Aireburn herd Craven Dairy Auction champion sells at rock solid £2,400
The Aireburn pedigree Holstein Friesian herd of local husband and wife dairy farmers, Brian and Judith Moorhouse, of Hesper Farm, Bell Busk, secured their second championship of the year at the opening March Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction Mart. (Monday, March 11)
Like their previous victor in late January, the Moorhouses bagged the title with another daughter of the Worldwide Sires’ dairy bull, Ladys-Manor Rd Grafeeti, who has done well for the herd at Skipton.
The three weeks-calved 37-litre heifer, Aireburn Grafeeti Dolly, was the subject of fierce bidding at the ringside, before being claimed for the day’s top call of £2,400 - the highest selling price for a heifer in several years - when falling to regular supporter Brian Blezard, of Ribchester.
Standing reserve champion, courtesy of show judge Will Shuttleworth, of Rylstone, was the second prize newly calven heifer from the Harehills pedigree herd of Oakworth’s Sally Wellock. Her 12 days-calved 28-litre Harehills Jessop 816, by the Genus sire, De-Su Topsy, fell for £1,620 to Kirklees buyer Andrew Parker, of Emley.
Commercial dairy farmers Tony and James Swires, of Stainburn, were responsible for the third prize newly calven 32-litre heifer, which also sold well at £1,920 when once again joining Mr Blezard, while another 28-litre fortnight calved heifer from Bishop Thornton’s Peter Baul sold for £1,800 to Alan Middleton. Of JP&KE Hartley in Beamsley.
The first prize newly calven cow from Calderdale’s Jon Midgley, of Ludendenfoot, made £1,550 when claimed by Stephen and George Breare, who farm on Silsden Moor.
Trade was solid throughout for the 16 head entry and a healthy number of buyers ringside produced virtually 100% clearance. Pedigree newly calven heifers averaged £1,805, their commercial counterparts £1,710.
A small turnout of 20 dairy-bred rearing calves ahead of this coming Monday’s Spring show and sale sold to a top of £440 for a British Blue-cross bull from Gargrave’s Colin Whitelock. The buyer was Edwin Garbutt, of Danby Wiske.