A STRONG show of 51 animals at Monday’s Craven Dairy Auction saw success for the Calvert family.

The Calverts exhibited some fine specimens as part of their ongoing dispersal sale and claimed both the champion and reserve prizes.

They also secured first, second and third place in the newly-calved cow section, with Calton Bolton Tanya named the overall champion.

The third calver, giving 55 litres, was judged best in show by judge Wick Williams, of Nantwich, and was picked up by Malcolm and Stephen Abbott, of Dacre, for £1,680.

The reserve champion was a newly-calved pedigree heifer, Calton Gerard Kay, giving 35 litres. It was sold to Andrew Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley, for £1,720.

Second place in the newly-calved heifers went to Richard Walker, of East Morton, with his 35-litre black heifer. It took the day’s top price of £1,920, selling to Alan and Jack Wilson, of Green Hammerton.

Youngstock were once again strong with in-calf cattle reaching £1,360 twice for two quality animals from Oliver and Partners at Darley.

Bulling heifers from James Kayley, of Halton West, were also good to sell with 13 to 17-month-old heifers reaching £860 while Joss Lancaster, of Horton-in-Craven, sold six to £320, averaging £275 for five to six-week-olds.

Meanwhile, rearing calves sold to £430, but it was the continental heifers that enjoyed the most buoyant trade.

Dairy-bred calves remained similar on the week with the highest sum of £430 achieved by Skipton regular Fred Houseman of Church Farm Enterprises, Burton Leonard.

Colin Whitelock, of Low Green Farm, Gargrave, had the best of the rest in the bulls at £400, and Richard Sutcliffe, of Queensbury, topped the heifers at £410.

Limousin bull calves averaged £260, with AL Dean & Son, of Threshfield, reaching the top price of £340. They also topped the Limousin heifer calves at £340.

British Blue cross bulls sold to an average of £330.18, with Church Farm Enterprises of Burton Leonard taking the top price of £430.

British blue heifers sold to an average of £338, with the Sutcliffes, of Queensbury, heading the prices at £410.