Husband and wife Duncan and Susan Robinson, of Low Birks Farm, Eldroth, assisted by their son Gary, who also works as a salesman for Guy Machinery, stepped up on their debut reserve championship success at the previous month’s corresponding fixture to secure their inaugural title at the latest renewal with their first prize newly calven heifer.

The Robinsons currently maintain a 100-strong Holstein Friesian commercial herd and their 15 days-calved home-bred victor, giving 27 litres and by the Genus sire Bomaz Homestead, sold for £1,950 to Mark Goodhall, of Tong, Bradford.

Keith Downs, of Bingley, came forward with six newly calven home-breds, heading both the day’s heifer and cow prices – the former with a 14 days-calved 31-litre entry sold for £1,980 to Mark Goodhall again, the latter with the first prize newly calven cow, knocked down for £1,700 to keen supporter Robert Metcalfe, of Brearton. Mr Downs was also responsible for the third prize newly calven cow, which became a £1,650 buy by Fred and Mike Longster, of Fellbeck.

Standing reserve champion was the second prize newly calven pedigree Holstein Friesian heifer from M Baul & Partners, of Bishop Thornton. Shown by Peter Baul, the home-bred daughter of the Semex sire Rietben Tee Off, out of the Bauls’ prolific Blossom family, had calved 28 days earlier and came to market giving 30 litres. She achieved £1,900 when becoming a further Longster acquisition.

Baildon’s Stephen Coates presented the third prize heifer, a newly calven pedigree, which sold for £1,700 to Hellifield’s Richard Barron, while the Stainbank herd of Robin Jennings in South Stainley was responsible for the top price pedigree newly calven heifer, a further purchase at £1,900 by Robert Metcalfe.

The second prize newly calven cow from James Wellock, of Eshton, also fell to the Longster family for £1,400, while a Brown Swiss home-bred third calver cow from regular Nidderdale vendor David Brown, of Ramsgill, sold well at £1,800, again to Robert Metcalfe.

Prize-winning in-calf cattle from Mick Corner, of Easingwold, and Kirklees vendor John Roberts, of Crosland, were good to sell when achieving an overall average of £1,626 per head.

Trade for 19 head of dairy cattle forward was lighter than of late, with newly calven heifers selling to an overall average of £1,845 per head and newly calven cows averaging £1,675.

Show judge was Aubrey Greenhalgh, of Preston. The main BOCM Pauls-sponsored Craven Dairy Auction is on Monday, March 24.