Records were broken in Dungannon, at the British Simmental Cattle Society’s bull sale where the bull Gillview Ranger attracted the top price at 10,000gns from local breeder Ryan Gilmour’s Gillview herd, Dungannon.
A new record for the Dungannon Sale, which was topped last year at 7200gns by Corrick Pressley. Ranger marks the first time a Simmental bull has sold at the five-figure mark at a society sale in Northern Ireland.
Placed supreme champion in the pre-sale show by judge Robert Forde, Mullynock herd, Tempo, Ranger was described by the judge as: “Just a lovely, standout bull in the show. He was long, clean, well-muscled, and has all the attributes to produce top end market weaners for commercial farmers, and to make a stock bull for a pedigree herd.”
Full of breeding, Gillview Ranger is an October 2024-born bull by the noted AI sire Coose Lincoln EX 95, a sire which bred sons to 20,000gns, 19,000gns, 18,000gns, and 13,000gns at Stirling this year. Ranger’s dam is the cow Raceview Millie Fairytale, a Kilbride Farm Delboy 12 daughter purchased from Peter and Marion O’Connell in October 2021. He sold to first-time Simmental buyer Derek Reaney, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone.
Ryan, who is also the NI Simmental Breeders Club Secretary went on to say: “We are proud to support and promote the Simmental breed here in Northern Ireland, and particularly with Dungannon Mart on our doorstep. We are really delighted to set a new Northern Ireland Simmental sale record, reaching a five-figure price for a bull, and during the NI Simmental Club’s 55th anniversary this year. He’s gone to an excellent home, remaining locally in Tyrone with well-known commercial farmer Derek Reaney, and we would like to wish him every success with Ranger. We also extend our thanks to the mart staff and the Wylie family for their continued support and for hosting Simmental sales in Dungannon over the years.”
In a small but quality sale at Dungannon, the bulls sold averaged £5814.37, a new record average and up by £366.80 on last year’s sale, and with a total clearance of the eight bulls forward.
Selling at 7000gns was the January 2025-born bull Ashland Silvester from Pat and Frank Kelly, Tempo, Co Fermanagh. By the AI sire Ashland Brandy, and is out of Raceview Mollyfortuna 887, a Dermotstown Delboy EX 92 daughter. He sold to John McGovern.
At 5600gns was Coolcran Rafiki 24 from Shane and Paul McDonald, Coolcran, Tempo, Co Fermanagh. A September 2024 born bull, Rafiki is by Islavale Miami, and is out of Coolcran Heidi’s Khaleesi, a maternal sister to the 26,000gns Coolcran Heidi’s Noreen, and noted as the best cow family in the herd. He was knocked down to Victor MacFarland.
It was a good day at the sale for Gavin Hayes and family, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim, who kicked off the sale by selling Haystar Revolver for 5200gns John J Cavanagh. This April 2024 born bull is sired by Lissadell Nailer, and is out of Raceview Lively HW Nicolet, by Clonagh Tiger Gallant, who was purchased from a Raceview reduction sale. In November 2024 this bull was Junior Champion at the NI Simmental Club Calf Show held at Ballymena Livestock Market. At the pre-sale show Revolver was placed reserve supreme champion.
The sale also saw the Haystar herd take the top price amongst the females when they sold the in-calf heifer Haystar Wonder 13 for 5700gns. A July 2023 born heifer Haystar Wonder 13 is by the AI sire Corrick Kentucky Kid, and is out of the Cleenagh Flasher daughter Haystar Wonder. Scanned in-calf to Coose Kingston, and due mid-May, Haystar Wonder 13 was bought by Ashley Bowden for his Legmurn herd at Stewartstown, Co Tyrone.
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