PEDIGREE newly calved heifers sold to £2,250 with the average creeping ever closer to the £2,000 mark in Gisburn Auction Mart’s dairy sale..

The pedigree of the reserve champion, a 28- litre, two weeks calved heifer from Jennings Farmers, Ripon, attracted local breeder William Oldfield, Gisburn. He paid the day’s top price for the Gillette Caviar sired Abbeyhouse Caviar which is out of an 11,530 litre dam and has 12 generations of VG and Excellents behind it.

Two heifers from Preston-based Hoole herd owners R and M Cowgill, made £2,180, including their overall champion, a 33- litre Bomaz SHTL Kampman daughter. Three weeks calved, it was bought by Claytons Partnership, Nantwich. At the same price E Roper and Sons, Longridge, took a 28-litre Kampman daughter from the Cowgills’ consignment. The same buyer also paid £2,180 for a Crackholm Fever heifer giving 32 litres from Goosnargh, Preston breeders J and M Singleton and Sons.

Three pedigree second calvers from Lothersdale breeder G T Booth’s Dowshawdale herd at Lothersdale took the first three prizes in class and all topped the £2,000 mark, their dearest being a 4.65 per cent butterfat Zelgadis daughter. Sold giving 43 litres, it was bought by the Claytons Partnership. F.A. and T.C.R. Wrathall, Gisburn, paid £2,120 for a 45 litre Bossman-sired Dowshawdale cow.