Simmental bulls sell to 3,000gns at NI spring sale
Simmental bulls reached a ceiling of 3,000gns twice at the Northern Ireland Club’s spring show and sale, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.
Joint sale leader was the day’s male and supreme overall champion Kilbride Farm Eric bred by Billy Robson and sons Michael and Norman, from Doagh, County Antrim. Sired by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, this naturally polled bull is out of a home-bred dam by the Danish sire Lamhoj Supery. Two full brothers averaged 7,000gns in Stirling.
Male and supreme overall champion
He is in the breed’s top 5% for eye muscle area +4.3, and terminal sire index +86, and in the top 10% for self replacing index +87. This November 2013 born entry was snapped up by T McCartney, Jerrettspass, Newry.
Judge Andrew Clarke from the Breaghey herd, County Armagh, described the champion as ‘a long, well fleshed bull with nice hindquarters and a good thick loin’.
Also selling at 3,000gns was the Robson family’s second prize winner Kilbride Farm Earl TSI+68 SRI+76. Sired by Kilbride Farm Barrister, he is bred from Kilbride Farm Dora 40B. Highest bidder on this eighteen-month-old bull was V Ferguson, Dungannon.
Next best at 2,800gns was the third placed Corrick Exodus TSI +66 SRI+77 consigned by Cecil and Hazel McIlwaine, and sons Scott and Neil, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Sired by stock bull Carbery Carribbean, this November 2013 entry is out of a home-bred dam by Carnkern Titan. In the breed’s top 10% for eye muscle area +3.5, he sold to Norman Hammond, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
The Robson family were in the money again at 2,400gns, realised by the second prize winning Kilbride Farm Eagle TSI+71 SRI+76. He was sired by stock bull Crugmelyn Brenin, and is out of a home-bred dam by the popular Kilbride Farm Newry. In the top 5% for eye muscle area, this November 2013 born bull sold to Malcolm Fleming, Magherafelt, County Londonderry.
Mr Clarke awarded the reserve male championship to Haystar Eclipse TSI+67 SRI+69, an October 2013 born Omorga Murray son bred by Gavin Hayes, and sons Kyle, James and Sam, Upper Ballinderry, County Antrim. He was bred from the Hillcrest Champion daughter Carralavin Winford – one of six breeding females in the herd. This one failed to meet his reserve and returned home unsold.
Claiming the female and reserve supreme championship awards was the September 2013 born Knockreagh Emily exhibited by the father and son team of Val and Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor, County Down. She was sired by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion Auchorachan Wizard, and is out of a home-bred dam by Omorga Volvo. Buyer at 2,600gns was judge Andrew Clarke.
Female and reserve supreme champion was Knockreagh Emily which sold at 2,600gns for Conrad Fegan, Rostrevor. Also pictured are judge Andrew Clarke, Tynan; and Andrew Tecey, Danske Bank,
Averages: 6 pedigree bulls £2,590; 3 pedigree heifers £2,257.