Bidding reached a ceiling of 6,600gns at the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club’s 45th Anniversary Elite Female Show and Sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at Moira.

Hitting the headlines in both the show and sale rings was the much-admired Lisglass Emerald, an August 2013 born heifer consigned by Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Ballyclare. Sired by the 20,000gns Stirling junior and supreme champion (Feb 2010) Auchorachan Wizard, she is bred from the Kilbride Farm Newry daughter Lisglass Babe – one of 35 cows in the County Antrim herd.

She stood second in the intermediate heifer class at Balmoral Show in May, and caught the eye of breed society president and judge David Donnelly, Derbyshire, to secure the supreme championship ribbons at the anniversary event.

Mr Donnelly who runs the 10-cow Atlow herd said:”The champion looks a million dollars. She has length, top, a great backend, and oozes femininity and breed character.” After spirited bidding from the packed ringside audience, auctioneer Michael Taaffe brought the hammer down at 6,600gns, with the successful bid coming from Simmental breed stalwart Thelma Gorman.

Fermanagh exhibitors Harold Stubbs, Lisnaskea, and grandson Alan Burleigh, Florencecourt, realised 4,600gns for the first prize winning Derrycallaghan Fancy Me. Born in April 2014, her sire is the 21,000gns Corrick Kentucky Kid, while her dam is the Popes Laird daughter Corskie Vesna. She was runner-up at the Woodcraft Kitchens (Kilrea) junior heifer derby at Lurgan, and was placed second in her class at Enniskillen Show. This one joins Gareth Wilson’s Hillhead Farm Herd at Garvary, Enniskillen.

William Nelson, and son George, Rosslea, secured a bid of 2,600gns for the second placed Drumacritten Frances. Born in April 2014, she was sired by the herd’s jointly owned 10,000gns stock bull Drumlone Anchor – junior and supreme Perth champion in October 2010. Her dam is Dripsey Super King ET daughter Drumacritten Beth. Buyer was Kingsley Bell who established the Aughnacloy-based Drumearn herd in 2014.

Brothers Paul and Shane McDonald, Tempo, sold the sixth placed Coolcran Juliet’s Emeli for 2,100gns. Sired by the Cairnview Snazzy son Kilbride Farm Ahoghill, she is bred from a Raceview Nigel daughter bought privately from neighbours Pat and Frank Kelly. This one also joins the Drumearn Herd.

The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club is indebted its sponsors: Irwins Feed, Tulivin, Bimeda, Animax, T-Met, Comfort Mats, Ag-Con Products Ltd and Crystalyx.