Bon Jovi sets record farm price
County Antrim-based Simmental breeders Robin and Darla Boyd have achieved a new on-farm record price for the fifteen-month-old Slievenagh Bon Jovi.
The private deal was made recently by the husband and wife team from Portglenone, and new breeder Duncan McDowell from Newtownards,
Slievenagh Bon Jovi was sired by the home-bred Cairnview Snazzy son, Slievenagh Willem, while his dam is the Cleenagh Flasher daughter, Slievenagh Whitney. The 20-cow Slievenagh herd was founded in 1979, and has sold bulls at auction to a top of 20,000gns, realised by Slievenagh Talisman – reserve junior and reserve supreme
Pedigree Shorthorn breeder, sheep farmer and commercial suckler herd owner Duncan McDowell established the Castlemount Simmental herd last year, and has purchased a number of maiden and in-calf heifers from the Slievenagh, Ranfurly, Edenbann, Stralongford and Drumbulcan herds.
Mr McDowell saw the bull recently at Slievenagh Farm and was determined to buy him prior to the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s forthcoming export show and sale in Dungannon. This tremendous young bull is in the breed’s top 20% for eye muscle area +3.3, and in the top 25% with a daughter calving ease figure of +1.3.
Although Mr McDowell runs a 90-cow suckler herd, he bought the bull to use within the pedigree herd. He also plans to exhibit Slievenagh Bon Jovi at several provincial shows throughout the summer, commencing with Balmoral Show in May.
“We had planned to enter Bon Jovi for the club’s May show and sale, but Duncan McDowell was keen to secure him and we couldn’t refuse his offer,” explained Robin Boyd, secretary of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club. “The club’s forthcoming sale has been introduced to attract the crème de la crème of Northern Ireland Simmentals, bulls which would normally be destined for
* A selection of high-calibre Simmental bulls and females will be on offer at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Tuesday, May 1.