Buoyant dairy trade at Skipton despite milk price cuts

Despite uncertainties over the future of milk prices, trade remained remarkably buoyant for better quality sorts at the main July Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction Mart.

The top end sold to a high of £2,220 for the second prize newly calven heifer and reserve champion shown by Jeremy Taylor, who runs the Smellows Holstein Friesian pedigree herd at Broughton.

His home-bred pedigree, Smellow Matson Marie, by the AI sire Autumn-Ridge Matson, came to market two weeks after calving and giving 32kg of milk. She remained in the area when joining Stephen Jeanes, of Glusburn.

Champion on the day and second top price achiever at £2,150 was the first prize newly calven heifer from Andrew Jennings, of Jennings Farmers, Fountains, Ripon, who was repeating his championship-winning success of the previous month.

His three weeks calved home-bred, giving 34 litres and by Ladino Park Talent, joined W E Blockley, of Chester. Jennings Farmers’ Stainbank pedigree herd was also responsible for the first prize newly calven cow, a £1,720 acquisition by Mark Ashworth, of Clitheroe.

The third prize heifer from Malcolm and Robert Swires, of, Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw, sold locally for £1,960 to show judge Paul Bolland, of Airton, while the same exhibitors were also responsible for the second prize and top price newly calven cow, knocked down at £2,000 to regular Cheshire buyer Wick Williams, of Nantwich. 

The Swires also sold two other newly calven heifers at £2,000 a head, while long distance travellers William and Susan Skelton, of Laughton, Gainsborough, achieved £1,980 for another heifer.

1st quality newly calven heifers averaged £1,970 and 2nd quality £1,451, selling to an overall average of £1,710. 1st quality newly calven cows averaged £1,758 and 2nd quality £1,343, producing an overall average of £1,551.