2013-04-09 | ![]() |
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The Newbirks Holstein pedigree herd of husband and wife David and Claire Lawson, of Mill Farm, Arthington, returned to championship-winning ways at the early April Craven Dairy Auction at CCM Skipton. (Mon, April 8)
The Lawsons, who rattled up a championship four-timer at successive Craven Dairy Auctions last autumn, struck again when their first prize home-bred newly calven heifer was awarded the title by judge Geoff Booth, of Lothersdale.
Claire Lawson, right, with the family’s latest Craven Dairy Auction champion, joined by David Pennock and the reserve champion.
Giving 28 litres, the seven days calved daughter of the Genus
sire Sandy-Valley Bolton made joint top price of £2,100 when bought
by Daniel Reed, of Bielby, York, as he continues to utilise the
dairy ring at Skipton to strengthen his growing herd with quality
milkers.
In addition, the Lawsons were responsible for the third prize newly
calven heifer, another home-bred sired by the dairy bull Ramus.
Milking at 29 litres, she also joined Mr Reed for £2,000.
So too did the reserve champion, the first prize newly calven cow
from the commercial dairy herd of local vendors David and Jill
Pennock, of Summerscales Farm, Bolton Abbey, who were making a
successful return to the dairy arena at Skipton Auction Mart after
a lengthy absence.
The runner-up, which had produced her second calf 13 days earlier
and was giving 30 litres, was home-bred by their stock bull Talent,
acquired from the Abbeyhouse herd of Craven Dairy Auction regulars
Jennings Farmers, based at Hill House, Fountains, Ripon. She, too,
achieved £2,100 joint top price in show.
Raymond and Robert Johnson, of Felliscliffe, picked up another rosette
when presenting the second prize newly calven heifer, which found pastures
new in Lancashire when sold for £1,800 to A&J Smith, of Longridge
The second prize newly calven cow from James Lawn, of Cullingworth,
sold for £1,480 to Gisburn’s Frank Wrathall.
John Hitchen, of Ludendenfoot, was responsible for both the top price
in-calf and maiden heifers, sold at £900 and £790 respectively to Colin
Whitelock, of Gargrave, and the prize-winning Johnsons
While a lack of confidence in the poor Spring weather saw a knock-on
affect around the ring, pedigree newly calven heifers among the 27-strong
entry performed well to average £1,966, with an overall newly calven
heifer average of £1,440. Newly calven cows averaged £1,790, in-calf
heifers £810 and maiden heifers £780.
The Craven Dairy Auction ring is in action for the next two Mondays.
First up next week (April 15) is a production sale of up to 50 pedigree
Holstein maiden heifers aged six to 18 months from the Brimham Rocks
Startover herd of Pat Gratton.
This month’s main Craven Dairy Auction, sponsored by BOCM Pauls and
Yorkshire Foot Trimmers, is scheduled for Monday, April 22, and incorporates
a standalone show for pedigree dairy bulls.