First ever production sale from noted Simmental herds
Plans are well underway for the first-ever production sale of Simmental females from the noted Ballinlare Farm and Ranfurly herds.
Billed as one of the most anticipated Simmental sales of 2012, the event takes place at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira, on Saturday, September 8.
Stock will be on view from early morning, with the first lot coming under the hammer of auctioneers Michael Taaffe and David Lowry at 1.30pm.
The catalogue features 54 lots, comprising of 34 maiden heifers and 15 heifers all scanned in-calf, with the addition of 5 heifers which have been AI’d and will be scanned prior to the sale.
The Ranfurly Herd dates back to 1971, while the 60-cow Ballinlare Farm Herd was founded in 1984. Over the years both herds have invested in new families which have been mated with popular proven sires within the breed.
David Hazelton said:”We have been planning this sale for over twelve months, and are delighted to offer breeders from throughout the UK and Ireland an opportunity to secure the best genetics available within our herds.
“We are having the sale simply to reduce stock numbers, and I would like to give prospective purchasers my sincere assurances that I am offering all of my 2010/11 born breeding heifer crop, with the exception of one animal which was a wedding present for my daughter Julie.
“There are heifers to suit all pockets and we invite breed enthusiasts to come along and view the stock on offer.”
The catalogue features some of the most recognised genetics in the breed, as well as few out-cross bloodlines which have been imported from countries such as Germany, Denmark and New Zealand.
One of the most noted breeding and ET donor cows in the Ranfurly Herd is South Park King Kong Weikel 2nd. To date, ten of her sons and one daughter have sold to gross over £56,000.
“This sale offers breeders a rare opportunity to acquire a young female from the sought-after Weikel family. The catalogue includes one daughter and four granddaughters of our favourite brood cow.”
There are seven cow families at Ranfurly, six of which are represented in the catalogue, and include a granddaughter of the 10,000 Euro Ballingar Hester; Kleeb which hails from the noted Sacombe prefix; Beauty and Stella which hail from the noted Raceview Herd; and members of the Lady Diana family which originate from the Salisbury herd.
The Wilson family’s Ballinlare Farm herd is offering a selection of maiden and in-calf heifers. “The catalogue includes our entire 2010/11 born heifer crop, with the exception of two animals which have been retained because their dams are no longer in the herd,” explained Joe Wilson.