Lawsons take top price and champion title at Craven dairy

The Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd of David and Claire Lawson at Mill Farm, Arthington, won a further Craven Dairy Auction championship at the opening October show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart earlier this week.

Like their September title winner, the victor was a red rosette-winning newly calven heifer daughter of Bomaz Boulder. Giving 36 litres, she joined Stephen Jeanes in Glusburn for £2,200.

The Lawsons were also responsible for the second prize newly calven heifer and the second prize newly calven cow, sold at £1,950 and £2,150 to, respectively, Brian and Kath Wellock, of Eshton, and Mark Goodall in Tong, Bradford.

Reserve champion was the first prize newly calven cow from Bingley’s Keith Downs. The home-bred second calver, giving 44 litres, sold for £2,000.

Bishop Thornton’s Peter Baul presented the third prize heifer, which made top call of the day at £2,250 when also joining Mark Goodall. The third prize cow from Barden’s Ian Parkinson sold for £1,920 to JP&KE Hartley, of Bolton Abbey.

Newly calven heifers averaged £2,011 per head and newly calven cows £1,906. Show judges were father and son dairy farmers Fred and Michael Longster, of Fellbeck, Pateley Bridge.