NEWLY-calven cattle were put through their paces at Skipton Auction Mart’s Dairy Auction on Monday.

Peter Baul’s impressive champion heifer topped the 36-head sale, fetching £1,600 when bought by Alf and Andrew Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley.

The three weeks-calved Holstein, giving 32 litres, caught the eye of judge Colin Whitelock of Gargrave.

From Baul and Sons Ltd Ravensgate Herd in Bishop’s Thornton, the heifer was homebred from Genus sire Overside Dragon.

Brian Moorhouse, of Hesper Farm, Bell Busk, also had a heifer in this price range, reaching £1,500. It was awarded third place in the newly calven heifers category.

Regular vendors WR Ireland and Son, of Thorpe Bassett, took second place in the newly calven cows awards and saw a third calved cow, giving 42 litres, fetch £1,520.

The first prize newly calved cow and overall reserve came from David Booth, of Broom House, Earby. The second calver, giving 48 litres, sold at £1,500.

In the rearing calves sale, black and whites were certainly good to sell with a handy trade throughout. They averaged £79, with FA Holmes & Son, of Otley, reaching £170.

Continentals averaged £298.2 and natives £180.8.

Limousins did well, reaching £328 from C & M Hall, of Shelley, Huddersfield, and averaging £292.

Other continentals were a touch easier in places, although a strong British Blue Bull calf from Jonny Moon, of Wigglesworth, went on to top the day's prices at £370.

Aberdeen Angus sold to £260 for JP & KE Hartley, of Beamsley, and averaged £211.5.

J & SA Lancaster, of Horton-in-Craven, saw their Simmental cross fetch £350, and a Meuse Rhine Issel £188.

The Lancasters also saw a British Blue heifer calf fetch £355 against an average of £259, and a black and white heifer calf reach £260.

C&M Hall took top price for an Aberdeen Angus heifer calf at £205 against an average of £154.

In the prime cattle sale, 89 animals were put forward, along with 71 cast cattle.

JR Metcalfe got top price per head for a Limousin cross steer, selling for £1,449, while JM Townsend, of Laneshawbridge, took top price per weight with another Limousin cross steer selling for 244.5p/kg to Keelham Farm Shop.

Mr Metcalfe also picked up top price per weight for a heifer, selling a Limousin cross for 262.5p/kg, while H Downs & Son, of Bingley, sold a British Blue cross for £1,408, the top price per head, again to Keelham.

Prime cattle over 30 months averaged 102.82p/kg, or £784.13. Top price per head went to J Caygill & Ptns of Rylstone, who sold a black and white at £784 to John Thompson of Preston. EJ Fort of Silsden got top price by weight with another black and white selling for 129.5p/kg.

Cull cows averaged 90.81p/kg or £603.10 per head, with black and whites averaging 83.52p/kg and Church Farm Enterprises getting top price at £816 or 129.5p/kg.

Limousin crosses averaged 115.35p/kg with J Drinkall Ltd, of Chorley, notching up top price at £957 or 123.5p/kg.

N Parker sold a Swedish Red for £698 while TB Moorhouse & Son, of Dacre, Harrogate, sold a British Blue for £942 or 134.5p/kg. KA & HL Fawcett, of Barden, sold a Blonde cross for £1,261 or 147.5p/kg while J Drinkall Ltd sold two Aberdeen Angus for £975.25 and £905.98. M&R Smith, of Winterburn, sold a mature black and white bull for £835.63 or 87.50p/kg.