Kilbride Simmental sells to top price of 28,000gns

However, despite that top price, only 53% of the Simmental bulls found new homes, and a fall of £160 hit the averages, when 49 bulls cashed in at £7434 and for four fewer.

The Woods sold Popes Premier for 15,000gns Ref: RH211024054 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Newly-instated Simmental Society president Chris Martindale of the Forsdale herd, Shropshire, said: “It was as good a show as we’ve had for a while, which is a real credit to the breeders. I think it shows that Simmental sires are the preferred option for breeding quality females. The breed is still at the top of the AHDB figures for the lowest age to slaughter and highest daily carcase gain.

“The Simmental fits all requirements and we are seeing more commercial farmers buying Simmental bulls to produce finishing animals. We may have seen a slight reduction on the number of bulls sold but that’s to be expected with the reduction of suckler cows nationally.”

The Moffats sold Innerwick Phoenix for 12,000gns Ref: RH211024067 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Sale leader from Norman and Michael Robertson, Kilbride, Ballyclare, was an April 2023-born homozygous polled bull. A son of Kilbride Farm Jetstream, which has twice bred bulls to 13,000gns, and out of Kilbride Farm Fanni 68J, Kilbride Farm Prince sold down to Preston with Michael and John Barlow of the Denizes herd.

It wasn’t just Prince bringing in the big money for the Kilbride team when their later lot, Kilbride Farm President, realised 10,000gns. He is from the first crop of sons by Hiltonstown Lachlan, a bull which was purchased privately in Northern Ireland, out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 2451P. President was knocked down to John Lawrie, Newton of Arbirlot, Arbroath.

The Stronachs sold Islavale Private for 12,500gns Ref: RH211024069 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Pre-sale champion Popes Premier from Jimmy, Vikki, Harry and Hannah Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, went on to make 15,000gns. Islay Estates, Isle of Islay, got for their money a January 2023-born bull backed by home-bred genetics, being a son of Popes Lethal Weapon, out of Popes Princess Immie. He stood inter-breed calf champion at the English Winter Fair last year.

The junior champion was next in the money at 12,500gns for Stewart Stronach and family of the Islavale herd, Keith. Islavale Private, a May 2023-born bull, is sired by Islavale Lucifer 20 Ex93 which has bred multiple five-figure priced bulls, and out of Islavale Keely Ex91. He sold down to Girvan with JH Logan and Co, Dalfrask.

Islavale Popeye from the Stronachs sold for 11,000gns Ref: RH211024068 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Another two bulls by the same sire realised 11,000gns and 9500gns. Dearest of the two was the reserve overall champion, Islavale Popeye. Bred from Islavale Keepsake, this April 2023-born bull sold to A and J Craig, Craigton, Castle Douglas.

The latter was the March 2023-born bull, Islavale Perseus, which sold to D Cleland, Glebe Farm, Hereford. He is out of the Ex93-classified dam, Islavale Dream.

Kilbride Farm President from W H Robson and Sons sold for 10,000gns Ref: RH211024066 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... The success did not stop there for Islavale with another two bulls making 9000gns each.

First was the March 2023-born bull Islavale Preston, a son of Coose Lincoln, which has bred sons to 13,000gns. He is out of Islavale Glee Ex92 and found a new home with J Anderson, Headshaw, Lauder.

Robert Bell and Partners, Craigo, Westhall, gave the same money for the third prize Islavale Pepe. This March 2023-born bull is by Curaheen Giant, which has bred sons to 16,000gns, and is out of Islavale Ashley.

Islavale Perseus from the Stronach family sold for 9500gns Ref: RH211024070 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Dorothy Moffat’s Innverwick Phoenix from Innerwick Farm, Dunbar, rounded off the five-figure sales when selling for 12,000gns. Her April 2023-born second prize winner is by Greencap Jaeger and out of Innerwick Gazelle. Phoenix heads up to New Deer with William and John Brown at Hilton of Culsh.

Two bulls realised 9000gns. First was the March 2023-born, Quarryhill Pablo, from Geoff and Kate Anderson, Westergreens, Lossiemouth. He was bought inside his dam, Annick Desiree’s Joy, at the Annick dispersal, and is sired by Kilbride Farm Kark. The buyers were JR Graham and Partners, Greenshields, Biggar.

The Stronach family sold Islavale Preston for 9000gns Ref: RH211024074 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Later, Delfur Pegasus from Delfur Farms, Aberlour, brought out by farm manager, Garry Patterson, made the same money. This 19-month-old is a son of Woodhall Instinct, bred from Delfur Joy and sold to JW Gosmore and Partners, Tattenhall, Chester.

The sole Simmental female cashed made 2800gns. Crudie North, an in-calf heifer from Hugh Brunton, Arbroath, is by Peasiehill Kane, and sold to John Lawrie of Tillyrie, Milnathort.

Leading Awards

Bulls born Nov 5, 22 to Jan 22, 2023 – 1, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Puma 23 by Rathnashan Kellogg’s, 7000gns to H MacDonald, Mains of Dalvey, Morayshire; 2, R and A Simmers’ Backmuir Pegasus 23 by Atlow Dixon 12 Ex91, unsold; 3, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Puppet 23 by Rathnashan Kellogg’s, 4800gns to GT and S Coghill, Muce, Orkney; 4, P Goldsburgh’s Copper Mill Nijinsky 22 by Rathnashan Linguine, 4000gns to GT and S Coghill, Muce, Orkney; 5, Crudie Farming Company’s Crudie Pioneer 23 by Blackford Iolair, 4500 to GH Sinclair and Son, Nottingham Mains, Caithness.

Bulls born Jan 23, 23 to Mar 4, 2023 – 1 and senior and overall champion, JH and VG Wood’s Popes Premier 23 by Popes Lethal Weapon, 15,000gns to Islay Estates, Bridgend, Isle of Islay; 2 and senior reserve champion, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Pot 23 by Rathnashan Kellogg’s, 8500gns to WA Wilson, Hutlerburn, Ettrick; 3, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Punch by Kilbride Farm Haka, 6500gns to Ormsary Farmers, Lochgilphead, Argyll; 4, JH and VG Wood’s Popes Power 23 by Saltire Impressive, 5500gns to B Steel, Powblack Farm, Thornhill, Stirling; 5, J and S Middleton’s Hollywell Piper 23 by Sacombe Kestral, unsold.

Islavale Pepe sold for 9000gns for the Stronachs Ref: RH211024073 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Bulls born Mar 5 to 16, 2023 – 1, G and K Anderson’s Quarryhill Pablo 23 by Kilbride Farm Karl, 9000gns to JR Graham and Partners, Greenshields, Biggar; 2, Delfur Farms’ Delfur Pegasus 23 by Woodhall Instinct, 9000gns to JW Gosmore and Partners, Newton House Farm, Tattenhall, Chester; 3, JC MacIver’s Coltfield Powerhouse 23 by Wolfstar Loose Cannon, 6500gns to GT and S Coghill, Muce, Orkney; 4, JC MacIver’s Colfield Peter 23 by Wolfstar Loose Cannon, 7500gns to HH and A Swanson, Tister Farm, Caithness; 5, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Pistol 23 by Rockytop Lucifer, 6000gns to Firm of Roy Fraser, Tombain Farm, Forres.

Bulls born Mar 17 to 24, 2023 – 1, WH Robson and Sons’ Kilbride Farm Paddy 23 by Hiltonstown Lachlan, unsold; 2, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Persil 23 by Drumgarner Hughes, 6500gns to Scottish Government Bull Stud, Knocknagael, Inverness; 3, Messrs Soutar’s Peasiehill Phoenix 23 by Broombrae Knight, unsold; 4, Inverdunning Ltd’s Inverdunning Parker 23 by Islavale Lord, 7000gns to A and H Grant, Pathcondie Farm, Cupar; 5, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Panama 23 by Rockytop Lucifer, unsold.

Delfur Farms sold Delfur Pegasus for 9000gns Ref: RH211024075 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Bulls born Mar 25 to 31, 2023 – 1, WS Stronach’s Islavale President 23 by Curaheen Giant 2, 6000gns to Kincraigie Farms, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire; 2, Heather Duff’s Pitmudie Pitcairn 23 by Springfield Legacy, 7200gns to AD Sutherland and Sons, Kellas Farm, Elgin; 3, WS Stronach’s Islavale Pepe 23 by Curaheen Giant 2, 9000gns to Robert Bell and Partners, Craigo, Milnathort; 4, M Stronach’s Maisley Prince 23 by Curaheen Giant 2, 5000gns to M Cruikshank, Parkfield, Old Meldrum; 5, WS Stronach’s Islavale Preston 23 by Coose Lincoln, 9000gns to J Anderson, Headshaw, Lauder.

Bulls born April 1 to 3, 2023 – 1 and reserve intermediate champion, WH Robson and Sons’ Kilbride Farm Prince 23 by Kilbride Farm Jetstream, 28,000gns to Barlow Bros, Littlewood Hall Farm, Preston; 2, JH and VG Wood’s Popes Pioneer 23 by Clonagh Lucky Explorer, 4000gns to M Cruikshank, Parkfield, Old Meldrum; 3, Delfur Farms’ Delfur Popeye 23 by Curaheen Bandit, 4800gns to J Duff and Son, Broomknowe, Brechin; 4, C Inglis’ Greencap Pepsi Max 23 by Islavale Loch Ness, 5500gns to JH Strawhorn and Son, Dalmakethar, Lockerbie; 5, Strathisla Farms’ Pickles 23 by Dirnanean Grafter 15 Ex93, unsold.

Bulls born April 4 to 9, 2023 – 1 and intermediate champion and overall reserve, WS Stronach’s Islavale Popeye 23 by Islavale Lucifer, 11,000gns to A and J Craig, Craigton, Castle Douglas; 2, L Moffat’s Innverwick Phoenix 23 by Greencap Jaeger, 12,000gns to W and J Brown, Hilton of Culsh, New Deer; 3, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Pando 23 by Rathnashan Magnum, 5500gns to T Miller and Son, Balannan Farm, Castle Douglas; 4, JH and VG Wood, Popes Paxton 23 by Clonagh Lucky Explorer, unsold; 5, WH Robson and Sons’ Kilbride Farm President 23 by Hiltonstown Lachlan, 10,000gns to J Lawrie, Newton of Arbirlot, Arbroath.

Geoff and Kate Anderson sold Quarryhill Pablo for 9000gns Ref: RH211024062 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer... Bulls born April 10 to 15, 2023 – 1, T Hill’s Scotland Hill Peter 23 by Clonagh Mighty Ab Fab, 8500gns to WM Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar Farm, Wick; 2, JC MacIver’s Coltfield Philadelphia 23 by Islavale Ginger 15 Ex92, 7500gns to JE and BL Goddard, West Logan, Castle Douglas; 3, Delfur Farms’ Delfur Pioneer 23 by Woodhall Instinct, 5250gns to JI and WN Stout, Whitehall, Orkney; 4, R Smith’s Towiemore Panther 23 by Backmuir Knight, 5000gns to W and I Riddoch, Seggiecrook, Keith; 5, JH and VG Wood’s Popes Pilgrim 23 by Clonagh Lucky Explorer, 4000gns to Robert Bell and Partners, Craigo, Milnathort.

Bulls born April 16 to 24, 2023 – 1 and reserve junior champion, Heather Duff’s Pitmudie Princeton 23 by Hiltonstown Irish, unsold; 2, WD and JD Hazelton’s Ranfurly Principle P12 23 by Ranfurly Limelight L11 20, 7000gns to TG Hamilton, Killumpha Farm, Wigtonshire; 3, J Jeffrey’s Kersknowe Provost 23 by Aultmore Jasper, 5800gns to A and L Mavor, Glencuie, Glenkindie; 4, R and A Simmers’ Backmuir Pluto 23 by Backmuir King, unsold; 5, R McCulloch’s Overhill House Phil 23 by Denizes Lancelot, 4000gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Orkney.

Bulls born after April 25, 2023 – 1 and junior champion, WS Stronach’s Islavale Private 23 by Islavale Lucifer, 12,500gns to JH Logan and Co, Dalfrask Farm, Girvan; 2, WJ and J Green’s Corkie Pavel 23 by Rathnashan Leonardo, 5000gns to A Sharp and Sons, Farmton, Alford; 3, JH and VG Wood’s Popes Parliamentarian 23 by Clonagh Latin Lover, 6500gns to TS and GE Powell, Burleton Lane Farm, Shrewsbury; 4, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Pollock 23 by Rockytop Lucifer, 5000gns to EB Webster and Sons, Whittakers Barn Farm, Skipton; 5, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Power 23 by Rathnashan Magnum, 4500gns to J Barclay and Son, Ardiecow, Fordyce.