PEDIGREE newly calved heifers sold to £2,250 for the reserve champion at Gisburn Auction Marts last week, and levelling in excess of £1,800, recorded the highest average for some time.

Making top money was a two weeks-calved Larcrest Contrast sired heifer from Feizor herd owners WA. and A Booth, Feizor, Lancaster. Out of a female line with many five-figure lactations, and itself giving 30 litres on the day, it sold to J Walton, Wrea Green.

The same buyer paid £2,080 for the sale champion, Avenham Good Companion from W Rogerson and Sons, Singleton. This four weeks calved heifer is out of a home-bred dam that gave 13,432kg in its first note.

From the same home, a fresh second calver by Avenham Frank, sold at £1,900 to FA and TCR Wrathall, Gisburn.

KE Robinson and Son, Farleton, Lancaster, also drew £1,900 for their Swissbec Brekem sired Kilnhall heifer, bought by NW and Mrs JM Coulthurst, Goosnargh, Preston.

An £1,800 bid from Claytons’ Partnership, Nantwich, secured a 34 litre heifer from DE and MA Booth’s Earby-based Shawdale herd.

Pedigree in-calf heifers reached £1,370 for an entry from Gary Drake, Ossett, and bought by DW Shuttleworth, Gargrave.

Pedigree bulling heifers and a large entry of other young stock were a particularly strong trade, topping at £800 for a February 2016 heifer from TD Goldie and Son, Danby Wiske, Northallerton, and bought by Enchanted Holsteins, Elswick, Preston.

Commercial newly calved heifers peaked at £1,620 with D.A. Wilcock, Blackrod, Bolton, selling to SR Shuttleworth, Skipton.

Averages were: pedigree newly calved heifers £1,816; cows £1,406; in-calf heifers £1,387; bulling heifers £726. Non-pedigree newly calved heifers £1,448; cows £1,284; in-calf heifers £950.