SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL CLUB.
www.scottishsimmentalclub.co.uk
NEWSLETTER No. 27
SPRING 2012.
DIARY DATES 2012.
Perth Spring Bull Sales- Stirling Market. 19th-21st February.
Judge; Miss B. Borlase (Perrywood).
Inspection 19th February
Simmental Show & Sale - 20th February.
Junior Stockjudging training day. -Sunday 11th March, 11am. Strathisla Farms, Meigle.
Blairgowrie, Perthshire. (By kind permission of Mr Adrian Ivory)
Multibreed Bull Sale – 7th May, Stirling Agricultural Centre.
Entries - United Auctions 01786 473055.
Royal Highland Show - 21st- 24th June - All welcome to the Simmental Stand.
21st June at 9.00am - Simmental Classes Judge: Mr David Donelly, (Atlow Simmentals).
Scottish Simmental Club - Open day. 3rd July. Aikengall, East Lothian. ( By kind permission of Mr John
Hamilton.)
Inter-Club Junior Stockjudging- English National Show at East of England Show - 6th - 8th
July.
The Scottish National Simmental Show- Perth 4th August 2011.
Schedules from- Neil Forbes Perth Show Secretary- 01738 623780.
Judge- Mrs Judy Borlase- Sacombe.
Orkney Show- 11th August.- British Simmental Cattle Society Stand at Show.
14th August. BSCS- Open day at Stratheast, Holm, Orkney.
(by kind permission of Messrs A & D Clark)
Perth October Bull Sales at Stirling - 22nd-24thth October 2011. ( Provisional)
Entries - United Auctions 01786 473055. Inspection- 21st October. Show & Sale 23rd
October.
Scottish Simmental Club A.G.M. -22nd October, Stirling Mart. (this is provisional subject to
BSCS confirming their AGM details. Followed by British Simmental Cattle Society AGM.
Forfar calf Show- November 17th. for details of classes contact Forfar Mart- 01307 462651.
SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL- CLUB WEBSITE.
www.scottishsimmentalclub.co.uk
Anyone wishing to have a link to their own website or a page on the Clubs website
to advertise their herd please contact Richard Pettit: 07866 963158.
We have had over 2000 visitors view the website in the first year, with over 12,000
page views from all over the World.
STOCKJUDGING DAY
Strathisla Farms.
Sunday 11th March 2012.
OPEN STOCKJUDGING.
Stockjudging day to be held at Strathisla farms, Meigle . By kind permission of Mr
Adrian Ivory.
This year we have decided to change the day slightly by making it open to
Members of all ages.
So come along and test your stock judging skills.!
Our Junior Stockjudging
Training day will also be held at Strathisla farms, on Sunday 11 th March, 11am.
We will again be sending Junior Members forward to represent us at the Area
Junior Stockjudging competition .
Our Judge for the day will be Mr Neil McGowan, (Dirnanean.)
Inter- Club Stockjudging competition.
To be held at the English National Simmental Show at the East of England Show
on 6th-8th July 2012.
The Winner of the over 21 and under 21 individual, will both win a trip to the
World Congress in Germany, courtesy of the British Simmental Cattle Society.
MAY SALE.
MULTIBREED BULL SALE.
This will be held at Stirling Agricultural Centre on the 7 th May. It is an official
Simmental Show & Sale, with inspections prior to the Show. Entries are invited,
to be sent to the Pedigree Department -01786 473055.
We encourage you to support this sale either as a buyer or a seller, this sale has
become a well recognised Pedigree event. The Scottish Simmental Club will
present a Pewter tankard to the Stockperson of the Champion Bull at this Show
ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW.
21st- 24th June.
We will be on the same site this year at the Royal Highland Show, with our
marquee looking on to the Simmental judging ring, The stand preparations can
only be done at the last minute and lots of help will be needed. We hope to have
committee members manning the stand throughout the show, but we would also
appreciate any help from club members, if you can spare some time contact
Tom-07989528357 or myself- 07866 963158.
Simmental Judging is scheduled for 9.00am on Thursday 21st June, Mr David
Donelly is to be the Judge. Everyone is invited to join us for the presentations
immediately after the judging has finished.
Interbreed Teams.
The Chairman will be making arrangements for the teams to represent the
Simmentals in the Interbreed competitions.Your co-operation if required would be
much appreciated. We look forward to seeing everyone again at our new stand
location, and extend good wishes to all exhibitors and stockmen for a successful
show.
PROMOTE YOUR HERD AT THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW.
An advertising board will be available at our Royal Highland Show Marquee,
Anyone wishing to advertise their herd or Stock for sale please send the
Secretary your advert prior to the Royal Highland Show. Adverts £10 each.
THE SCOTTISH SIMMENTAL CLUBS
NATIONAL SIMMENTAL SHOW.
Perth. 4thAugust 2012.
The Committee have decided after the success of last years Show to once again
hold a Scottish National Show, this year to be held at Perth . This will be Perth
Shows 150th Anniversary.
We hope to increase on last years entry and hopefully make it one of the biggest
Shows of Simmentals in the Country.
Generous sponsorship for each class from both Local and National Businesses,
with over £3000 in prize money.
The Judge is Mrs Judy Borlase from the well-known Sacombe herd.
For more information contact Tom-07989528357 or Richard- 07866 963158.
For entry forms contact the Show Secretary- Mr Neil Forbes:01738 623780
SPONSORS.
We are again indebted to our very generous sponsors, particularly as we now rely
on them so heavily for Show prizes and other Club events. Many thanks to the
committee members who have sourced new or ongoing sponsorships. We would
like to make all sponsors most welcome to join us at any of our Club events and
we ask Club members to show their appreciation by supporting those firms that
have helped us whenever they can.
Thank you to all the sponsors of our 2011 Scottish National Simmental Show.
Scottish Simmental Club- Open Day.
Aikengall, Dunbar, East Lothian.
( by kind permission of Mr John Hamilton).
3rd July 2012.
The Scottish Club have organised an Open day at Aikengall and Thurston Mains
by kind permission of Mr John Hamilton. Aikengall comprises 2300 acres which
are owned, ranging from arable land at Thurston to heather hill at Aikengall.
An additional 1100 acres is rented at Nunraw 12 miles away and 250 acres at
Fernleylea next door.
350 acres of spring barley is grown for home consumption and 300 acres of red
clover for silage cut twice a year.
The Business is run Organically on an extensive stocking basis.
Stock: 350 suckler cows, all Simmental cross in a closed herd, only buying in
bulls.
Cows calve to Simmental bulls and heifers to Shorthorn or Lincoln Red at 3years
old.
Use all homebred replacements, preferably a Simmental x Lincoln red/Shorthorn
type of cow.
All progeny is finished on farm , sold to Waitrose / Dovecote Park deadweight at
22 months old and heifers 330-350kg dw at 20 months old, all finished on
homegrown rations consisting red clover silage, crimped barley and straw.
Starting to sell heifers privately for breeding.
Cows are all wintered outside on deferred grazing and kale, and are housed in
February once house space is available for calving.
1800 ewes in a stratified system:
250 Blackface ewes on hill which are kept pure.
800 Blackface ewes crossed to Bluefaced Leicester to breed Mules.
750 Mule ewes put to Texel Tups , lambed indoors in March.
The sheep flock is also run on a closed system only buying in Tups, and breeding
own replacements. With surplus ewe lambs sold for breeding.
All wethers finished on farm.
Lambs are marketed through Welsh Country foods and Dunbia.
“JOHN COLLINS CRYSTAL GLASSES.”
The Simmental Society have again given the Scottish Club three pairs of John
Collins crystal glasses. This year they will be presented to Perth, Biggar and
Banchory. We hope you will make a special effort to attend these shows. They
will be presented to the exhibitor of the Overall Champion at each Show.
CLUB TANKARDS.
Mementos of important Simmental occasions in Scotland continue to be marked by
Club presentation of an engraved tankard to the stock people bringing out the
Supreme Champion at the Perth February and October Bull Sales, Multi- breed
May sale, and the overall Breed Champion at the Royal Highland Show.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Have you paid your 2011/12 subscription??? If your subscription for the current
year is outstanding you will find a slip enclosed with this Newsletter. Your
prompt attention to this would be appreciated. Your late payment is probably just
an oversight, however reminders are costly for the Club, and your name will be
deleted from the membership list if no correspondence is received after this
reminder. It would be helpful if you could drop me a note if you do not wish to
renew your membership and I will not trouble you with further Club
correspondence.
We will be giving everyone the option to pay by standing order when next years
subscriptions are due – so no excuse for late payment!.
Please note:- at the last AGM it was approved to increase subscriptions by £5 to
£25 from 2012/2013.
To the majority of you who paid on time – thank you.
STANDING ORDERS.
Please advise your Bank to change your standing order to £25 from November
2012.
41st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The 41st Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held in Stirling Mart on
22nd October 2012. (This is a provisional date & location, subject to the Society
confirming their AGM details). These details will be confirmed when the Agenda
and Accounts are circulated. Don’t miss the opportunity to put forward your
suggestions and to make sure that the people who are going to represent your
views are elected to the Committee.
October Bull Sales. 22nd- 24th October.
Stirling Agricultural Centre.
(Provisional)-Inspection- Sunday 21st October.
Show & Sale - Tuesday 23rd October.
Entries to United Auctions (Pedigree department)- 01786 473055.
Simmental Review Adverts.
Club Members wishing to advertise in next Simmental Review please contact
Richard for preferential advertising rates to Scottish Club Members.
Several Members now advertise in the “Scottish Club pages” in the Simmental
Review which is an excellent way to advertise your herd.
2012 COMMITTEE.
Chairman. Mr Tom Henderson. 3 Dargill Farm Cottages, Creiff, Perthshire. PH7 4HJ.
(Tel: 01764 650286)
Vice Chairman.
6LN.
Mr Stewart Stronach (Senior), Berryleys Farm, Keith , Banffshire.AB55
(01542 870644)
COMMITTEE
Due to retire 2012.
Mr James Mill, Shawsmill farm, Cardenden, Lochelly, Fife, KY5 0AN.
( 01592 720266).
Miss Gayle Houliston, 10 Newmains, Drem, North Berwick, East Lothian.
EH39 5BL.
( 01620 880214)
Due to retire 2013.
Mrs Dorothy Moffat, Innerwick Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, East Lothian. EH42 1SE
(01368 840270)
Mr Douglas Barr, Delfur Farm, Dundurcas, Rothes, Banffshire.AB38 7AE.
(01340 831218)
Mr Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Banffshire. AB37 9DN
(01807 590213)
Due to retire 2014.
Mr Stewart Stronach (Junior), Maisley Farm Keith Banffshire.
(07077 79782777)
Mr D. Leslie, Redhill Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin.
(07887531072)
Mr David Craig, Kennox Cottage, Stewarton, Ayrshire.
(01294 850460)
Co-opted.
Miss Varrie Dyet East Merkland, , Sandford, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, ML10 6PR.
(01357 521459)
Council RepresentativeMr Robert MacGregor, Kirkton of Mailer, Craigend, Perth. PH2 0ST.
(01738 812210)
Secretary/Treasurer:
963158.)
Richard Pettit, Mains of Tannachy, Portgordon, Buckie,
Banffshire, AB56 5BU (Tel: 01542 832774 mob:07866