Strong turnout leads to highest prices for months at mart (From Craven Herald)

Strong turnout leads to highest prices for months at mart

12:18pm Thursday 6th October 2011 in Countryfile

A strong turnout of quality Holstein Friesian milkers at the main September Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction Mart resulted in some of the highest individual selling prices in recent months and the best averages for some time.

Of the 30 milkers forward, 11 – or more than a third of them – sold at £2,000 and more, with 18 of the 22 newly-calven heifers averaging £2,010 and six of the eight newly-calven cows selling at an average of exactly £2,000.

Local farmers were responsible for both the champion and reserve champion at the fixture, which featured standalone show classes for both pedigree and commercial milkers.

The Smellows herd of Jeremy Taylor at Small House, Broughton, clinched championship honours with the first-prize newly-calven pedigree heifer.

A mother for three weeks and giving 30kg, the title winner joined Stephen Jeanes, of Glusburn, for the show-topping price of £2,450 Mr Taylor, victor at the opening August Craven Dairy Auction, also presented the second-prize newly calven pedigree heifer, another home-bred. Producing 32kg, she sold for £2,020 to Cheshire’s Wick Williams, of Nantwich.

The same purchaser, a regular at the Skipton dairy ringside, also paid the second top call of the day at £2,120 for the first-prize newly calven commercial heifer and reserve show champion from John Lancaster at Bordley Hall, Bordley. She was giving 30 litres.

The newly-calven cows class was dominated by Malcolm and Robert Swires, of Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate.

The Swires also presented the runners-up in the commercial heifer and cow classes. Both fell to the Kellett brothers, who regularly buy at Skipton as they continue to build their dairy herd, at £2,100 and £1,880 respectively.

Newly-calven heifers averaged £1,924 and newly-calven cows £1,878. In-calf heifers sold to £1,140.