SKIPTON Auction Mart’s latest fortnightly Craven Dairy Auction, on Monday, featured a consignment of ten in-calf entries from Green Hammerton, York, father and son, Jack and Alan Wilson.

Their strong, well-grown batch of August calving heifers were keenly sought by a number of buyers, among them many who have seen the calibre of these animals over recent months, having bought from them previously as part of the family’s ongoing herd dispersal.

Twice heifers made over £1,900, selling to a top of £1,950 for an MVP daughter in-calf to the Saler and one of two heading home to Rob Johnson in Felliscliffe. All but one of the other seven in-calf heifers forward exceeded £1,700 to average £1,722 and heading to four new homes.

Dairy demand remains strong, with more entries required for the next fortnightly show and sale on Monday, July 25.

The same morning’s sale of 71 dairy-bred rearing calves, an increased entry on the week, a significant proportion of which were 28 days of age or under, saw the best end of the strong British Blue bulls sell at around £400, with a day’s top of £468 from the Kirkby Malham’s Ian Wellock, while a medium Blue bull was not far behind at £350.

Light Continental bulls met a variable trade, depending on quality, selling from £150 to £320, while there was a similar story among the Blue heifer calves, good strong types selling around £380 to a top of £388, again from Ian Wellock, with buyers selective on young and second quality calves. Limousin bull calves topped at £305 from Cononley’s James Gooch.

Of the natives, strong Aberdeen-Angus bull calves remained in demand at £250-£300, peaking at £305 from Ralph Guy in Earby while a single black and white bull among the entry made £48.