FATHER and son Fred and Mark Houseman took the Craven Dairy Auction title at the February show.

The Housemans – who are the mart’s reigning Farmers of the Year – trade as Church Farm Enterprises at Burton Top Farm, near Burton Leonard.

They won with a homebred newly-calven heifer from their Senterprise pedigree Holstein herd.

The 16 days-calved daughter of Cogent sire, Huddlestone Spooky, was giving 34 litres. She sold for top £2,280 price to John Howard of Hesleker.

Reserve champion was the second prize newly-calven heifer from commercial breeder DR Robinson, of Low Birks Farm, Eldroth.

Shown by his son Gary Robinson, who also works as a salesman for Guy Machinery at the Mart, the runner-up – 14 days calved and giving 30 litres – was by the renowned Genus sire Picston Shottle. She joined John Howard for £2,050.

Despite a small turnout of 12 newly-calven cattle, there was significant demand with buyers going to about the £2,000 mark with pedigree heifers averaging £2,080.

A solid showing of 16 incalf heifers met a good trade, averaging £1,640 overall, with the first and third prizes falling to DA Milner & Son, Malton. They sold for £1,820 and £1,700 respectively to Wick Williams, Nantwich, and Gargrave’s David Shuttleworth.

However, a second prize in-calf heifer from J&J Whitaker, Laneshawbridge, headed the prices at £1,910 when bought by David Shuttleworth. The same vendors also had the top price newly-calven commercial heifer, a £2,080 purchase by A&G Midgley, Ludendenfoot.