At the Stirling bull sales in Scotland in October 2025, the Simmental breed achieved the highest sale average across all breeds as well as setting a new breed record average. At the same venue in February 2025, 94 Simmental bulls sold for an average of £9,832, a breed record at the time.
The same day, a Simmental bull topped the trade across all breeds, selling for 56,000gns, also a new breed record.
Producing many of the high sellers and champions at these sales were Irish bred bulls and heifers.
Even prior to this, Irish Simmental genetics have been to the fore at many of the major shows and sales across the UK. Many will remember the impact Curaheen bulls bred by the late David Wall had on the breed on both sides of the water.
This week we spoke to some of the breeders behind the Irish genetics which have propelled themselves to the top of the breed in the UK in recent years.
Rathnashan
Owned and run by Nigel Hogan and Saoirse Oliver from Tullow in Co Carlow, the Rathnashan Simmental Herd is certainly making a name for itself at shows and sales in the UK in recent years.
Rathnashan Leonardo when he won the junior bull calf championship at Strokestown show in 2019 before being sold privately to the Corskie herd in the UK. \ Alfie Shaw
At the Stirling bull sales in February 2025, the Rathnashan Leonardo son Corskie Prime 23 sold for 26,000gns for the Green family. The same day, his stable mate Corskie Pirate 23 who is a son of Rathnashan Magnum picked up the junior and overall championship, before going on to sell for 20,000gns. This was only the start of things to come for the Irish-bred Magnum.
At Stirling in October 2025, Rathnashan Magnum produced the junior champion Garmouth Robert 24 who went on to sell for the highest price of 30,000gns. Pipping him to the post on the day and claiming the supreme championship was another Rathnashan Magnum son in the form of Corskie Rome 24, who sold for 20,000gns, again for the Green family. The same day Rathnashan Newton bred bulls to 10,000gns for Strathisla Farms.
Rathnashan Kelloggs also bred incredibly well as Corskie, producing the reserve supreme champion Corskie Pot at Stirling in October 2024 which went on to sell for 8,500gns.
Kelloggs' sons sold as far as 9,500gns for the Green family, as well as breeding the overall junior champion at the Royal Highland Show. Commenting on the success of Rathnashan bulls in the UK, Nigel is overwhelmed with how well they are doing.
“It’s brilliant to see them going on and breeding well. It is what they do for their new owners that matters. If they don’t breed well, it’s no good. Magnum was a special calf from day one, his mother is the best cow in the herd. She calves every year, is a fantastic milker and is perfect on her feet and legs. She recently calved down with a full sister to Magnum, so hopefully she will follow in his footsteps.”
Nigel runs a small herd of 15 pedigree Simmental cows alongside his successful flock of Badger Face and Blue Texels.
Raceview
Having bred arguably the most influential bull in the Simmental breed in Ireland over the last 30 years in Raceview King, the O’Connell family from Co Cork have had as big an impact as any Irish Simmental herd across the water over the last three decades.
Supported by their two daughters, son and seven grandchildren, Peter and Marion O’Connell of the Raceview herd have a profound reputation for producing cattle which go on and breed for fellow breeders.
Even though they boast one of the most decorated show herds in the breed in Ireland, how Raceview cattle perform for their customers is what the O’Connell’s really pride themselves on.
According to Peter, who turns 70 years old this year, the greatest pleasure he gets from pedigree breeding is seeing a heifer they sell going on and breeding well for another breeder.
“The first heifer we exported was Raceview Helena, a Brinkton Brilliant daughter of the well-known show animal Raceview Fennella Kim who went to Pat and Frank Kelly of Ashland Simmentals. Helena produced Ashland Lucy who between them produced 21 progenies for the Kelly family.
“The late Hector Macaskill of Woodhall Simmentals purchased Raceview All Star KK, a Raceview King son out of the famous Ballingar Kim bred by the late Albert Bagnall, a bull he described himself as having transformed his herd, with the first 20 bulls selling off farm for an average of 7,300gns. Raceview All Star KK is also the sire of the successful sire Woodhall Ferrari 14.
The highly influential bull Raceview All Star KK. \ Alfie Shaw
“Raceview Dawn Matilda who sold to Michael and John Barlow of Denzies Simmentals in the UK produced Denzies Impeccable, sire of the 30,000gns Denzies Lancelot, who set a new breed record at the time. The Raceview Matilda line continues to produce the goods for the Barlow family to this day,” said Peter.
Raceview Emerald Alicia sold for €7,450 in Roscommon. \ Alfie Shaw
The list of successful cattle in the UK going back to Raceview lines goes on and on. Haystar Romeo and Haystar Diamond 2 have claimed multiple awards for the Hays family in Northern Ireland, both offspring of two heifers purchased from the Raceview herd, in Raceview Lady W Nicolette and Raceview Her Royal Diamond.
In October 2023, the Raceview Emerald Alicia daughter Heathbrow Natasha bred David and Lesly Sapsed in the UK sold for 32,000gns, selling to the Wood family at Popes Simmentals.
Raceview Goldie Dreamer, who’s grand-dam Raceview Royale Beauty is a two-time National Title Holder sold to David and Jonny Hazelton of Ranfurly Simmentals. In 2022, her son Ranfurly Limelight sold for 16,000gns at the Stirling bull sales.
The Ballinalare Farm Herd owned by the Wilson family purchased Raceview Tia Nicollette, dam of the noted sire Ballinalare Farm Galaxy and full brother to Ballinalare Farm Evita, who is the mother of Bannhill Farm Masterpiece which sold for 28,000gns at Stirling.
The overall champion at Stirling in February 2025 which sold for the breed record of 56,000gns goes back to the great Raceview King on both sides of his pedigree.
Coose
Pedigree calf registration statistics released from the British Simmental Cattle Society recently showed that three Irish-bred Coose bulls made it into the list of top 10 sires with the most calves registered in the herdbook in 2025.
Coose Lincoln, herd sire at the Islavale herd in Scotland.
To make it even better, Coose Negotiator PP topped the list with the most calves registered in the UK herdbook in the year. Owned and run by Ronan Tuohy in Co Clare, the Coose herd has produced a number of bulls which have bred high-priced cattle and prize winners in the UK in recent times.
Coose Jericho P who sold to Cogent in 2018 has bred well on both sides of the water, with a string of high-priced progeny.
Coose Nelson P and Coose Nebraska P, two polled bulls who sold to Michael Durno’s Auchorachan herd at society sales in Roscommon Mart are also producing the goods. In October 2025 at the Stirling bull sales, sons of both bulls averaged just over 14,000gns for the Auchorachan herd.
Coose Nebraska P sold for €16,200 at Roscommon Mart. \ Willie McElroy
Prior to this, Coose Lincoln bred exceptionally for the Stronach family at Islavale, with his first three sons selling for an average of 12,000gns at the Stirling bull sales in October 2023, as well as producing Islavale Novak, senior male champion at the stars of the future calf show in November 2023 before going on to sell for 10,000gns at Stirling.
Ronan Tuohy who runs 40 pedigree Simmental cows under the Coose prefix is delighted with how the bulls in the UK are doing.
“It’s rewarding to hear reports that your bulls are breeding well, especially at such a high level in the UK. It really means a lot.”
Future of the breed
Some Irish Simmental breeders have been scratching their heads at why they haven’t reached the same highs as their UK counterparts in recent years. There is no doubt the breed is booming in the UK.
However, the performance of Irish Simmental genetics at the highest level in the UK is something Irish breeders can really take positivity from.
Competing with the best cattle in the UK on their home turf is no easy task. Irish Simmental cattle have proven time and time again they are up there with the very best, something which should stand to Irish breeders in the years to come. We are already seeing evidence of this at the most recent Irish Simmental Cattle Society sales.
In October 2025, Garrett Behan topped the Society’s Premier autumn sale with Clonagh Sammy Fabulous at €25,000, selling to Hazel McNee’s Finlarg herd in Scotland. At the society’s premier sale in March 2025, two Coose bulls led the trade, secured by two leading Scottish herds. All things considered, it is fair to say the future is bright for Irish Simmental genetics in the UK.
At the Stirling bull sales in Scotland in October 2025, the Simmental breed achieved the highest sale average across all breeds as well as setting a new breed record average. At the same venue in February 2025, 94 Simmental bulls sold for an average of £9,832, a breed record at the time.
The same day, a Simmental bull topped the trade across all breeds, selling for 56,000gns, also a new breed record.
Producing many of the high sellers and champions at these sales were Irish bred bulls and heifers.
Even prior to this, Irish Simmental genetics have been to the fore at many of the major shows and sales across the UK. Many will remember the impact Curaheen bulls bred by the late David Wall had on the breed on both sides of the water.
This week we spoke to some of the breeders behind the Irish genetics which have propelled themselves to the top of the breed in the UK in recent years.
Rathnashan
Owned and run by Nigel Hogan and Saoirse Oliver from Tullow in Co Carlow, the Rathnashan Simmental Herd is certainly making a name for itself at shows and sales in the UK in recent years.
Rathnashan Leonardo when he won the junior bull calf championship at Strokestown show in 2019 before being sold privately to the Corskie herd in the UK. \ Alfie Shaw
At the Stirling bull sales in February 2025, the Rathnashan Leonardo son Corskie Prime 23 sold for 26,000gns for the Green family. The same day, his stable mate Corskie Pirate 23 who is a son of Rathnashan Magnum picked up the junior and overall championship, before going on to sell for 20,000gns. This was only the start of things to come for the Irish-bred Magnum.
At Stirling in October 2025, Rathnashan Magnum produced the junior champion Garmouth Robert 24 who went on to sell for the highest price of 30,000gns. Pipping him to the post on the day and claiming the supreme championship was another Rathnashan Magnum son in the form of Corskie Rome 24, who sold for 20,000gns, again for the Green family. The same day Rathnashan Newton bred bulls to 10,000gns for Strathisla Farms.
Rathnashan Kelloggs also bred incredibly well as Corskie, producing the reserve supreme champion Corskie Pot at Stirling in October 2024 which went on to sell for 8,500gns.
Kelloggs' sons sold as far as 9,500gns for the Green family, as well as breeding the overall junior champion at the Royal Highland Show. Commenting on the success of Rathnashan bulls in the UK, Nigel is overwhelmed with how well they are doing.
“It’s brilliant to see them going on and breeding well. It is what they do for their new owners that matters. If they don’t breed well, it’s no good. Magnum was a special calf from day one, his mother is the best cow in the herd. She calves every year, is a fantastic milker and is perfect on her feet and legs. She recently calved down with a full sister to Magnum, so hopefully she will follow in his footsteps.”
Nigel runs a small herd of 15 pedigree Simmental cows alongside his successful flock of Badger Face and Blue Texels.
Raceview
Having bred arguably the most influential bull in the Simmental breed in Ireland over the last 30 years in Raceview King, the O’Connell family from Co Cork have had as big an impact as any Irish Simmental herd across the water over the last three decades.
Supported by their two daughters, son and seven grandchildren, Peter and Marion O’Connell of the Raceview herd have a profound reputation for producing cattle which go on and breed for fellow breeders.
Even though they boast one of the most decorated show herds in the breed in Ireland, how Raceview cattle perform for their customers is what the O’Connell’s really pride themselves on.
According to Peter, who turns 70 years old this year, the greatest pleasure he gets from pedigree breeding is seeing a heifer they sell going on and breeding well for another breeder.
“The first heifer we exported was Raceview Helena, a Brinkton Brilliant daughter of the well-known show animal Raceview Fennella Kim who went to Pat and Frank Kelly of Ashland Simmentals. Helena produced Ashland Lucy who between them produced 21 progenies for the Kelly family.
“The late Hector Macaskill of Woodhall Simmentals purchased Raceview All Star KK, a Raceview King son out of the famous Ballingar Kim bred by the late Albert Bagnall, a bull he described himself as having transformed his herd, with the first 20 bulls selling off farm for an average of 7,300gns. Raceview All Star KK is also the sire of the successful sire Woodhall Ferrari 14.
The highly influential bull Raceview All Star KK. \ Alfie Shaw
“Raceview Dawn Matilda who sold to Michael and John Barlow of Denzies Simmentals in the UK produced Denzies Impeccable, sire of the 30,000gns Denzies Lancelot, who set a new breed record at the time. The Raceview Matilda line continues to produce the goods for the Barlow family to this day,” said Peter.
Raceview Emerald Alicia sold for €7,450 in Roscommon. \ Alfie Shaw
The list of successful cattle in the UK going back to Raceview lines goes on and on. Haystar Romeo and Haystar Diamond 2 have claimed multiple awards for the Hays family in Northern Ireland, both offspring of two heifers purchased from the Raceview herd, in Raceview Lady W Nicolette and Raceview Her Royal Diamond.
In October 2023, the Raceview Emerald Alicia daughter Heathbrow Natasha bred David and Lesly Sapsed in the UK sold for 32,000gns, selling to the Wood family at Popes Simmentals.
Raceview Goldie Dreamer, who’s grand-dam Raceview Royale Beauty is a two-time National Title Holder sold to David and Jonny Hazelton of Ranfurly Simmentals. In 2022, her son Ranfurly Limelight sold for 16,000gns at the Stirling bull sales.
The Ballinalare Farm Herd owned by the Wilson family purchased Raceview Tia Nicollette, dam of the noted sire Ballinalare Farm Galaxy and full brother to Ballinalare Farm Evita, who is the mother of Bannhill Farm Masterpiece which sold for 28,000gns at Stirling.
The overall champion at Stirling in February 2025 which sold for the breed record of 56,000gns goes back to the great Raceview King on both sides of his pedigree.
Coose
Pedigree calf registration statistics released from the British Simmental Cattle Society recently showed that three Irish-bred Coose bulls made it into the list of top 10 sires with the most calves registered in the herdbook in 2025.
Coose Lincoln, herd sire at the Islavale herd in Scotland.
To make it even better, Coose Negotiator PP topped the list with the most calves registered in the UK herdbook in the year. Owned and run by Ronan Tuohy in Co Clare, the Coose herd has produced a number of bulls which have bred high-priced cattle and prize winners in the UK in recent times.
Coose Jericho P who sold to Cogent in 2018 has bred well on both sides of the water, with a string of high-priced progeny.
Coose Nelson P and Coose Nebraska P, two polled bulls who sold to Michael Durno’s Auchorachan herd at society sales in Roscommon Mart are also producing the goods. In October 2025 at the Stirling bull sales, sons of both bulls averaged just over 14,000gns for the Auchorachan herd.
Coose Nebraska P sold for €16,200 at Roscommon Mart. \ Willie McElroy
Prior to this, Coose Lincoln bred exceptionally for the Stronach family at Islavale, with his first three sons selling for an average of 12,000gns at the Stirling bull sales in October 2023, as well as producing Islavale Novak, senior male champion at the stars of the future calf show in November 2023 before going on to sell for 10,000gns at Stirling.
Ronan Tuohy who runs 40 pedigree Simmental cows under the Coose prefix is delighted with how the bulls in the UK are doing.
“It’s rewarding to hear reports that your bulls are breeding well, especially at such a high level in the UK. It really means a lot.”
Future of the breed
Some Irish Simmental breeders have been scratching their heads at why they haven’t reached the same highs as their UK counterparts in recent years. There is no doubt the breed is booming in the UK.
However, the performance of Irish Simmental genetics at the highest level in the UK is something Irish breeders can really take positivity from.
Competing with the best cattle in the UK on their home turf is no easy task. Irish Simmental cattle have proven time and time again they are up there with the very best, something which should stand to Irish breeders in the years to come. We are already seeing evidence of this at the most recent Irish Simmental Cattle Society sales.
In October 2025, Garrett Behan topped the Society’s Premier autumn sale with Clonagh Sammy Fabulous at €25,000, selling to Hazel McNee’s Finlarg herd in Scotland. At the society’s premier sale in March 2025, two Coose bulls led the trade, secured by two leading Scottish herds. All things considered, it is fair to say the future is bright for Irish Simmental genetics in the UK.
SHARING OPTIONS