The Simmental breed has secured the best clearance rate so far at this year’s February instalment of the Stirling Bull Sales.
The hammer went down six times at a five-figure sum for the breed yesterday, with a total of 129 bulls selling to an average of £4,964.
This is down more than £300 on the February 2014 sales when 119 sold to an average of £5,267.
However the clearance rate of 80% is higher than that achieved by Aberdeen-Angus, Shorthorn and Limousin which achieved 64%, 63% and 64% clearance rates respectively two weeks ago.
According to the breed society’s secretary Neil Shand, the sale was dominated by commercially-driven trade. “The commercial guys will chase the breeders all the way for the best bull, but we have to be realistic and realise money was tight.” said Mr Shand.
“People were bidding to a budget less than it was a year ago and less than in October.”
The judges’ favourite was one of two Simmental bulls to make the top price of 12,000gn. The overall and junior champion was a December 2013-born lot from Northern Irish grandfather and grandson duo – Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh.
Derrycallaghan Ernest is an AI son of Kilbride Farm Newry out of Derrycall-aghan Beauty. He was snapped up two bids after the starting bid of 10,000gn, by the pre-sale show judge Mike Barlow who runs 40 pedigree Simmentals at Four Oaks, Preston. Mr Barlow said Beauty was an “outstanding example of the breed”, that had caught his eye in his first class.
The second lot at 12,000gn was a second-prize winning lot from Jimmy and Iain Green’s Corskie herd at Garmouth, Fochabers. Corskie Elgin is a May-2013 born AI son of Greencape Ace and out of Corskie Amaryllis. Ace has bred sons to 11,000gn previously.
He was snapped up by Gordon Clark at Broombrae Farm, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife.
Next best at 10,500gn was a second-prize winning bull from Hector MacAskill’s Woodhall herd at Dunbar.
Woodhall Enfield is a September 2013-born son of Raceview All-Star, out of Woodhall Angela. He heads north to A & D Clark, of Stratheast, Holm, Orkney.
The hammer then went down three times at 10,000gn.
First at this price was the senior and reserve overall champion from the Greens at Corskie.
Corskie Envoy is an April 2013-born son of the 22,000gn Dirnanean Bradley which was overall Simmental champion at the Highland Show last summer. This one, which is out of Corskie Adorabelle, was bought by Ian Wilson at Fordie, Torphins, Aberdeenshire. Another at 10,000gn was a first-prize winning bull from Billy and sons Michael and Norman Robson’s Kilbride Farm herd in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland.
Kilbride Farm Emperor is an August 2013-born AI son of Kilbride Farm Warren, our of Kilbride Farm, Euinice. He heads north to a Mr Wood of Orkney.
Late on in the sale, the third at 10,000gn was a second-prize winning lot from Alex and Ross King’s Wolfstar herd at Ormiston, Tranent, East Lothian.
November 2013-born Wolfstar Elusive is a Team Celtic son out of Wolfstar Tequila. He was snapped up by Stewart Stronach, Berryleys, Farm, Grange, Keith.
In the females sale, a top price of 5,400gn was achieved for an April 2011-born cow from the judge Mike Barlow.
Denizes Melody 12th is an Ashland Tornado daughter out of Denizes Melody. She was bought, due to calf in June, by S Keen, Stornhill, near Sheffield. The champion sold for 3,600gn, and the reserve for 3,500gn.
SIMMENTAL PARADE OF CHAMPIONS
Overall and junior champion – Harold Stubbs and Andrew Burleigh, 48 Innisrooisk Road, Crummy, Ballindarragh, Northern Ireland, with Derrycallaghan Ernest, by Kilbride Farm Newry.
Reserve overall and senior champion – Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with Corskie Envoy, by Dirnanean Bradley.
Reserve senior champion – Neil McGowan, Incheoch Farms, Alyth, Blairgowrie, with Dirnanean Eskimo, by Dirnanean Salvador.
Intermediate champion – Cecil, Neil and Scott McIlwaine, Corrick, 71 Plumbridge Road, Newtonstewart, with Corrick Extreme, by Kilbride Farm Bantry.
Reserve intermediate champion – Kenny Veitch, Drumlone, Lisbellaw, Northern Ireland, with Drumlone Engineer, by Omorga Murray.
Reserve junior champion – H J W & J C Moore, 115 Church Road, Coolesker, Beragh, Northern Ireland, with Omorga Ennis, by Kilbride Farm Bantry.
Female champion – J Wilson, 4 Martins Lane, Dorans Hill, Newry, Northern Ireland, with Ballinalare Farm Ellie, by Auchorachan Wizard.
Reserve female champion – L A Richardson, Hillview, Drumbroughas, Maguiresbridge, Northern Ireland, with Cleenagh Eliza, by Drumlone Anchor.