Peter Baul’s Ravensgate pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy herd bagged its first Craven Dairy Auction championship of the year at the main February show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, Feb 27)

 

Mr Baul, who trades as M Baul & Partners at Watergate Farm, Bishop Thornton, and was a four times dairy champion at Skipton last year, got off the mark in 2017 when his first prize newly calven heifer was tapped out as the title winner by show judge and regular Skipton dairy buyer Wick Williams, from Nantwich in Cheshire.

 

The victor, Ravensgate Jeeves Marigold 190, is by the Genus sire, Ked Outside Jeeves, out of Ravensgate Kingly Marigold 134, a milk-rich family that has three generations of VG behind it. Seven days calved, giving 25 litres and improving daily, the frontrunner sold for top price of £1,720 to Silsden Moor’s Ken and Lynne Throup.

 

Sally Wellock, who runs the Harehills pedigree dairy herd at West House Farm, Oldfield, above Keighley, had the first prize newly calven cow and reserve champion, Harehills Brenda 605, by the legendary Genus dairy bull, Picston Shottle, out of Brenda 408. The 33 days-calved second calver, giving 34 litres, sold for £1,520, top price in class, to Mr Williams.

 

Robin Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein herd at Hill House Farm, South Stainley, had the second prize newly calven heifer, knocked down at £1,520 to the Webster family in Londonderry, Northallerton. Newly calven heifers averaged £1,620 per head.