Growing demand for milk saw more buyers than cows at a sale of dairy cattle at Bentham, where trade peaked at £2780 for a two-week calved unregistered Holstein from Kendal producer, David Knowles.

The heifer which was giving 30litres per day headed home with John and Richard Powley, Penrith.

Just behind, on £2700, Chris Lund, Nether Kellet sold a fresh heifer to Andrew Avison, Leyburn, with others to £2500 from Robert Sunderland, Carlisle.

The two cows forward sold to £2500 for a second calver from Dave Barton, Kirkby Lonsdale with a third calver from Chris Lund, making £2300.

Read more: Lawries of Grangehall, buy top priced dairy heifer at Carlisle

Such was the demand for milking females that all entries sold at £2000 and above.

Breeding cattle also hit the high notes at the June Fair sale with 155 cow and calf outfits attracting buyers from Aberdeen to Devon.

Top prices were £3400 paid for a heifer with calf from Nick and Charlotte Brown, Claughton and £3300 for a pure Limousin cow with twin-born calves at foot from Mike Dixon.

Stephen and Linda Booth and family’s run of Hereford cross Friesian heifers with Hereford calves sold to a high of £2300 to average £1995 – up £161 on the year. Most heifers with calves were selling at £2000-£2200, with the better end at £2200-£2400.

Auctioneers: Bentham Auction Mart.