Saturday 16th September saw a great gathering at Toft House Farm, Threshfield, Nr Skipton for the 

production sale of the Threshfield Holstein herd, with numbers fit to bursting, the time had come 

to hold a sale to reduce the pressure at the farm.

The Dean family have over the years built a great herd by securing cattle from leading breeders and 

this has provided a great base for the herd.

200 animals were offered for sale including milking cows and heifers, together with In Calf

Heifers, Maidens and heifer calves.

The sale ring was packed with people from far and wide as well as a large local following, which 

generated a tremendous atmosphere from start to finish. Top volume buyer on the day was CW Britton 

& Sons of Ripon purchasing 16 lots and securing a semen voucher kindly donated by Semex for 10 

straws of Numero Uno. Other local buyers were also present to show their support, amongst them the 

Sowray family of Bishop Thornton, Harrogate, who also secured 11 purchases on the day. Buyers from 

afar were also in attendance with a small lorry load travelling to Mr John Lyle & Co, Fife.

Top sellers on the day were as follows;

Threshfield Million Tilly (Ex92) (Lot 32) this great cow who has been successful in the show ring 

this year had many admirers as she was such a balanced dairy cow, safely back in calf for the turn 

of the year, she realised 4200gns to an undisclosed Welsh purchaser. Threshfield Shottle Eliza 

(VG85) (Lot 78), calved in July and was yielding 41kg daily, she was

bred from an EX grandam and was secured by Stocks Enterprises, Newsholme. The next spot was for a 

“Spottie Heifer” Threshfield Contrast Spottie (GP82-2yr); bred from 10 generations of cows scored 

Very Good or Excellent from the noted Sunnylodge Spottie family. This heifer who calved in August 

was secured by Messrs JD Holgate, of Rathmell, North Yorkshire for

3200gns. Her Kingpin heifer calf realised 1000gns, top priced calf and sold to Mr Mawhinney of 

Northern Ireland who also secured several other great calves on the day.

2800gns secured Threshfield Fever Nora 2 VG85 for Brian Moorhouse and family at Aireburn Holsteins, 

Bell Busk, Skipton a fourth generation VG or EX who traced back to Ingleview and Springbird she was 

one of many great Nora family members in the sale, and was due her second in December to Kingpin.

Several other great animals smashed through the 2000gns barrier, with many buyers eager to secure 

good quality milk cows.

A lot heifer calves were keenly sought after to average £555.75.

In Calf Heifers sold to 1800gns for Threshfield Contrast Nora bred from an Excellent Dam, this 

super heifer was secured by Messrs R Butterfield, Bentham, Lancaster. Trade was fantastic right 

through these in calf heifers to average £1461.30.

Maiden Heifers again were in high demand to average £840 with several lots travelling North of the 

Border into Scotland to their respective new homes.

37 buyers in all were represented at the sale and with honest genuine cows on offer on the day they 

were a credit to the Dean family, that were sold successfully by joint auctioneers Stuart Hassall 

of Hassall Brothers and Sam Bradley of Craven Cattle Marts.

 

AVERAGES:

106 Milking cows and heifers £1734.94 including 26 heifer calves at £557.75

In calf heifers: £1461.30

Yearling heifers: £840.00