THE Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd of the Lawson family, from Mill Farm, Arthington, landed its first Craven Dairy Auction championship of 2015 at the main February show.
Represented by David Lawson and his daughter, Suzy, the 2014 CCM Dairy Farmers of the Year secured the latest in a long line of titles with another red rosette-winning newly-calven heifer from their Newbirks Jazz family of milk-rich females.
The three-weeks calved Jazz 1600 came to market giving 30 litres.
The Lawsons also stepped up with the third prize newly-calven heifer, though both their prizewinners returned home after failing to meet expectations in the sale ring.
Reserve champion with the second prize newly-calven heifer was another pedigree breeder, Chris Bradley, who runs the Brimrock herd at Brimham Hall, Burnt Yates, Harrogate.
From his well-regarded Panda family, the 13 days-calved, 31-litre heifer sold for what transpired to be the day’s leading price of £1,820 when returning to her place of origin with WP Gratton at Brimham Lodge.
Pedigree newly-calven heifers averaged £1,672 per head.
The pick of the newly-calven commercial heifers at £1,740 came from Skipton regular Robert Crisp, of Calton. It fell to Alf Townsend in Southfield, Burnley, with first class commercial heifers averaging £1,561 per head, their second class counterparts £1,330.
The first prize newly-calven cow from Bingley’s Keith Downs sold for £1,600 to show judge Richard Crabtree, who runs a commercial dairy herd in Clifton, Otley, with his father Gordon and uncle, Rowland. The section average was £1,420.
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