ANOTHER solid entry of 515 head of cattle at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest fortnightly Wednesday sale comprised 465 feeders, of which 310 were store bullocks and heifers, with trade for these once again said to be ‘on fire,’ the stronger end readily selling to a large and active audience ringside. (June 24)

Short-keep Aberdeen-Angus bullocks looked notably strong, a number hitting four figures and selling to a top of £1,075 from JG&R Lancashire, of Saddleworth. Of the Continentals, British Blue bullocks sold to £1,140 from the Naylor family in Langbar. The overall steer average came to a solid £992 per head.

There was no let up in trade for heifers. Angus entries sold up to £1,085 with an average of £804, including runs of young nine-month-old grazing heifers which could be bought around £700-£800.

Charolais-cross heifers sold to £1,120 from South Humberside’s David Sandham, with big, ranging Blue heifers regularly away above £1,000 to £1,110, peaking at £1,190 for a standout entry from Clapham’s Jonathan Townley.

Limousin heifers proved outstanding to sell to an audience of both fat cattle feeders taking some of the top priced entries, as well as farmers looking for bulling replacements. The best older Limousin heifers sold continuously above £1,200 up to £1,250, the highest of several four-figure sales achieved by TH&K Wood, of High Birstwith. The overall heifer average was a pleasing £967.

With in-spec 2019-born young feeding bulls reducing in numbers as the year progresses, buyers responded well with good factory and liveweight prices. Trade for the 114 head on offer was very good, achieving an overall average £1,049.

Heavy bulls were £1,200-plus, while well-drawn fed lighter bulls were around £1,000. Cattle over 16 months were also a fair trade, with the occasional animal making over £1,200 to a section top of £1,390 for a Limousin-cross from Andrew Rigby, of Slaidburn.

The standalone sale of 46 breeding cattle included the much-anticipated annual consignment from Ashfield Farms in Lothersdale, which did not disappoint, attracting a good attendance of specialist beef producers.

It also produced the day’s top price of £2,500 for a British Blue heifer with her strong March-born bull calf. With seven families making over £2,000, Limousin heifers with heifer calves topped at £2,200, while those with bull calves did better when selling to £2,300.

The Ashfield consignment saw an increase on their 2019 sale average, clearly underlining the demand at Skipton for the high quality well presented suckler replacements for beef producers.

Also among the mix were 35 beef feeding cows and bulls. The undoubted section highlight was the ten cows selling for four-figure prices, with only six under £700 and a strong overall average of £919 for cows and £1,020 for cast bulls.

The Towler family, from Grindleton, topped the sale at £1,280 with a cracking Limousin cow. Trade remained strong throughout and the mart says more beef cows are required for its fortnightly midweek sales. The next is on Wednesday, July 8.