David Fairburn, 13, is a real life cowboy whose love for farm animals has led to his latest purchase, a young calf called Champion.

The aptly-named heifer caught the eye of the budding farmer after being crowned the best of the cows at the New Year show at Skipton Auction Mart.

David is also proving a young entrepreneur, having recently sold a bull he had reared since it was given to him as a Christmas present last year by his parents, when he was 12.

The teenager said: “I have always wanted to be a farmer. I like cows and horses because I have grown up around them, they are nice animals to be around and they are friendly.

“We sold the bull just before Christmas, it was a proud moment when I sold it, we got a good price for him.”

David has been surrounded by farm animals from a young age as his parents run Wyke Animal Feeds in Huddersfield Road, Bradford, and the Church View Equestrian Centre in Coley, near Shelf.

The family breed horses and run a riding school at the centre.

His father, Jason Fairburn, said: “It’s a big thing for a lad. It’s just something he’s really interested in, it’s an every day thing for him.”

His mother, Caroline Jones, said: ‘‘I think its really good for someone at 13 to show an interest and dedication rather than wanting to sit in the house all the time.”

David plans to show Champion when the competition season starts in the spring, and is hoping to buy a tractor.