Easter Success for Simmental Breeders

It was standing room only at this years N.I. Simmental Cattle Breeders Club Spring Show and Sale in Dungannon Farmers Mart on Tuesday 6th April 2010. A packed ringside witnessed an outstanding show of both pedigree and commercial Simmental cattle.

Judge Kenneth Veitch from Lisbellaw awarded the Northern Bank Supreme Championship to the June 2008 born bull Drumbulcan Waterfall, from County Fermanagh breeders Harold Stubbs and Andrew Burleigh. Bred by Kenneth Stubbs, this popular champion was sired by Omorga Regan, out of the Barnattin Larry dam Drumbulcan Risotto. The judges choice was justified when Waterfall topped the sale at 4000 gns selling to Malcolm Fleming from Magherafelt.

Camus Ascot 09 picked up the Reserve Championship for breeder Joe Campbell from Strabane. Sired by Brinkton Brilliant and out of the Hillcrest King cow Camus Polly, this January 2009 born bull sold readily for 3100 gns to John Blair from Moneymore.

The award for the best opposite sex to the champion went to Drumagarner Annabelle, exhibited by Eammon McCloskey from Kilrea. This yearling Derrycallaghan Hamilton daughter was knocked down for 2100 gns to P Ward from Strabane. Top price in the pedigree female section was 2900 gns for Cladymore Tinkerbell, a January 2006 Dirnanean Nugget cow with bull calf at foot, shown by Archie Reaney from Armagh and selling to M McDonnell of Omagh.

The highlight of the sale, however, was the outstanding demand for commercial heifers, with buyers eager to acquire Simmental genetics as a foundation for their suckler herds resulting in a complete clearance. Cecil McIlwaine topped this section with a 470 kg heifer selling for £1750 to R McConnell from Newtownstewart, closely followed by M Fegan’s £1700 for 460 kg to W Fleming of Magherafelt. R N Weatherup’s 560 kg heifer made £1600 selling to M Fleming, Magherafelt, while Adrian Richardson averaged £1340 for 5 heifers with an average weight of 500 kg.

Two young cows with calves at foot averaged £1550 for Seamus Casey. 36 commercial heifers, weighing 437 kg, averaged £1075 each in this commercial section, generously sponsored by Connons General Merchants, Ballymena.

Leading prices - Bulls
Drumbulcan Waterfall - 4000 gns
Corrick Admiral 09 - 3500 gns
Omorga Admiral 09 - 3400 gns
Camus Ascot 09 - 3100 gns
Omorga Alex 09 - 2800 gns
Kilbride Farm Action 09 - 2600 gns
Omorga Wagner - 2600 gns
Templefyn Wilbur - 2500 gns

27 bulls averaged 2244 gns

Leading prices - Females
Cladymore Tinkerbell - 2900 gns
Drumagarner Annabelle - 2100 gns
Drumagarner Ace - 2000 gns
Rehall Wilma - 1900 gns
Drumagarner Whisper - 1800 gns
Knockreagh Wilma - 1800 gns

7 heifers averaged 1807 gns
1 cow and calf 2900 gns

Show Results
Class 1:
1st Drumbulcan Waterfall; 2nd Templefyn Wilbur; 3rd Ashdale Wilson

Class 2:
1st Camus Ascot 09; 2nd Corrick Admiral 09; 3rd Camus Action 09

Class 3:
1st Cleenagh Ashley 09; 2nd Omorga Alex 09; 3rd Omorga Admiral 09

Class 4:
1st Kilbride Farm Action 09; 2nd Kilbride Farm Armoy 09; 3rd Longbeach Almighty 09

Class 5:
1st Drumagarner Whisper; 2nd Edenbann Wispa; 3rd Edenbann Wallflower

Class 6:
1st Drumagarner Annabelle; 2nd Drumagarner Ace; 3rd Rehall Wilma

Champion bull, Drumbulcan Waterfall pictured with Harold Stubbs, Alan and Leigh Burleigh, Edmund Lowe Agri Business Manager from sponsor Northern Bank and judge Kenny Veitch.

Reserve Champion bull Camus Ascot from Joe Campbell, pictured with handler Frank Kelly, Northern Bank sponsor Edmund Lowe and judge Kenny Veitch.

Best of Opposite Sex, Drumagarner Annabelle pictured with breeder Eamon McCloskey and sponsor Agri Business Manager Edmund Lowe from the Northern Bank,

First Prizewinner from WH Robson & sons, Kildbride Farm Acton pictured with Norman Robson and Northern Bank Agri Business Manger Edmund Lowe

Neil McIlwaine pictured with Corrick Admiral selling for 3500 gns.

Omorga Admiral bred by John Moore pictured with handler Moses Irwin selling for 3400gns

Second prize bull from WH Robson, Kilbride Farm Armoy

Top priced commercial heifer sold by Cecil McIwaine, 470kg selling for £1750.

Bertie Housten and Peadar Glennon, representatives from the Irish Simmental Society

Champion bull in the sale ring being lead by Alan Burleigh

Champion bull, Drumbulcan Waterfall in the sale ring

Judge Kenny Veitch

Line up of quality Simmental bulls in demand

Pat Kelly pictured with Johnny Connon, from Connon General Merchants, Ballymoney who kindly sponsored a voucher for the farmer spending the most in the commercial section.

Joe Campbell

Clive Richardson pictured during judging

<<back