Hartleys a big hit with Skipton Spring calf show victor and top price
Alan Middleton, who trades under the family partnership of JP&KE Hartley at Lane House Farm, Beamsley, was champion with a six-week-old British Blue-cross bull at Skipton Auction Mart’s second rearing calf show of 2019. (Monday, March 19)
By a Genus Fertility Plus sire, out of a Holstein Friesian cow, the home-bred victor, shown by Duncan Holme, progressed to land the day’s top price of £450 when claimed by Graham Stainthorpe, from Grewelthorpe, Ripon.
The Hartleys, who currently milk around 100 dairy cattle, were also responsible for the first prize native bull calf, an Aberdeen-Angus sold for £215, with the section averaging £192.50.
Show judge Tony Binns, of Clint, Harrogate, remained in a very strong Blue-sired bull calf show class for his chosen reserve champion, shown by Fred Houseman, of Church Farm Enterprises, based at Burton Top Farm, Burton Leonard.
It made the day’s second top call of £445 when joining Wetherby’s Robert Foster, with solid trade for Blue-cross bulls seeing 12 among the entry selling at over £400.
The strong turnout of 108 rearing calves at the Spring show and sale comprised 85% Blue-sired or black and white bulls.
Continental heifers were out in force, producing stronger trade than seen of late. Blue-cross entries peaked at £340 twice for a brace from Mark Smith, of Winterburn, and Horton-in-Craven’s Joss Lancaster, the section averaging a respectable £278 for all types. The overall Continental-cross selling average was £322.50.
Five different buyers competed for black and white calves and trade was much improved. Some fleshy eight to12-week-old youngsters from John Dugdale, of Settle, did best, three hitting the £200 bracket, with the same vendor’s consignment of nine black and white bulls averaging £161. The overall section average was £76.57.
The show was again sponsored by Dugdale Nutrition.