Jennings Stainbank herd champion again at Craven Dairy Auction
Robin Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy herd at Hull House Farm, South Stainley, Ripon, picked up his third Craven Dairy Auction championship of the year with a commercial entry at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest show and sale
He completed his 2018 hat-trick with the first prize newly calven heifer, whose dam was bought as a calf by the North Yorkshire dairyman. The 17 days-calved 36kg victor was bought for £1,700 top call by show judge Mike Longster, of Fellbeck, Harrogate.
Mr Jennings also sold a second fortnight-calved 29kg heifer for £1,550 to Jeff Liddle, of Huby.
The reserve championship fell to the second prize newly calven heifer from Peter Baul, who trades as M Baul & Partners and runs the Ravensgate pedigree Holstein herd at Watergate Farm, Bishop Thornton.
Ravengsate Bossman Hilda 61, by the highly regarded Genus dairy bull, Bassingthorpe Bossman, came to market 21 days calved and giving 28kg. She sold for £1,400, again to Mr Liddle.
Standing third in class was Brian Moorhouse, who runs the Aireburn pedigree herd with his wife Judith in Bell Busk. His 10 days-calved 30kg Aireburn Trix Kitty, by Topcroft Pesky Trix, also standing with Genus. This, too, made £1,400 when joining regular buyer Brian Blezard in Ribchester.
Newly calven heifers averaged £1,416 per head. “Clearly, the issue of winter feed is putting mounting pressure on the pockets of potential buyers, but despite this enough clients were ringside to make an honest trade of the milkers on offer,” commented auctioneer Sam Bradley.
Rearing calves sell to £410
The same day’s weekly rearing calf sale attracted an increased turnout of 81 head and with the overall quality not quite as good as of late trade was easier throughout, though the best calves still commanded strong prices.
Fred Houseman, of Church Farm Enterprises in Burton Leonard, was once again the top price performer with a British Blue-cross bull calf at £410, while not far behind with £390 sales of Limousin-cross bull calves were Craig Stephenson, of Kirkby Lonsdale, and Cracoe’s Tom Carlisle.
All heifer calves seemed an honest trade, with some very young heifers distorting the average slightly. Church Farm Enterprises again headed the section prices with a brace of £380 Blue-cross calves. The overall Continental-cross selling average was £262.56.
A large show of native entries proved a pleasant surprise, with the best part of 40 Aberdeen-Angus calves on parade. Bulls topped at £285 for an entry from James Wellock, of Eshton. The section average was £207.19. Black and white calves averaged a shade over £51 each.