Riverdane Holsteins sell in private deal to Wills Bros

The Riverdane herd, home of some of the Holstein world’s most famous show cows in recent years, has been sold in a private deal to Wills Bros of Cornwall.

Mark and Sue Nutsford have achieved phenomenal success with their Riverdane Holsteins which was run at Middlewich, Cheshire alongside Mark’s ET business. The 206 head will further increase the unprecedented collection of world-class black and white genetics that have been amassed by Wills Bros in the last few years for their substantial dairy farming business.

Two thirds of the cattle included in the sale are 95 point cows; among a host of superbly bred individuals are several stars including the second calver Riverdane Stormatic Beauty – All Britain Senior 2yr 2006 – who was champion at the Royal Show as a heifer and bred the 14,500gns top priced heifer at last year’s Borderway Black and White sale.

Herd mate Riverdane Outside Hazel also heads south. This Excellent classified second calver has been a major title winner and is out of a 94 point Stormatic dam.

The Riverdane herd’s record in the show ring is unmatched; it has achieved 26 All Britain nominations in the last eight years as well as taking titles at the Royal Show, National Holstein Show and the Dairy Event. In 2003 Riverdane cattle accounted for every major show title – each won with a different animal.

Said Mark Nutsford: “We’ve got some exciting embryos and are retraining 25 heifer calves. Give us a couple of years and we’ll be back.