SEVENTY years of tradition is coming to an end as an agricultural college sells its herd of dairy cows.

Houghall Agricultural College, on the outskirts of Durham City, will today auction 85 cattle, yearling heifers and farm equipment considered surplus to requirements.

The college, which merged a few years ago with East Durham College in Peterlee, has had a dairy herd, on which students have learnt the art of milking, since the 1930s.

But changes in agriculture and a decline in the number of students attending the college have led college bosses to the conclusion that they would be better off concentrating on other areas.

The college will concentrate instead on its sheep, beef and pig units, but students will still learn about caring for dairy herds on local farms and at Newcastle University.

A college spokesman said: "The college is not turning its back on dairy farming.

"We will provide our students with the experience by utilising the facilities of other local farms.

"Monitoring a dairy herd is an expensive teaching resource so the farm at Houghall will concentrate on sheep and arable production.

"The facilities for students and the commitment to the farming community remains as strong as ever."