Top price at Skipton Auction Mart’s second February dairy show and sale, was £1800, paid for the reserve champion from commercial dairyman Mark Smith, Rookery, Winterburn.

Placed second in her class to the champion, this newly calved heifer is a daughter of Aireburn Snowman, a bull bought locally from Brian and Judith Moorhouse, which has been used for the past four years. The heifer sold 11 days calved and giving 27litres per day, to Stephen Breare, of Silsden Moor.

The champion, from Robin Jennings’ Stainbank pedigree herd from Hull House Farm, South Stainley, Ripon, made £1750 to  the show judge, Andrew Townsend, Southfield, Burnley. This was Stainbank Snowdrop 293 by the Genus sire, Ked Outside Jeeves. She recently calved heifer sold 18 days calved and giving 32litres.

Tony and James Swires, of Stainburn, also had a run of good heifers, which sold to a top of £1700 to Ribchester’s Brian Blezard.

Trade for the 11 head on parade was not quite as sharp and not helped by the 2.16p per litre  milk price cut from Arla UK announced last week.

Newly calved heifers averaged £1535.

Auctioneers: Craven Auction Marts.