Islavale Irish leads Simmentals at 16,000gns

With no fewer than eight bulls selling for five-figures and a large proportion of the sale making 7000gns or more, demand for the breed was strong with the top bulls heading to work on commercial and pedigree units.

“It was a pretty steady commercial trade and folk were looking for bulls that were good on their feet and legs,” commented the society’s chief executive, Neil Shand. “Semen testing is making a big difference now and locomotion, semen testing and health status is almost becoming more important to breeders than estimated breeding values. We’re also finding some of the commercial boys that have dabbled in other maternal breeds have come back to the Simmental.”

The Islavale herd from the Stronach family at Berryleys, Keith, proved as popular as ever and led the Simmy sale at 16,000gns for the second prize Islavale Irish. He and one of his herdmates are the first sons to sell by Curaheen Giant, a bull bought at Roscommon for €8000 when he stood junior champion a couple years back, with females retained in the 200-cow herd. Born in March, 2017, out of Islavale Damsel, an Ex90-rated Clonagh A Super Star daughter, Irish was part of the winning pairs at the Scottish National Show held at Turriff earlier this year, and sold to Phil Simmers who runs a number of pedigree females at Backmuir, Keith, alongside Luing and commercial units.

That Curaheen Giant has set a good average for his first two sons to sell as Islavale Imperial, the reserve junior champion, was also snapped up by Phil Simmers, this time for 11,000gns. Out of an Ex90-classified Popes Laird daughter, Islavale Bethany, mperial was junior and reserve male champion at the Scottish National.

The Islavale team received a further 8500gns from J and J Marshall, Daleigh, Advie, Grantown, for their first in, Islavale Innis. Both his sire and dam – the 15,000gns Atlow Dixon bought when he stood junior and overall champion at Stirling that has since sired sons to 13,000gns, and the Curaheen Bandit-sired Islavale Chloe 9 – gained an Ex91 rating at the herd’s recent classification.

Two junior bulls sold one after another for 14,000gns, with Gary and Angela Christie’s Rockytop Invader the first to go under the hammer when chapped down to Cameron MacIver, who runs a handful of pedigrees alongside commercial cattle at Wester Coltfield, Forres. Achieving a best price for the Christies’ 40 pedigree cows at Birchfield, Glass, Huntly, Invader is the first bull to sell by the 15,000gns Kilrbride Farm Fearless bought when Gary judged back in 2016, and out of Burytown Belvina, a Corskie Wham daughter bought at the Burytown dispersal.

Matching that 14,000gns was Saltire impressive, another to set a best herd price for John and Grace Houliston and daughter Gayle, from Newmains, Drem, North Berwick, who run just 15 cows and use the best AI sires they can. Impressive is by Woodhall Ferrari and out of the Saltire Arnie-sired Saltire Diva, whose first bull calf sold to Balthayock for commercial use. Forking out the cash for this red rosette winner was Noel Kilpatrick who takes him across the water to Ballymoney Lodge, Dromore Road, Banbridge, County Down.

Not far behind on 13,000gns was the intermediate champion and reserve supreme from Billy Macpherson, daughter Anne and her husband Raymond’s 24-cow herd at Blackford, Croy. Blackford Iolair has already done well in the showring, standing continental Beefbreeder champion at the Royal Highland before touring the North-east circuit where his top accolade was the champion of champions title at Nairn. Bred from a daughter of the 10,000gns Kilbride Farm Strabane, Blackford Waxwing, Iolair is by the 18,000gns Kilbride Farm Doubleaction whose son, Blackford Hero, matched that 13,000gns to set a centre record at the Spring Show at Thainstone. He in fact sold to the underbidder of Hero, Robin Brunton, Crudie Acres, Arbroath.

With eight bulls selling for five-figure sums, also hitting the 11,000gns mark when sold to the Bruce family at Tillyeve, Udny, was Drumacritten Ian, the junior and overall champion from William Nelson and sons, George and Keith, who have now sold three bulls for 11,000gns. This champion from the Fermanagh breeders’ class at Enniskillen is an AI son of Dermotstown Delboy while his mother is a home-bred Dripsey Super King daughter in the herd near Rosslea, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

The first of seven bulls to break the five-figure barrier was Drumsleed Iceberg, a blue ticket holder from Gerald and Morag Smith together with son Douglas, from near Fordoun, Laurencekirk. Iceberg is among the first of the Drumsleed sons of Islavale Ferrari, a bull that originally sold for 16,000gns but was later bought privately to join the herd of 100 cows. Bred from the show female, Drumsleed Bluebell, a Hockenhull Matthew daughter, Iceberg sold to Balbirnie Farms, Pitillock, Freuchie, Fife.

The reserve intermediate champion from Richard Rodgers and his lucky charm, eight-year-old son Rhys, was another to make 8500gns when knocked down to Heather Duff for her Pitmudie herd near Brechin. Hiltonstown Irish was bred by ET, crossing Dermotstown Delboy on to the now 12-year-old Hiltonstown Topaz VG88, a Woodhall Premier daughter, and a full ET brother has been retained for use in the 45-cow herd on Race Road, Portglenone, Northern Ireland.

On the other side of the coin, Heather’s entry peaked at 7200gns for Pitmudie Inverurie, which had been shown during the summer and stood second at the Highland as well as male champion at Perth. Selling to Agrismart, Marine Approach, Burton Waters, Lincoln, he is by Corskie Elder and out of a Blackford Albatross-sired Newbiemains cow.

Sticking with the intermediate bulls and Robert MacGregor, who has 70 cows in his Team herd at Kirkton of Mailler, Craigend, Perth, saw his Team Icon go under the hammer at 8200gns. He is full of home breeding, being the dearest to date by Team Fabulous that was later sold privately and out of Team Kasey 6, a Tilbrook Noble daughter. With a pedigree that goes back to the Team Banker bull that featured strongly in John Dykes’ dispersed Mendick herd, Icon sold to AJ Milne, Standingstones, Durris, Banchory.

Hitting the 8000gns mark was Chestermann Imran from the Gwynne family’s 80-strong herd at Castlewigg Farm, Whithorn. Selling to E and L Munro, Rogiehill, Skene, Westhill, this second prize bull from the Highland is by Blackford Ringleader and out of Chestermann Hale Bopp Nell, a Chestermann Hale Bopp daughter.

BLOB Heading up the female entry at 3600gns was the Smith family’s two-year-old Drumsleed Herd, which sold at that price to G and M Porter, Carrabus Farm, Bridgend, Isle of Islay, having been AI’d to Hockenhull Matthew. Her pedigree features Haystar Cracker on to Drumsleed Cherry, a Drumsleed Westminster daughter.

Next at 3000gns when snapped up by John Lathangie, Pyeston, Markinch, Fife, was the female champion, Broombrae Cathy from GL Clark, Auchtermuchty, Cupar. Sired by Peasiehill Englebert, this 19-month-old is out of a previous Corskie Copper-sired Cathy.

Simmental

Females

Heifers born on or before March 30, 2017 – 1 and female champion, GL Clark’s Broombrae Cathy I10, by Peasiehill Englebert, 3000gns to J Lathangie, Pyeston, Markinch, Fife; 2, Mrs H Clarke’s Williams Malvenas 12, by Clonagh Diehard Gallant, 1800gns to E and E Hyslop, Maryfield, Lochmagen, Dumfries; 3, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Herb, by Haystar Cracker, 3600gns to G and M Porter, Carrabus, Bridgend, Isle of Islay; 4, GL Clark’s Broombrae Cathy I8, by Peasiehill Englebert, 2000gns to J Lathangie, Pyeston, Markinch, Fife; 5, LD Quarm’s Annick Whitney’s Irene, by Corskie Callum, 1500gns to G and M Porter, Carrabus, Bridgend, Isle of Islay.

Heifers born on or after March 31, 2017 – 1 and reserve female, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Intrepid, by Newbiemains Golden Eye, unsold; 2, N and N Gwynne’s Chestermann Data Michelle 2, by Overhill House Data, 1700gns to J and H Chisholm, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord; 3, N and N Gwynne’s Chestermann Ringleader Dora, by Blackford Ringleader, 2100gns to R Cook and Co, Kinneil Mill, Linlithgow; 4, J and OJ Trafford’s Hepplewhite Champagne 28, by Derrycallaghan Ernest, 1300gns to J and H Chisholm, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord; 5, J and OJ Trafford’s Hepplewhite May 8, by Derrycallaghan Ernest, 1400gns to M Jamieson, Newtonbrae, Newmill, Keith.

Bulls

Bulls born on or between October 27, 2016, and January 10, 2017 – 1 and senior champion, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Icicle, by Auroch Ace, 6000gns to J McKerrel, Island Farm, Bowmore, Isle of Islay; 2 and reserve senior, WD Hazelton’s Ranfurly Impeccable I4, by Raceview King, 8500gns to AS Leedham, Rowan Farm, Lockton, Pickering; 3, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Inrock, by Bel Dhu Capercaillie, 6200gns to JS innes and Son, Dunscroft, Huntly; 4, R McCulloch’s Overhill House Herman, by Annick Talisker, 5000gns to Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk; 5, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Ice, by Raceview King, unsold.

Bulls born on or between January 11 and February 8, 2017 – 1, Miss L Green’s Garmouth Iceman, by Dirnanean Bradley, 6200gns to Ardhuncart Farm, Kildrummy, Alfrod; 2, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Iceberg, by Islavale Ferrari, 10,500gns to Balbirnie Home Farms, Pitillock, Freuchie, Fife; 3, GW Smith’s Drumsleed Iceman, by Haystar Cracker, 4800gns to Ormsary Estate, Lochgilphead; Argyll; 4, R McCulloch’s Overhill House Illinois, by Curaheen Drifter, unsold; 5, DC Houldey’s Manor Park Irvine, by Kilbride Farm Berratoft, 3500gns to J Pate and Partners, Nettlingflat, Heriot, Midlothian.

Bulls born on or between February 5 and March 1, 2017 – 1, T Hill’s Scotland Hill IBN, by Glenturk Extra Special, 4000gns to RG Farries, Byrecroft, Kirkgunzeon, Dumfries; 2, WG MacPherson’s Blackford Indigo, by Kilbride Farm Doubleaction, 7000gns to GM Mitchell, Fernie Mill, Windmill Road, St Andrews; 3, D and R Durno and Sons’ Auchorachan Initial, by Team Fergus, 4200gns to J Gunn, Carsgoe, Halkirk, Caithness; 4, J and A Wilson’s Sterling Innes, by Sterling Gino, 3500gns to S McCann, Oberstown, Lusk, County Down; 5, DC Houldey’s Manor Park Ironman, by Kilbride Farm Berratoft, 2600gns to MacFarlane Farms, Quixwood, Duns.

Bulls born on or between March 2 and 12, 2017 – 1, intermediate champion and reserve supreme, WG MacPherson’s Blackford Iolair, by Kilbride Farm Doubleaction, 13,000gns to RH Brunton, Crudie Acres, Arbroath; 2, Miss H Duff’s Pitmudie Iron Man, by Corrick Caesar, 5500gns to G Fraser, Glenernie Farm, Dunphail, Forres; 3, J and G Houliston’s Saltire Innes, by Curaheen Bandit, 5000gns to W Clarke, Model Farm, Brick Kiln Road, Hevingham, Norwich; 4, SB Knox’s Kyleston Iceman, by Keeldrum Eclipse, 5500gns to F McGowan, Incheoch Farms, Alyth; 5, Mrs H Clarke’s Williams Inferno, by Clonagh Diehard Gallant, 2800gns to J Cameron, Balmacaan, Drumnadrochit.

Bulls born on or between March 13 and 19, 2017 – 1 and reserve intermediate, R Rodgers’ Hiltonstown Irish, by Dermotstown Delboy, 8500gns to H Duff, Pitmudie, Brechin; 2, WS Stronach’s Islavale Irish, by Curaheen Giant, 16,000gns to Backmuir Livestock, Keith; 3, N Smith’s Edenbann Ivanhoe, by Rabawn Flame, unsold; 4, WS Stronach’s Islavale Innis, by Atlow Dixon, 8500gns to J and J Marshall, Daleigh, Advie, Grantown on Spey; 5, RJ MacGregor’s Team Icon, by Team Fabulous, 8200gns to AJ Milne, Standingstones, Durris, Banchory.

Bulls born on or between March 20 and 29, 2017 – 1, T Hill’s Scotland Hill Invader, by Glenturk Extra Special, 10,000gns to Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin; 2, Mr and Mrs M Ward and Sons’ Westridge Ivanhoe, by Corrick Geraldo, 6500gns to A and J Craig, Craigton, Castle Douglas; 3, Mr and Mrs L Moffat’s Innerwick Invincible, 4800gns to DW Sinclair and Son, Unigarth, Sandwick, Orkney; 4, Miss H Duff’s Pitmudie Isuzu, by Overhill House Eragon, 3700gns to T Millar and Son, Ballanan, Ringford, Dumfries; 5, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Ice Man, by Woodhall Fantastic, 4000gns to Ormsary Estate, Lochgilphead, Argyll.

Bulls born on or between March 30 and April 9, 2017 – 1 and reserve junior, WS Stronach’s Islavale Imperial, by Curaheen Giant, 11,000gns to Backmuir Livestock, Keith; 2, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Is A Star, by Woodhall Fantastic, 6200gns to Swanson Farms, Quarryside, Castletown, Caithness; 3, LD Quarm’s Annick Icarus, by Corskie Callum, 7000gns to JW Fullerton, Corsbie, Earlston, Berwickshire; 4, WJ and J Green’s Corskie Ignite, by Bel Dhu Capercaille, 7000gns to J Mitchell, Rumbletonrig, Greenlaw, Duns; 5, Strathisla Farms’ Strathisla Ingot, by Dressogue Victorious, 5200gns to Holland Farms, Stronsay, Orkney.

Bulls born on or between April 10 and 25, 2017 – 1, J and G Houliston’s Saltire Impressive, by Woodhall Ferrari, 14,000gns to N Kirkpatrick, Ballymoney Lodge, Dromore Road, Banbridge, County Down; 2, G and A Christie’s Rockytop Invader, by Kilbride Farm Fearless, 14,000gns to JC MacIver, Wester Coltfield, Forres; 3, A Nelson’s Scribby Farms Ivor, by Dermotstown Delboy, 4200gns to J Innes and Son, Dunscroft, Huntly; 4, HJW and JC Moore’s Omorga Irving, by Linde General, 4500gns to JS and MD Johnston, Mains of Blackford, Rothienorman, Inverurie; 5, N and N Gwynne’s Chestermann Imran, by Blackford Ringleader, 8000gns to E and L Munro, Rodiehill, Skene, Westhill.

Bulls born on or after April 26, 2017 – 1, junior champion and supreme champion, WE and GE Nelson’s Drumacritten Ian, by Dermotstown Delboy, 11,000gns to C and M Bruce, Tillyeve, Udny, Ellon; 2, WS Stronach’s Islavale IQ, by Atlow Dixon, 6500gns to GR Morton, Church Farm, Gamlesby, Penrith; 3, HC Stubbs and AA Burleigh’s Derrycallaghan Impeccable, by Anatrim Bodybuilder, 2500gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney; 4, RJ Boyd’s Slievenagh Irresistible, by Linde General, 3000gns to G and J Armstrong, Tullyhona, Flourencecourt, County Fermanagh; 5, WSP McDonald’s Coolcran Invictus, by Kilbride Farm Escalop, 2500gns to A Sharp and Son, Farmton, Tough, Alford.

OTHERLEADING prices:

7200gns – H Duff’s Pitmudie Inverurie, by Corskie Elder, to Agrismart, Marine Approach, Burton Waters, Lincoln.

6500gns – WJ and J Green’s Corskie Isle, by Bel Dhu Capercaillie, to J Dalrymple, Bargany Farms, Girvan, Ayrshire.