2011-01-04
A robust, near 100-strong entry and a packed ringside were highlights of the opening rearing calf show and sale which signalled a successful and positive start to New Year trading at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, Jan 3)
Peter Sowray, left, with his Skipton calf champion, joined by 13-year-old buyer and up-and-coming farmer David Fairburn.
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Overall victor was a British Blue heifer calf from A Sowray & Son, of Bowes Green Farm, Bishop Thornton, Harrogate, who have achieved marked success in the Skipton calf arena. They were responsible for a number of monthly champions last year and also won the dairy and rearing calf title in Craven Cattle Marts’ 2010 Stockperson of the Year Awards.
The January title winner was knocked down for £340 to John Fairburn, who runs Church View Equestrian Centre at Coley, Halifax, and Wyke Animal Feeds in Huddersfield Road, Bradford.
Mr Fairburn was bidding on behalf of his 13-year-old son David, a pupil at Montessori School, Cooper Bridge, Brighouse, who has his heart set on becoming a farmer.
As a starting point, he has already reared some 12 calves bought for him by his father. They were sold just before Christmas and David used part of the proceeds to pay for the Skipton champion. He said it was the most he had paid for a calf to date, adding: “I want to breed cattle and horses when I grow up.”
The reserve championship fell to a British Blue bull calf from John Dinsdale, Barnoldswick, which sold for £315, though it was another British Blue bull calf from Andrew Ogden, Cowling, that achieved top price in show at £370 when joining the same buyers, Messrs B Wilshaw and Partners, Risley, Warrington.
Mr Ogden also had the top price Limousin bull and heifer calves at £302 and £225 respectively, as well as selling a Simmental heifer calf at £245.
The Sowrays also sold a Charolais bull calf at £320 to R Broadley, Ripon. British Blue bull calves averaged £297 and heifer calves £238, with Limousin bull calves averaging £219 and heifer calves £163.
Co-judges were Alan Birbeck and Bob Weymouth, both from Kirkby Stephen.
Calf shows and sales, sponsored by BOCM Pauls, will continue to be staged at Skipton on the first Monday each month in support of strong demand from across the region for premium quality youngsters.
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