Auctioneers: Craven Dairy Auction
Averages: fresh heifers £1,473; fresh cows £1,295
Multiple past champions, the Lawson family, who run the Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd at Mill Farm, Arthington, secured another Craven Dairy Auction title at August’s opening show. (Monday, August 15th)
Father and daughter, David and Suzy Lawson, saw their first prize newly calven heifer, Newbirks Heliotrope 364, another well-bred daughter of the Genus dairy sire, Bassingthorpe Bossman, out of Heliotrope 320, progress to become champion when given the nod by show judge, Ken Throup, of Silsden Moor.
Five weeks calved, giving 34 litres and with an EX91 rating, the victor sold for £1,740, top call of the day, to father and son, Fred and Mike Longster, from Fellbeck, Harrogate.
Standing reserve champion was the first prize newly calven cow from show regular and another past multiple champion Robin Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein herd at Hill House Farm, South Stainley, Giving 36 litres, his nine days calved second calver, Stainbank Snowdrop 284, by Premier-Kerndt Sailing, out of Snowdrop 271, made £1,300 when joining Robert Metcalfe in Brearton,
Mr Jennings was also responsible for the second prize newly calven heifer, a commercial entry that had also calved nine days prior to the sale and came to market giving 28 litres. She fell for £1,700 to local dairy farmer John Howard at Heslaker Farm.
Next on the list of high prices at £1,660 was the Fort family, from Glusburn, for a 20 days calved 26-litre heifer which sold to John Marshall and family in Dacre, with the Walker family, from East Morton, netting £1,560 for their third prize heifer claimed by regular Cheshire buyer Wick Williams
The second prize newly calven cow from father and son, Keith and David Downs, of Bingley, made £1,400, top price in class, when also selling to the Marshalls.
A brace of maiden heifers from Stuart Petty, of Draughton, sold to £800, while five run-with-bull heifers from Peter Pogson, of Scammonden, peaked at £600.
The show was again sponsored by regular supporters NMR and Trouw Nutrition.
