Ranfurly and Ballinlare Farm Simmentals on Offer at Moira
2012-08-06

Plans are well underway for the first-ever production sale of Simmental females from the noted Ballinlare Farm and Ranfurly herds.

David Hazelton and Joe Wilson

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.

The Ballinlare Farm entry includes a large selection of first-crop daughters of the herd’s latest stock bull, the 20,000gns Auchorachan Wizard – junior and supreme Perth champion in February 2010. He is in the breed’s top 5% for calving ease (+5.9). Also on offer are a number of daughters sired by the 8,000 Euro Raceview Valintino Miracle S.

Included in the catalogue (Lot 21) is the 2012 Balmoral female and reserve supreme champion, Ballinlare Farm Buttercup 2nd. This January 2010 born heifer is by the 20,000 Euro Curaheen Tyson, and is scanned in-calf to Auchorachan Wizard. Also included is (Lot 38) Ballinlare Farm Cher, a June 2011 born Wizard daughter bred from the noted Ballinlare Farm Moneypenny – winner of three successive Balmoral championships 2004 to 2006.

All animals will be sold under NBA rules. This is not an export sale, but animals purchased for export to mainland UK or ROI, will be returned to their respective farms where they will undergo the necessary pre-movement tests. Delivery will be agreed with the purchaser following the 30-day standstill period.

Both herds are members of the AFBI Health Scheme, and all sale animals have been vaccinated for Lepto and BVD.

Catalogues are available from Taaffe Auctions on tel: 00353 419881288. For further information contact David Hazelton mobile: 07841 748764; or Joe Wilson on mobile: 07517 461408.

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