| 2013-03-20 |  |
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Simmentals Soar to 5,000gns at Dungannon
Pedigree bulls reached a ceiling of 5,000gns at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s March show and sale, held at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.
There was standing room only at the County Tyrone saleyard as Simmental bulls achieved a 78% clearance, with 18 lots selling to average £3,045 per head – an increase of £179 on the same period last year.
Kilbride Farm Doagh - 5,000gns
Picture: Julie Hazelton
Sale leader at 5,000gns was the first prize winning Kilbride Farm Doagh, brought out by Billy Robson OBE, and sons Michael and Norman, from Doagh, Ballyclare. This fourteen-month-old entry was sired by the home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry son, Kilbride Farm Warren, and is out of a dam by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy.
This bull is in the breed’s top 25% with a Breedplan terminal sire index of +68, and a self replacing index of +77; and in the top 5% with an eye muscle area of +4.4. Highest bidder was Norman Wilson from Templepatrick, County Antrim.
Next best at 4,600gns was the day’s reserve male champion Hiltonstown Cyclone, a September 2011 born entry from the 35-cow herd of Robert Rodgers, and son Richard, Portglenone, County Antrim. Sired by the herd’s stock bull Auroch Amos – purchased at Roscommon in November 2010 for 4,000 Euro; he is bred from the Ballinlare Farm Rival daughter, Innerwick Valentine – bought privately from Scottish breeder Dorothy Moffat.
The Hiltonstown herd was founded 18 years ago, and this was the first Amos son offered for sale. He is in the breed’s top 15% for calving ease +3.4, has an eye muscle area of +4.4, a terminal sire index of +92, and a self replacing index of +98. Buyer was J Torrens from Garvagh, County Londonderry.
The first prize winning Breaghey Charlie came under the hammer at 4,200gns for Andrew Clarke, Tynan, County Armagh. This fifteen-month-old Cairnview Snazzy son was bred from the Hillcrest champion daughter, Brogeen Tara – one of six females in the herd which was founded in 2008. He was snapped up by Messrs D and S McCauley from Downpatrick, County Down.
The Carnkern Titan son, Cleenagh Flasher, was behind the breeding of Ranfurly Cassius which sold at 4,200gns for David Hazelton, Dungannon. Born in December 2011, he is bred from the Dovefields Gallant daughter, Old Engine Guinevere 2nd, and sold to Ballymena suckler herd owner Kevin McAuley. This one has a terminal sire index of +82 and a self replacing index of +85, placing him in the breed’s top 5%; while his eye muscle area +3.6 is in the top 10%; and calving ease +3.6 is in the top 15%.
Another Kilbride Farm Warren son from the Robson family sold at 4,000gns. The December 2011 Kilbride Farm Crusader TSI+71 SRI+75 was bred from the Seaview Prince Charming daughter, Kilbride Farm Eunice 52T – one of 80-cows in the long-established herd. This one is a full brother to the 4,000gns Kilbride Farm Blizzard –reserve champion at last year’s spring show and sale at Dungannon.
The father and son team of Michael and Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea, County Londonderry, realised 3,400gns for the fourth placed Drumagarner Darragh TSI+46 SRI+54. Born in January 2012, he is by herd sire Barnattin Wally, and is bred from the Marbelhill Liam daughter, Drumagarner Alexandra. Buyer was Eric Lindsay from Strabane, County Tyrone.
Judge Zara Stubbs, Irvinestown, awarded the male and supreme overall championship ribbons, sponsored by Danske Bank, to the August 2011 born Haystar Cracker TSI+62 SRI+74, brought out by Gavin Hayes, and sons Kyle, James and Sam, from Upper Ballinderry, near Lisburn. Sired by the Rosten Barney son, Blackford Harvester, he is bred from the Omorga Prince daughter, Hillcrest Vine.
“The overall champion really stood out. He is a stylish bull, full of breed character, with a great backend and good locomotion,” said the judge. Haystar Cracker failed to meet his reserve and was withdrawn from the salering unsold.
The Robson family also topped pedigree female trade when the second prize winning Kilbride Farm Eunice 121 came under the hammer at 3,600gns. Born in March 2011, she is by the Seaview Prince Charming son, Kilbride Farm Vaten, and is out of a home-bred dam by the 12,000gns Dovefields Gallant. This one is in-calf to the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy, and sold to Chris Traynor for his Rose Meadow Farm Herd based at Armagh, County Armagh.
Harold Stubbs, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, claimed the female and reserve supreme championship honours with the November 2011 born Derrycallaghan Crown Princess. She was sired by the Blackford Explosion son, Glebefarm Reputation, and is out of a dam by the home-bred Derrycallaghan Hamilton.
Described by the judge as a very sweet and stylish heifer, she attracted a bid of 3,250gns, and sold to John Withers from Lisburn, County Antrim.
Next best at 2,800gns was the reserve female champion Owenskerry Chaz, bred by Brian Cowan from Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. This May 2011 born heifer is a Kilbride Farm Newry daughter, out of the Omorga Murray sired Stralongford Shannon. Buyer was Niall McKiver from Dungannon, County Tyrone.
An entry of nine pedigree heifers achieved a complete clearance, selling to average £2,497 per head.
The commercial section of the sale was sponsored by Connon General Merchants, Ballymena.
In-calf heifers sold to a top of £1,450 and £1,400, paid to William Dick, Saintfield; £1,420 paid to Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea; and £1,380 paid to John Perry, Dundonald.
Eamon McCloskey also realised £1,600 for a cow with bull calf at foot.
Maiden heifers topped £1,400, realised by Cecil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart; while Nigel Glasgow, Cookstown, sold at £1,160. David Chartres and Cecil Farrell, Lisbellaw, achieved £1,140; with £1,120 and £1,080 paid to Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea. Messrs RJ and SR Mawhinney, Draperstown, sold maiden heifers for £1,100, £1,080, £1,050 and £1,000.
Results from the pedigree judging ring include:
Bull, born between 17/06/11 and 29/09/11 – 1, and male champion, Gavin Hayes and Sons, Upper Ballinderry, Haystar Cracker by Blackford Harvester; 2, and reserve male champion, Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, Hiltonstown Cyclone by Auroch Amos; 3, Cecil McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, Corrick Captain by Clonagh Tiger Gallant.
Bull, born between 15/01/11 and 08/12/11 – 1, Andrew Clarke, Tynan, Breaghey Charles by Cairnview Snazzy; 2, David Hazelton, Dungannon, Ranfurly Commander by Max; 3, Andrew Clarke, Breaghey Charlie by Cairnview Snazzy.
Bull, born between 15/12/11 and 18/02/12 – 1, WH Robson and Sons, Doagh, Kilbride Farm Doagh by Kilbride Farm Warren; 2, WH Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Crusader by Kilbride Farm Warren; 3, John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Solitude Delboy by Omorga Volvo.
Female, born between 24/03/11 and 11/07/11 – 1, and reserve female champion, Brian Cowan, Brookeborough, Owenskerry Chaz by Kilbride Farm Newry; 2, WH Robson and Sons, Kilbride Farm Eunice 121 by Kilbride Farm Vaten; 3, Wesley Abraham, Irvinestown, Sperrin View Candy by Omorga Watson.
Female, born between 06/11/11 and 26/01/12 – 1, and female champion, Harold Stubbs, Lisnaskea, Derrycallaghan Crown Princess by Derrycallaghan Winner; 2, Cecil Chartres and David Farrell, Lisbellaw, Lakeside Debbie by Kilbride Farm Newry; 3, Cecil Chartres and David Farrell, Lakside Dion by Kilbride Farm Newry.
