Young couple welcome Airedale Angus Foundation additions

JOSH Wright and Charlotte Garbutt, a promising young farming couple from the Malton area who started their new herd of Aberdeen-Angus cattle with three purchases at the recent Isherwood family Airedale Angus sale, report that their new arrivals are settling in well.

The sale took place at the family estate, Airedale House Farm, Kildwick, and was hosted by CCM Auctions, based in Skipton, in association with the Aberdeen-Angus Society.

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

Since then the couple have managed to expand their herd even further, purchasing two Aberdeen Angus cows with bulls at their heels from a private individual, as well as a heifer in the flesh, from Emma Benge and Rob Mawer’s famous Embrooke herd in Lincolnshire.

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

She and Josh – who are due to marry later this month – also run a herd of Limousin Dalehead cattle, and took over Bellmanear Farm on the Settrington Estate on a 10-year farm lease (FBT) at the beginning of May.

This was the seventh annual production sale of the award-winning Airedale herd, run by David and Judith Isherwood and son Josh, which was established in 2012/13. The successful sale was deliberately held on the farm to give potential buyers the opportunity to view the fenced environment in which the cattle were reared on 117 acres of meadows and pastures along the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Total highs of 5,000gns were recorded, plus multiple four-figure sale prices.

The family also own and manage Isherwoods Butchers in Kirkgate, Silsden, where the top quality Angus beef from the Airedale herd is very popular with customers.