A BUMPER  entry of 94 Holsteins sold to new homes both within Yorkshire and further afield at CCM Skipton’s latest Craven Dairy Auction show and sale, on Monday.

Peter Baul, Ravensgate herd, Bishop Thornton, brought forward three fresh heifers and claimed the top three places in the heifer in milk show lacss under judge Malcolm Pearson, West Marton, before going on to become champion with Ravensgate Sassafras Honesty 206, fresh since June 25 and already at 30kg.

She, like her two herdmates, one also reserve champion, made what seemed to be tremendously good value purchases for their three different buyers at £2,000 apiece in what is an improving market.

The six heifers in milk averaged £1,958, while two cows in milk averaged £1,500, topping at £1,700 for a Kenobi-sired second calver from Norman and Chris Bell, Cowling. The next batch of eight in-calf heifers due September onwards from Old Northcote Farm, Kilnsey, consigned by Andrea and Josh Clay, peaked, at £1,750, averaging £1,521.

Leading trade in the in-calf section fell to the September-due Westcoast Rhapsody daughter, Whychall Rhapsody Kathleen 2, in-calf to sexed Progensis Total. Sold by Paul Hutchinson and mother Karen, from Whitwell, Scorton, Richmond, her dam had given over 60 tonnes of milk lifetime and she made £1,780 when joining dairy farmer and mart regular Shaun Sowray, Bishop Thornton. The seven Hutchinson in-calf heifers averaged £1,538.

Yearling and bulling heifers were keenly sought, with highlights including another entry from the Hutchinsons, Whychall Retro Polly, which made £1,060 to the Ishmel family, Orrell, Wigan, and close behind at £1,040 Whychall Milano Rosina, an eye catching white spotty heifer who is Cheshire bound.

In the younger categories prices were led by consignments from Alan, Susan and Richard Throup, Dalesbrad herd, Silsden, and Andrew Ayrton, Eastby, both with heifers of less than 12 months of age and both making £820.

These were Dalesbrad Sizzler Dawn, born late September 2023, bred from four generations of VG and EX cows, and one of five selected by the Grewelthorpe Robinsons, and Andrew Ayrton’s August-born Hawbank Harley P Honey 228, a polled heifer from the prolific Honey family at Hawbank.

Peter and David Stevenson sold the final 31 heifers from their Lofthouse herd based at Loftus, near Saltburn on the east coast, ahead of selling their farm. The heifers ranged from close calving down to eight months and their leading prices included Lofthouse Sedona Stirkie 47 at £1,700 and a yearling by Denovo 17215 Glory, which made £940 to Mick Blackwell, Gargrave.

Elsewhere, the level trade seen at Skipton for Spring lambs was extended to the fourth week running, with 1,812 head averaging nearly 310p per kilo, a cracking result and representing a rise of nearly 200 lambs on the year for the 4th Monday of July and a fantastic £17 per head dearer on the same day in 2023. The mart says this price level will hopefully continue for some time yet, so rewarding producers after a tougher lambing time.

The latest turnout was one of generally good meated lambs, though more of a commercial nature, with fewer of the smart Beltex types hitting the market at the moment. Meat was in good demand, with very few overweights about, so 46-52kg heavies found better favour with buyers, plenty making £160-plus, the majority of the smartest end 350p/kg-plus.

Top per kilo call of 366p, £143, fell to 39kg Beltex from Ali Jenkinson, Langbar, while an excellent run of heavy lambs from John Robinson, Paley Green, Giggleswick, made top price per head of £188 for 56kg Beltex, selling to Lister Brown, Halifax, who also paid £180 for 56kg Suffolks from Mark Evans, Steeton.

Mule wether lambs are now appearing in larger numbers, selling to £134 from New York Farms, Silsden, and to 287p per kilo top from KM&L Throup. Silsden Moor.

Of the near 500 cull sheep, cull ewe trade was a touch easier, with a larger entry of horned ewes and Mules forward resulting in a section average of £103.09. Texel ewes sold to £214.50 twice from Anthony Bolland, Bolton Abbey, and Owain Chapman, Skyreholme. Cast rams averaged £137.39.

Half a dozen cast cattle saw black and white cull cows trade to £1,308, 173.50p/kg, from JT Rushton, Elslack, beef-bred Limousin cows to £1,391, 239.50p/kg from CJ Dews, Wakefield, with a section average of 170.49p/kg, £1,127.78.