Latest news with #Simmental
Metro
02-08-2025
- Metro
Never mind the Med — I stumbled on real summer magic in the Alps
The Bernese Oberland may be a haven for skiers come winter, but at this time of year, the soundtrack is altogether different. The swoosh of the slopes is replaced by the clanging of cowbells and the sound of the Alphorn echoing through the valleys. I'm here for a celebration of the region's most elite residents. Not the A-list glitterati that descend on Gstaad with the first snowfall, but its 11,000-strong population of Simmental cattle. At the dawn of springtime, these beautiful beasts are led to Alpine pastures for their annual summer sojourn, where lush grass and wildflowers make for the sweetest milk. It's a land of postcard views (if you haven't seen the Swiss Alps in summer, imagine if Disney made mountain vistas), of cooling lakes for post-hike dips and of Alpkäse, the showstopper cheese of the region that can only be made from the milk of cows who have spend their 90 day summer vacation grazing at high altitude. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. My adventure begins in Adelboden, a Heidi-like village nestled between the mountains at 1,350m. I check into The Cambrian, a boutique hotel owned by two Welshmen who fell in love with the region as youngsters and brought a dose of the Welsh valleys to the Swiss ones when they bought the property in 2009. (B&B from around £215 per night.) Bedecked with nods to home, such as wool blankets and intricate woodwork, it boasts spectacular views across green mountainside, the ever-present soundtrack of tinkling cow bells permeating from afar. Thanks to the impeccable Swiss transport system, journeying to the heart of the Oberland couldn't be simpler. Fly to Zurich, take a train via Bern to Frütigen, and then it's 30 minutes by bus (all of which are on time to the second …), which trundles into the village station directly opposite the hotel. Car-free travel couldn't be easier when the excellent Swiss Travel Pass (from £229 for a three-day ticket) covers everything. Adelboden in the summer is a haven of pavement cafes and children playing in the square. A walking tour of the village takes in the 15th-century church before we head for the hills, the most challenging part made infinitely easier thanks to a glorious system of gondolas taking the hard work out of the hike. The Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg region is a haven for hikers of all fitness levels, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a route that doesn't take your breath away. High up on the Alpine pastures, we finally get a taste of the famous Alpkäse, thanks to cheesemaker Peter Germann. Spending summers in his mountain hut, he lovingly makes each wheel by hand as his father Adolf did before him, and his father before him. Passing walkers can pick up a hunk to accompany their mountainside lunch. We were welcomed with open arms, plied with plates of sweet nutty cheese, fresh bread and butter and coffee, and invited to have a go at the cheesemaking process: carefully heating the milk, scooping out the curds, straining the whey and shaping it into a press where it's weighted for 24 hours before being salt brined for half a day, then put away on a shelf to age for at least 12 months. It's certainly a labour of love given the yield, and since Alpkäse is a protected name – and a rarity compared to most Swiss cheeses – it makes it even more delicious. Drunk on cheese in the summer sun, a refreshing dip in the reservoir is much appreciated before heading back down the mountain and indulging in The Cambrian's open-air spa, watching the sun set and the stars emerge twinkling over the mountaintops. With views like this, it's easy to see why the owners chose to settle. From Adelboden we embark on a scenic journey to Gstaad, the setting for the week's most glorious of summer celebrations. The Züglete is celebrated but once a year (the next is on September 6) with the day marking the end of summer grazing as the cows are led, resplendent in floral crowns, in pomp and ceremony from their mountainside dining, down through the town. It's a remarkable occasion, a day of festivity that begins with a procession of giant cowbells ringing in their VIP guests along the promenade and the sound of the Alphorn reverberating through the streets. Each local farming family, some of three generations, takes turns in bringing their herd through the cheering crowds of locals, tourists, and choirs, with keen ears straining to hear the distant ringing that indicates the next troupe is en route. It's a truly heartwarming experience, not to mention a far cry from the typical picture of Gstaad with its designer boutiques and personalised number plates. This is the true heart of the Alps and the kind of cultural experience that ignites the love of travel. More Trending Just days after we left, the town experienced the first snowfall of the season; it seems those farmers were in the know after all. With the ever-growing trend of coolcations and a yearning to avoid the overcrowded beaches of the Mediterranean, the summertime pull of the mountains becomes more appealing every year. And with Switzerland's finest cheese and a parade of flower-crowned cattle calling, who am I to fight it? Laurel Waldron was a guest of Switzerland Tourism. MORE: Even Italian farmers have stepped in on overtourism with this 'pointless' €5 charge MORE: I stayed in the Airbnb alternative trying to do things differently MORE: Europe's 'Paris of the East' is an underrated gem with £37 flights and 31°C August weather
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Agriland
Elite Simmental Cow Takes Newry Show 2025 Beef Inter Breed Championship
The Simmental cow, Ballinalare Farm Nikita, was selected as the beef inter-breed champion at Newry Show 2025. It is turning out to be another show season of note for this truly elite cow - she has graced the show rings over recent weeks with twin calves at foot. Her Newry victory adds to the inter-breed title secured at the recent Saintfield Show. The cow is owned and bred by the Wilson family, who farm close to Newry, co. Down. Inter-breed judge, Gary Hanna described his champion as an "exceptional" animal, full of Simmental breed character. The beef inter-breed champion and connections at Newry Show 2025 Nikita enjoyed an exceptional career as a heifer, winning the Simmental National Championships on two occasions. And she is now set to continue on her winning ways as a young cow. The native inter-beef beef breed championship was awarded to an outstanding Red Aberdeen Angus heifer: Glenbrae Red Mouse Z166. She was bred and exhibited by the Dodd family from Saintfield, Co. Down, and is due to calve later in the year. The heifer has already enjoyed tremendous success so far in 2025, competing well at Balmoral, Lurgan, and Armagh shows. The inter-breed sheep championship at Newry was won by Joanne Reid from Co. Armagh, with a Dutch Spotted ewe. Judge Jim Aiken, from Dromara in Co. Down, described his champion as "extremely impressive" with excellent breed characteristics. But it was a very close run thing. The reserve inter-breed title was awarded to Mike Reynolds form Armagh, with a truly impressive Suffolk ewe. A record entry of dairy and beef cattle, sheep, and goats combined to make Newry Show 2025 a tremendous success. The sheep inter-breed champion (left) and reserve at Newry Show 2025 Judging carried on until late in the afternoon, with the many visitors in attendance getting an opportunity to view close up a selection of truly elite livestock. Newry Show chairperson Brian Lockhart, said: 'We have had a tremendous day. 'And we want to build on this for the future.' The inter-breed dairy championship was won by Potterswalls Victorious Season EX93. Bred and exhibited by the Fleming family from Seaforde in Co. Down, this eye-catching Jersey third calver looked very impressive in the ring. Her Newry success adds to the Jersey reserve championship she tied down at this year's Balmoral Show. Victorious Season produced 8.000L of milk during her last lactation: she calved for the third time back in April. Cyril Millar, from Coleraine, Co. Down, judged the dairy classes at this year's Newry Show. He described his champion as a perfect example of the Jersey breed. Millar added: 'She has a tremendous udder and excellent locomotion. All being well, she can look forward to a very successful future in the show ring.'
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Signpost: Bulls ahead of target as fodder budget, barley and breeding fall into place
The first half of the bulls finished at under 16 months averaged 432kg at 15.5 months of age and graded U+3-. We are very happy with their performance so far. The remaining bulls are performing well and were weighed in last week, and weighed between 600 and 650kg. The first half of the bulls sold were mainly by terminal Charolais sires with the remaining bulls being sired by more maternal type Limousin, Simmental and Saler bulls. The autumn-born bulls are currently outside on grass and these animals will be housed in the next month or so for finishing. We have had a few isolated cases of viral pneumonia in this group, and as a result, we will vaccinate this group with veterinary advice. The plan is to vaccinate the weanlings for viral pneumonia this year in advance of weaning from August. Second cut silage/winter barley crop The second cut silage will be cut in the next few days, weather permitting. This will allow 40 days for the 80 units of nitrogen applied to be used up. We have completed a fodder budget which shows we need 750 bales for a five-month winter. We will achieve this target. The majority of the silage made to date will be 70+DMD and we may let a proportion of the second bulk up which can be fed to dry suckler cows over the winter period. The winter barley crop is also about just days away from harvesting. The winter barley looks like a good crop just from examining grains. The crop will probably be desiccated with glyphosate prior to harvest, as the plan is to return this ground to grass post-harvest. By using glyphosate to dessicate the crop it can be ploughed immediately after harvest for reseeding. It also means that the straw can be baled almost immediately post-harvest, as there will be no green material present. Ground currently under grass will be sown with winter barley instead. The barley is harvested below 18% DM and stored in a loft for feeding to finishing bulls and heifers over the winter and spring period. The loft has a timber floor and a large surface area, meaning the barley isn't stacked high. The barley is transferred to the loft from the trailer using an auger. Once the barley is harvested as dry as possible, we have never had an issue with heating. Grassland management and re-seeds Our farm cover was 761kg DM/ha on June 23, the demand was 52kg DM/ha, and the growth was lower at 41kg DM/ha. The spring-calving cows had one more cover of 1,400 left to graze before grazing covers of 1,000kg. All of the paddocks were topped with a mower after the cows over the last rotation, which is now probably after impacting grass growth and resulting in a flat wedge. The paddocks will receive half a bag of 38% protected urea over the next week and this, with increased rainfall over the coming week, we are hoping will improve grass growth. The stocking rate is 2.93 livestock units/ha. Needless to say, we will walk the farm and make a decision based on the result. The newly re-seeded field is within a week of grazing, and we are very happy with the take of clover in the paddock. The re-seed has received its post-emergence clover-safe herbicide. The plan is to graze this paddock with the spring calving suckler herd within the next week. Overall, we are happy with how the re-seed turned out. We probably underestimated how long the paddock was out of the rotation, but we hope to get increased grass growth rate from this field at the shoulders of the year when it's wanted most. Breeding update The breeding season was completed after seven weeks of AI. We normally breed over six weeks, however, we noticed two heifers repeating in week seven, and as a result, an exception was made to extend by a week. We are happy with how it went, and the heifers can now be moved to the outblock which will allow us to bring the autumn calvers home for preparation for calving. Eamon and his son Donnchadh are farming in Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co Waterford, and are part of the Teagasc Future Beef programme with the Signpost programme. They run a suckling to beef enterprise split into 60% spring and 40% autumn-calving, consisting of 55 suckler cows. The males are finished as under-16-month bull beef, while the heifers, not retained for breeding, are finished at 18-20 months. Own heifers are kept for breeding. Read More Dry spring delivers quality silage but slows grass growth in Youghal
Agriland
17-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Mart trade: Record calf prices continue as heavier cattle ease
The mart trade over the past few days has seen record calf prices continue as heavier forward-type cattle prices have eased at some mart sales as a result of recent declines in factory beef price offers. At GVM Carrigallen Mart, Co. Leitrim on Saturday, June 14, calves made up to €1,050 for a Shorthorn heifer calf off a Friesian cow with a registered birth date of May 12, 2025. May-born Friesian bull calves made up to €700 and speaking to Agriland after the sale, Carrigallen Mart manager Helen Kells said there was strong activity from both farmers and export customers for calves at the most recent sale, with exporters managing to secure the majority of these calves. This Shorthorn-cross heifer calf made €1,050 In Balla Mart, Co. Mayo on Saturday, June 14, 400-500kg heifers 'were showing the knock-on effect of the factory cuts' with average prices below the €4/kg, according to mart manager Michael Nolan. Average bullock prices remained strong with 300-400kg bullocks averaging €4.23/kg. Store bullocks weighing from 400-500kg averaged €4.29/kg while heavier bullocks weighing over 500kg averaged €4.19/kg. One of the top prices in the bullock sale went to a Charolais bullock weighing 925kg that made €3,930 or €4.25/kg for a farmer from Cloonmore – Tuam. Some of the top bullock prices from the weekend sale at Balla Mart: 360kg Charolais bullock sold for €1,940 or €5.39/kg; 490kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,580 or €5.27/kg; 670kg Charolais bullock sold for €3,290 or €4.25/kg; 795kg Simmental bullock sold for €3,300 or €4.15/kg; 895kg Charolais bullock sold for €3,730 or €4.17/kg. While the average price for 400-500kg store heifers dropped below €4/kg, lighter store heifers weighing from 300-400kg averaged €4.26/kg. Heifers weighing from 400-500kg averaged €3.92/kg, while heavy heifers weighing over 500kg averaged €3.86/kg. A 330kg Belgian Blue-cross breeding heifer sold for an impressive €4,150 or €12.58/kg. The cows were described as 'a good trade with a surprising amount of dry cows still coming out', and cows weighing over 500kg averaging €3.59/kg. An eight-year-old Charolais cow with a bull calf at foot sold for €3,720. Commenting on the weanling trade, the mart manager said: 'There are great numbers of weanlings coming out – way more than normal for this time of year – and this week they were slightly up due the demand from export buyers.' The best price was paid for a 485kg March-2024-born Belgian Blue bull that made €3,600 or €7.52/kg. Another March 2024 weanling bull weighing 335kg sold for €9.13/kg or €3,060. Bull weanlings 200–350kg averaged 5.59/kg and bulls from 350-450kg averaged €5.08/kg with bulls weighing over 450kg averaging €5.10/kg.
Agriland
31-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
330kg bullocks make over €2,000 or €6.20/kg at Delvin
Delvin Mart in Co. Westmeath hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Thursday, May 29 and speaking to Agriland afterwards, Elliott Potterton of Delvin Mart said there were 250 cattle on offerwith a full clearance. There were over 100 bullocks – 80% of which were under 500kg, and in the bullock sale, prices topped out at €6.24/kg for a year-old 330kg Limousin bullock that made €2,060, bought by a farmer. Bullocks under 500kg averaged €4.08/kg or €1,420/head on average. Potterton said: 'Last year, the May 2024 average sale price for bullocks under 500kg at Delvin Mart was €2.62/kg – an average price increase of €1.46/kg. 'That's the same across all weight categories – they were all about €2.60/kg last year and they're all averaging about €4/kg plus this year.' In the heifer sale, the top price went to a 325kg pedigree Limousin heifer that sold for €2,700 or €8.30/kg bought by a suckler farmer for breeding. Two Limousin heifers averaging 295kg sold for €1,480 or €5.01/kg and another 315kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,710 or €5.42/kg. Heifers under 300kg averaged €4.25/kg while the 300-400kg heifers averaged €4.01/kg. 400-500kg heifers averaged €4.14/kg, which was up from an average price of €2.70/kg this time last year, while heifers over 500kg averaged €4.06/kg. According to Potterton: 'The average price in yesterday's sale for cows over 500kg was €3.18/kg. That's up from €2.05/kg in May 2024. 'In money terms, cows over 500kg were averaging €1,270 in May 2024 and and at the sale on Thursday, they averaged €2,000/head and there's a lot of Friesian cows in the sale here. 'There was a 655kg Friesian cow that made €2,580 or €3.93/kg at the sale here on Thursday.' Calves at Delvin Mart There were over 130 calves sold in the Thursday sale, leading to a full clearance with strong prices continuing. Potterton said: 'There were beef-sired calves sold here of Friesian/Jersey-cross cows coming into €500, you'd have change out of €150 buying some of them last year.' The top price in the calf sale went to a reared Simmental bull calf off a Friesian cow that made €790 and was bought by an exporter. Potterson said that some farmers sold May-born calves at the most recent sale that averaged €350 and the same calves 'would have done well to average €200 last year'. The mart also hosted its sheep sale on Thursday with the trade described as 'a little easier' and 40-50kg lambs averaging €3.84/kg, which was back on the average price from last year.
