Trade for good quality Continental cross dairy calves at Skipton Mart’s February calf show and sale fixture saw one of the best trading days for calves for some time and a top price of £488 for a British Blue cross calf from Andrew Ogden which stood third in the judging.
Winning both the championship and reserve was South Craven dairy producer Richard Spence. His champion came in the form of a five and a half week old British Blue-cross bull calf, while his 33 day old Limousin-sired bull calf was tapped out to take the reserve championship by judge Peter Bartley, Garstang. Both calves are by Genus sires, out of home-bred British Friesian cows.
Richard Spence, right, with his Skipton Auction Mart February show calf champion and reserve, joined by judge Peter Bartley, centre, and sponsor’s representative Phil Coleman.
The title winner went on to sell for £470, the second top call of the day, while the reserve was knocked down at £440. Both were bought by A G Thompson, Kilham, Driffield, who returned home with a tally of eight calves.
Trade throughout was strong with a total of 18 calves making more than £350. Black-and-white bull calves were equally in strong demand among commercial buyers, with a pen of MRI bull calves from Lyndon Watson, Horton-in-Craven, changing hands at £255.
British Blue cross bull calves averaged £413, while heifers averaged £337, while Limousin bull calves sold to a high of £402 for an entry from John Airey, Elslack and averaged £302, while heifers averaged £262 and sold to a top of £345 from Stephen Hitchen, Luddendenfoot.
The overall rearing calves average at the BOCM Pauls-sponsored monthly show was £272, compared to £205 the previous month, clearly illustrating continuing high demand for well-bred quality youngsters.
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