Simmental breeders embrace the challenges of the 2021 pandemic

Despite experiencing unprecedented challenges due to the C19 pandemic, members of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club are confident that the breed continues to grow from strength-to-strength.
February: Knockreagh Kiloy ET sold for 10,000gns at Stirling, setting a new herd record for herd owners Val and Conrad Fegan.February: Knockreagh Kiloy ET sold for 10,000gns at Stirling, setting a new herd record for herd owners Val and Conrad Fegan.
February: Knockreagh Kiloy ET sold for 10,000gns at Stirling, setting a new herd record for herd owners Val and Conrad Fegan.

2021 was a challenging year in many ways for farmers, but the NI Simmental Club and its members, embraced the challenge and adapted new ways of doing business, marketing and promoting the breed and their individual herds.

NI-bred cattle remain highly sought after, and even in the midst of a global pandemic, breeders have been able to utilise social media to sell pedigree livestock and embryos to customers in mainland UK, the EU and Australia.

Club members also embraced technology to attend the club’s first-ever virtual AGM.

April: Sale leader at Dungannon was the 5,600gns Ashland Lad bred by Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo.April: Sale leader at Dungannon was the 5,600gns Ashland Lad bred by Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo.
April: Sale leader at Dungannon was the 5,600gns Ashland Lad bred by Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo.

In February a small number of breeders made the trip to the society’s premier spring sale in Stirling. Local breeders were conspicuous by their absence.

Initially 32 NI-bred bulls were entered for the sale, but numbers dropped dramatically when the NI Protocol rules dictated by the EU following Brexit were implemented in January.

Only two local herds made the brave decision to make the journey across to Scotland.

Val and Conrad Fegan set a new herd record of 10,000gns for the May 2019 born Knockreagh Kilroy; while WH Robson and Sons sold the July 2019 Kilbride Farm Kanye for 6,500gns.

April: Chairman Keith Nelson; and vice-chariman Andrew Clarke, were elected at the clubâ€TMs Virtual AGM.April: Chairman Keith Nelson; and vice-chariman Andrew Clarke, were elected at the clubâ€TMs Virtual AGM.
April: Chairman Keith Nelson; and vice-chariman Andrew Clarke, were elected at the clubâ€TMs Virtual AGM.

The 8th of March marked a significant milestone in the history of the NI Simmental Club, as it celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the club’s formation.

Committee member Julie Wallace compiled a comprehensive report and pictures, highlighting the last 50 years, which was published in the local farming press.

The spring sale was held in Dungannon in early April. The pre-sale show wasn’t permitted due to the regulations, but there was a good entry of quality stock on offer. Sale topper at 5,600gns was the fifteen-month-old Ashland Lad bred by Pat and Frank Kelly. He was sold for export to telephone bidders WJ Frazer and Sons from Banffshire in Scotland.

The next best price was 4,100gns was paid to the Robson family for the October 2019 Kilbride Farm Karl. This polled entry was also exported to Scotland, selling to Lachlan Quarm’s Annick Herd in Ayrshire.

May: The Weatherup family Leslie, Christopher, Laura, Archie and Rita with their £25,000 record breaking Simmental bull Lisglass Kirk.May: The Weatherup family Leslie, Christopher, Laura, Archie and Rita with their £25,000 record breaking Simmental bull Lisglass Kirk.
May: The Weatherup family Leslie, Christopher, Laura, Archie and Rita with their £25,000 record breaking Simmental bull Lisglass Kirk.

Three bulls sold for 3,000gns each. Two of these were bred by Nigel Glasgow of the Bridgewater Farm Herd; with the other coming from William and Keith Stubbs’ Rehall Herd. A small female entry topped at 1,900gns for Jonathan Henderson’s Drumsamney Caramel.

Two heifers sold to average £1,890, and six bulls sold to level at £3,623, representing an increase of £863 on the 2019 sale.

In May, Lisglass Kirk bred by Leslie and Christopher Weatherup sold for £25,000, setting a new record for a Simmental bull bred in Northern Ireland. The twenty-month-old Mullyknock Gallant son sold to the Simmers family from Backmuir Farm, Banffshire in Scotland.

Ballymena Mart hosted the club’s annual sale in mid-May. There was a small entry, but following a 90% clearance the auctioneers confirmed that five bulls averaged £2,505, and four females sold to level at £1,822.

September: Chairman Keith Nelson, and secretary Julie Stinson, pictured at Balmoral Show.September: Chairman Keith Nelson, and secretary Julie Stinson, pictured at Balmoral Show.
September: Chairman Keith Nelson, and secretary Julie Stinson, pictured at Balmoral Show.

Prices peaked at 2,650gns, paid to Nigel Glasgow for the Samark Superman son, Bridgewater Farm Kentucky. Mr Glasgow also realised 2,500gns for Bridgewater Farm Kasper. Females topped at 1,840gns, paid to Alan and Ann Kennedy, Ballinderry, for the maiden heifer Lurgill Kim.

The British Simmental Society’s Virtual Show sparked considerable online interest during the summer, with local breeders featuring strongly, and dominating several of the classes.

The NI Simmental Club also hosted its first-ever Simmental Virtual Show. The competition was well-supported, with more than 200 entries competing across nine classes.

Thanks to the judges who gave up their time to place the entries, and congratulations to everyone who photographed their cattle and took part.

Continued on pages 44 and 45.

In August the Robson family’s noted Kilbride Farm prefix hosted a timed online female sale to mark the herd’s Golden Anniversary. Featuring yearling and in-calf heifers from its most prolific cow families, the sale attracted bidders from as far afield as Australia, Germany, Ireland and Scotland. Priced peaked at 6,000gns for the polled yearling heifer Kilbride Farm Eunice 314L, and resulted in 15 heifers averaging £4,886 each.

October: Female champion Ranfurly Weikel 40th L10 sold for a top price of 5,400gns at the 50th Anniversary Simmental Spectacular.October: Female champion Ranfurly Weikel 40th L10 sold for a top price of 5,400gns at the 50th Anniversary Simmental Spectacular.
October: Female champion Ranfurly Weikel 40th L10 sold for a top price of 5,400gns at the 50th Anniversary Simmental Spectacular.

A very different Balmoral Show took place in September. Unfortunately, due to C19 restrictions, there was a much smaller entry of Simmental cattle and fewer spectators around the showring. Judge Robin Boyd, Slievenagh Herd, awarded the supreme championship to the senior bull Hiltonstown Indiana owned by pedigree and commercial herd owner James McKane from Ballymena. Claiming the female and reserve supreme awards was the January 2020 heifer Drumsamney Lady Jane bred by Jonathan Henderson.

October proved to be a very busy month for Simmental breeders, starting off with the autumn sale in Stirling. Again, only a small number of members made the trip across the Irish Sea. Leading the Northern Ireland line-up at 9,000gns was the first prize Ballymoney Larry bred by Noel and Mae Kilpatrick. This March 2020 entry was the first son to sell from the herd’s 14,000gns stock bull, Saltire Impressive. Next best at 8,000gns was the March 2020 Hiltonstown Lorenzo bred by Richard and Rhys Rodgers. David and Jonny Hazelton sold the April 2020 Ranfurly Leader for 7,000gns.

The highlight of the year for many was the club’s 50th Anniversary Simmental Spectacular, held at Dungannon. There was standing room only, with the event attracting strong interest from pedigree and commercial bidders. Scottish judge Stewart Stronach commented on the high standard of entries in all classes.

Topping trade at 5,400gns was the female champion Ranfurly Weikel 40th L10, an April 2020 Samark Superman daughter bred by David and Jonny Hazelton. The Hazelton duo also realised 4,900gns for the reserve female champion Ranfurly Weikel 39th, a February 2020 heifer by Curaheen Bandit.

Next best at 4,700gns was the eleven-month-old Omorga Lorelle, a Curaheen Drifter daughter, bred by Harry and John Moore. The April 2020 Cladymore Lovely ET sold at 4,600gns for the Reaney family from Markethill.

Sale averages: 18 heifers £2,960; 5 bulls £2,541; Omorga draft 6 heifers £3,517; and Ballymoney draft 5 heifers £2,289.

The sale’s commercial section was topped at £2,750 by the ten-month-old heifer Miss Crumble, consigned by Alan Burleigh.

The club is indebted to the numerous local businesses who advertised in the sale catalogue.

In November the club joined forces with the Blonde, British Blue and Salers clubs to host the inaugural Four Breed Calf Show at Dungannon. It was very successful and will hopefully become an annual event. The show attracted over 40 entries, and was judged by society vice-president Norman Robson, who praised the quality of entries in each class. It was also encouraging to see a number of new breeders participating.

Senior champion was the fourteen-month-old heifer Ashland Topaz Lopez, a Saltire Impressive daughter, bred by Pat and Frank Kelly. Lifting the reserve senior title was the fourteen-month-old Islavle Frontier son, Lisglass Leo bred by Leslie and Christopher Weatherup.

The junior championship went to the ten-month-old Saltire Impressive son Ballymoney Martin, exhibited by Noel and Mae Kilpatrick. Taking the reserve award was the January-born polled heifer Rehall Moneypenny from William and Keith Stubbs.

In early December the Moore family’s Omorga prefix hit the headlines, winning the supreme championship and topping the society’s Next Generation Sale at Carlisle. The January-born Omorga Murphy sold for 16,000gns, and three Omorga bulls averaged £8,295.

Rounding off 2021 was the Foundation Female Sale in Omagh, organised by the Corrick, Derryharney and Mullyknock herds. Trade peaked at 10,000gns, paid to the McILwaine family for the two-year-old heifer Corrick Khloe.

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