Knockane Simmentals

Initial Purchases: A commercial cattle herd has been in operation in Knockane for several generations, with the suckler herd established more recently in 1962. In 1998 a pedigree Simmental herd was established with initial purchases including: Ditchely Connie, Ditchely Donna, Youngrove Etna, Youngrove Geraldine, Youngrove Gigi, Youngrove Gina, Youngrove Helena, Youngrove Hazel, Toor Daisy, Toor Giggy, Toor Erica, Toor Glory, and later Silken Lily who went on to place highly in several competitions, including a 1st place win at the Tullamore National Livestock Show 2003 in the National Junior Cow 01/01/00 - 31/12/00 class.

-Silken Lily: Champion Simmental at the Cappamore Show 2003.
Crucial Purchases & Stock Bulls
Knockane Simmentals is committed to utilising quality bloodlines to develop a quality herd. Crucial purchases, upon which our herd has been built, include: Monaduff Lass, Monaduff Madame, Ballyduff Hope, Ballyduff Martina, Milton Nadia, Hillcrest Nicole (full sister to Hilcrest Naughty), Hillcrest Fancy, Galteeview Karen, Galteeview Noelle, Carbery Melissa, Ballingar Jennifer, Ballingar Polly, Clonagowen Rose, Raceview Natalie-Beauty, Raceview Twiggy-Nora, Madame Maura, Motepark Regina, Boyher Lucey & Kilcloran Patricia.

In addition to using semen from all top AI bulls, critical stock bull purchases included: Hillcrest Master ET, Curaheen Sittingbull, Curaheen Slick, Curaheen Vosco & Curaheen Vio. Among our own bred stock bulls, Knockane Muscle-Master, Knockane Master, Knockane Stank, Knockane Tank 2 and Knockane Superstar have also made significant impressions on our herd.

Such crucial purchases and the use of semen from top AI bulls has enabled Knockane Simmentals to develop a quality herd of cows and stock bulls, producing exceptional progeny - see >>Curaheen Vio & progeny for recent progeny.

Any cattle not meeting our high standards, whether pedigree or commercial, are slaughtered; any animal not deemed good enough for our high standards is considered not good enough to sell. We operate a closed herd system. Since 2001, only pedigree animals have been purchased. All animals purchased and those who return from sales unsold go into isolation, until they have passed their post-movements tests, before joining the main herd.

Commercial Herd: In addition to the pedigree Simmental herd, our commercial herd has equally achieved success. The Simmental breed has become dominant in our commercial herd, replacing Charolais, Blonde d'Aquitaine & Limousin - with half-bred cows becoming literly non-existent. The superb milking ability of the simmental breed, has allowed us to use 3/4 bred and 15/16 bred simmental replacement heifers in our commercial herd - see >>Commercials for a selection of commercial animals in our current herd.