ROBIN Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein dairy herd at Hill House Farm, South Stainley, bagged his sixth Craven Dairy Auction title in recent months at Skipton Auction Mart’s opening October show and sale.

Mr Jennings’ first prize newly calven heifer, Stainbank Gayelass 17, was nominated champion by show judge Martin Jennings, of Cowling.

Giving 32 litres and 13 days calved, she sold for £1,680 to regular buyers H Goodall & Sons in Tong, Bradford.

In fact, Mr Jennings landed a clean sweep of the prizes in the newly calven heifer class and it was his runner-up, Stainbank Sunray 423, that secured top price honours of £1,850. The heifer, 17 days calved and giving 30 litres, also joined the Goodalls.

Mr Jennings’ third prize heifer, ten days calved and giving 31 litres, was Stainbank Gretel 12.

Brian Moorhouse, who runs the Aireburn pedigree herd at Hesper Farm, Bell Busk, took the reserve championship with a second calver. Twelve days calved and giving 35 litres, she achieved top price in class of £1,650 when joining Wick Williams, of Nantwich.

Ian Parkinson, of Barden, also received a good trade with his two home-bred newly calven cows, one second in class, selling at £1,500, this also to Mr Williams, and £1,400 to Fred Longster, of Fellbeck, Pateley Bridge.

A straight run of 34 dairy cattle in the market comprised 13 in milk, which met a handy trade, and 21 youngstock, among them 14 bulling heifers, for which trade was mixed. Top price of £790 fell to a stylish heifer from James Kayley, of Halton West.

Heifer calves again sold nicely, with Joss Lancaster, of Horton-in-Craven, averaging exactly £300 with his four youngsters, with a top of £380. All fell to Jackie Bradley, of Brimham Rocks, a familiar face in the mart office.

Averages were: newly calven heifers £1,465, newly calven cows £1,387, in-calf heifers £1,163, maiden heifers £598.

Exactly 100 dairy-bred rearing calves were entered for the same day’s weekly sale, selling to a high of £400 twice for a Limousin-cross heifer calf from Edward Fort, of Silsden, and a British Blue-cross bull calf from Church Farm Enterprises in Burton Leonard. Continental-cross entries averaged £312 per head, native calves £222 and black and whites £61.