Breed records for a Simmental cow and heifer daughter were smashed at the much anticipated Annick Simmental herd dispersal at United Auctions’ Stirling Centre, when selling for a combined 23,000gns.
The sale, staged on behalf of the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse, Annick Lodge Estate, Irvine, was topped by the seven-year-old cow, Annick Colleen’s Ginger Ex93 and her calf Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg.
Sold in separate lots, Colleen’s Ginger, a third calver by Corskie Callum, out of Annick Prudence’s Colleen Ex95 first made 15,000gns. She was snapped up by the Backmuir pedigree herd of Reece and Andrew Simmers, Backmuir, Keith, who bought several of the top priced lots including two daughters at 8000gns each.
First was her calf, Ginger’s Nutmeg, a January-2022-born entry, by the 15,000gns Wolfstar Golddigger.
Her full sister, Annick Ginger’s Lucia, a February 2020-born show heifer made the same money selling to Backmuir. Reserve overall champion at the Royal Highland Show in June, she calved a heifer calf by Kilbride Farm Karl the day before the sale and therefore couldn’t travel to Stirling.
“This is a breeding line that we’ve admired for sometime and will be new to the herd,” said Reece Simmers, who together with his brother now runs 80 cows in the Backmuir herd.
Read more: Simmental, Hereford and NCC National Show winners all at Black Isle
“All three purchases have a lot of style, are very feminine, and tremendous examples of the Simmental breed. It’s not often you get a chance to buy quality like this, so we are absolutely delighted to get them.”
Outwith those tops sellers, a further 19 lots sold at or above the 5000gns bracket with other cow and calf units selling at 12,500gns, and 9400gns, with the sale grossing just shy of £221,000.
Selling for a combined price of 12,500gns, was Annick Desiree’s Joy VG88 at 6500gns and her heifer calf Annick Joy’s Natalie at 6000gns, with both purchased by Geoff and Kate Anderson for their Quarryhill herd at Westergreens, Lossiemouth, Moray. This March 2018-born second calver is another by Corskie Callum, out of Annick Belle’s Desiree Ex92. The dam of Annick Memphis, the junior inter-breed champion at last year’s Stars of the Future show, her March 2022-born heifer calf, Annick Joy’s Natalie, is another by Wolfstar Golddigger.
The next cow and calf unit attracted a combined 9400gns. First up at 6200gns was Annick Trixibelle 23 VG89 from the herd’s Trixibelle line. April 2018-born, she is by Skerrington Visa and out of the Ex92-classified Omorga Volvo daughter, Annick Trixi Belle 9. Selling in calf to Kilbride Farm Karl, Trixibelle was one of three purchases made by Richard McCulloch buying for his Overhill House herd at Armadale, West Lothian. Trixibelle’s bull calf at foot, Annick Marksman 21, made 3200gns when selling to SJ and W Dickinson, High Woodend, Tebay, Penrith.
Mr McCulloch also went to 5500gns for Annick Ivy’s Moonbeam, a February 2021-born heifer by Golddigger out of Annick Fern’s Ivy VG88.
Annick Fresia’s Kiki VG85, a first calved heifer by Golddigger that was reserve overall champion at the Royal Highland Showcase, made 7500gns. October 2019-born and bred from the Callum daughter, Annick Whitney’s Fresia Ex94, she sold with her Kilbride Farm Karl-sired bull calf, Annick Nazareth 22, to Jim Dyet of Merkland from East Merkland, Strathaven.
Two lots made 6200gns with the first being Annick Whitney’s Fresia Ex94 and her heifer calf Annick Fresia’s Neomi, purchased by JC MacIver, Forres, Morayshire. Whitney’s Fresia, a fifth calver and the dam of the 7500gns Annick Fresia’s Kiki, is another by Corskie Callum. Whitney’s Fresia is out of Annick Kittiwa’s Whitney, an Annick Titan daughter while her eight month-old heifer calf is another by Golddigger.
Annick Fresia’s June VG87, a four-year-old Golddigger daughter from the same family made 5500gns to E and M Fairhurst, Bankend, Lawkland, Austwick, Lancs, who bought 20 lots at the sale.
Norwich-based breeder, JR Goddard, Hardwick, went to 6200gns for the in-calf entry, Annick Trixibelle 24, the senior champion at the 2019 Stars of the Future. A Golddigger daughter bred from a previous home-bred Trixibelle, she sold due to Kilbride Farm Karl.
Two lots also sold for 6000gns with the first of those being Annick Fleur’s Jasmin, a February 2018-born cow by Callum and her seven-month-old heifer calf at foot Annick Jasmine’s Nectar, by Kilbride Farm Karl. Fleur’s Jasmin is out of Annick Radiance’s Fleur Ex93 and sold to Inverdunning Ltd, Dunning, Perthshire, and sold back in calf to the same bull.
Matching that 6000gns price was Annick Diamond’s Kylie GP82 and her heifer calf, Annick Kylie’s Nicole, purchased by Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin.
The May, 2019-born first calver by Golddigger out of Annick Lydia’s Diamond, sold back in calf to Kilbride Farm Karl. Her nine month old daughter is by the 15,000gns Islavale Jackpot.
The dam of the 15,000gns cow sold earlier, made 5800gns selling down to Shropshire with AJ Heath, Eaton House, Market Drayton. Annick Prudence’s Colleen Ex95, an 11-year-old cow is a Skerrington Visa daughter and sold with calf at foot.
Auctioneers: United Auctions
Averages:19 cows with calves at foot averaged £5344; 15 cows, £5423; 13 maiden heifers, £3255; four bull calves, £2310; five bulls, £3318.
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