Young couple welcome Airedale Angus foundation acquisitions

JOSH Wright and Charlotte Garbutt, a young up-and-coming farming couple from near Malton who launched their brand-new pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle herd with a trio of purchases at the Isherwood family’s recent Airedale Angus production sale report that their new acquisitions are settling in well.

The sale was conducted 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.

The couple have since boosted their 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.

It was the 7th annual production sale for the award-winning Airedale herd, run by David and Judith Isherwood, and son Josh, with the herd established in 2012/13. The successful sale was 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. Joint highs of 5,000gns, plus multiple four-figure selling prices, were recorded.

The family also owns and runs Isherwoods Butchers in Kirkgate, Silsden, where prime quality Angus beef from the Airedale herd remains in ready demand among customers.