CCM Skipton’s opening November Craven Dairy Auction was on fire with an attentive ringside of dairy farmers keen to buy fresh milk. Strong heifers giving 30kg and more that looked to easily integrate and settle in new herds and homes commanded the top prices, with the 13 sold averaging £2342 per head.

Trade twice reached £2900 for a pair of heifers that had travelled across the A19 from north-east of Northallerton. Firstly, there was the reserve champion, a Bomaz Pivot daughter, Carriver Pivot Punch, from TR Baines, West Rounton. Fresh two weeks and yielding 30kg, she heads to Alan and Emily Middleton, Beamsley.

At the same price was Boroughgreen Episode Davine, a 36kg heifer from Stephen and Jack Swales, Hutton Rudby, while their other heifer, a homebred Applejax daughter, was close behind at £2800 following her third place in the strong heifer in milk class judged by Shaun Sowray, Bishop Thornton.

Next best at £2780 was the day’s champion and first prize heifer, a late-October calved Stantons Adorable heifer from new West Yorkshire vendor Richard Gawthorpe, this tall correct-uddered heifer becoming one of four purchases heading to Cheshire in a full trailer.

The next Craven Dairy Auction is the Christmas show and sale on Monday, November 25. Dairy sales coordinator Sarah LIddle comments: “The high profile fixture will include extra spice and festive cheer and CCM is pleased to introduce a new dairy sales sponsor, Genus ABS, who have agreed a year-long partnership.

“To launch this we are pleased to announce two new incentives in the form of £100 prizes for the vendor of the champion animal and the purchaser of the top priced animal – hopefully welcome seasonal presents to illustrate our ongoing appreciation of vendors and purchasers alike.

“The sale – this year’s judge is dairy farmer John Harry Hitchen - already has an early consignment of 10 strong bulling heifers from Pete Baul’s well respected, high producing Ravensgate herd at Bishop Thornton.”