Dairy cows sells to £2,100 at Skipton

The Newbirks Holstein pedigree herd of husband and wife David and Claire Lawson, of Mill Farm, Arthington, returned to championship-winning ways at the early April Craven Dairy Auction at CCM Skipton.

The Lawsons, who rattled up a championship four-timer at successive Craven Dairy Auctions last autumn, struck again when their first prize home-bred newly calven heifer was awarded the title by judge Geoff Booth, of Lothersdale.

Giving 28 litres, the seven days calved daughter of the sire Sandy-Valley Bolton made joint top price of £2,100 when bought by Daniel Reed, of Bielby, York, as he continues to use the dairy ring at Skipton to strengthen his growing herd with quality milkers.

Claire Lawson, right, with the family’s latest Craven Dairy Auction champion, joined by David Pennock and the reserve champion.

In addition, the Lawsons were responsible for the third prize newly calven heifer, another home-bred sired by the dairy bull Ramus. Milking at 29 litres, she also joined Mr Reed for £2,000.

So too did the reserve champion, the first prize newly calven cow from the commercial dairy herd of local vendors David and Jill Pennock, of Summerscales Farm, Bolton Abbey, who were making a successful return to the dairy arena at Skipton Auction Mart after a lengthy absence.

The runner-up, which had produced her second calf 13 days earlier and was giving 30 litres, was home-bred by their stock bull Talent, acquired from the Abbeyhouse herd of Craven Dairy Auction regulars Jennings Farmers, based at Hill House, Fountains, Ripon. She, too, achieved £2,100 joint top price in show.

Raymond and Robert Johnson, of Felliscliffe, picked up another rosette when presenting the second prize newly calven heifer, which found pastures new in Lancashire when sold for £1,800 to A andJ Smith, of Longridge

The second prize newly calven cow from James Lawn, of Cullingworth, sold for £1,480 to Gisburn’s Frank Wrathall.

John Hitchen, of Ludendenfoot, was responsible for both the top price in-calf and maiden heifers, sold at £900 and £790 respectively to Colin Whitelock, of Gargrave, and the prize-winning Johnsons

While a lack of confidence in the poor spring weather saw a knock-on affect around the ring, pedigree newly calven heifers among the 27-strong entry performed well to average £1,966, with an overall newly calven heifer average of £1,440. Newly calven cows averaged £1,790, in-calf heifers £810 and maiden heifers £780.