It turned into a ‘Ladies Day’ coup at Skipton Auction Mart’s opening July Craven Dairy Auction when newly calven heifers bred by women farmers landed the principal honours, accompanied by fervent trade which indicated further welcome signs of an end to the dairy sector depression. (Mon, July 4)
Champion was the first prize heifer from the Brontemoor pedigree herd of Sammy Sudgen, from Dobfield Farm, Laycock, near Keighley, who was stepping up on her reserve championship success at Skipton’s May opener with another well-bred daughter of the highly regarded Genus sire, Bassingthorpe Bossman.
Brontemoor Bossman Magic, out of Brontemoor Stanbromore Magic, had calved 20 days prior to the show. Giving 30 litres, she went on to achieve the day’s top price, a solid £2,220, when joining Edward Fort on Silsden Moor.
Another West Yorkshire dairy farmer Sally Wellock, who runs her Harehills pedigree herd at West House Farm, Oldfield, Oakworth, and landed her first-ever Craven Dairy Auction championship at the June opener, again performed well when presenting the second prize heifer and reserve champion.
Harehills May 708, by the legendary Genus sire Picston Shottle, who passed away last year, out of May 351, came to market nine days-calved and giving 30 litres. She too sold well when knocked down for £1,900 to regular local supporter John Howard, of Heslaker, on the outskirts of Skipton.
Mrs Wellock also made £1,700 with a second newly calven pedigree heifer bought by BH Wilson & Sons, of Green Hammerton.
Other newly calven entries to catch the eye were pedigree entries from R W & M Walker, of East Morton, and Peter Baul, of Bishop Thornton, which respectively made £1,650, again to the Sowrays, and £1,600 to Ken Throup on Silsden Moor.
Of the 34-strong turnout, pedigree newly calven heifers averaged £1,616.29 per head.
In-calf heifer trade was again led by Brian and Susan Barningham, who trade as Isaac Oliver & Partners in Darley and sold a brace of pedigree entries due August to £1,300 (av £1,130). Two home-bred bulling heifers from David and Jill Pennock in Bolton Abbey sold to £680 (av £580).
The dairy show was again jointly sponsored by NMR and Woldmarsh.
Rearing calf trade ‘sublime’
Black and white youngsters also met a trade described as ‘sublime’ at the same day’s weekly rearing calf sale, with all entries, which averaged 29-days-old, fiercely contested to achieve an overall average selling price of £152.50 per head, with a high of £280 for a one-month-old bull calf from Michael Heron, of Bramhope.
Airton’s Paul and Janet Bolland received £240 for their best black and white bull calf, with their cousin Anthony Bolland, of Bolton Abbey, also hitting £225 and £205 for two in his consignment.
