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dairy
cattle / One of the largest dairy herd sale of the year was held in Borderway on Friday 4th September when the entire “Dardenburn” Holstein herd and followers was dispersed.
It brought to an end three successive generations and nearly 80 years of the Rowland family’s involvement with dairying at Snape Farm near Hexham.
Hard wearing, and very sensibly bred and managed herd comprised a great variety of mature cows, fresh heifers and youngstock by popular AI bulls, and the event attracted a large crowd of buyers.
The trade recently has polarised very much with the principal demand being for young, recently calved, correct young cows and heifers, and for youngstock of all ages. As a result there were many in the milking portion making over 2000gns and several maidens over 1000gns.
Top price, at 2250gns was for a June calved second lactation cow, classified VG85 and by the over popular sire Comestar Outside. Her dam was a VG87 Comestar Leader daughter. She now joins the John Duckworth’s herd at Floors Farm, near Kilmarnock.
Among the leading prices were several fresh heifers by the popular bull Roylane Jordan.
Leading Prices
Lot 132 - 2250 to J Duckworth, Floors Farm, Kilmaurs, Kilmarnock
Lot 60 - 2200 to T Forsyth, Isle Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart
Lot 202 - 2150 to T Forsyth, Isle Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart
Lot 205 - 2100 to T Forsyth, Isle Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart
Lot 208 - 2100 to JO Hodge, Lemington Farm, Reston, Eyemouth
Lot 181 - 2050 to TD Goldie & Son, Manor House Farm, Danbywise, Northallerton
Lot 28 - 2000 to J Duckworth, Floors Farm, Kilmaurs, Kilmarnock
Lot 29 - 2000 to T Forsyth, Isle Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart
Lot 94 - 2000 to JO Hodge, Lemington Farm, Reston, Eyemouth
Lot 193 - 2000 to JO Hodge, Lemington Farm, Reston, Eyemouth
Lot 207 - 2000 to Clayton’s Partnership, Larkton Hall Farm, Hampton,
Malpas
Lot 213 - 2000 to Barony College, Parkgate, Dumfries
Averages
124 Cows in Milk/in Calf £1054.23
65 Heifers in Milk £1343.84
45 In Calf Heifers £1171.10
32 Bulling & Maiden Heifers £878.72
74 Heifer Calves £488.68
341 Overall £984.35
Catalogue Foreword
The Rowland family have milked cows for three generations – more than 80 years, at Snape Farm near Hexham. Starting with Dairy Shorthorns the herd has grown and developed, firstly with Ayrshires then British Friesians and finally Holsteins since 1979. Operating as a closed herd until the Foot & Mouth outbreak in 2001, when the herd lost all its young stock. Some cattle were purchased to maintain herd size; among these purchases was Ingleview Miss America was recently classified Excellent completing 5 generations of Excellent – she sells along with 3 daughters. The exclusive use of AI sires has enabled the development of a herd of cows of uniform type and high production. Emphasis has always been placed on feet and legs and udder conformation, and the use of sires including Comestar Leader, Duncan Progress, Wa-Del Convincer, Comestar Outside, Avenham Westminster and Roylane Jordan have left us with strong, long living cows – able to thrive at 600 feet above sea level on a Northumberland hillside. Good quality AI Beef bulls are used where required.
The decision to disperse the herd was a difficult one, but with requirement for major reinvestment pressing and out family pursuing other interests, we have decided to change farm practise.
We recently came across a “Victory Churn Diploma” awarded to the farm in August 1944 for increasing winter milk production and helping the war effort, a poignant reminder of a time when farmers and their produce were valued and their efforts recognised nationally. With this in mind, we decided to support “Help for Heroes and our Armed Forces of today by auctioning one of our youngest calves, from one of our best families, for the charity. We hope you will support us in this sentiment by bidding eagerly!
John & Kathryn Rowland