RENOWNED pedigree breeders WA and A Booth, of Feizor, took the reserve championship at Gisburn Auction Marts' Christmas dairy show and sale on Thursday.

Their newly calved heifer, giving 37 litres and just 14 days calved, sold for £2,400.

And Horton-in-Craven dairy farmer Isaac Lancaster surprised the crowd with a German-imported newly-calved heifer selling at £2,100.

But top honours went to Lee Donkin, of Copster Green, Blackburn, whose pedigree newly-calved heifer class was awarded the Gisburn Auction Marts' Directors Silver Challenge Trophy and champion rosette.

The victor, giving 29 litres, sold for £2,500 to Doug Graves, of Armathwaite, Carlisle. The same buyer also took home Mr Donkin’s next lot - a heifer giving 38 litres, at £2,240.

Auctioneer Fred Spurgeon said: “The standard of cattle forward was very impressive and despite the current downturn in milk prices, trade could be described as buoyant for the 73 cattle forward, with dairy buyers from a distance prepared to purchase genuine quality cattle.”

Averages were: newly calved heifers, £1,660; newly calved cows, £1,310; and in calf heifers, £1,277.