THE Senterprise pedigree dairy herd of father and son farmers Fred and Mark Houseman of Church Farm Enterprises, Burton Leonard, produced the first prize newly calven heifer and show champion at Skipton mart’s opening February Craven Dairy Auction.

Senterprise Fidelity Greta 2 was their first winner by Delta Fidelity. Out of Senterprise Potter Greta, and three weeks calved, she is giving 31 litres and sold for £2,000 to Alf and Andrew Townsend, Burnley.

Although only eight dairy cows were entered they were well supported with all newly calven heifers averaging £1,671 per head.

Making his Craven Dairy Auction debut, John Robinson, from Harmby, near Leyburn, achieved the day’s second top price of £1,980 with a home-bred red and white newly calven pedigree heifer giving 30kg. The buyer was Wick Williams, Nantwich.

The second and third prize newly calven heifers were both from the commercial herd of Tony Swires, Stainburn, and were shown by his son, James. The eight days calved runner-up and reserve champion is by the Semex bull, Regancrest Ilar, and giving 28 litres. Both prizewinners joined show judge Shaun Sowray in Bishop Thornton at £1,920 each.

The Housemans also achieved the two top-prices in the same day's rearing calf sale with British Blue-crosses – a bull calf at £490 and a heifer calf at £400 – and headed the native breed prices with an Aberdeen Angus heifer calf that made £295.

With 45 calves forward, Continentals averaged £358 per head, native breeds £196 and black and whites £88.