The Sowrays - Shaun, Peter and Paul – who run their Holstein Friesian herd at Bowes Green Farm, secured yet another victory with their first prize six-and-a-half-week-old British Blue-cross bull calf, which, like their champions at the two previous shows, was by the Norbreck Genetics’ dairy bull, Brennand General, bred in Dunsop Bridge by the Walker family, who are also familiar faces at Skipton.

The victor went on to secure top price in the sale ring when knocked down for £515 to Andrew Houseman, of Darley, who also bought the Sowrays’ April champion. The Sowray brothers were also responsible for the first prize heifer calf, another Blue-cross by the well-utilised Genus sire, Gee Whizz, claimed for £450 by Nigel Garth, of Addingham.

Show judge Tony Binns, of Clint, near Harrogate, remained in the Blue-cross bull calf pen for his chosen reserve champion from Wharfedale’s David and Dee Holmes, who trade as FA Holmes & Son in Castley, Otley.

The overall runner-up sold for £425 to Robert Foster in Wetherby, with the same vendors also doing well in the native calf section with an Aberdeen Angus bull calf that achieved £290. Native prices peaked at £310 for a stylish Hereford bull calf from David Smith, of Sutton-in-Craven. The overall section average was a solid £241 per head.

British Blue bull calves saw the best of the day’s trade, with 11 making over £400 and all selling to an overall average £406.92 per head. Continental heifers also sold well, averaging £371 each, as suckler buyers produced fierce bidding for replacement heifers. The overall Continental-cross average was £386.39.

Trade for black and white youngsters was a shade easier due to an abundance of plain young calves, though anything well fleshed and thriving comfortably made £100 and upwards, selling to a high of £145 for a bull calf from Alan and Susan Throup, of Silsden Moor. Black and whites averaged £65 per head.
 
A total of 65 rearing calves were penned for sale. Full show results, selling prices and averages are at www.ccmauctions.com