Bulls reached a top price of £3,150 at the Northern Ireland Simmental Club’s show and sale in Ballymena Mart recently.
According to the Simmental club, trade was selective, with 15 of the bulls on offer reaching £2,226.
The top priced bull and show winner, Kilbride Farm Gleno, was purchased by a suckler herd owner in Co. Down. He is in the top 5% of the breed for calving ease and eye muscle area.
The 14 month old bull, bred by the Robson family from Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, was sired by the Danish-bred stock bull Sneumgaard Imperator.
Next best in both the show and sales ring was Stralongford Governor, bred by James Hanna, Trillick, Co. Tyrone.
The son of Ashland Brandy out of a home bred cow sold for £2,940. The February 2015 born bull is in the breed’s top 10% for milk and top 25% for calving ease.,
Ranfurly Fendt, bred by David and Jonny Hazelton claimed the male and supreme overall championship. The 18-month-old bull, sired by Omorga Murray sold for £2,835.
Another suckler farmer purchased the reserve champion, Lisglass Geraldo. The Dermotstown Delboy son, from Leslie and Christopher Weatherup’s herd sold for £2,520.
Norman Robson exhibited the first prize winning Kilbride Farm Gleno sold for a top price of £3,150. He was congratulated by Paul McDonald, judge.
Simmental heifers sell to £2,835
The top priced heifer made £2,835, which was paid for the female champion Cleenagh Gem.
The yearling heifer from the herd of Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh will join Wesley Abraham’s Magheracrigan Herd based at Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh.
Next best at £1,838 was the January 2015 born Drumacritten Gwen.
The second prize winner sired by Drumlone Anchor was sold from the herd of William and George Nelson, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh.
Duncan McDowell, Newtownards, Co. Down claimed the reserve female championship with Castlemount Angela 2. Born in December 2014, the Slievenagh Bonjovi daughter sold for £1,785.
Female Champion was Cleenagh Gem sold for £2,835 by Adrian Richardson, Maguiresbridge. Included is judge Paul McDonald, Tempo.
