British Simmental Review 2023

NEWS
EUROPEAN SIMMENTAL
BREEDERS WELCOMED
TO STIRLING
Playing a big part in a busy but successful few days
at Stirling in October, was the visit of some fifty
plus European Simmental breeders from Austria;
Germany; Switzerland; Denmark; Ireland; and Italy. Over
three days the group visited the Springfield herd of Gavin
Brown, Penicuik, Midlothian; the Wolfstar herd of the
King family, Ormiston, East Lothian; and the Strathisla
herd of Adrian Ivory, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, before
returning to United Auctions to watch the pre-sale show
of bulls. During the herd visits BSCS President Norman
Robson, BSCS Council member Robin Boyd, and the
Society’s General Manager, Iain Kerr represented the UK
and gave a presentation on the British beef industry and
the general dynamics of British Simmental development,
at a meeting of the European Simmental Beef Working
Group. The bull sale itself ‘wowed’ the visiting delegates
and with the Heathbrow Sale seeing export sales to both
Germany and Ireland. Commenting, ESF Beef Working
Group Chairman Hedwig Strobl said: “It was a super visit
and two really impressive sales. This was an experience
for the breeders from the ESF countries that will be
remembered for a long time.”
European Simmental breeders at Springfield Farm.
The European Group also visited the Wolfstar Herd.
A BIG ‘THANK YOU’ TO ROBIN BOYD
AND STEWART STRONACH
At the Society’s AGM at Stirling in October, both Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Farm,
Portglenone, Co Antrim, and Stewart Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Keith, Banffshire
received a presentation from the current BSCS President Norman Robson to mark
their time on Council and with both having served terms as Society President. Robin
Boyd held the office in 2017-2018, with Stewart Stronach being the immediate past
President having been in office in the Society’s 50 th anniversary year 2020, and until
2021. Speaking at the AGM, Norman Robson said: “On behalf of all Society members
I’d like to extend a warm thank you to Robin and Stewart for their service to the Society,
members, and the Simmental breed. Both have worked selflessly with tremendous
integrity, and their periods of Presidency were ones of great distinction. We extend
a huge thank you to both and we know that they will continue to be fantastic
ambassadors for the Simmental breed.”
Pictured at Stirling, and from right to left are: Norman
Robson, BSCS President; Stewart Stronach; Robin
Boyd; and Chris Martindale, BSCS Vice President.
TOWIEMORE FEMALES IN BIG DEMAND
Through the year we reported on the commercial demand for Simmental females
across the UK. A highlight within this was Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale of 227
head of adult breeding cattle at Thainstone in May. Featuring strongly throughout
the sale was the Smith family at Towiemore Farm, Keith, Banffshire who had a number of
Simmental heifers and cows with calves at foot well over the £4000 mark and topping at
£4350. In all 90 Towiemore females, almost all Simmental, averaged a remarkable £3543!
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