Riverdane Holstein’s tightknit team surrounds two of the star heifers to sell in the Theatre of Dreams sale at Cheshire on August 19. They are both granddaughters of the 2022 Supreme Champion of the World Dairy Expo (United States), Oakfield Solom Footloose EX96-2E. They are sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda and sell as lot 22 and lot 23. Photo: Jane Steel.
A single-minded vision for two businesses has allowed Mark and Susan Nutsford, along with their daughter, Jodie, to put together arguably the highest profile Holstein sale to be held in the UK this year.
Riverdane Holsteins will auction 154 elite Holstein lots in the Theatre of Dreams sale on their Ravenscroft Hall Farm at Middlewich, in Cheshire, on Saturday, August 19. Riverdane currently has 36 cows classified EX93 points or higher (including 9 x EX94, 4 x EX95, 3 x EX96 and 1 x EX97 https://www.thebullvine.com/classification-results/riverdane-ex-rosabel-bred-to-be-great/). This is also one of the few operations to have owned four EX97-point cows.
The sale includes a plethora of All-Britain, All-Canadian, All-American, or All-World matriarchs – alongside the best of Riverdane’s homebred stars.
Thrulane James Rose EX97-2E-CAN 3* includes two 97-point cows in the pedigree and her third dam is Thrulane James Rose EX97-2E-CAN 5*. Photo: Jane Steel.
TWO-PRONGED BUSINESS
Riverdane Holsteins milks 200 cows (640 total head) in a state-of-the-art complex. The high yielders are milked by two GEA robots, and a new 20/20 herringbone milking parlour is used to milk the balance of the herd. It is currently averaging 11,486kgs milk, 4.3% butterfat, with a 3.2% protein. Photo: Dianna Malcolm.
Riverdane milks 200 cows (640 total head) in a state-of-the-art complex. The high yielders are milked by two GEA robots, and a new 20/20 herringbone milking parlour is used to milk the balance of the herd. Riverdane is currently averaging 11,486kgs milk, 4.3% butterfat, with a 3.2% protein.
Mark and Sue also own and operate Celltech, an embryo transfer service, which hasn’t hurt the Nutsford family’s deep-dive into some of the most wanted pedigrees in the world. Alongside Mark and Susan’s dogged work ethic on-farm every day, Riverdane has found an edge in its ability to balance their day-to-day cow care with Celltech’s embryo transfer work – which routinely puts Mark on the road seeing the country’s best cows.
Bethan Greenhalgh in the thick of preparations.
Along with his judging appointments throughout the world – including the 2019 European Championship at Libramont – the family’s fascination with great cows and Mark’s determination to be at World Dairy Expo (WDE) nearly every year means not many profile cows get past this couple.
Supported by Sue’s drive on-farm – with Jodie closing in on her final year of veterinary study – this young team (including herdsman Oliver Greenhalgh) is an operation with everything happening at top gear.
NUMBERS AND HIGH-STYLE
Riverdane KD Hannah is one of the most complete genomic packages ever offered in Europe – descending from three Global Cows of the Year. Photo: Jane Steel.
When Mark, Susan, and Jodie made their sale selections they didn’t spare the horses. An early headliner has been Riverdane KD Hannah (Lot 90) who is described by auctioneer Glyn Lucas as one of the most complete and unique individuals ever to be offered for sale. She blends pedigree, index, and conformation and she is the highest GTPI daughter of Siemers LBA Hanina EX94 with a GTPI+2926 and an impressive PTAT at +3.22 [figures as per the catalogue].
It is worth noting that LBA Hanina gave almost 18,000kgs in her third lactation (5.8% butterfat), and she is currently one of the highest PTAT cows in the world – backed by three Global Cow of the Year achievements in her pedigree.
S-S-I Doc Have Not 8784 EX96-4E (EX96-MS) is the maternal granddam of a choice of three Kings-Ransom Dropbox pregnancies out of Duckett Parfect Heidi at Lot 108.
Then there is a choice of three Kings-Ransom Dropbox pregnancies from Duckett Parfect Heidi (who calved in at Duckett Holsteins on July 1). The calves will be the first to hit the ground in the UK with a pedigree which features S-S-I Doc Have Not 8784 EX96-4E (EX96-MS) right in behind the calves as their maternal granddam, making the potential palpable.
Riverdane Miss FDL Ashlyn (Lot 71) is a Lambda daughter from Riverdane Deman Ashlyn EX95. She is one of the Highest Conformation Heifers in the World at Conf +15, Mammary +12, and Feet & Legs +12. Her dam produced more than 13,000kgs at 5.17% butterfat, her next dam is Riverdane Seaver Ashlyn EX94 (the sister to the European Show winner Riverdane Ashlyn Gold EX95).
Glyn said buyers will be spoiled for choice. Nine Holstein International All-World Champions feature close-up on a number of lot – including Tri-Day Ashlyn (2001), Toc Farm Allen Amyly (2007), Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red (R&W All-World 2006 & 2007), Thrulane James Rose (2008 and 2009), Harvue Roy Frosty (2010), Castel James Jolie (2011), Rosiers Blexy Goldwyn (2017), Rainyridge Tony Beauty (1999), and Oakfield Solom Footloose (2022).
These two granddaughters to the reigning WDE Supreme Champion, Oakfield Solom Footloose EX97-3E, and both sell. Footloose photo: The Bullvine. Heifer photo: Jane Steel.
Riverdane RBoom Sharon – whose maternal line includes Picston Shottle’s dam – sells. Adding to her appeal is that her dam is one of Riverdane’s EX96 favourites, Riverdane Brady Sharon (nominated All-Britain every lactation).
WDE, RWF, and UK National Champions are also potent throughout.
Riverdane Doorman Elke EX93 (MAX) – the reigning All-Britain four-year-old max-pointed five-year-old sells as Lot 47.
TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS SELL
To that end, Riverdane are selling two UK National Champions in their prime which represents a formidable opportunity for buyers looking to establish foundation families off the back of work already tabled.
Lot 47, Riverdane Doorman Elke EX93 (MAX) and Lot 42, Riverdane Miss Awesome Strawberry-Red EX92, come straight from the heart of its show team with nothing to prove, and everything to give.
Elke is the reigning All-Britain four-year-old and classified MAX points for age. Sired by Val-Bisson Doorman, she was the Grand Champion Holstein (including Best Udder) at the 2022 UK Dairy Expo, and she leads off the sale offering for this family, alongside her march 2023-born Siemers EXC Hanans daughter. Elke has peaked at more than 13,000kg with a whopping 5.2% butterfat test.
Elke’s Dutch dam – sired by Goldwyn – was the 2022 Dutch Cow of the Year (Holstein International). Now aged 14 years, the EX-91 21-star brood cow is the only cow alive in Europe who has seven Excellent daughters in four countries.
Riverdane Miss Awesome Strawberry-Red EX92 sells as lot 42. The 2022 UK Dairy Expo Supreme Champion and 2023 Red & White Champion (Reserve Supreme) is back in-calf to have the chance at a third successive tilt at the title. Photo: Jane Steel.
Strawberry was the 2022 Red & White Grand and Supreme Champion at the 2022 UK Dairy Expo. She is also the reigning Grand Champion Red & White and Reserve Supreme from this year’s UK Dairy Expo. She is back in-calf to Swissbec Power (sexed) – giving her a chance to achieve the treble in successive years.
Importantly, the year Strawberry won Supreme Champion, her dam – Riverdane Colt Strawberry EX95-3E 8 Stars – also stood first in the production class. Further to that, six out of seven generations in this family are classified EX – including an EX96 and EX95. Both these cows are ready for their new owners to simply take the reins and enjoy the ride.
“Everywhere you look are pedigrees filled with All-World Champions, Madison Champions, Royal Winter Fair Champions, UK National Champions, Highest Star Brood Cows, and production champions,” auctioneer Glyn Lucas said.
“The prospects of investing in these premier pedigrees are excellent, as is the potential return on investment.”
The highly anticipated sale will be the pinnacle of a weekend which will celebrate the Holstein breed and its community. It will be held on Saturday, August 19 at Ravenscroft Hall Farm, Middlewich, Cheshire, starting at 10.30am GMT+00 (cattle viewing from 8.30am GMT+00).
The sale will be livestreamed on https://www.marteye.ie (under the tab “England”, then “Carlisle H&H”, and scroll down to the “Theatre of Dreams sale)”. It starts at 10.30am GMT+00 – Or, follow this link: https://handh.marteye.ie/auctions/TIXXV8uE7Iv1697WtDHP
If you’d like to bid online, please make sure you’ve registered on Marteye (through Harrison & Hetherington) 24 hours before the sale starts.
Follow Riverdane Holsteins on Facebook for more details.
For more information on individual lots, please contact Glyn Lucas 07711610255
Link to the catalogue: https://issuu.com/ninaoxley/docs/riverdane_holsteins_-_theatre_of_dreams_sale_19082?fbclid=IwAR0QFL5IfSwpYv3n_aS87z4Bl657AtouI0y6dr1MM4BCe9–is4IdwLlJms
Honey is Riverdane’s chief of security. Photo: Dianna Malcolm.