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DENIZES SIMMENTAL EMBRYOS EXPORTED TO USA
In a further international sale of British Simmental genetics, twentyone pedigree embryos, from the Denizes herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, were sold in the year and exported to the United States based company Horizon Genetics.
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In looking specifically to source Simmentals from the UK, a representative of Horizon Genetics first approached the Barlows through Facebook. Extensive discussions and exchanges of pictures followed to meet Horizon’s criteria of visual appearance, bloodlines, and performance figures. The required matings were established, and the embryos thereafter collected and subsequently exported through Mark Knutsford, Celltech Embryo Transfer Ltd.
Nineteen Grade A embryos were collected and exported from the mating of the 2018 born Denizes Cadette 37th, a Kilbride Farm Delboy 12 daughter out of Denizes Cadette 28th, and the sire Ballinalare Galaxy 15. A further two Grade A embryos were exported from the mating of Denizes Nelly 8th, a Cairnview Snazzy daughter out of Denizes Nelly 5th, and sired by Brookwood Alla King. In both instances semen for the matings was supplied for the respective bulls by the Chester based Cogent UK. The bulls had required to be tested for Schmallenburg prior to collection.
Commenting on the sale, John Barlow said: “We are delighted to see Denizes Simmental genetics sell to the United States. Horizon Genetics are showing considerable interest in British Simmental and in sourcing these embryos they are looking for quality female lines from which to breed bulls.”
Over the course of the previous two years, Horizon Genetics have sourced a number of British Simmental bulls subsequently exported to an AI centre in Italy and with semen collections destined for distribution and use in both the USA and China.
Also in the course of the last twenty four months a number of export sales has seen a combination of British Simmental live cattle and genetics sold to Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria; in addition to Italy; USA; and China.
Denizes Cadette 37th
Denizes Nelly 8th
NORTHERN IRISH SIMMENTALS EXPORTED TO REPEAT CUSTOMERS IN SWITZERLAND AND GERMANY
In a sale concluded at the backend of the year, three Simmental herds located in counties Antrim and Tyrone, Northern Ireland, exported two cows and calves, five heifers, and one young bull to breeders in Switzerland and Germany in early January 2022.
The deal featuring the Slievenagh, Omorga and Hiltonstown herds, follows on from an ‘export first’ in July 2020 involving 11 Northern Ireland-bred Simmental cattle. This latest export deal was struck with three repeat customers and a new buyer, and bolsters an upsurge in international demand for genetics, embryos and semen from high health status herds in Northern Ireland. Robin Boyd from the Portglenone-based 30-cow Slievenagh Herd is the British Simmental Cattle Society’s World Simmental and Fleckvieh Federation representative and was one of three breeders who shipped pedigree cattle to the continent. “We are delighted to announce another significant export of Simmentals to Switzerland and Germany. The breed was first imported to Northern Ireland in 1971, and last year, as the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary, we were brokering a deal to export ten Simmental cattle to the breed’s native homeland,” explained Robin Boyd.
“The dual-purpose Simmental is one of the more influential breeds in the UK, offering both superior terminal and maternal traits. This latest export is testimony to the quality and consistency of Northern Ireland bred cattle and gives breeders in Germany and Switzerland an opportunity to tap-into new bloodlines from proven bulls and cow families.”
Mr Boyd continued: “It is very pleasing to see that the majority of the cattle are going to satisfied customers Felix Tobler, Christian Bunde and Mario Walther, and new buyer Markus Rahn. “
The initial export almost eighteen-months ago was initiated by Felix Tobler, and his son Joel, from Chapelle in Switzerland, who had visited the UK and NI to participate in stockjudging competitions organised by the Simmental Young Members’ Association. Their enthusiasm fuelled a growing interest in local cattle, which resulted in visits from prospective buyers in October 2019 and January 2020.
The Tobler family were the first-ever herd owners to import cattle, of any breed, from Northern Ireland to Switzerland. Felix and Joel Tobler took delivery of five animals carrying the Boyd family’s Slievenagh prefix. The consignment included the three-year-old cow Slievenagh Klassy Lady, an Omorga Isaac daughter, bred from Slievenagh Faith VG85, whose maternal granddam Slievenagh Madonna bred the 20,000gns Perth reserve supreme champion Slievenagh Talisman (Nov 2007). This young cow was accompanied by her polled eight-month-old Coose Jericho bull calf.
The March 2019 Slievenagh Krystal was sired by Shacon Hannibal, one of the most influential sires at the Society’s recent Next Generation Sale in Carlisle. Her dam is the Kilbride Farm Bantry daughter Slievenagh Emmylou EX90. Included in the deal was Krystal’s eight-week-old heifer calf Slievenagh Monica, a daughter of home-bred stock bull Slievenagh Kildare.
Also selling to Felix Tobler was the yearling heifer Slievenagh Molly. She is a polled daughter of Dermotstown Delboy, and a twin heifer bred from first calver Slievenagh Jasmine. This heifer’s maternal grandam Slievenagh Buttercup EX90 was the UK’s first Golden Cow in the new register launched by the society in 2019.
The Bunde family from Drewitz in Germany, purchased the 2020 born heifers Slievenagh Lottie and Slievenagh Lily (P). Lottie was second in a strong class for autumn-born heifers in the NI Simmental Club’s virtual show last year. She was sired by Omorga Murray and is out of the Kilbride Farm Bantry daughter Slievenagh Goddess, which hails from the Madonna female line. Lily is by Slievenagh Justthejob, a home-bred homozygous polled son of Kilbride Farm Glenhead. Her dam is Slievenagh Iris from the noted Omorga Daffodil family.
Mario Walther from Frankfurt bought two Curaheen Gunshot progeny from the Moore family’s 40-cow Omorga prefix. Both ninemonths of age, Omorga Midnight (P) is bred from the Kilbride Farm Bantry daughter Omorga Fanny, while the bull Omorga Moses (P) is bred from Curaheen Dell. Mr Walther previously purchased from the Omorga Herd in 2020.
Richard and Rhys Rodgers from Portglenone, were also part of the 2020 export deal, and this time sold a heifer to German customer Markus Rahan. The March 2020 Hiltonstown Lindsay was sired by the 2014 and 2015 Balmoral Show champion Dertmotstown Delboy and is out of the home-bred dam Hiltonstown Grace VG88 – one of 35 cows in the herd. The export was facilitated by livestock haulier Martin O’Neill, with the journey from Northern Ireland via Rosslare and Cherbourg, taking almost three days.
This latest deal continues what has been a significant export demand for British Simmental live cattle and genetics over the last two years with further sales to Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, USA, and China.
Slievenagh Klassy Lady
Slievenagh Lottie
CADE KOLOSSAL LEADS MELTON MOWBRAY SIMMENTAL SALE AT 3000GNS
Cade Kolossal 3000gns
Cade Kolossal 19 (P) from Paul Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden, East Anglia sold for 3000gns to lead the small Simmental entry, held as a Centre West Simmental Club Sale, and within the Melton Mowbray Multibreed pedigree sale on Saturday 27th March 2021.
July 2019 born, Cade Kolossal is by Heathbrow Impulse 17 (P), and is out of Dirnanean Abba who is described as ‘ leaving size, strong maternal instincts, and excellent milk production.’ Earlier in the day, this bull had placed first in the Simmental class of bulls in front of the judge Richard McInnes. Staying local, Cade Kolossal was purchased by LW Simons & Son, Brockhill Hall Farm, Melton, Leicestershire. From the same home the July 2019 Cade King Pin 19 (P), who stood second in the bull class, sold for 2600gns to Robert Carlton, Cherry Tree Farm, Dunchurch, Rugby. Another polled Heathbrow Impulse son, this bull is a heifer’s calf being out of Thursford Debs 36th, a Scotland Hill Cairo daughter. Selling at the same 2600gns mark was Storersmith Kaleidoscope 19 from R&L Storer Smith, Spath Farm House, Uttoxeter. October 2019 born, and the youngest Simmental bull in the sale, Kaleidoscope is by Kilbride Farm Comber and out of the Glenturk Rolex daughter Storersmith Domino EX 91. Storersmith Kaleidoscope 19 was purchased by AE Kerr & Son, Mannor Farm, Newark, Notts.
Through the book at 2300gns was the December 2018 born Midhope Jasmine from Mr WJ Hollingsworth, Mid Hope Hall Farm, Sheffield. This heifer, scanned in-calf, by Woodhall Everhart 13, and out of Midhope Girlie, went to a new breeder C Chuck, Skegness.
TJ Hassall & Co, from Winsford, Cheshire, sold three heifers from their Fishpool herd at 1700gns; 1300gns; and 1100gns respectively. Showing the productivity and efficiency of Simmental females the 1700gns and 1100gns prices were twin heifer calves selling for a collective 2800gns at one year old. Selling at 1700gns was Fishpool Lexi. All three Fishpool animals were purchased by P Angelides, Langford Moor Farm, Coddington, Notts.
Midhope Jasmine 2300gns
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6000GNS KILBRIDE FARM EUNICE 314L (P) LEADS STRONG EXPORT TRADE AT KILBRIDE FARM PREMIER SIMMENTAL HEIFER SALE
• Top price heifer sells to Australia • Two heifers sell to Germany • Four heifers head to Scotland • Six heifers sell to Republic of
Ireland • Fifteen heifers average £4886
Astrong export trade was the theme of the day at the much anticipated premier heifer sale of WH Robson & Sons, Doagh, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim. Held as a timed on-line auction over three days, from 19th to 21st August, this export qualified sale celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the noted and prolific Kilbride Farm pedigree Simmental herd.
On offer was a select high-quality catalogue of yearling and in-calf heifers from the herds main and prolific cow families. In the run up to the sale the Robson family had imaginatively and extensively promoted and marketed the sale through social media with in-depth picture and video content of the animals for sale, and with details of their breeding lines. A number of potential buyers also viewed the animals on-farm. The hard work paid off with the sale, held in conjuction with Ballymena Market and the online MartEye, raising worldwide interest. The top priced heifer was purchased by an Australian buyer, with two further heifers heading to buyers in Germany. Four heifers headed to Scotland, with six going south to the Republic of Ireland, and two remaining with buyers in Northern Ireland. Fifteen heifers sold in all to average a very healthy £4886.
Leading the way at 6000gns was the August 2020 born Kilbride Farm Eunice 314L (P) who went ‘down under’ when being purchased by Jeff Knox, Crookwell, New South Wales. Out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 191F, this heifer goes back to the Milnafua Graduate daughter, Eunice 34S. Her sire, Kilbride Farm Hans PP, goes back to K F Fanni 9V who also bred the 12,000gns Kilbride Farm Bantry. As recently as last year, Mr Knox imported 32 embryos from the Kilbride Farm herd and from which he now has pregancies. From here, agreement has been reached that Kilbride Farm Eunice 314L (P) will be kept at Kilbride Farm where she will be flushed, and with embryos being exported to Mr. Knox thereafter.
Commenting following the sale, Billy Robson said: “We are delighted to have held this sale to mark 50 years of Kilbride Farm Simmentals. As the herd has progressed in that time, we’ve exported Simmental genetics around the world. It’s very fitting therefore to have seen such an export
Kilbride Farm Eunice 314 LP
Kilbride Farm Eunice 295KP
theme to this sale. The sale represented an opportunity for purchasers to buy animals from our very best breeding lines and we very much trust they go on to do well for their new owners.” One of the longest establishe British Simmental herds, Kilbride Farm have been prolific sellers privately and at both the Perth and Stirling bull sales over many years.
Selling at 5100gns was Kilbride Farm Eunice 295K (P) who was one of three heifers purchased by Eoin Coogan, Co Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. August 2019 born,
Kilbride Farm Eunice 305K
this heifer is by the homozygous polled bull Sneumgaard Imperator, a herd sire imported from Denmark. Again with a depth of breeding and performance, Eunice 295K (P), is out of the powerful Crugmelyn Brenin daughter Kilbride Farm Eunice 149D and with her grand dam Eunice 45T being a full sister to Kilbride Farm Titan who was a Champion at the Stirling Bull Sales. This heifer was sold in-calf to Curaheen Gunshot (P). Mr Coogan was back in action when purchasing Kilbride Farm Eunice 306K for 4400gns. Again with a connectivity in breeding, Eunice 306K is one of the few Crugmelyn Brenin heifers in the herd to ever have been offered for sale. November 2019 born, she is out of the prolific Cairnview Snazzy daughter, Kilbride Farm Eunice 103B. Making it a hat trick of purchases, the August 2019 born Kilbride Farm Jolly25K (P), also headed to the newly establishing herd of Mr Coogan Another selling to Scotland, and again at 4700gns, was the October 2019 born Kilbride Farm Eunice 305K who was one of two purchases by Kate & Alan McNee, Over Finlarg Farm, Tealing, Dundee to join their Finlarg herd. A further heifer by Kilbride Farm Gruffalo 15 (P), Eunice 305K is out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 245I (P), a Sneumgaard Imperator PP heifer going back to Seaview Prince Charming and Dovefield Gallant. Also heading to Over Finlarg at 3900gns was the youngest heifer in the catalogue, the August 2020 Kilbride Farm Eunice 315L (P). Again full of breeding, Eunice 315L (P) is by Curaheen Gunshot (P), and is out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 274J (P). Speaking after the sale Hazel McNee, who had viewed the cattle on farm prior to the sale, said: “These heifers offer a different type of breeding to what we presently have in the herd. The depth of breeding in the Kilbride Farm herd is well known and we have always admired the Kilbride Farm bulls forward at Stirling sales. The sale offered a good opportunity to buy into proven bloodlines and we are very pleased with the heifers bought.”
The very first lot in the catalogue, Kilbride Farm Eunice 291K made 4500gns when selling to the Killultagh herd of Connor Wilkinson, Killultagh Road, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. Getting the sale off to a strong start, this April 2019 heifer, a full sister to Kilbride Farm Gruffalo, is a Crugmelyn Brenin daughter out of Kilbride Farm Eunice 92A (P). Eunice 291K’s granddam was noted as being ‘a tremendous breeding polled Milnafua Graduate cow on whom a lot of the herd’s polled breeding was based.’ Kilbride Farm Eunice 291K was also sold in calf to Kilbride Farm Jetstream (P).
Continuing the export theme, two animals made 3900gns and both sold to Simmental breeders from Germany. The first of these was Kilbride Farm Laura 37L (P), an Islavale Harvest 16 daughter, and out of Kilbride Farm Laura 20H (PP), an Imperator daughter. This heifer heads back to one of the breed’s homelands and Mario Walther, Erlinbacher Stadtweg 52, Frankfurt. No stranger to British Simmental, Mr Walther bought a female from the Omorga herd of John Moore, Co Tyrone in 2020. Also at 3900gns was Kilbride Farm Laura 39L (P) who was purchased by Thomas Eydner, Frohburg, Germany. April 2020 born, Laura 39L (P) is by Kilbride Farm Gruffalo 15 (P), and is out of Kilbride Farm Laura 22H (P). Mr Eydner who had contacted the Robsons prior to the sale to express an interest, has previously bought semen from the Kilbride Farm herd.
in Co. Wicklow when she was purchased for 4100gns. Jolly 25K (P) is by the Crugmelyn Brenin son Kilbride Farm Gruffalo 15 (P) and is out of Kilbride Farm Jolly 17G (P). The Jolly family has produced some of the highest priced bulls from the herd and up to 22,000gns. Kilbride Farm Jolly 25K was sold in calf to Kilbride Farm Jetstream (P).
Two heifers sold at 4700gns. The first of these Kilbride Farm Dora 97K (P), headed to Scotland when being bought by Mike Morrice for his Boharm pedigree herd at Mains of Newton, Craigellachie, Moray. The August 2019 born Dora 97K (P), is the first heifer to be offered at sale sired by Islavale Harvest 16, the Ranfurly Confederate C24 11 son. She is out of Kilbride Farm Dora 75F (P), a daughter of the homozygous polled Ardadoney VIP (PP), and was sold in-calf to Kilbride Farm Jetstream (P).
