Another Holstein herd set to go under the hammer.

Byline: Karen Dent

ANOTHER major dairy herd dispersal is taking place at Carlisle Mart next month. The Hebrides herd of pedigree Holstein cattle dispersal will follow Peter Hall's Ashpetall herd of Holsteins from East Heddon, which went under the hammer at Carlisle last week, and come before the Rowlands' Dardenburn pedigree Holsteins from Hexham, which will be sold on September 4. The Hebrides herd, which belongs to Kenny and Betty Robison, will be sold on September 2. The couple moved to the tiny island, which is just six miles long and has a population of 110, almost 30 years ago to start establishing the herd.

The herd, which has been closed for 17 years and is entirely homebred, has recently had its first type classification. Of the 54 cows and heifers put forward, there were 13 excellents and 26 very goods.

The herd has also won the Kintyre Holstein Breeders herds competition on a number of occasions, scooping the top prize in the small herds class for the last three years and the overall first place three times, including this year.

The Robisons have decided to sell up and open a bed and breakfast following health problems.

"Betty has been pivotal to everything here but has had cancer twice now and although she's fine again, this recent scare prompted us to sell now," said Mr Robison, who has been regular vendor at Borderway Mart's monthly pedigree sales for the last decade.

"I shall be sad to see the cows go, but it has been a privilege to have owned them.

"Now it's time for a change."

Edward Brown from auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington Ltd said: "You very rarely get a chance to buy from a herd of this calibre.

"This is a real gem of a herd, little known maybe outside Kintyre, but of immense quality displaying fantastic balance, udder quality, wearability and production." It is estimated that two dairy farmers are leaving the industry a week against a backdrop of low milk prices and difficulties in attracting young people into the business.

Figures from milk sector organisation DairyCo show that UK milk production has fallen to its lowest level since the 1970s. A further drop of almost 5% to 10.5 billion litres annually is predicted by 2010/11.

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AUCTION Kenny and Betty Robison's Hebrides herd of pedigree Holstein cattle is to be sold next month.