fax: 01803 732277 Email: susan.widdicombe@btconnect.

com



£30.00 £6.00 £36.00

£35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Sterling Flint (M042435) P Clements & Partners Tel: 01359 251233 Fax: 01359 251233 Mobile: 07770 773752 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Sterling Gino 15 (M088452) Jake Gregory Tel: 07712 463354 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Sterling Viking 2 nd (M069308)



£35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Strathisla Lochness 20 (M100602) Genus Breeding Ltd Tel: 01270 616616 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Wolfstar Kolisi 19 (M100066) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £33.33 £6.67 £40.00

Woodhall Ferrari (M086256) Cogent Breeding Ltd Tel: 01244 622000 £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Wroxall Cocker-Leeky-Soup (PP)

(M080195

CH Evans & Son Mobile 0774 777 3815 £40.00 £8.00 £48.00


MEMBERSHIP &

REGISTRATION FEES

Effective from 1 st April 2023

Due to the Society’s charitable status the Membership Subscription fees are not subject to

VAT on the full amount and therefore the proportional breakdown has been clearly stated.

FEE £ VAT AT 20% TOTAL

Initial Joining Fee & Prefix Registration £44.68 £8.94 £53.62

Full Annual Subscription Total is split into Vatable and Non Vatable totals

Full Annual proportioned £24.68 zero rated VAT £24.68 £0.00 £24.68

Full Annual proportioned £35.00 plus VAT @ 20% £35.00 £7.00 £42.00

Life Membership Total is £850.00 & is split into Vatable & Non Vatable Totals ( Joining Fee & Prefix Registration included )

Life Membership proportioned £23.10 plus VAT @ 20% £23.10 £4.62 £27.72

Life Membership proportioned £822.28 zero rated for VAT £822.28 £0.00 £822.28

Associate Membership Total is split into Vatable & Non Vatable Totals

Associate Membership proportioned £6.34 plus VAT @ 20% £6.34 £1.27 £7.61

£66.68

£850.00

Associate Membership proportioned £24.68 zero rated for VAT £24.68 £0.00 £24.68

Overseas ( including Republic of Ireland ) Zero rated for VAT £33.60 £0.00 £33.60

REGISTERING YOUNG MEMBERSHIP ( Max age limit 25yrs )

Initial Joining fee & Prefix Registration £10.72 £2.14 £12.86

Annual Subscription ( Zero rated for VAT ) £21.00 £0.00 £21.00

NON REGISTERING YOUNG MEMBERS ( Max age limit 25yrs )

Annual Subscription £5.25 £0.00 £5.25

Young Life Membership Total is £378.58 & is split into Vatable & Non Vatable Totals ( Joining Fee & Prefix Registration included )

Young Life Membership proportioned £23.10 plus VAT @ 20% £23.10 £4.62 £27.72

Life Membership proportioned £350.86 zero rated for VAT £350.86 £0.00 £350.86

REGISTRATIONS

£32.29

£33.86

£378.58

Register within 27 days of birth - On-line £29.00 £5.80 £34.80

Register within 27 days of birth - Tel-Reg £33.00 £6.60 £39.60

Register within 27 days of birth - Paper £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Birth Notify within 27 days of birth - Paper/Tel-Reg/On-line £10.00 £2.00 £12.00

Register up to 12 months Paper / Tel-Reg / On-line ( previously notified ) £55.51 £11.10 £65.41

Register Over 12 months previously birth notified ( please see below for conditions ) £250.00 £50.00 £300.00

Register Over 12 months not previously birth notified ( please see below for conditions ) £400.00 £80.00 £480.00

Embryo Registration On-line £29.00 £5.80 £34.80

Embryo Registration By Tel-Reg £33.00 £6.60 £39.60

Embryo Registration On Paper £40.00 £8.00 £48.00

Graded Registrations by Tel-Reg (Cannot be processed on-line) £20.53 £4.10 £24.63

Graded Registrations On Paper £27.89 £5.58 £33.47

Performance Recording Records / Steers £1.05 £0.21 £1.26

Birth Notification can ONLY be processed 27 days from the date of birth, no late Birth Notifications will be accepted. Calves born dead should be notified

free of charge. Calves sired by a breed other than Simmental should be notified as Performance only at the rate of £1.26. We encourage all Performance

recording members to record all births but please note Performance only records CANNOT be taken up to full registration at any time. Freemartins should

be Birth Notified within 27 days of birth and must be registered within 12-36 months maximum. Please contact the BSCS for further information.


Amended or Replacement Pedigree Certificate £5.00 £1.00 £6.00

DNA Typing kit per animal £27.50 £5.50 £33.00

Polled DNA test £5.50 £1.10 £6.60

Embryo Flush Form (ET1) price per form £10.00 £2.00 £12.00

Imported Embryo Fee £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

Importation ( Including Republic of Ireland ) to be entered into the British Simmental Herdbook £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP ( Payable by Purchaser ) Sale / Private

Purebred £16.53 £3.31 £19.84

Graded £5.36 £1.07 £6.43

Bull used from a Non Member ( Commercial Man ) ( including semen purposes ) £16.53 £3.31 £19.84

* Transfer of Ownership form/s must be completed for privately sold animals *

Exportation Certificate ( Embryo Purposes ) £10.00 £2.00 £12.00

Exportation Certificate ( Live Animal Purposes ) £18.50 £3.70 £22.20

UPGRADING ( Grade inspection of animal on farm )

Price on

Application

ROYALTY SIRE

Registration of Levy Sire £100.00 £20.00 £120.00

Annual Fee to Maintain Levy ( The Annual Levy Fee is invoiced from 1 st January following the year of

Registration )

Administration Fee ( per Levy Registration ) 10%

£54.96 £10.99 £65.95

LATE REGISTRATION MATRIX

• The following pricing matrix and late penalties will apply to all members who are registering calves under these circumstances.

• Calves not registered within the 27 days after date of birth are subject to the fee schedule below.

• Cattle may be registered after 12 months of age, subject to proven DNA parentage testing.

• Please note the fee that is quoted includes the parentage test for the calf only. The DNA typing of the Sire and Dam is £27.50 + VAT, if not

already on file

• Please contact the Registration Department to process any registrations over twelve months of age as this cannot be processed on-line.

1-3 Months 4-6 Months 7-9 Months 10-12 Months

Registrations that are received

after 27 days of birth will then

fall into the pricing matrix for

late fees

Birth Notification fee £12.00 plus

the 12 month registration fee of

£65.41

Birth Notification fee £12.00 plus

the 12 month registration fee of

£65.41 plus late penalty fee of

£18.90 ( £15.75 + VAT )

Birth Notification fee of £12.00

plus the 12 month registration

fee of £65.41 plus late penalty

fee of £37.80 ( £31.50 + VAT)

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL

£19.03 will be added to the cost

of Registration

£77.41 £96.31 £115.21

Over 12 Months Previously Birth Notified Over 12 Months NOT Previously Birth Notified

£250 + VAT = £300 £400 + VAT = £480

This includes the cost of the DNA test for the calf. Sire & Dam tests

are not included and are £27.50 + VAT each if the profile is not

already on our file.

This includes the cost of the DNA test for the calf. Sire & Dam tests

are not included and are £27.50 + VAT each if the profile is not

already on our file.


ADVERTISING INDEX

Advertiser Prefix Page no

AB Europe 54 & 55

Mr VC Bailey Mixbury hall 84

MA Barlow & Sons Denizes 56

Barlow Trailers 75

FI & EJ Barnes & Sons Highcross 187

Biobest Hi Health Herdcare 161

Mr & Mrs S & L Blomfield Sway 130

Gavin Brown Springfield 76

Caisley Tags 65

Card Board Box Company 42

Gordon L Clark Broombrae 193

Andrew W Clarke Breaghey 108

Cogent 32 & 33

Cornwall Club 160

Crystalyx 123 & 141

D & R Durno & Sons Auchorachan ISBC

CH Evans & Sons Wroxall BC

Mr & Mrs Fitton Simply 57

Sandra Francis Dinton 42

Genus 197

WJ & J Green Corskie 2 (ISFC)

Mr RJ Grenham Boars Head 42

Mr SA Gummow Killiworgie 16

N & N Gwynne Chestermann 49

H & H 131

Mrs V Hall Chegwidden 91

Advertiser Prefix Page no

Harbro 81

T & J Hassall Fishpool 143

WD & JD Hazelton Ranfurly 17

Mr DC Houldey Manor Park 77

J & G Houliston Saltire 57

Jonathan S Gunn Mavsey 76

Mr A King Wolfstar 89

Bruce Lambie Fallhills 136

Mr RJ MacGregor Team 124

McCartneys 194

Richard McCullough Overhill House 68

Mr NF McGowan Incheoch 59

Mr & Mrs L Moffat

Innerwick &

Braidwood

131

HJW & JC Moore Omorga 192

Mr & Mrs J Olds Bosahan 43

Paragon 161

WH Robson & Sons Kilbride Farm 3

DA & LA Sapsed Heathbrow 82 & 83

Reece & Andrew Simmers Backmuir 97

R & L Storer Smith Storersmith 84

Strathisla Farms Strathisla 125

Mr WS Stronach Islavale 4

United Auctions 65

Jason Whitcroft Whitdrum 124

JH & VG Wood Popes 5



WROXALL SIMMENTALS

Breeding Tomorrow’s Cattle Today

www.wroxall.com

Rob Evans Tel. 0774 777 3815 Josh Evans Tel. 07867 411515

C H Evans & Son

Kington Grange Farm

Claverdon, Warwickshire

CV35 8PW

rob@wroxall.com

The British Simmental Review 2022

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