Swires Strike Again at Craven Dairy Auction

Swires Strike Again at Craven Dairy Auction
27/01/09

Two years to the month on from their last championship success, the Whinhill Holstein Friesian commercial herd of father-and-son farmers Malcolm and Robert Swires again took supreme honours at the opening Craven Dairy Auction show of 2009 at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, Jan 26)

The Craven Dairy Auction January champion and reserve are pictured in the Skipton ring, with Libby Simpson and Robert Swires, second and third from left, and judge Wick Williams, third from right, joined by sponsors' representatives.

Regularly among the prizes and winning the overall title for the fourth time, the Swires, of Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, struck with a home-bred newly calven Holstein Friesian heifer giving 30 litres by their stock bull Firth Outside.

It was a real family affair, as a second calver 45-litre cow by the Genus bull Picston Shubert from husband-and-wife Thomas and Elizabeth Simpson, of Red House Farm, Ripon – Libby is Robert’s sister – was awarded the reserve championship.

The Simpsons continued their excellent run of form, having also been reserve champions in December, a month after they had landed a debut Craven Dairy Auction championship success at the Christmas show.

Both the January champion and reserve were acquired by show judge Wick Williams, of Nantwich, Cheshire, for £2,200, top price in show, and £2,080 respectively.

He also bought the Swires’ second prize newly calven heifer for £2,020, while the same exhibitors were also responsible for the third prize newly calven cow, sold for £2, 180 to C & JR Terry, Fountains, Ripon.

For good measure, the Simpsons also sold another second calver for £2,080, while Rebecca Stapleton, Silsden, saw her newly calven Jersey cow knocked down for £1,100 to A & C Barnes, Carnforth.

With total clearance of the 43 cattle forward, Craven Dairy Auction continues to cement its pedigree as one of the premier dairy sales in the north. The monthly fixture was again sponsored by BOCM Pauls and Farmers & Mercantile Insurance.

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