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WC DAIRY NEWS  CHRISTMAS 2024 55
Birkdale Farm Ayrshire Dispersal Sale
The End of an Era
Lot 145 - High Seller: BIRGHDALE NICOLE 147 VG-85 Amanda Poelman
The Birkdale Farm Complete Dispersal Sale marked the end
of an era for long-time Ayrshire breeder Guy Sim at the end
of September. The sale, hosted entirely online by Encans
Boulet from September 24th-26th, showcased just over
170 head and the culmination of over 50 years of Ayrshire
breeding. Realizing an average of $2019, the cattle were
purchased by 22 different buyers from five provinces.
“Time waits for no one,” said Guy, who is now approaching
80, “The body just doesn’t want to keep up anymore.” The
difficult decision to sell was made in August and Guy is
thankful for all the help he had leading up to the sale.
“I’m very happy with how it all went,” says Guy, noting the
photographer and loading/trucking help, “There’s quite a
few staying here in BC as well as a whole truck-full headed
for Ontario and Quebec.”
Guy has always had a very keen interest in genetics and
breeding which earned him two Master Breeder Shields
(2003 & 2021) for the ‘Birghdale’ prefix. Over the years,
Guy has been actively involved with Ayrshire Canada,
serving as its President in 1993, and hosting the National
Convention on Vancouver Island in 1994. In 2019, Ayrshire
Canada recognized Guy’s years of service by naming him
an ‘Honourary Lifetime Member.’
Guy’s dairy foundation was set in 1922 by his grandfather,
George Laban, who began milking Jerseys on the farm
which formed part of today’s Birkdale Farm. Guy’s father,
Alec Sim, bought the farm in 1950, establishing the
‘Birghdale’ prefix and beginning the steady ‘Ayrshirification’
of the herd as he grew it. For the rest of the story, go to our
website www.wcdairynews.com (Past Issues) and look up
Fall 2021, pages 8-9.
Congratulations on a successful sale Guy,
we wish you all the best in your retirement!
Lot 76 - BIRGHDALE COUNTESS 326 VG-85 Lot 138 - BIRGHDALE NICOLE 157 VG-87
TOP SELLERS
Lot 145 – BIRGHDALE NICOLE 147 VG-85~$4600
(Animate x VG-85 Ristourn, due October ’24)
Buyer: Balme-Ayr Farms, BC
Lot 76 – BIRGHDALE COUNTESS 326 VG-85~$4500
(Animate x EX-90 2E Jerry Bendig,
next 7 of 8 gens VG or EX)
Buyer: Trenant Acres, ON
Lot 138 – BIRGHDALE NICOLE 157 VG-87~$4100
(Yellow x GP-81 Jumper, fresh May ’24)
Buyer: Terrace Bank Ayrshires, QC
Lot 35 – BIRGHDALE COUNTESS 396~$4100
(June ’23 Magellan x VG-86 Yellow)
Buyer: Cumming Dairy Enterprises, ON
Lot 26 – BIRGHDALE COUNTESS 373~$4000
(May ’22 Tarzan x VG-85 Jumper, next 9 gens VG or EX)
Buyer: Balme Ayr Farms, BC
Without a new generation to take over the
herd, Ayrshire Ambassador Guy Sim delayed
the sale of his herd as long as he could.
You can see a feature story on Guy in the
BC Holstein News Fall 2021 issue, pages 8-9,
on our website www.wcdairynews.com
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