Craven Dairy Auction (51 head)
A mixed sale of all types of cattle for today’s dairy sale with 51 head going under the hammer. Robin Jennings of South Stainley was judged to have the best beast in the market, a Pedigree heifer calved 12 days giving 35kgs which eventually sold for £1750 to Wick Williams. Reserve Champion went to the Calvert family of Crathorne near Yarm with a 4th calver which had been classified EX90 with 10gens of VG or EX behind it and arguably one of the best cows we’ve sold in the market ended up selling for £2100 to William Oldfield of Stocks Enteprises.
A rake of maiden heifers from a number of vendors were on show today with a fantastic pedigree Holstein with an impressive back pedigree selling for £1660 to Aubrey Greenhalgh of Enchanted Holsteins.
A good trade had today with a strong ringside of buyers bidding relatively freely for some quality entries, it was certainly unexpected.
Judge – Dave Berry
Prize Awards: Newly Calven Heifers: 1st GB Jennings 2nd A Lawson & Son 3rd A Lawson & Son
Newly Calven Cows: 1st 2nd & 3rd Calvert Bros
In-Calf Heifers: 1st & 2nd I Olivers and Partners
Champion – GB Jennings Reserve – Calvert Bros
Pedigree Newly Calven Heifers (6): av £1691.67 to £1900 A Lawson & Son
Pedigree Newly Calven Cows (6): av £1590 to £2100 Calvert Bros
Newly Calven Heifers (5): av £1252 to £1600 RW&M Walker
Newly Calven Cows (5): av £1396 to £1720 DL Leeming Ltd
Incalf Heifers (2): av £1310 to £1320 I Olivers & Partners
Maiden Heifers (24): av £755.45 to £1660 SG&LC Middleton
59 Rearing Calves to £590
B&W av £117.12 Cont av £378.38 Native av £262
Calves just starting show signs of easing with a quality show of calves just starting to slip. The best blues and black and whites bucked this trend but it was noticeable anything not quite on the money were a touch easier.
Black and whites were up and down with the very best from Alan Middleton of JP&KE Hartley hitting the top with a ¾ Friesian bull flying to £290 with David Hall, Mark Smith and Michael Heron all breaking the £200 mark. Commercial calves were less in the £60- £90 with young plain calves £25-£55.
British Blue calves were once again leading the way with one of the best runs of calves I’ve ever seen in this auction. David Smith of Bents farm hit the top with two fantastic blues reaching £590 and £585, Hartleys reached £585 & £565 and Booths and Sowray at £560 and £500 respectively. Heifers were also strong with a sale average of £395.71 to £450 from Hartley’s again.
Today black and white calves averaged 35 days of age with British Blues 33 days of age average. Keep taking note of age and price.
Bull Calves
Limousin x (Av £185) to £185 PJ Bolland
Brit Blue x (Av £537) to £590 C Smith
Ab Angus (Av £273) to £335 DL DM J Heron
Blonde x (Av £255) to £310 N&R Sutcliffe
Simmental (Av £275) to £275 JF Longster
Black & White (Av £117) to £290 JP&KE Hartley
Heifer Calves
Limousin x (Av £251) to £350 A Sowray & Son
Brit Blue x (Av £395) to £450 JP&KE Hartley
Ab Angus (Av £191) to £225 JM Smith
Simmental (Av £265) to £275 JF Longster