A YOUNG local farming couple, Josh Wright and Charlotte Garbutt, have started their new pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle herd with a trio of purchases from an award-winning herd based in South Craven.

The Airedale herd is run by David and Judith Isherwood, and son Josh, with its seventh annual production sale conducted earlier this month at the family’s Airedale House Farm, Kildwick, by Skipton-based CCM Auctions in conjunction with the Aberdeen-Angus Society.

Josh and Charlotte paid a combined total of 5,800gns (£6,090) for three cows – all second calvers and all due to calve again this autumn – that now form the foundation of their new herd at Bellmanear Farm, North Grimston, Malton.

Their first purchase at 2,000gns was the 2019 Weeton Ephos R472 daughter, Airedale Mini Belle V620, followed at the same price by the 2020 Airedale Evora W678, by Ephos’s own son, Airedale Lord Sinden T542, then 1,800gns for Airedale Blackbird W699, also a 2020 Lord Sinden daughter.

The couple have since boosted their new herd further when purchasing privately two pedigree Aberdeen Angus cows with bull calves at foot, along with an in-calf heifer, from the renowned Embrooke herd of Emma Benge and Rob Mawer in Lincolnshire.

“All the new additions have settled in well and we look forward to welcoming our first Aberdeen-Angus calves in the coming months,” said Charlotte.

She and Josh – they are due to marry at the end of this month – also run the Dalehead pedigree Limousin herd. They took on Bellmanear Farm on the Settrington Estate on a ten-year farm business tenancy (FBT) at the beginning of May.

The Hi Health status award-winning Airedale Angus herd was first registered in 2012-13 and stood at 190 head pre-sale, the event purposely staged on-farm to give potential purchasers an opportunity to view the ring-fenced environment where the cattle have been raised on 117 acres of meadow and pasture land alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal south of Skipton. Joint highs of 5,000gns, plus multiple four-figure selling prices, were recorded.

David Isherwood, whose family also owns Isherwoods Butchers in Kirkgate, Silsden, where prime quality Angus beef from the Airedale herd remains in ready demand, said: “We are sure our cattle will do well for their new owners, in particular Josh Wright and Charlotte Garbutt as great additions to the founding of their new pedigree Angus herd.

“It’s great to see keen young stockmen/women coming into what is now the number one beef breed in the UK. We at Airedale wish them every success and are here to help in any way we can to further that goal.”