Huge Crowd at Bollthwaite Dispersal

Some 300 people packed into the small hill farm buildings at Craven Laithe on Tuesday this week for the dispersal, after 35 years in the dairy industry, of the Bolland Brothers’ first class Bollthwaite herd of pedigree Holsteins. A steady stream of vehicles, many towing stock trailers, filled the long track up to the farm from 10.30am onwards, providing one of the biggest crowds seen at a sale for a while. 51 buyers were recorded for just 111 cattle, with many local farmers keen to support the well regarded Bolland family. The decision to quit milk production was brought upon the family by NVZ regulations forcing the instalment of an expensive slurry storage system, which would be utterly unviable with a milk price of around 20ppl and a small herd of 50 cows.


Over the years of developing the Bollthwaite herd, Robert and Felix acquired many top ranked cow families from the UK and Canada. This provided for an interesting catalogue, which stirred the interest of many breeders from as far afield as Fife, Leicestershire and Cornwall. The top price came early in the day with Bollthwaite Cousteau Miss America ET PI EX-91, milking in her 4th lactation and due again in September. She joins Colin Middleton’s Mittonvale herd, near Blackburn at 2,600 guineas. Mr Middleton purchased 6 super breeding cows in the first 20 lots, including Bollthwaite Mtoto Louise 9 PI EX-92, giving 35kg in her 6th lactation and due in September to Shottle, for 2,200 guineas. Louise is one of two Excellent sisters out of the Canadian import Jolene Raider Louise EX-91.


Another member of the Louise family made second top price of 2,400gns. Messrs I.R & D.E Wellock from Skipton were the final bidders for this smart fresh calved heifer. There were 8 sound fresh heifers at the end of the milking herd which averaged over £2,000. These included Bollthwaite Maestro Nettle GP-84 at 2,150 guineas, one of 5 milking heifers purchased by Messrs A Sowray & Son from Harrogate.


Served heifers sold well, up to 2,100 guineas for a Lindio daughter of an EX-93 Honeybee and maiden heifers peaked at 1,320 gns for a Rampage Red daughter from the Ricki family. Heifer calves at foot were a flying trade, averaging out at £766 with 2 making over 1,000 gns.