The dispersal of all my current and future pedigree breeding stock will take place at United Auctions on Saturday, 12th September. The reason is I will be 83 years old and I know I am slowing down and increasingly feel I am losing my touch. I can no longer give my lovely cattle the attention they deserve.

The Mottistone Fold, on the Isle of Wight, was started with non-pedigree Highland cattle for conservation grazing in 1997. The pedigree aspect evolved as I increased my land holdings and needed more cattle. I made my first Oban purchases in 2003 and thenceforth built up my fold, concentrating on quality and excellence. The results showed quicker than hoped for. The first time we ever showed was at Oban February 2006 when to my complete surprise Iasgair of Mottistone won the Craig Seller Trophy for the Champion Bull.

Although still relatively new to breeding Highland cattle, I started taking an interest in hound breeding 50 years earlier, breeding foxhounds from 1972, and Thoroughbred racehorses at Classic level since 1986, with King's Theatre being Cartier's European middle distance European Champion in 1994. The same year the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association awarded me as the Thoroughbred Breeder of the Year. Thus when I seriously started breeding Highlanders I had 50 years of accumulated experience behind me. The major personal triumph for me was winning the Highland Cattle Society's National Award for the best large fold in 2019.

I will be selling our stock bulls, some 45 in-calf cows with calves at foot, in-calf heifers and many quality 2 year old and yearling heifers. The consignment will include many Oban, Glasgow International and other important show champions, their descendants and other close relatives. From the beginning, the search of excellence has always been our quest.

Further details will be posted on this website each month. In the meantime, please visit our other websites The Mottistone Fold and Wight Conservation

Michael Poland

Wroxall Cross Farm, nestling in the valley surrounded by St Martin's Down, Luccombe Down and Wroxall Down.
	West Ferlochan Farm by the shores of Loch Creran.