Buoyant trade for Simmentals at Stirling

The sale’s high flyers were traded between pedigree breeders, but bidding was mainly underpinned by commercial suckler herd owners and beef finishers keen to exploit the Simmental’s dual purpose maternal and terminal traits.

Hitting the headlines at 21,000gns was the reserve senior champion Overhill House Guinness TSI+77 SRI+90 exhibited by Richard McCulloch, and herd manager John Hughes, West Lothian. Born in April 2015, he is by the 18,500 Euro herd sire Curaheen Drifter ET - senior champion at Roscommon in November 2013. His dam is the Annick Talisker daughter Woodhall Amara.

Next best at 20,000gns was the intermediate and reserve supreme champion Dirnanean Grafter TSI+78 SRI+85 consigned by breed society chief executive Neil Shand from Cairnorrie Farm, Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Born in July 2015, he is by the NI-bred Ranfurly Confederate, and was purchased alongside his dam Dirnanean Polarine A8 (P) at Finlay and Judy McGowan’s dispersal sale in September 2015. Ranked in the top 15% for eye muscle area +4.2, he joins Adrian Ivory’s noted Strathilsa Herd in Perthshire.

Leading the Northern Ireland consignment were Billy, Michael and Norman Robson whose 100-cow Kilbride Farm Herd at Doagh is currently featured in the UTV series Rare Breed. Their 14-strong entry grossed at £77,910, resulting in an average of £5,565 per head.

Top of the Robson family’s line-up at 12,000gns was the first prize winning Kilbride Farm Goldstar TSI+89 SRI+101. This August 2015 entry is a son of the home-bred Kilbride Farm Warren, and is out of the Cairnview Snazzy daughter Kilbride Farm Eunice 118C. He joins Brian Grant’s Dellfield Herd at Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.

Two Kilbride Farm bulls commanded 10,000gns price tags. First to sell was the fourth placed Kilbride Farm Gregor TSI+87 SRI+101, a polled July 2015 son of the imported stock bull Sneumgaard Imperator. His dam is a Crugmelyn Brenin daughter from the noted Eunice family.

Also selling for 10,000gns was the October 2015 Kilbride Farm Gruffalo TSI+95 SRI+98. A Crugmelyn Brenin son, his dam is a daughter of the noted Kilbride Farm Newry. This one is in the breed’s top 1% for milk +12, and top 10% for eye muscle area +4.4. Buyers were Messrs Sutherland from Thurso, Caithness.

The Crugmelyn Brenin son Kilbride Farm Gleneely TSI+99 SRI+107 came under the hammer at 7,500gns. This fifth prize winner was born in June 2015, and is bred from the Seaview Prince Charming daughter Kilbride Farm Dora 21T. Ranked in the top 1% for milk +13, and top 5% for eye muscle area +5.0, he was also snapped up by Messrs Sutherland.

County Fermanagh pedigree breeders William, Margaret and George Nelson, Rosslea, realised 11,000gns for the first prize winner Drumacritten George TSI+66 SRI+84. Born in May 2015, he is by the 2014 and 2015 Balmoral Show champion Dermotstown Delboy ET, and is out of a home-bred dam by the 10,000gns herd sire Drumlone Anchor – junior and supreme Stirling champion in October 2010. In the breed’s top 15% for calving ease +3.3, he attracted a bid of 11,000gns from former Scottish rugby international John Jeffrey, who runs the Kersknowe Herd in Kelso, Roxburghshire.

Setting a herd record of 8,000gns for Michael and Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea, was the fifth placed Drumagarner Gallagher. This June 2015 entry was sired by the home-bred stock bull Drumagarner Derry, and is out of the Hillcrest Champion daughter Broomfield Wee Nina – purchased for 3,500 Euro at Tullamore in 2010. He is in the top 1% for TSI+107, SRI+120 and eye muscle area +5.3. Buyer was D Goldie from Dalrymple in Ayrshire. The McCloskey’s run a herd of 25 breeding females alongside their Woodcraft Kitchens business. The first two sons of Drumagarner Derry have sold to average £7,455.

The first placed Ashland Gingerboy TSI+77 SRI+87 sold at 6,500gns for Pat and Frank Kelly’s 10-cow herd at Tempo. Born in June 2015, he was sired by the home-bred Raceview King son Ashland Brandy, and is bred from the Raceview Nigel daughter Ashland Diamond 3rd – 2007 Balmoral champion, and 2010 Female of the Year. His eye muscle area +5.1 puts him in the top 5%. Buyer was M Cruickshank, Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire.

Also selling at 6,500gns was the third placed Ranfurly Gerrard TSI+83 SRI+95, a July 2015 born Raceview King son from David and Jonny Hazelton’s Dungannon-based herd. He is bred from the Hillcrest Valentine daughter Ranfurly Weikel 12th VG87. In the top 10% for milk +10, and top 15% for eye muscle area +4.3, this one sold to John Mawell’s Jaw Herd at Fintry, Glasgow.

The Hazelton duo also secured a bid of 3,500gns for the fifth placed Ranfurly Gomez TSI+68 SRI+77. He is by Kilbride Farm Newry, and bred from the Balist daughter Ranfurly Weikel 2nd ET VG86. Boasting a milk figure of +14 this one is in the breed’s top 1%.

NI Simmental Club vice chairman Conrad Fegan, and father Val, Rostrevor, realised 6,000gns for Knockreagh Geronimo. This fourth placed August 2015 entry was sired by Omorga Volvo, and is out of a home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry daughter. He is in the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle area +4.9, milk +10, TSI+95 and SRI+106. Buyer was D Brims from Wick, Caithness.

Lesile and Chris Weatherup, Ballyclare, sold four sons from their stock bull Dermotstown Delboy to average £4,357 each. Leading the Lisglass line-up at 5,000gns was the fourth prize winner Liglass Gladstone TSI+55 SRI+72. This one was bred from the Carnkern Titan daughter Lisglass Roberta. In the breed’s top 5% for calving ease +5.8, he sold to JB Paterson, Hartbrush, Dumfries.

Next best at 4,800gns was the fourth prize winning Lisglass Goliath TSI+56 SRI+69. Born in June 2015, his dam is Woodhall Sontana – purchased for 8,000gns at the Woodhall production sale in 2008.

Retired vet Joe Campbell, Strabane, sold the fifth placed Camus Gaelic TSI+60 SRI+70 for 4,200gns. Born in May 2015 he is by Keeldrum Capone, and is out of a home-bred Camus Brandy daughter.

Richard Rodgers from Portglenone sold three bulls from the Hiltonstown Herd to average £3,255 each. Topping his offering at 3,500gns was the July 2015 Hiltonstown Gideon TSI+68 SRI+62. Sired by the 12,000gns Kilbride Farm Bantry, he is bred from a home-bred dam by Hiltonstown Talisman.

The third placed Castlemount Goldsmith sold at 3,500gns for Duncan McDowell, Newtownards. Born in June 2015 he is by Kilbride Farm Delboy TSI+81 SRI+79, and out of a home-bred dam by Clonagh Tiger Gallant.

Simmental females peaked at 7,800gns, with 20 lots selling to level at £2,827 (74%) – an increase of £552 on twelve months ago.

Garvagh veterinary surgeon and pedigree herd owner Nevin Smith paid out 4,000gns to secure the female champion Chestermann Wick Ginny, an April 2015 Kilbride Farm Wick daughter bred by Nick and Nadia Gwynne from Whithorn.

The third placed Westridge Baron Louise 3 sold for 3,000gns to Noel and Mai Kilpatrick’s Ballymoney Herd in Banbridge. Born in September 2014, she is by Grangewood Baron.