Several years after their last appearance, North Craven father and son dairy farmers Alan and Colin Price, made a welcome return to the Craven Dairy Auction show arena – and duly left with the championship under their belts. (Monday, May 14)
The Prices, who run the Jackbeck pedigree herd at Long Bank Farm, Keasden – it was first established in 1986 and currently comprises 40 milkers - picked up the title with their first prize newly calven heifer, Jackbeck Spectrum Indigo 67, which hails from a long-established cow family stretching back three decades.
By the Semex sire, Charpentier Spectrum, out of Jackbeck Indigo Red, a red and white cow that won first prize at Lancaster’s 50thanniversary show in 2015, the victor came to market 14 days calved and giving 27 litres. She sold for £1,650 to Ian and Diane Wellock, of Kirkby Malham
The multi prize-winning Newbirks herd of father and daughter, David and Suzy Lawson, was right up there again with the second prize newly calven heifer and overall reserve champion, Newbirks Corinthian Remembrance 182, by the Genus dairy bull, Supersire Corinthian, out of Rememberance 171, from another prolific line. Calved for 28 days and giving 28 litres, she became the top price milker at £1,950 when joining regular dairy buyer Brian Blezard, of Ribchester.
The Lawsons, who farm at Mill Farm, Arthington, also consigned two young up-and-coming March, 2017, pedigree bulls, both bred from the herd’s renowned and long-established Jazz family and both boasting tremendous back pedigrees.
Picking up the red rosette in bulls show class was Newbirks Reebock, by Sandy-Valley Saloon, out of a top cow, Newbirks Jazz 1552, who is rated EX90 and gave almost 10,500 litres over her fourth lactation. She has just produced her fifth calf. The bull sold to Gary Swires, of K Swires & Co in Beckwithshaw at £2,400, top call in the dairy ring.
The Lawsons’ second bull, Newbirks Starchip, by Mr Chassity Gold Chip, out of the EX91 Newbirks Jazz 1592, also created keen interest at the ringside before falling for £1,900 to Tony Swires, of Stainburn.
A good show of older cows was punctuated by a tremendous second calver and second prize winner from Ian Parkinson, of Barden, which sold locally for top price in class of £1,720 to JP&KE Hartley in Beamsley.
A much increased turnout of 27 dairy cattle included 19 new calvers. Jeremy Taylor, who runs the Smellows herd in Broughton, consigned three fine heifers, among them the third prize winner, with the trio meeting a buoyant trade at £1,920, £1,900 and £1,700.
The first prize newly calven cow from Sally Wellock, of Oldfield, made £1,450, while the third prize winner from Felliscliffe’s Raymond Johnson sold away at £1,500. Both fell to another regular buyer, Wick Williams, of Nantwich.
A third show class for in-calf heifers was won by Skipton regular Peter Baul, whose family runs the Ravensgate pedigree herd at Watergate Farm, Bishop Thornton. Due to calf mid-year, the mother-to-be made top price in class of £1,650, with a second in-calf heifer from the same home producing an average for the pair of £1,615. Both again joined Mr Williams.
Newly calven heifers averaged £1,666, newly calven cows £1,414, in-calf heifers £1,615 and maiden heifers £585, these selling to a top of £820 for an entry from Cowling’s Megan Thomas.
Show judge was Lothersdale’s David Booth and co-sponsors National Milk Records and NFU Mutual in Skipton
