More than 150 people witnessed the closing chapter in the life of the Ampleforth Abbey herd of 197 dairy cattle.

GOING, GOING: One of the animals in the Ampleforth Abbey herd comes under scrutiny in the sale ring Picture: Frank Dwyer

The break-up and auctioning off of the herd - caused by dwindling milk prices and the prospect of having to buy expensive new equipment - made it a sad day for Ampleforth Abbey Farms, but there was some happiness for farm manager Ian Bell.

Ian, 26, broke and dislocated his neck in a serious car accident in December last year and this was the first time he had been able to leave Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, since the crash.

Ian, who has been farm manager at Ampleforth Abbey Farms for two years, was taken to the auction by ambulance and accompanied by a nurse as he watched the proceedings from his wheelchair.

Ian bought two of his favourite animals for himself and these will be looked after by a friend.

He said: "This had been on the cards for a while.

"It had been talked about before my accident.

"It's quite sad really because a lot of hard work went into the herd when it changed from 250 cows in a low output system to a system where we have 160 cows giving the same amount of milk."

Ian masterminded the change in feeding patterns and farm management which was necessary to bring about this change.

He said: "To see that hard work go is quite frustrating, but the cows are selling very well.

"They're making about £150 a piece more than I thought they would."

Ian is making steady progress at Pinderfields where he expects to remain for at least another eight months.

When he is fit enough he intends to return to the farming industry.

He said: "If not here, I'll work elsewhere in farm management."

Meanwhile Peter Bryan, business manager for Ampleforth Abbey and College, said: "It's a very sad day and is the result of falling dairy prices which have made this particular part of our work unsustainable.

"The farm will continue and will stay in agriculture. It's just that we're withdrawing from the dairy side."

The auction was attended by about 150 people. Afterwards the college refused to say how much was raised, but the cattle were being sold for between £300 and £500 per animal.

Philip Houlston, who runs a mixed farm near Coxwold, bought some machinery at the sale.

He said: "We've seen a lot of sad days like this because a lot of people have already sold up.

"There's not a lot of money in dairy farming at the moment.

"We're struggling ourselves."

see also 'Sorrowful sell-off'

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