AN open day at Windy Pike Farm, Gisburn, ahead of tomorrow’s major sale at Skipton mart of the entire Ribble Aberdeen Angus herd from Henry Rowntree, of Rowntree Farms, proved a resounding success.

Some 80 Angus breeders viewed a great show of productive cattle. Also meeting interested parties inspecting the cattle before the dispersal sale were David Leggat, from United Auctions; Jeremy Eaton, Craven Cattle Marts’ general manager; and Barrie Turner, Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society chief.

Mr Turner said: “We were all treated to a gold mine of well-bred, high performing Aberdeen Angus cattle at Ribble. I met customers looking to start new herds, along with those looking to expand. All demonstrated a great enthusiasm towards the breed, while admiring this award-winning herd.”

Mr Rowntree, who established the Ribble herd in 2002 and is now retiring, said: “The stock bulls were very popular, but perhaps most people were surprised how docile the cattle are and the consistent quality, with repeated comments of the impressive two-year-old heifers with some great calves at foot.”

The open day followed a good week for Ribble, which again won overall Champion Herd in the 2018 PENWAC herd competition.

The sale is one of the biggest dispersals of Aberdeen Angus cattle ever staged in the UK, with about 400 head going under the hammer.