Kilbride Farm Simmental champion nets 20,000gns
The intermediate and supreme overall champion Kilbride Farm Comber realised a top price of 20,000gns for the Robson family from Doagh, County Antrim. Picture: MacGregor Photography
COUNTY Antrim Simmental breeders Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, were the toast of Stirling on Tuesday, when their intermediate and supreme overall champion sold for a top price of 20,000gns.
Setting a new herd record for the 60-cow herd established in 1971, was the much-admired Kilbride Farm Comber. Sired by its 15,000gns stock bull Cairnview Snazzy, he is bred from the Seaview Prince Charming daughter, Kilbride Farm Eunice 67V. Born in March 2011 this bull is in the breed’s top 5% for terminal sire index +82 and self replacing index +89.
Buyers were Jimmy and Vikki Wood, who run the 20-cow Popes herd alongside a meat wholesale business at Dutton, Preston, Lancashire. Mr Wood said: “This is as good a bull as I have seen, and his semen will be commercially available in due course from Cogent.”
Kilbride Farm Comber caught the eye of breed judge Harold Stubbs to secure the overall championship. The County Fermanagh pedigree breeder was honoured to judge the Simmental entry at Stirling. He judged the autumn Charolais entry at the Scottish venue last year, and in the past has sold bulls at Perth to a top of 18,000gns.
Mr Stubbs, and fellow breeder Kenneth Veitch from Lisbellaw who judged the British Blue entry, were presented with specially commissioned medals to mark the first official Stirling Bull Sales. Known as the Perth Bull Sales since it was founded in 1865, the world-famous multi-breed beef event moved to Stirling Agricultural Centre in 2009, and was re-branded by United Auctions in July this year.
Designed by Scottish artist and fashion designer Iona Crawford, the exclusive medals are moulded in antique gold and depict the head and shoulders of a champion bull, complete with rosette, against a backdrop of Stirling’s iconic landscape.
Second highest price of the day 18,000gns, was paid to Jimmy and Iain Green, Garmouth, Morayshire, for the second prize winning Corskie Callum. Born in April 2011, he is by the 7,500gns Ballinlare Farm Nightrider, and is out of a home-bred dam by the NI-bred Ballinlare Farm Gascoigne. He is in the breed’s top 1% for milk +11, and top 5% for eye muscle area +3.9, and has a TSI +73 and an SRI +86. This one joins Lachlan Quarm’s Annick herd based at Irvine in Ayrshire.
It was a good day ‘at the office’ for the father and son duo, with six bulls from their noted Corskie herd grossing at £44,205, which is an average of £7,367.50 each.
Lachlan Quarm recouped some of his investment when Annick Capercaillie came under the hammer at 16,000gns. Also sired by the Popes Laird son, Cairnview Snazzy, this one is bred from the Sterling Nelson daughter, Annick Duchess. Born in May 2011, he has a TSI +77 and an SRI +84. Buyer was pedigree breeder Richard McCulloch, who runs the Overhill House Herd, based at Armadale, West Lothian.
Next best at 12,000gns was the second prize winning Islavale Champ TSI +55 and SRI +59 consigned by Stewart Stronach from Keith, Banffshire. This May 2011 born entry was sired by the 4,000gns Glenturk Premier, and is out of a dam carrying Peter O’Connell’s Raceview prefix. He sold to Pitgaveny Farms based at Elgin in Morayshire.
An unplaced entry from Robert MacGregor’s herd at Kirkton of Mailer, Craigend, Perth, attracted a bid of 11,000gns. Sired by the 10,000gns Auchorachan Winger, this March 2011 born bull is out of a home-bred Tilbrook Noble daughter. He has an eye muscle area of +3.1, and is in the breed’s top 1% for TSI +95 and SRI +103. Buyer was A King from Ormiston, East Lothian.
Three lots came under the hammer at 10,000gns.
First to go was Newbiemains Boston, a first prize senior bull from Jim and Patricia Goldie’s herd at Annan, Dumfries. Born in December 2010, he is by herd sire Kilbride Farm Rainman, and is bred from Dirnanean Virginia – a polled Halenook Panache daughter purchased for 3,500gns in 2009. This one has a Breedplan TSI +67 and SRI +70, and sold to Messrs Stephen and Co, Burnside of Idoch, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
Also selling at 10,000gns was the second prize winning Delfur Chas, a March 2011 born entry from Sir Edward Mountain’s 180-cow herd based at Aberlour, Banffshire. Sired by the home-bred Delfur Willie Wonka, he is out of Delfur Daisy – a daughter of the NI-bred Corrick Nero. This one is in the breed’s top 1% for eye muscle area +4.5 and TSI +92, and in the top 5% for SRI+86. Buyer was WJ Hollingsworth, Midhope Hall Farm, Sheffield.
A final call of 10,000gns was paid to Gerald and Morag Smith, Laurencekirk, for the fourth prize winning Drumsleed Cairo TSI +85 and SRI +84. Born in April 2011, he is by the 8,200gns Ashland Perfect, and is out of a home-bred dam by Hockenhull Matthew. Highest bidders were Messrs A and J Craig, Castle Douglas.
Two bulls commanded 9,000gns, including the reserve junior champion, Drumsleed Calgary. Born in April 2011, he is by the Hillcrest champion son, Auroch Ace, and is out of the Crailing Barrister daughter, Drumsleed Misty.
Kenneth Veitch from Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, scooped the reserve intermediate and reserve supreme championship with the April 2011 born Drumlone Convoy. Sired by the Cleenagh Flasher son, Omorga Volvo, he is bred from a Brinkton Brilliant daughter carrying the Celtic prefix. His Breedplan figures include eye muscle area +4, TSI +75 and SRI +90. This one attracted a bid of 6,000gns, selling to G Angus and Co, Binzian Farm, Forgandenny, Perthshire.
Two lots from David Hazelton’s Ranfurly herd in Dungannon, County Tyrone, sold to average £3,570 each. His best at 4,000gns was the fifth prize winning Ranfurly Columbo, a polled bull by the Danish sire Lykke Sirius. Born in May 2011, he is bred from the Carnkern Titan daughter, Ranfurly Weikel. His Breedplan figures include eye muscle area +3.9, TSI +79 and SRI +80. Buyers were Messrs Cannon and Son, Little Torhouse Farm, Wigtown.
Also selling at 4,000gns was the unplaced Stralongford Cracker TSI +58 and SRI +62 from Andrew Hanna’s herd in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. This May 2011 born entry was sired by the Corrick Kentucky Kid son, Omorga Murray, and is out of a Hillcrest Jerome daughter carrying the Cashelmore prefix. Buyer was Michael Reihill from Innisrooske, Lisnaskea. Two lots from Mr Hanna’s Stralongford herd averaged £3,150 each.
The July 2011 born Cairnview Snazzy son, Stewartstown Cecil, also realised 4,000gns for Ian Davidson from Larne, County Antrim. Bred from Kilbride Farm Eunice 21R, he sold to Messrs J and N Troup, Southbank Farm, Skene, Aberdeenshire.
Breed judge Harold Stubbs, and grandson Alan Burleigh, sold the April 2011 born Derrycallaghan Crackerjack TSI +59 and SRI +55 for 3,500gns. He was sired by the 10,000gns Slimero Victory – reserve champion at Perth in February 2009, and is out of a home-bred dam.
The April 2011 born Rehall Chris TSI+68 SRI+68, bred by Kenneth Stubbs, Irvinetown, and consigned by D McKinless, Coagh, County Tyrone, sold at 3,000gns. Sired by the Slievenagh Fantastic son, Omorga Regan, he is bred from the Hillcrest King daughter, Rehall Viola.
United Auctions executive chairman David Leggat described trade as a satisfactory days trading for a quality entry of bulls. “There were a few breeders bulls at the top end, but trade was largely driven by commercial suckler calf producers. We sold less bulls than last year, but the average is away up.”
Breed society chief Neil Shand reported a 73% clearance with 81 bulls selling to level at £5,806 – up £965 on the same period last year.
“We had 44 fewer bulls forward, which meant the top bulls were very much sought after. The breed is increasing in popularity, mainly because of its high health status, and the ability to provide maternal and terminal breeding traits.”
Females reached a ceiling of 5,500gns, paid to Hector MacAskill, Dunbar, East Lothian, for the female champion Woodhall Bernadette. This August 2010 born heifer was sired by Woodhall Volcano, and is bred from the Freighduff Brendan daughter, Woodhall Maree. In-calf to the German-bred Steinadler, she joins Richard McCulloch’s Overhill House Herd.
A cow and calf outfit from Andy Wilson’s herd in Ayrshire realised 5,200gns. The December 2008 born Cairnview Modesty 4th was sired by Annick Titan, and is in-calf to Bruchag Awesome. At foot was her five-month-old Bruchag Awesome bull calf. Buyers were Messrs J Duff and Son, Broomknowe, Brechin, Angus.
An entry of 18 females sold to average £3,100.
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Tuesday 21 May 2013
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