Local dairy farmer Robert Crisp, of Nelson House, Calton, began the New Year as he had ended the old one when securing the championship for the second successive sale, also bagging the reserve championship for good measure.

He took the title with a four-week calved 2nd calver by ABS Grazie, with show judge Shaun Sowray standing behind his convictions and taking this 30kg-plus cow back to Bishop Thornton for £2,320.

However, it was Mr Crisp’s reserve champion, the first prize heifer in milk, a fortnight-calved Silver daughter giving 25kg, which claimed top call of £2,380 when heading home to West Yorkshire with regular buyer Mark Goodall, of Tong.

The Yorkshire Dales dairyman again secured the day’s top average, his trio levelling at £2,300, though Martin Petch, of Aytonian Holsteins in Great Ayton, was not far behind, with his pair of heifers both fresh in early December averaging £2,225.

Ongoing dispersal stock were also a credit to their sellers and commanded good trade to returning customers. Four fresh cows from Messrs Dibb at Kilnsey saw a 2nd and 3rd calver head home to John Howard, of Heslaker, at £1,980 and £1,950 respectively.

Jack and Alan Wilson from Green Hammerton had a run of four in-calf animals, topping at £2,000 for a widely admired Picston Shottle warming with its third calf and in calf to sexed Adorable semen. She also headed home with Mr Howard, as did the Wilsons’ £1,900 top priced in-calf heifer due in February to the Saler.

Cows in milk averaged £1,805, heifers in milk £2,132, in-calf cows £1,550 and in-calf heifers £1,800.

Craven Cattle Marts dairy sales co-ordinator Sarah Liddle said: “Our first sale of the New Year certainly didn't disappoint, but we need more numbers to meet demand as some potential purchasers still left with empty trailers. Enquiries for whole or part herd dispersals are also welcome – demand is there.”


Bolland Blue stands champion at CCM Skipton rearing calf opener
The opening New Year rearing calf show at Skipton Auction Mart, which attracted a solid entry of 86 head, produced a first-ever championship success for Yorkshire Dales husband and wife, Paul and Janet Bolland, who farm with their son James at Dykelands Farm, Airton. (Mon, Jan 10)

The family – they only rarely show calves at their local auction mart – took the title and top call of £480 with the first prize British Blue-x bull calf, by the Cogent sire, Springhill Improver, out of a Holstein cow. It joined regular buyer Tom Watson, of Ripon.

Show judge Frankie Brown, of Halton Gill, remained in the same show class for his reserve champion, the second prize winner from Alan Middleton, who trades under the family partnership of JP&KE Hartley at Lane House Farm, Beamsley. By the locally bred stock bull, Greystone Money, which has produced other Skipton calf champions for the Hartleys, it was not far behind the title winner when knocked down at £475, again to Mr Watson.

Blue bulls were a real trade, with nice rearing 4–6-week-old goods selling at £420-£480, mediums at £340-£390 and smalls £200-£280. The first prize Blue-x heifer calf from Threshfield’s Angus Dean got away at £330, with the red rosette-winning Continental bull calf, a Simmental-x from the same home topping at £380.

With just seven Blue heifer calves forward trade topped at £345 for one from LD&MA Clarke, of Thornton-in-Craven, mediums getting away at £260-£320 and bobbies £180-£230.

Limousin bull calves sold to £420 for the first prize winner from G Pickersgill & Sons in Hawksworth, the same vendors also responsible for the red rosette black and white bull calf, which topped its section at £195. A total of 27 black and white youngsters averaged £87.

Among the natives, both the bull and heifer show classes were won by Aberdeen-Angus from A&M Beecroft, of Fewston, the former heading the section prices at £325 when claimed by the judge.