A private sale for the January 2022 Simmental bull, Corskie Nutmeg, has marked the second-highest price ever paid for the breed.
Having won the Simmental Junior Male Championship, Reserve Overall Male and Reserve Overall Junior at the Royal Highland Show back in June, Corskie Nutmeg caught the eye of John Barlow of MA Barlow & Sons, Lancashire.
He admittedly approached WJ & J Green, Fochabers, with the deal being completed a few days later and the bull now joining Mr Barlow’s 80-cow pedigree Denizes Simmental herd.
The £32,000 price sits behind the £45,000 paid by the Green family for Bel Dhu Capercaillie at Stirling back in February 2013. That bull is the sire of Corskie Nutmeg’s dam, Corskie Jasmine EX92.
Mr Barlow said: “We didn’t go to the Highland with a view to looking for a bull but Corskie Nutmeg just had that x-factor and we couldn’t miss the opportunity. Dad (Michael) and I moved quickly for him because he has everything we look for in a Simmental stock bull and with his quality we knew there had to be a lot of interest in him!
“Nutmeg’s got length, power, muscle, and with a real sweetness and style. He comes from a foremost herd with proven cow families, has a real depth on both sides of his pedigree, and has top performance indexes. We have Denizes Hamish, Saltire Impressive, and Coose Gambler as stock bulls and all bring something different to the herd. Nutmeg adds to that and we’re excited about the prospect of him clicking with these other lines.
“This is a purchase to take that next step for the future of the Denizes herd. If he breeds to his own quality then he’ll prove to be a real value investment.”
Corskie Nutmeg was sired by the Green’s stock bull, Haka, who was purchased for £10,000 at Stirling in 2018. The herd has gone on to enjoy a stellar 2023 Royal Highland Show, winning six classes and a host of titles. Three of the class winners were sired by Haka, including Corskie Mimic who was the Reserve Supreme Overall Champion.
Corskie Jasmine was herself a first prize winner at this year’s Highland event, as well as Reserve Interbreed at the Black Isle Show. The classification EX92 is the highest ranking a third-calving female can attain.
Laura Green said: “In going to the Highland we had no thought of selling Nutmeg and the plan was very much to use him within the herd and on females that we felt he would really click with. John approached us at the show and there was also significant subsequent interest from a number of breeders. This led to a fair bit of family discussion and the decision was made to sell him. Nutmeg’s always been one of my favourites and is a total sweetheart with a terrific temperament and all the attributes both terminally and maternally.
“We’re really delighted that he’s going to a renowned herd like Denizes. Everyone at Corskie wishes Michael and John all the best with him and very much look forward to seeing his progeny in due course.”
The price is the highest the family has ever achieved for the herd, overtaking the £25,000 given for Corskie Gingersnap in 2016. Eight bulls from the herd will be entered into the October Stirling sale, including four sired by Haka.
