The Williams herd of pedigree Simmentals was established in 2004 with purchases of two females from John Carter, Horsfordmanor Saffron and Horsfordmanor Regal Lady, of which daughters of Regal Lady are still in the herd today. Although the intention was only to have five or six breeding females, the herd soon grew as both myself and Andrew got the bug for breeding and showing Simmentals on a wider scale. 

In 2006, a trip to Perth Bull Sales saw the acquisition of the female champion Tillymaud Malvenas 52nd, a Blackford Lancer daughter for 4500gns, as well as the Starline Klassic daughter Starline Lorrette and Sterling Newmoon’s Tammy, who is by Corskie Principal.

Over the following year, additional purchases were made from local breeders across East Anglia and then in July 2007 the first stock bull was purchased in the form of Heathbrow Tristar from David and Lesley Sapsed. Bought privately, Tristar is by Heathbrow Mischief out of a Canadian import AWL Starlet 8E. He is a modern Simmental with plenty of length, excellent carcass quality and a perfect temperament.

Tristar has had a phenomenal show career with us, culminating in many breed championships and an interbreed championship at the Royal Norfolk Show in 2011. His offspring are already showing great promise and produces calves of the same stamp as him, no matter the dam line.

The herd continued to grow in 2008 with purchases at the Tillymaud dispersal, including Tillymaud Malvenas 42nd (mother of the already purchased Malvenas 52nd) along with her daughter Malvenas 58th and Tillymaud Danielle 33rd, who is by Dirnanean Reformer.

Further females were then bought at the Hockenhull dispersal including the 10,000gns Hockenhull Snow Queen 35th, who is a daughter of Popes Laird, as well as Hockenhull Girlie 47th, an ET-bred heifer by Glentuk Rolex.

Throughout the years of 2007 and 2010 a number of private purchases have been made from Boddington Estate’s Sterling herd. These include the Sterling Alex daughter Sterling Naomi’s Wednesday, the Rosten Son-O’Barney’s daughter Sterling Sunset Willow, Sterling Ritzys Vesta, who is by Sterling Flint, Sterling Grace’s Wilhemina, who is by Darsham Playboy and Sterling Petra’s Wendy, who is by Sterling Rochester out of a Sterling Flint daughter.

The aim now in the Williams herd is to build on the better bloodlines that have been purchased using an extensive flushing programme. To date Sterling Ritzys Vesta, Williams Lorette Auror, Hockenhull Snow Queen 35th and Tillymaud Malvenas 42nd have been flushed with eggs retained.

Following on from Tristar we have had great success with Darsham Playboy, used as an AI sire and in 2013 purchased Clonagh Diehard Gallant, a December 2012-born son of Dovefields Gallant. Bought privately from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan, we have long been an admirer of Gallant and this dark bull out of one of the herd's top donor cows Clonagh Edel, by Hillcrest Butcher, possesses immense power, bone, milk and strength in his pedigree on both his dam and sire side. He’s certainly an exciting prospect for the Williams herd.

Showing is undertaken throughout the summer circuit across England as a shop window to promote our genetics. The herd is Breedplan recorded and is Johne’s and BVD accredited. 

Alongside the Simmental herd, some 30 Blue Texel breeding females are also managed with a view to producing tups for both the commercial and pedigree market, as well as good quality females for sale privately and at Society sales. Bloodlines in the herd consist of Millside, Beili, Dulas, Pen-y-Bec, and Froggatts. Expansion is planned to take the flock up to 50 ewes.