Sterling dispersal leads Simmentals at 28,000gns at Stirling

Cow-calf outfits topped at 22,000gns and heifers hit 28,000gns at the Sterling herd dispersal of the Boddington Estate, Cheltenham, which led the Simmental ring on Tuesday (24 October). 

Topping the trade at 28,000gns was March 2016-born heifer Sterling Bacardi’s Hawaii. Meanwhile, in-calf heifers levelled at £3,135 and a consignment of maiden heifers averaged more than £4,100.

Barcardi’s Hawaii topped trade at 28,000gns © Tim Scrivener

The sale leader is by Annick Exocet 13 and out of Sterling Naomi’s Bacardi and caught the eye of Barker and Borlase, Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire. 

Also at big money was Sterling Celia’s Fifi at 22,000gns served to Sterling Haymaker 16 in August. Fifi claimed last year’s Royal Cornwall Show and English National Show and won champion cow and calf at this year’s Royal Highland Show. 

Sterling Celia Fiifi sold with her heifer calf at foot © Tim Scrivener

Fifi is by Sterling Cotswold 11 and out of Sterling Dolores Celia and sold with her heifer calf at foot to Harte Peat, Clones, County Monaghan. 

Bulls hit 22,000gns

Averages lifted £337 on the year to £5,383 in the Simmental ring on Tuesday (24 October) but a sticky trade resulted in a clearance of 52%.

Manor Park genetics saw the top two prices on the day, leading with the easy-calving Major Park Hansome 16 which sold for 22,000gns to Irish bidder Garreth T Behan, Ballyfin, County Laois.

Manor Park Hansome © Tim Scrivener

Hansome is by Slievenagh Extra Special 13 and out of Manor Park Daydream and brings exceptional Breedplan ratings for milk, calving-ease daughters and 400-day weight. He is bred by DC Houldey, Waterbeck, Lockerbie.

Next at 18,000gns was Manor Park Hayden 16, which was knocked down to A Wright, Argaty, Doune.

He is by Blackford Worzel 2 and out of Manor Park Bronte and boasts eye-catching carcass and growth characteristics.

Manor park Hayden © Tim Scrivener

See also: Solid Simmental trade breaks five-figure record

Next at 15,000gns was the Islavale herd, Stronach & Partners, Grange, Keith, with Islavale Hogan 16. He is by Wolfstar Elusive 13 and out of Islavale Danielle.

Islavale Hogan © Tim Scrivener

Hogan carries a terminal index of +91 and a self-replacing index of +97, and caught the eye of KD Eunson, Deerness, Orkney.

Close behind at 13,000gns was Corskie Cannon 11 son Rockytop Hurricane 16 from Aberdeenshire breeders Gary and Angela Christie, Glass, Huntly. Hurricane is out of Burghbridge Vicky 3 and knocked down to the Hollingsworths of the Midhope herd, Sheffield. 

Rocckytop Hurricane © Tim Scrivener

Two then followed at 11,000gns, with Strathisla Hagrid 16 from Strathisla Farms, Perthshire. Hagrid is from the noted Twiggy line and out of Strathisla Brambles Twiggy and by Islavale Donald 12.

Hagrid is rated moderately easy-calving both directly and for daughters and caught the eye of John Jeffrey of the Kersknowe herd, Kelso.

Matching this was Aultmore Hamlet 16 from the Pattersons, Aultmore, Keith. He is by Banwy Bonzo 10 and out of Hazelden Jungle 8 and sealed a winning bid from James C Innes and Son, Huntly Aberdeenshire.

Aultmore Hamlet © Tim Scrivener

Next at 10,000gns was the April 2016-born Innerwick Hotshot 16 from the Moffats, Innerwick, Dunbar. He is by Braidwood Everest 13 and out of Innerwick Virginia and headed north to Orkney with JI and WN Stout, Whitehall, Stronsay.

Females to 4500gns

Annick females provided strong prices as female averages slipped more than £500 back on the year, led by Stirling Nelson 2 daughter Annick Easter’s-Ginny at 4,500gns from LD Quarm, Annick Lodge Estate, Irvine.

Out of Annick Cassy’s Easter, the October 2015-born heifer is rated +85 for terminal sire index and +86 for self-replacement index. She knocked down to Nick and Nadia Gwynne, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

Next at 4,000gns was another Annick female, Annick Trixibelle 19, which was knocked down to IE Gleave, Pennington Lane, Haigh, Wigan. She is by Skerrington Visa and out of Annick Trixi Belle 9.

Next at 3,500gns was Williams Belles Hannah from Mrs L Clarke, Model Farm, Norfolk. She is by Clonnagh Diehard Gallant who is one of many famous Clonagh cows from the Edel family who has sired many show winners including Absolutely Fabulous.  

Hannah is out of Williams Lorette’s Bill, which knocked to down to an Irish bid, heading home with Harte Peat, Clones, County Monaghan.

Averages: 61 bulls, £5,720 (+£337) 52% clearance; 14 females, £2,276 (-£517); Boddington dispersal, 13 cows and calves, £5,605; 25 in-calf cows, £2,375; 14 in-calf heifers, £3,135; 17 maiden heifers, £4,101; 14 young bulls, £1,560 (United Auctions)