Iain Green makes his selection of Simmental bulls

Field work is well up to date with all of heavy land destined for spring barley ploughed by the middle of last month.

Spring calving pedigree cows and heifers are on stubble turnips and autumn calved cows being fed a draff, silage and straw mix outside on grass and stubble fields which are due to be ploughed and drilled with cereals in the spring time.

We recently made our final selection of Simmental bulls suitable for breeding and sold the rejected ones on a deadweight basis at an average age of just over 12 months. They averaged £1,279 a head and sold to a top price of £1,480 for a young bull which was destined for breeding but had damaged testicles.

Once again the Simmental breed has proved to me how much of a dual-purpose animal and performer it can be, not only have these bulls done well but we still have all their sisters to select from for replacement cows.

I also took advantage of the recent cull cow price and sold some old cows along with the bulls which averaged £1,135 and sold to a top of £1,399 for a nine-year-old cow.

I was recently given the pleasure of being one of the judges of the New Products launched at Agriscot. There were 20 products entered in the competition which ranged from animal feed additives to machinery and cattle handling equipment. I had a very enjoyable day and found it really encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the suppliers who had entered the competition.

May I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

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