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DAIRY CATTLE PRESS - MONDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2021

Crisp champion bags £2,750 top price of year at final Craven Dairy Auction The final Craven Dairy Auction show and sale of 2021 produced the top priced Holstein of the entire year at £2,750 for the champion, the first prize heifer in milk from regular vendor, Robert Crisp, of Calton, his week-calved heifer by ABS Grazie going home with Craig Bentley and family, of Kepwick, Thirsk



Dales dairy farmer Mr Crisp consigned four heifers in total to average a robust £2,355, with all of his quartet sailing over the £2,000 mark, as did seven of the nine milkers forward.

Next up was the second prize heifer and reserve champion, a Unix-sired heifer giving over 30kg and fresh on November 28 from Martin Petch and Aytonian Holsteins in Great Ayton. His Aytonian Winter 47 had a 12,000kg VG dam and a 13,000kg EX granddam and she made £2,550 when joining regular West Yorkshire buyer Mark Goodall, of Tong.

The third placed heifer in the pre-sale show, judged by Robert Metcalfe, of Brearton, came from Baildon’s Stephen and Ben Coates, this black heifer from a high component family backed by 2 gens VG and descending from one of Mrs Dunbar’s cow families. She was the pick of David Dinsdale, of Barnoldswick, at £2,320.

Two ongoing dispersal vendors also enjoyed good trade and saw their cattle go to previous buyers, endorsing the ability of both the Dibb and Wilson families to sell stock which fare well in their new homes.

Messrs Dibb at Kilnsey saw their trade top at £2,050 for a second calver giving 30kg and fresh since mid-November and she became a further acquisition by the Bentleys, while Jack and Alan Wilson brought four in-calf animals forward from Green Hammerton due in January. They peaked at £1,600 for an in-calf heifer by Optimal due to the Saler and she headed home with Richard Sutcliffe, of Queensbury, while another coming with her third calf made £1,400 to the judge.

Craven Cattle Marts dairy sales co-ordinator Sarah Liddle said: “Vendors must be commended on a quality show of all classes of stock and a good number of buyers from throughout the year were on hand to bid on the tremendous show on offer.” Craven Dairy Auctions return in the New Year on Monday, January 10.