Taking Stock

With 58 head entered for the Simmental Society's sale at Carlisle on April 27, there will be plenty on offer for breed enthusiasts to bid for.

With many herds looking to breed their own replacements, Simmentals are becoming increasingly popular as maternal sires, so all bodes well for a good sale.

A good show of Simmental cattle at the society sale at Ludlow at the weekend, in conjunction with McCartneys Auctioneers, encouraged buyers to clear all of the 15 lots forward.

Top price of the day and reserve champion from the pre-sale show, judged by Rob Fitton, was Wroxall Seaman, which made 3500gns to Michael Mercer, Bowley Court Farms, Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster.

Sired by by the imported Vingegard Texas out of Wroxall Nice Moira, Seaman is bred and exhibited by the society president, Dan Evans, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick.

January 2006-born bulls topped the trade for Simmentals at last week's Carlisle sale, with the pre-sale champion, Hockenhull Tonga, leading prices at 3200gns.

Forward from Hugo Arnold, Chester, Tonga is by Lynfield Pointer and out of homebred dam Hockenhull Deborah 4. With a terminal sire index of 18, Tonga goes on to join pre-sale judge Sandy McDowall's herd at Culquhasen Newton Stewart.

Following Tonga through the classes to reserve championship was the Loud family's January 2006-born entry Taurus Topic. Topic claimed the second highest price of the day, being knocked down at 2800gns to the MacAuley Land Use Research Institute, Lanarkshire.

Taurus, with an impressive terminal sire index of 24, is by Scotland Hooray Henry and out of Brinkton Brilliant sired Taurus Jade.

Following an outstanding trade for Simmental cross breeding cattle the previous Friday, a good show of Simmental bulls at the United Auctions Perth Multi Breed sale on Monday held in conjunction with the British Simmental Society, attracted a huge interest from buyers from early in the day.

The interest in the judging, conducted by Caroline Greenhill, Craighill Farm, Duntrune By Dundee, Angus, continued to the lines and onto the sale ring where all but two of the 25 bulls forward found new homes.

Top price of 4200gns was reached twice, both times by Henry and Susan Widdicome who justified their long journey from Ashprington Court, Ashprington, Totnes, Devon, when Starline Shakespeare led their string from the Starline Herd.

A Blackford Hawk son, out of a home bred cow by Wroxall Field Marshall, he stood second in his class earlier in the day and sold to Messrs K M Fraser, Pitcairlie, Wester Lumbennie, Newburgh, Fife.

Two lots later, Starline Summit also made 4200gns when he sold to Messrs G Wealleans and Son, Angel Row, Greenlaw, Duns. A 17 month old son of the famous Blackford Northern Light and this time out of the home bred Starline Karissa 6th, a daughter of Starline Decision he stood third in his class earlier.

Last week's South of England show was a particularly good one for Taking Stock with both regular contributors invoved in bringing forward champions.

For my part I managed to clinch the interbreed sheep title for the second year in a row with a Southdown shearling ram, while Chrissie helped Thorndean Farms to the Limousin breed title with a two year old heifer, Thorndean At Last, sired by Sheelin Nato.

Elsewhere in the beef lines it was the turn of Mortimers Farms' stockman Charlie Maclean to lead out the winner, Charolais cow Mortimers Racey. By Gretnahouse Napoleon and out of homebred cow Mortimers Madonna, Racey was shown with a Mortimers Upstart sired calf at foot and just the week before had stood interbreed champion at the Royal Bath and West.

Unshown since 2002 when she lifted the breed championship at the Highland as a heifer, Racey beat the Angus champion, Andrew Brown's heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela into reserve.

Pamela, who stood native champion at last week's Suffolk Show, is by Blelack Black Beret and was led out by Kevin Byford.

Females dominated proceedings at last weekend's East of England Show, clinching the overall interbreed beef title, the commercial beef championship, the interbreed sheep championship and the interbreed pig silverware.

Leading the way was Doug Mash's French bred Limousin cow Segala from his family's Brockhurst herd. Imported just over a year a go and shown with her November 2006-born calf at foot, Segala now heads to the Royal and Royal Welsh.

Standing reserve here was the Aberdeen Angus champion, Briston Echo, from Duncan Jeary's 60-cow herd. By Tegnose Pensboy and out of Briston Briarthorn, Echo was also shown with her March-born calf at foot.

Heading up the commercial classes was the Limousin cross heifer Miss Moneypenny from Sennybridge-based Elfed Williams. Brought out by Neil and Sally Lloyd of Black and Blue Show Team, Miss Moneypenny was bred by Andrew Davies and cost Mr Williams £7100.

Among the juniors it was the turn of another Limousin, Ironstone Brandy, from Smtihs of Bloxham's Ironstone herd which led the way. By Unesco, Brandy is out of record price Limousin female Bailea Umandy.

Narrowly pipped into reserve spot was Mike and Jean Dickens' Limousin cross heifer Splash, this one was bred by the Skidmore family.

Charolais cattle captured both the individual and pairs interbreed championships at the rain affected Three Counties Show.

Conditions were so bad that interbreed cattle judging was moved inside, where judge Jim Goldie found himself assessing a Limousin bull he bred.

Having made Shamleys Victoria, an outstandingly well grown Charolais heifer from Mrs Jamilla Robinson's herd at nearby Tenbury Wells, his champion, he called on independent referee Martin Jones to decide whether Goldies Trophy should be reserve champion. The bull he sold to Somerset breeder Colin Hutchings three years ago for 6000gns, was given the nod.

Leading a small entry of four bulls and 10 females forward for the Simmental show and sale at Carlisle last week was the January 2003 cow and calf Wroxall Posh Lilly, forward from L and A Curry, Bristol, Somerset, who sold for 3500gns.

By Milnafua Grenade and out of Wroxhall Judy Lilly which goes back to Strathisla Capricorn, Posh Lilly sold with her heifer calf at foot by Kilbride Farm Newry to J A Madely and Son, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire.

The national record for a black Simmental female was broken in Wadonga, Victoria, last week, when a rising four-year old female with two month old bull calf at foot from David and Tara Brewers' final dispersal sold for $20,000.

The breeders sold the polled cow to two buyers - Bywood Park Simmental stud and Sylvandale Simmentals. The parntership plans to flush the cow later this month to US import Lucky Man.

Nicknamed Daisy, Brewers Daydream Z472 was reserve junior champion heifer at Melbourne Show in 2004 and has gone on to win numerous local shows.

Disappointing prices were reached at Ludlow Simmental sale this week, as the bluetongue restriction zone diminished buyers and sellers. As culling out prices remain consistently high, low numbers of breeding bulls and heifers were being sold.

Topping the sale, which saw only five of 15 forward sell, was a call of 2400gns for the champion, Sterling Tomahawk, son of Corskie Principal. Consigned from S R Hitchins, Boddington Estates and shown by their stock man Jimmy McMillan, he sold to C M Mercer, Leominster.

The catalogue for the Simmental sale at Carlisle is now available. Although there are only 17 entered for the sale on the 25th April, there are one or two good milk figures bulls entered.

The first one that jumps out at me is one from Charles Bruce, Bemersyde Thistle. This bull has a +5 milk figure nad Self Replacing Index of +34.

The other one that might be worth a look is Swingletree Terminator from J A Tallentire. By Salisbury Challenger, this bull is a grandson (on the dam side) of Balmano Hitman. He sells with a +6 figure for milk.

As you will see in today's Farmers Weekly, I had the pleasure of a guided tour round the new Burytown herd of organic Simmentals.

Those of you that follow the Simmental sector will know that David and Nikky Field have been on a spending spree over the last year securing some of the best Simmental heifers at Society sales, not to mention a certain 22,000gns bull from Perth.

Stock certainly looks well and I was incredibly impressed with Dave's building design. They have some great bloodlines down there and will certainly be a herd to keep an eye on in the future.

The couple tell me they have plans to show, but will start very low key at a local level - and with their own bloodlines once they are born - which is nice to hear!

Anyway, here's a few more pictures for you to look at.........but Blair Tiffany (reserve champ from Perth 2008) still remians my favourite!

A packed gallery and ringside at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Monday evening witnessed an excellent trade for all classes of stock at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders Club annual Spring Show and Sale.

A quality entry of bulls saw prices peak at 5000gns paid for the reserve supreme champion, Ashland Teviot, from the father and son team of Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo. An October 2006 born son of Raceview Nigel, the herd’s stock bull with the dam, Corlesmore Clodagh being female champion at an Elite sale in Naas, some years ago, Teviot sold to F Watson, Cloughey, Newtownards.

The 15 month old Corrick Vanguard, having lifted the red ticket from class three fetched 2900gns for his breeders, Cecil and Neil McIlwaine. Bred from the popular AI sire Kilbride Farm Newry and the homebred Carnkern Titan dam, Corrick Limelight, Vanguard was keeping the Newtownstewart based Corrick herd to the forefront having bred the 2007 sale champion.

A joint top price of 3600gns was achieved for the champion (judged by Andy Ryder) Simmental at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday. Chesterman Titan, from N and N Gwynne sold to D J A Davies, Wales. Chesterman Titan is sired by Gretna House Supersonic and out of Rosten Julie.

At the same price was Derwentwood Tornado from N and A Hunter and knocked down to Mssrs G and L White, Howden. Derwentwood Tornado is sired by Drumsleed Kelso and out of Derwentwood Duchess.

Having taken the championship honours at Bristol Sales Centre's Simmental show and sale on Saturday, Grangewood Trademark from A and Y Leedham sold for 3300gns to Messrs Brickell, Cirnecester.

The reserve to him, Wishful Vegas, from D and C Mills, Wellington, Somerset then sold for 2800gns to commercial producers Woolhanger Farms.

Taking the female championship was David Barker's Heywood Viola 4th, who later sold to David and Nikky Field, Swindon for 2000gns to join their recently established organic Burytown herd.

Taking the Simmental championship at yesterday's Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland was Mullyknock Princess from R Forde.

 Standing reserve to her was the reserve female champion Dripsey Twilligh from W Abraham.

In the males it was Ashland Vagabond from P Kelly, while Ranfurly Vigilante V10 from David Hazelton.

More results and pictures to follow shortly...... 

The Bilston Charolais herd and the Regency Simmental herd owned by the late Les Owen from Wolverhampton was dispersed at Bridgnorth, Shropshire last week where bidding reached 2300gns.

The top call came for the Charolais cow Bilston Tanya who was suckling a heifer calf at foot by Ballindalloch UFU. Buyers were L and A Jones, Painscastle, Builth Wells.

The 2003-bred Charolais cow Bilston Utrexy, suckling two bull calves by UFO, made 1780gns to W J Skipper Ltd., Burton-on-Trent. Stock bull Bilston Athlete, by Mortimers Speedy and with a pedigree going back to some good Maerdy breeding, made 2000gns to E J Stokes, Stratford.

Leading the Simmentals at 2000gns was the well-bred cow Darshams Nita bred by the Clements family from Norfolk. By Darshams Haddon this 2003-bred cow had a heifer calf at foot and sold to H Brown, Clifton-on-Teme, Worcestershire.

Herdmate Regency Lilly, a five-year-old cow with a heifer calf at foot by Wroxall Teenybopper, made 1850gns to Mr Winnington, Stafford.

Simmental maiden heifers sold well with 22 averaging 855gns and reaching 1850gns. Other averages: 20 Charolais cows and calves 1298gns; 17 Simmental cows and calves 1350gns. (Knock Deighton).

Fresh from their win yesterday in the M&S Beefbreeder championships, Swalesmoor Charolais led by stockman Iain Campbell were in the winning line up this morning for the junior interbreed.

Under the eye of Ronald Sinclair, Orkney, Swalesmoor Cupid was tapped out ahead of the Simmental.

 By Goldies Uppermost out of Blelack Una, Cupid took the title in front of the Simmental exhibit from Iain Green's Corskie Valiant 2, by Strathisla Nuggat (a bull due out in the beef interbreed later this morning).

Taking the silverware home in the Simmental rings at the Royal Show was David Bell's cow Crackley Cornelia. Fullbred on both sides Cornelia is by Crackley Klassik and out of Crackley Cornelia 33.

Standing reserve to her was Michael barlow's cow Denzies Melody 2.

In the Charolais classes it was February's Perth champion Killadeas Barney. Bred by S and D Bothwell he is by Dunlon Ulick and out of a homebred cow, the 2006 born bull took the lead ahead of a stylish heifer from Gaynor McDowell and David Cormack, Marwood Beaumont. she is by Inverlochy Passport and out of Mowbraypark Jessica.