BENTHAM’S Genus Spring Dairy Day attracted a strong entry of 30 pedigree and commercial dairy cattle which saw strong pedigree cattle sell well.

Judge Robin Boothman gave the championship to the first prize heifer, Ingleview Glauco Verna, shown by Robert and Elaine Butterfield. of Bentham.

However the top price of the day, £2,300, was achieved twice, both by non-prize winners - first by Tom Stables of Urswick, with home-bred heifer Boltonmanor Emulate Rebecca 2, 28 days calved and giving 34kgs, and secondly by David Wright, of Helsington, with Berryholme Atwood Flo, 18 days calved, giving 31kgs.

Messrs Stables also sold Boltonmanor Matson Lena 6 for £2,280 while the second prize heifer, Wyredale Shottle Bruster 59, from Mark and Heather Atkinson, of Quernmore, achieved £2,050.

Newly calved cows also attracted attention, with a strong non-pedigree third calver from Brian Gibson, of Kendal, selling for £1,700.

A highlight of the sale day was a special entry of six pedigree Holstein maiden heifers, the final dispersal of the ‘Salter’ herd from George and James Huddleston, of Gressingham. This consignment topped at £1,000.

Averages were: newly calved cows, £1,420; newly calved heifers, £1,624.21; and maiden heifers, £673.33.