Swires triumph at Craven Dairy Auction championship No 19

Father-and-son farmers Malcolm and Robert Swires, who run a commercial Holstein Friesian herd at Haverah Park, Harrogate, recently secured the top title at the Craven Dairy Auction championship at Skipton Auction Mart.

The first prize winning newly calven heifer, is a result of a breed partnership with North Yorkshrie dairyman Geoff Spence, of Northallerton, where the Swires have acquired many of their sires.

This one is giving 34 litres, and sold for £2,140 to Colin and Julie Nelson, who farm with their sons Robert and Matthew at Skelding Grange, Grantley.

Taking reserve champion on the day, was a newly calven heifer from Robert Crips, Nelson Farm, Calton.  This one is by a Dairy Daughters sire and givie five gallons – she sold for £2,000 to Andrew Ogden, of Cowling.

And in the in-calf heifers category, the top prize went to Richard Baroon, Hellifield, whose heifer sold for £1,290 to Cheshire’s Wick Williams, Nantwich.

Averages on the day: newly calven heifers averaged £1,676, newly calven cows £1,745 and in-calf heifers £1,308.