A west Wales breeder set a new Welsh record for a Simmental bull as Pistyll Kingsman hit 26,000gns at a sale in Stirling.

As well as being the top price animal at the sale it was the highest across all of the breeds in the week and is also the second highest price paid for a Simmental bull at a UK auction.

The bull was from the farm of Aneirin and Rhys Francis, of Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen.

Paying the sale top price was Richard McCulloch with the bull joining his noted Overhill House herd at Armadale, West Lothian that comprises of 40 pedigrees and 160 pure Simmentals in all.

For the Francis family, selling bulls at Stirling for the first time in a few years, the 26,000gns was their top price at sale and surpassed an 8,000gns figure previously achieved at Perth.

With a heavy concentration at home on pedigree sheep, the Pistyll Simmental herd presently comprises of 12 pedigree cows. Aneirin Francis said: “From birth he was always a good calf. We took him to the Welsh Simmental Calf Show at Carmarthen at the back end of 2019 where he did well, but we could see the forward potential in him then to make a really good bull.

"At Stirling we thought he was one of the better bulls but you can never anticipate such a price. We are delighted with the sale and to set a Welsh record, and hope Kingsman goes on to do well in the Overhill House herd.”

Buyer Mr McCulloch said: “This is just my type of Simmental bull. He’s very square at the back, as long as a train, stylish with a cracking head and a good colour. He’s a modern bull and has all the attributes to a terrific breeding bull.”

Mr McCulloch had first seen the bull on the Simmental Market website and was impressed by the pictures and videos. Backing up the qualities of the bull was the attraction of the Woodhall breeding on both sides of the pedigree, breeding he was very familiar with.

“I think this is an outstanding pedigree Simmental bull and the price paid is the type of investment that’s required for a bull of this quality to take the herd forward,” he added.

From here the first aim will be to take semen from Pistyll Kingsman before putting him to the spring calvers.