Robin Jennings regains champion’s crown at Craven Dairy Auction
Robin Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein dairy herd at Hill House Farm, South Stainley, Harrogate, won his first championship for some time at the main June Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, June 22)
Mr Jennings secured overall victory with his first prize newly calven heifer, Tranthwaite Diamond Samatha, which he acquired as a stirk from Cumbrian breeder Peter Swindlehurst, of Underbarrow, Kendal.
The daughter of Brundrigg Diamond, which came to market 12 days calved and giving 34 litres, sold for joint top price of £1,800 to the show judge and regular Skipton buyer, Andrew Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley.
Alan and Susan Throup, who runs the Dalesbrad pedigree Holstein herd on Silsden Moor, stepped up with the second prize newly calven heifer, which also made £1,800 on joining the Wilson family in Green Hammerton, while the third in class from Raymond and Robert Johnson, of Felliscliffe, Harrogate, sold locally to John Howard, of Heslaker, at £1,780.
Multiple past Craven Dairy Auction champion, Wharfedale’s David Lawson, who has the Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd at Mill Farm, Arthington, narrowly failed in his bid to win a fifth title this year when his first prize newly calven cow was awarded the reserve championship.
Newbirks Jazz 1489, another top-notch product of the Lawsons’ Jazz family, with six generations of VG Excellent behind her, is by the Genus dairy bull, Bomaz Boulder. Calved for 27 days and giving 48 litres, the runner-up sold for £1,700 to Cowling’s Martyn Jennings.
The second prize newly calven cow from Eric and Sally Wellock, of Oakworth, made £1,320 when joining Frank Wrathall in Gisburn.
David and Pauline Brown, of Ramsgill, made a clean sweep of the prizes in the show class for newly calven Brown Swiss heifers, with three of their eight-strong entry selling at £1,550 and averaging £1,284.
The 30-strong turnout from local producers was larger than of late and while there was very little dealer interest due to the continuing uncertainty over milk prices, 90% of milkers on offer sold to dairy farmers.
Pedigree newly calven heifers averaged £1,651.50 and their commercial counterparts £1,356, with newly calven pedigree cows averaging £1,310.
“It was good to see genuine demand from farmers, which helped force trade upwards, despite the treacherous market conditions,” noted Craven Cattle Marts’ auctioneer Sam Bradley.
ForFarmers was again the main sponsor, joined by co-sponsors NMR and VG Energy.