The British Simmental Review 2022

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.
The Review 2022 | 171