Red Letter Day for Omorga Simmental Herd
2011-05-25

Prices soared to a top of 6,600gns for bulls and 5,200gns for heifers at this week’s NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s export show and sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

Omorga Baldwin scooped the male and supreme overall championship titles and sold for a top price of 6,600gns.

This sale marked a new chapter in the club’s calendar, and proved to be a red letter day for the Moore family from Beragh in County Tyrone who dominated the top spots in both the show and sale rings.

The 30-cow Omorga herd dates back more than 30 years and is owned by the father and son team of Canon Harry Moore, and son, John. They claimed the plaudits in the male championship line-up and went on to secure the day’s supreme overall championship ribbons. The Moore duo also led the bull trade at 6,600gns, and 5,000gns twice, with five Omorga bulls selling to level at £4,788 per head.

The sale leader at 6,600gns was the male and supreme overall champion Omorga Baldwin. Born in June 2010 he is by the home-bred Cleenagh Flasher son, Omorga Volvo – stock bull in Jim and Barry Chambers’ Shanehill herd based at Portadown, County Armagh. This much admired entry was bred from the Blackford Explosion daughter, Omorga Daffodil 4th – full sister to Omorga Nasser which sold at Perth for 10,000gns. He has a Breedplan self replacing index of +34 and is +3 for milk.

Scottish judge, Brian Allan, described the champion as a modern bull with tremendous shape. “The champion would feature strongly at any major show and sale on the mainland. Bidding was brisk for this entry with several pedigree breeders keen to secure him for their herds. Auctioneer Trevor Wylie brought the hammer down at 6,600gns, selling to AI Services (NI) Ltd based at Newtownabbey in County Antrim.

“He is a very correct and well grown bull with superb shape and muscle. This is the youngest bull in the catalogue and in my opinion is the best bull in the yard today,” explained the company’s breeding manager, Ivan Minford. “We are experiencing a growing demand for Simmental semen throughout Northern Ireland and as far afield as Europe.”

Next best at 5,000gns was the reserve male champion, Omorga Byron. This March 2010 born entry was sired by the home-bred Omorga Murray, and is out of the Raceview King daughter, Omorga Bambi 1. He is +9 for milk and has a self replacing index of +29. The successful bidder was Malcolm Fleming from Magherafelt, County Londonderry.

Also selling at 5,000gns was the first prize winning Omorga Benson ET. Born in March 2010 he is a son of the 20,000 Euro Curaheen Tyson, and is out of a home-bred dam by the 21,000gns Corrick Kentucky Kid. His dam, Omorga Marcia, also bred the 2009 Royal Highland Show champion, Omorga Veron. This bull has a self replacing index of +34, a milk value of +4, and sold to John McCoy from Dromore, County Tyrone.

Next best at 3,700gns was the second prize winning Kilbride Farm Berratoft, brought out by Billy Robson, and sons, Michael and Norman, from Doagh, County Antrim. Born in February 2010 he is by the herd’s 15,000gns stock bull, Cairnview Snazzy, and is out of a home-bred Carnkern Titan dam. With a self replacing index of +37 and a milk value of +4, this entry sold to pedigree breeder Clive Houldey who runs the Manor Park herd based at Lauder in Berwickshire.

Following close behind at 3,600gns was Harry and John Moore’s fifth prize winning Omorga Bailey. This yearling bull was sired by Dripsey Super King and is out of a dam by the noted Scottish Prinz. This one has a self replacing index of +25, a milk value of +6, and was snapped up by Pat Murray from Lurgan, County Armagh.

Killynure Arlene, the female and reserve supreme champion
sold for 5,200gns.

Female trade reached a ceiling of 5,200gns, paid to Raymond and Joan Porter from Omagh for their female and reserve supreme champion, Killynure Arlene. This February 2009 born heifer was sired by Omorga Murray, and is bred from the Carnkern Titan daughter, Killynure Ruby – one of eight cows in the County Tyrone herd. She is P’d in-calf to the noted Hillcrest King, and joins Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s Lisglass herd based at Ballyclare in County Antrim.

Next best at 2,750gns was the fourth prize winning Ranfurly Stella 4th exhibited by David Hazelton, Dungannon. This two-year-old heifer was sired by Seabank Flint and is bred from the Raceview King daughter, Raceview Melisa Stella – full sister to Peter O’Connell’s prize winning Raceview Matilda Stella. She is in-calf to the German-bred Steinadler, and caught the eye of pedigree breeder William Ferguson who runs the Sperrin View herd based at Stewartstown in County Tyrone.

The second prize winning Killynure Asta sold at 2,400gns for Raymond and Joan Porter. Born in March 2009 she is by Omorga Murray, and bred from a dam by Strathisla Kaiser. Scanned in-calf to Hillcrest King, she sold to Hugh Dobbin from Aughafatten, Ballymena, County Antrim.

The September 2009 born Drumcard Annie stood second in her class and came under the hammer at 2,400gns for Mervyn Nelson from Rosslea, County Fermanagh. Sired by Dripsey Super King, she is by Cleenagh Totty, and sold to Owen McElroy from Augher, County Tyrone.

Scottish judge, Brian Allan, Glenturk.

Newton Stewart-based judge, Brian Allan, runs the 35-cow Glenturk herd alongside pedigree Limousins and a commercial suckler enterprise. He thanked the Northern Ireland club for the invitation to judge at its export sale, and praised the breeders for presenting a quality entry of stock. “Its been an excellent event, and the bulls placed at the top of each class were really very good. There were also some super females forward, and the real toppers in the catalogue found a ready demand.”

“I know numerous Scottish breeders who were planning to attend this event. Unfortunately their travel plans were disrupted by yesterday’s stormy weather, and the volcanic ash cloud which has grounded flights from Scotland’s major airports.”

NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club chairman, Pat Kelly said:”We were entering new territory by holding an export sale, and it has turned out to be a successful event. Thanks to our sponsors for their generous support.”

Sponsors include: Animax; McGirr Haulage, Tempo; Millburn Concrete, Cookstown; and Redrock Machinery.

At the end of the day’s trading Dungannon Farmers’ Mart reported that 13 bulls changed hands to average £3,247 each, while 11 females sold to level at £2,315 per head.

Results from the judging ring...

Bull, born between 18/01/10 and 13/03/10 – 1, and reserve male champion, Canon Harry and John Moore, Beragh, Omorga Byron by Omorga Murray; 2, WH Robson and Sons, Doagh, Kilbride Farm Berratoft by Cairnview Snazzy; 3, Sean Burns, Rathfriland, Longbeach Bart by Cairnview Snazzy.

Bull, born between 18/03/10 and 15/04/10 – 1, Canon Harry and John Moore, Omorga Benson (ET) by Curaheen Tyson; 2, David and Margaret Thompson, Ahoghill, Lummin Bruno by Kilbride Farm Porter; 3, Canon Harry and John Moore, Omorga Braveheart (ET) by Omorga Samson.

Bull, born between 16/04/10 and 21/06/10 – 1, male champion and supreme overall champion, Canon Harry and John Moore, Omorga Baldwin by Omorga Volvo; 2, Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, Hiltonstown Baron by Clonagh Voom Sammy; 3, Kenneth Veitch, Lisbellaw, Drumlone Big Time by Carnkern Titan.

Female, born between 01/09/09 and 26/08/09 – 1, female champion and reserve supreme champion, Raymond and Joan Porter, Omagh, Killynure Arlene by Omorga Murray; 2, Raymond and Joan Porter, Killynure Asta by Omorga Murray; 3, WH Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Eunice 100A by Cairnview Snazzy.

Female, born between 01/09/09 and 04/05/10 – 1, and reserve female champion, WH Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Fanni 18A by Cairnview Snazzy; 2, M Nelson, Rosslea, Drumcard Annie by Dripsey Super King; 3, J J Hanna, Irvinestown, Stralongford Bianca by Bridgemount Vixon.

• The Moore family’s Omorga herd based at Beragh in County Tyrone is the venue for the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s annual stockjudging competition. The event takes place on Monday, June 13 commencing at 7.00pm. A warm welcome is extended to all members and non-members. Further details from club secretary, Robin Boyd on mobile: 07799 346784.

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