New On-Farm Record for Slievenagh Simmentals
2012-04-02

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.

Slievenagh Bon Jovi

The private deal was made recently by the husband and wife team from Portglenone, and new breeder Duncan McDowell from Newtownards, County Down.

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 Perth champion in November 2007.

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 Stirling later in the year. Our breeders are amongst the best in the UK, and this sale aims to fly the flag for locally-bred Simmentals”.

A selection of high-calibre Simmental bulls and females will be on offer at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Tuesday, May 1. All entries included in the catalogue will be fully TB and BR tested making them eligible for immediate export to Eire and mainland UK. In addition, all entries will be tested and vaccinated for BVD, while bulls will be insured for fertility from the fall of the hammer. As usual, the comprehensive NBA fertility warranties will apply, giving purchasers the reassurance of the most superior guarantees which are only available at Simmentals sales in Northern Ireland and the UK. Judging gets underway at 10.30am, followed by the sale at 1pm. A spokesman for the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club confirmed that all animals will be on-farm inspected prior to being accepted for the sale. Further details from club secretary Robin Boyd on mobile: 07799 346784; or Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on tel: 028 8772 2727.

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