TRADE at February’s second Craven Dairy Auction at CCM Skipton on Monday was described by dairy sales co-ordinator Sarah Liddle as "phenomenal", producing what is believed to be a new record average dairy price of £2,870.
There was a total clearance of 11 heifers in milk and with six making over £3,000 from five different vendors it was a quality line-up that saw fever-pitched bidding from around a packed ringside, many potential purchasers leaving with empty trailers.
Alan Middleton and son, Raff, Beamsley Bank, were on hand to judge two classes of milk heifers, with all heifers in the sale shown.
The first prize senior heifer in milk went on to be crowned overall champion and was one of a brace sired by Siemers Hanley from Richard Gawthorp, Bradford, who was picking up his third dairy title at Skipton. Calved since February 2 and giving 32kg, while it was one of the later heifers in the sale ring it made the day’s top price of £3,700, heading home to join Kevin Midgely, Thorpe Bassett, Malton.
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Hot on her heels was the 2nd prize senior heifer and reserve champion, a Rager daughter giving 34kg from defending champions, the Forts, Silsden Moor. From their Gladys family, she also calved on the second of this month and is already at 34kg and rising. The hammer fell at £3,550 and she heads with two others to Queensbury father and son, Richard and George Sutcliffe.
Having won the second in milk class for junior heifers, Hawbank Monument P Rosemary, from Andrew Ayrton and family, Eastby, had many ringside admirers, also yielding in the mid-thirties and fresh since January 13. Her dam was also a high valued seller in this ring back in November 2022, making £2,900, while her daughter at the latest sale did much better at £3,350.
The long trip from Great Ayton saw two heifers both sail over the £3K barrier for the Petch family, whose heifers are repeatedly commended by buyers on their ability to go on in new homes. They included the fortnight-calved Aytonian Bluebell 367, already at 36kg and making £3,100 after being placed third in the senior heifer in milk class. Her herdmate, the Applejax-sired daughter, Aytonian Signet 843, calved January 18 and giving 33kg, made £3,050.
The final animal to make £3K-plus was the best pedigree-bred heifer in the sale, Aireburn Highlight Stephanie, from Craven Dairy Auction regulars, Brian and Judith Moorhouse, Bell Busk. This January 28-calved 30kg heifer, bred from six consecutive generations of VG and EX, commanded £3,020.
Other heifers from Pete Baul’s Ravensgate herd, Bishop Thornton, from his long-lasting Sparkle family, as well as a second entry from Richard Gawthorp, also both headed to new homes at £2,800 apiece. The 11 heifers sold headed to six different purchasers.
Co-sponsoring were Massey Feeds, NMR and Genus ABS. The next fortnightly sale is scheduled for Monday, March 3, with entries of the same calibre sought to meet current high demand.
Fiery trade continues in the dairy-bred rearing calf arena, with a recent sale producing a remarkable top price of £710, among the highest seen at Skipton, for one of a run of five, six to eight-week-old British Blue-cross bull calves from mart regulars Rob and Sarah Marshall, Dacre, which collectively sold to an average of £690.
Monday’s latest weekly sale followed suit, when dairy show judges, the Beamsley Middletons, claimed top call of £655 for a Blue-x bull calf, also heading the Blue-x heifer calf prices at £460.
Mainly three-to-five-week-old goods were on offer, with trade for these young calves taking a lift on the previous week, bulls averaging a solid £488 and heifers £410.
RL Wright & Sons, Airton, chipped in with a £426 Blue-x heifer, also heading both the Limousin-x bull and heifer calf prices at £405 and £415 respectively. Charolais bull calves sold to £510 from GD&A Midgley, Luddendenfoot, same way bred heifers from the same vendor making £450 twice.
Exceptional trade for native youngsters saw Airton father and daughter, Robert and Ellie Crisp, head both the Aberdeen-Angus bull and heifer calf sections at £640 and £500 respectively, with older Angus bulls from £635 and heifers from £495, younger bull calves making £325-£420 and heifers £250-£350. Hereford bull calves sold to £460 from Ian Briggs and family, Guiseley, while MRI bulls traded to £395 from N&R Sutcliffe, Todmorden.
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