Bumper Calf Show Opens 2011 Trading at Skipton
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,
3 Jan 2011)
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.
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| Peter Sowray, left, with his Skipton calf
champion, joined by 13-year-old buyer and up-and-coming farmer
David Fairburn. |
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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