Katie sale raises over £1,400 for Dr Kershaw's

Darren is pictured with his partner Janet, and Katie in the background

The emotional auction of a rare breed cow has raised £1,417.50 for a leading charity in memory of a legendary Saddleworth farmer.

Burnedge Katie, a one-year-old Whitebred Shornhorn heifer belonging to Saddleworth farmer Darren Hough, went under the hammer in Carlisle, with the auctioneers waiving their commission fees.

Darren decided to sell to sell Katie after his father, Bryan, a leading farming figure in the countryside community, died.

Katie was the last Burnedge herd and was sold at Harrison and Hetherington on November 4.

Returning to Saddleworth after the auction, Darren said: “I had a good chat with old friends at the auction and found the best home for Katie - you can't get much better than that.

“The Whitebred Shorthorn came to Saddleworth in the 1970s with my father.

"I am myself retiring and Katie is the last one of the herd to be sold.

“I thought it only right that Katie should be sold and the proceeds go to Dr Kershaw's because of the care they showed my father in his last days. 

“I know he would be happy with my decision,“ he said.

“Katie will go on to join another herd to further the breed and secure the future of the Whitebred Shorthorn."

He added: “This was a very easy decision to make and the right thing to do.

"I wish Katie all the luck for the future.”

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