PEDIGREE dairy bulls were on parade for their annual show and sale that once again formed part of Skipton Auction Mart’s main April Craven Dairy Auction.

The Ingleview pedigree herd of Bentham’s Robert and Elaine Butterfield, runner-up in 2014, went one better at the latest renewal, presenting the first prize bull, September 2013-born Ingleview Magician.

Their red rosette-winning bull sold for 1,750gns (£1,837) to regular buyer Mark Goodall of Tong, Bradford.

The Dalesbrad pedigree herd of Allan and Susan Throup, of Higher House Farm, Silsden Moor, was responsible for the second prize bull, December 2012-born Dalesbrad Hugo Boss. He sold for 1,450gns (£1,522) to Alf and Andrew Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley.

The six pedigree bulls sold averaged 1,420gns, or £1,491.

The Craven Dairy Auction champion, Newbirks Jazz 1612, was shown by the Lawson family of Mill Farm, Arthington, who were winning their third dairy title of 2015.

The first prize newly-calven heifer - two weeks calved and giving 28 litres - sold for a joint high of £1,900 to show judge Brian Blezard, of Ribchester,

Mr Blezard also paid the same price for his chosen reserve champion, the first prize newly-calven cow from the Calton pedigree Holstein herd of husband and wife, Mark and Karen Calvert, of Glebe Farm, Crathorne, Yarm.

The Calverts were staging the second part of their ongoing herd dispersal sale. Their latest frontrunner, Calton Focus Ruby, a third calver, came to market giving 55 litres.

The Calverts were also responsible for the runners-up in both main show classes. Their second prize cow, Calton Focus Claire, was giving 50 litres, while their second prize heifer, Calton Gerard Mary, came to market in calf, due October. She was giving 35 litres.

Both blue rosette winners were sold for the same price of £1,800 to the same buyer, Skipton regular Wick Williams, of Nantwich in Cheshire.

The third prize newly-calven cow from the Bradley family, of Brimham Hall, sold locally to Heslaker’s John Howard for £1,700, while the third prize newly-calven cow from the Abbeyhouse herd of Andrew Jennings, who trades as Jennings Farmers at South Stainley, made £1,350 when joining Stocks Enterprises in Nappa.

Trade for the 61 head of dairy cattle forward was described as “sticky,” with good, honest dairy heifers harder to sell than of late. A large portion made £1,350 to £1,650, with the 23 newly-calven heifers averaging £1,421 overall and the ten newly-calven cows £1,354.

Maiden heifers from John Roberts, of South Crosland,and David and Jill Pennock, of Bolton Abbey, reached a strong trade up to £830, with the 19 entries averaging £581 per head overall. Four in-calf entries averaged £1,170 per head, with a high of £1,300 from Silsden Moor’s Jeff Throup.