Peter Baul’s Ravensgate pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy herd from Watergate Farm in Bishop Thornton clinched its second Craven Dairy Auction championship of 2017 at the opening April show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, Apr 10)

 

Trading as M Baul & Partners, the North Yorkshire dairyman took the title with his first prize 15 days-calved heifer, Ravensgate Strauss Sylvia 181, by Huddlestone Strauss, a De-Su Osmond son and recent addition to Genus breeding stock. It was the first time the sire had been used by Mr Baul.

 

Out of Ravensgate Principal Sylvia 157, the 32 litre heifer sold for the day’s leading price of £1,900 to father and son, Roger and Jack Naylor, of Langbar, Ilkley, who also paid £1,600 for a second 10 days-calved 28 litre Ravensgate heifer.

 

Sally Wellock, of the Harehills pedigree herd at West House Farm, Oldfield, above Keighley, presented the first prize newly calven cow, Harehills Brenda 537, by the Genus sire, Askew Reece. The third calver, giving 35 litres, sold for £1,180 to Robert Metcalfe, of Brearton, Otley.

 

Show judge was commercial dairy farmer Richard Webster, of Londonderry, Northallerton, while co-sponsors were National Milk Records and farmers buying group Woldmarsh.

 

Dairy producers are reminded that running alongside the next fortnightly fixture on Monday, April 24, is the high profile Yorkshire Holstein Club show and sale. Added interest is provided by a special calf rearing event being hosted by AHDB Dairy in the Exhibition Hall from 10am to 3.30pm.

 

Black and white youngsters averaged £70.13 per head, prices peaking at £190 for an eight-week-old bull calf also from the Townsends, while three-week-old Friesian bull calves from Michael Heron, of Bramhope, also did well at £112 and £102.Brian Moorhouse, of Bell Busk, made £110 with a handy Holstein calf. 

 

Next up this coming Bank Holiday Monday (Apr 19) is Skipton’s latest rearing calf show, when the mart expects a large turnout of buyers for all classes, with big numbers needed to fill orders.