At 30,000gns, Denizes Lancelot recently sold for what the British Simmental Cattle Society understands to be the second-highest price for the breed at auction in the UK.
The May 2020-born bull from MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes Walton Lane, Leyland, set the tempo for what the society described as an “electric” Simmental bull trade at United Auction’s Stirling Agricultural Centre on Monday, February 21st, 2022.
Denizes Lancelot is one of the first bulls the herd has offered at Stirling by the home-bred sire, Denizes Impeccable 17.
He is out of Denizes Hannadante 9th, who at 13-years-old is one of the oldest cows in the herd. She has previously bred bulls to 15,000gns and is back in-calf.
Denizes Lancelot
Richard McCulloch secured the bull, who stood second in his class, for his 160-cow Overhill House Simmental herd at Armadale, West Lothian.
McCulloch described the “all-round” modern, stylish Simmental, with desirable physical traits and a pedigree and figures to match.
He is of the view that “this is the level of investment that you have to pay to secure an all-round breeders bull of this quality”.
Later in the sale, McCulloch took home the September-2020-born Corskie Lambe for 5550gns from Mr WJ & J Green.
On the day, the Denizes herd sold four bulls to 30,000gns; 10,000gns (intermediate champion); 9500gns; and 4000gns, respectively.
At 9,500gns was June 2020-born Denizes Lord is by the increasingly prolific, Denizes Hamish whose first ten calves sold, before the sale, have averaged 5,500gns. Lord is out of the Ashland Tornado daughter Denizes Melody 11th.
9,000gns and under
A strong team of five bulls forward from WH Robson & Sons, Kilbride Farm, Doagh, Ballyclare, saw a top price of 9000gns and with the five in all grossing £35,904 to average £7181.
Leading the way was the August-2020-born homozygous polled bull, Kilbride Farm Lucky Strike PP.
This calf by Kilbride Farm Gruffalo (P), is out of Kilbride Farm Iris 22JP. This bull sold north to Caithness and to the Ackergill pedigree herd of W&J Coghill, Ackergill Mains, Wick.
The Robsons sold further bulls at 8500gns; 6200gns; 6000gns; and 5500gns, respectively.
The pre-sale supreme champion came in the shape of the winner of class 10, and also the junior champion, Ballymoney Leonard from Mrs MH Kilpatrick, Banbridge, Northern Ireland.
The September-2020- born bull, which went under the hammer at 7,800gns, is by Saltire Impressive 17 and out of Ballymoney Orla from the noted Ballinalare Farm Beauty line.
Northern Irish bulls
According to the society, Northern Irish bulls were “to the fore” throughout the sale.
The second top price of the day was the 16,000gns Ranfurly Limelight from the 20-cow herd of WD and J Hazelton, Cohannon House, Dungannon.
This July-2020-bull is an Auchorachan ACDC son out of the noted cow, Raceview Goldie Dreamer, who was yearling champion at Roscommon in 2016 before being purchased for €9,000, and then NI Female of the Year in 2017.
In the pre-sale show, Ranfurly Limelight was the reserve intermediate champion choice of judge Andrew Clarke, Breaghey herd, Tynan, Co Armagh.
13,000gns and under
The Wolfstar herd of Mr A King, Wolfstar, Ormiston, East Lothian, produced another impressive double when selling bulls to 13,000gns and 12,500gns.
Leading the charge at 13,000gns was the April-2020-born, Wolfstar Loose Cannon, who had stood second in the third class of the day.
By Team Celtic 11 and out of Wolfstar Ellie, this bull is a full brother to the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo, the champion and top price at the aforementioned 2020 Stirling Sale.
JC MacIver purchased this bull for Coltfield pedigree herd at Wester Coldfield, Forres, Moray
From the same class, and selling one lot before, was Wolfstar Las Vegas who made 12,500gns, a bid commercial producer, JH Logan & Co, Dalfask Farm, which is home to 250 cows in Girvan, Ayrshire, placed.
A well-fleshed dark red bull, Las Vegas is by Islavale Guy and is out of the Team Celtic daughter, Wolfstar Gladrags.
The Islavale herd of WS Stronach, Berryleys Farm, Grange, Keith had another strong day’s trading with their team of seven bulls grossing £56,100, levelling at £8,014.
Having scooped the supreme championship some eight times in previous pre-sale shows, Islavale pulled off a herd ‘first’ when on this occasion, they won both the senior championship and reserve senior.
The herd landed this success with Corskie Highlander, who is classified EX92.
Lifting the senior title and taking the herds to price on the day of 12,000gns was March-2020-born Islavale London.
Purchasing the senior champion was Reece & Andrew Simmers for their 50-cow Backmuir pedigree herd at Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire.
Other prices:
- Reserve senior champion and second in his class to the section champion, March-2020-born, Islavale Leonardo – 9,000gns;
- May-2020-born Islavale Lockdown – 10,000gns;
- Kilbride Farm Bantry-sired May-2020-born Ballinalare Farm Legacy – 10,000gns;
- July-2020-born Kilbride Farm Bantry, Intermediate Champion, Denizes Logic – 10,000gns.
Simmental heifer prices
In the small show of females, the overall champion came in the form of April-2020-born heifer Brandane Laura from Mr J McMillan, Wagon Lodge, East Church, St Kenninghall.
This heifer is by Atlow Dixon and is out of Sterling Bacardi’s Funky and described as one of the best female lines from the noted Sterling herd dispersal sale in 2017.
Buying the female Champion at 6000gns was PA&SM Cade for their Cade pedigree herd at Paddock Farm, Buckden, East Anglia.
Other prices:
- 8500gns Lot 467 Corskie Leopold;
- 8500gns Lot 499 Kilbride Farm Lord of the Ring;
- Also, 8500gns Lot 507 Auchorachan Longshot;
- 8500gns Lot 510 Braidwood Luke;
- 8200gns Lot 490 Pitmudie Lancelot;
- 8000gns Lot 504 Corrick Logic;
- 8000gns Lot 531 Broombrae Loon;
- 7800gns Lot 535 Ballymoney Leonard;
- 7500gns Lot 449 Popes Lucifer;
- Also, 7500gns Lot 454 Rockytop Lacoste;
- 7500gns Lot 479 Lagavaich Lewie;
- 7500gns Lot 554 Islavale Libra.
New Simmental breed record sale average
According to a spokesperson for the society, competition between commercial buyers and pedigree breeders “created a bit of fizz and pop in the trad”.
The sale saw 89 bulls sell in all, up by 25 on the year and to a new Simmental breed record sale average of £6,835, up by £353 on the previous year.
The spokesperson noted that the sale’s “strong” demand saw an 86% clearance rate of the 103 bulls.
Trends in the sale saw ten bulls sell to Orkney buyers, while seven head to England and Wales.
