Simmental cattle are renowned for their docile nature, ease of calving and carcase quality – key attributes in producing the ultimate breeding cow for Gavin Brown at Springfield Farm.
Near Penicuik, Midlothian, is the Springfield herd of Simmental cattle – founded in 2014 and owned and managed by Gavin and his wife Anna. Having previously worked with Highland cattle, it wasn’t long before Gavin made the decision to invest in pure-bred Simmental cows in order to produce the perfect female.
“I had always liked the look of the Simmental and they were known to be a calm, easy handled breed. I wanted to be able to run a pedigree herd on a commercial, low input system and it’s fair to say that the Simmental has lived up to my expectations,” commented Gavin.
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The Browns run a herd of 26 Simmental females alongside 10 Highland cattle. With the aim to breed fleshy females that carry depth, width and style, one of the most important aspects for Gavin is selecting the right genetics from the outset.
“Foundation females were derived from the Woodhall herd with the purchase of two heifers and they have proved to be fundamental to the progression of our herd, leaving consistent cattle that go on and perform.
"All our cows have done their bit but I’d also have to mention Hazelden Jingles 40, which has repeatedly produced top quality show stock over the years,” Gavin added.
“When it comes to selecting new stock, I’m looking to buy in a naturally fleshed animal that has character. I’m not too picky when it comes to scale, it’s just important that the animal has length and good cover. Style is also a must as they still need that extra touch of class outwith the beef element.”
There have been a few good stock bulls that have stamped their mark in the past too, with one being Shilo Freedom which was bought privately in 2015 out of Ireland for €4000.
“I saw him as a show bull calf on Facebook and he was exactly what I was looking for. He was well fleshed with good cover and he went on to breed good stock that have been retained in the herd,” Gavin explained.
“Our current stock bull, Islavale Jabba, has been a great investment and has really taken our herd forward. We bought him in 2020 at the May round of United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales for 6000gns. Ironically, Jabba was our second choice and it was Anna who preferred him.
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“He has length, muscle and balance. We only ever saw photos and videos of him so it was a bit of a gamble to purchase him but definitely one which has paid off. His first daughters sold reached 6000gns when selling to Jimmy and Vicki Wood of the Popes herd – who also bought three others the same day at Stirling in October last year,” he continued.
It’s the fertility and prolificacy of the Simmental that is proving a force to be reckoned with at Springfield, with the breed having few if any calving issues while barren rates are virtually non existent amongst the herd.
“We try to calf everything in April if we can, with the bull being left out for two turns only to keep calving tight. If they don’t hold to the bull and problems occur then they’re culled, however, we have only ever had to cull for age. We have been extremely lucky with our foundation females and, health wise, they have never been a problem,” he said.
“Our Simmentals are prolific too – we’ll regularly get three or four sets of twins, and with the Simmental being milky, she can rear those calves no problem.”
The cows are brought indoors a week prior to calving down for monitoring and are bedded on peat, sourced from a neighbouring site.
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Having previously relied on straw, Gavin has found that this alternative product is saving the farm around £1500 per month on material costs alone.
Peat is also proving to be a more efficient investment, with the shed being cleaned out every three weeks compared to two straw bales being required every day beforehand. A month’s supply of peat bedding costs the farm £300 in total.
“We originally invested in peat bedding for the bulls on the run up to sales, as we find the cattle are cleaner when the dung falls straight off. There are also less foot problems as moisture and heat are less of an occurrence in peat,” Gavin explained.
“Once used, the peat can be disposed by being spread onto the fields. We don’t have the manpower to be able to bed everyday with straw and it really has been the best move we have made.”
Indoors, in-calf cows are fed a diet of haylage only, with all heading to the big outdoors as soon as the good weather and grass allows.
Weaning takes place between eight and 10-months of age, with all bulls kept entire and, alongside the heifer calves, are reared on Davidsons Ultimate Top blend, which is fed right up until such stock are sold in February and October through United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales or privately.
On average, Gavin retains two or three females as replacements per year with any surplus heifers sold for breeding. Last year’s bulling heifers averaged £4454 per head for five sold.
“I want to keep females from good breeding lines within the herd, which doesn’t always mean they have to be the best looking animal.
"We are currently only selling females through Untied Auctions and privately but I would like to eventually take a couple to the NexGen sale held at Carlisle in December, as it is a market for livestock,” stated Gavin.
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The Springfield herd has enjoyed notable success when selling bulls, with the best to date being 7500gns, paid for Springfield Major which sold to a commercial breeder at the Stirling Bull Sales in February of this year, with averages exceeding £5000 at both October and February, respectively.
While the initial Simmental cattle imported into the UK were lighter in colour, they have changed over the years depending on the end use required.
“The dark red colour is predominantly favourable for both the pedigree and commercial man at present and I have to admit, they do look smarter.
"Demand for that colour has also filtered through to Luing breeders who like them to produce the popular Sim Luing,” he stated.
Outwith the sale ring, Springfield Simmentals have also proved to be a formidable force in the show ring having struck lucky at various calf shows over the years.
“Showing certainly raises the profile of the herd and we like to take cattle to the LiveScot event at Lanark, Borderway Agri Expo and Stars of the Future Calf Show at Stirling, where last year we took home the champion ticket at two shows and reserve at the other,” commented Gavin.
“We take stock to the Royal Highland Show, the Scottish National whilst supporting our local Dalkeith and Peebles shows. At last year’s Highland, we came away with five prizes from seven entries so we are getting there for a small herd!” he added.
Such has been the demand for Simmental cattle that Springfield is looking towards a prosperous future too.
“I want to take our herd as far as I can within the breed and it would be nice for some of our stock to make their way into other pedigree herds, with females for the first time heading to notable breeders this year.
“The breed itself is proving to be a serious competitor when it comes to the terminal sire options available to commercial beef farmers, and I believe the October round of Stirling Bull Sales breed prices and clearance rate spoke for itself.
“Chinese buyers have recently invested in British Simmentals with the aim of going self-sufficient instead of having to buy in beef from other continents. That in itself will help highlight the breed further afield – it would shock you how many bulls are being bought for this job.
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“The fashion isn’t pointing towards a move away from the continental breeds just yet, as it takes the leaders to do that for the others to follow. There are however, less inputs needed with the Simmental and they really do make the most of commercial reality,” Gavin concluded.
Farm Facts
Farm – Springfield is located near Penicuik and is home to the Brown family, who run a herd of 26 Simmental females and 10 Highland cattle.
Calving – Takes place indoors with cattle bedded down on peat and fed on a diet of haylage.
Stock – Bulls and heifers are either sold privately or through United Auctions Stirling Bull Sales in February or October, with three females retained each year as replacements.
On The Spot
If you could select a breed outwith the Simmental?: It would have to be the Highlanders purely due to low maintenance aspects.
Favourite show to attend? The Royal Highland Show.
A herd you admire? Islavale, simply for the number of cattle that they produce...they do the job so well and all cattle look great.
Best bloodline in herd? Definitely the Woodhall stock as they are consistent breeders.
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