THE Holsteins at CCM Skipton’s latest Craven Dairy Auction were a solid trade, with total clearance of 11 cows and heifers in milk averaging £1,636.

Peter Waring was rewarded for his long trip west from Cherry Burton, Beverley, when taking both champion and reserve, also claiming £2,000 joint top price with his first prize milk heifer, the 35kg Winton Sound System Rose, which became another acquisition by regular local buyers Alan and Emily Middleton, Beamsley Bank. So, too, did the other joint top price, the second prize cow in milk, a De Su Hartley second calver already at 29kg from the ongoing dispersal by the Bolland family, Airton.

Richard Sutcliffe, Queensbury, bagged four, among them at £1,900 Peter Waring’s champion, the 40kg February 16 calved Winton Awesome Trixie.

The late Ian Hall and wife Ruth, from Kilnsey, had a quartet of fresh milkers forward, with trade led by two early April-calved heifers giving 32kg and 26kg respectively, which both made £1,750, plus another 27kg heifer at £1,700 - testament to the potential these animals from just up the Dale have. In fact, the next fortnightly sale on April 29 will include 11 in-calf heifers from the same home due this summer predominantly to the Aberdeen-Angus.

Looking ahead to next week, CCM’s annual pedigree beef season begins with the traditional ‘Blue Wednesday’ opener, the annual show and sale for British Blue bulls and females, which has attracted an increased entry of 41 head from 14 established breeders, with cattle again suitable for pedigree, commercial, beef and dairy herds.

Also on the same day’s agenda is the annual Craven Native Day show and sale of pedigree native cattle, which has a catalogue entry of 13, comprising 12 females and a brace of bulls - seven Hereford, five Beef Shorthorn and single Aberdeen-Angus and Lincoln Reds. Catalogues for both are posted at www.ccmauctions.com