THERE was another solid entry of over 500 head of cattle penned for sale at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest fortnightly midweek fixture. (Wed, Feb 2)

Strong types with flesh among the 257 store cattle sold on a par with the previous sale, though best-bred Continental heifers met a fantastic trade, especially for anything with a good thick end of any age and short-term goods of all grades.

Top end thick short-term heifers made £1,300-plus, with John Walmsley, from Blackburn, presenting a four-figure Limousin run to a top of £1,510.

Other good ended heifers with less weight made £1,220-£1,300. British Blue trade was similar, with a top call of £1,280 from P&J Brown, of Otley for their dairy-cross heifer.

Buyers from afar ensured continuing strong trade for Continental bullocks, CT&EM Hammond, of Summerbride, selling 14–15-month-olds to £1,450 for a Blonde-cross. Blue bullocks made to £1,360 for a strong beast with plenty of flesh from M Ryder & Sons, of Haverah Park, while dairy-bred Blue bullocks topped at £1,250 from E&MA Burrow & Son, of Lancaster.

Of the natives, Angus bullocks sold to £1,185 from Chris Harrison, of Skipton, other big framed sorts away at £1.100-plus.

Angus heifers with frame and flesh also sold well, top price of £1,200 falling to Gargrave’s Paul Drinkall.

Suckled calves met a nice trade, with buyers out in force for smart bullocks and heifers.

A sweet 12-month-old Limousin heifer from the Walker family in Dunsop Bridge caught the eye at £1,320, other top end heifers making £1,050-£1,200 for 8–12-month-old goods.

A full ringside for an increased entry of 210 young feeding bulls produced prices at similar levels on the fortnight as purchasers competed to fill pens with first draw Spring-born bulls. Twelve-month-old goods in forward condition were in short supply and very good to sell at £1,350-£1,500. Noticeably, vendors presenting large lots of 9-10-month-old Continental bulls saw a good following as buyers sought cattle of similar ages from the same holding.

Limousin-cross entries performed best on price, peaking at £1,520 from JH&SM Stancliffe, of Bingley, others at £1,510 from Rowan Pickles, of Chapel-le-Dale, and £1,500 from RS Harker & Son, of Grayrigg Kendal. A run of four Blondes from Roger Wood, of Crossroads, all hit four figures to a top of £1,400. Overall bull average was £1,175 per head.

A good entry of 43 beef cows carrying flesh saw trade on the up, reflecting improved abattoir demand. Heavy Continental cows made £1,300-£1,410, the section averaging £1,059.

A small turnout of seven breeding cattle peaked at £1,850 for a Simmental-cross cow with her Simmental bull calf from David Loftus, of Singleton on the Fylde.

Attention now turns to the next fortnightly fixture on Wednesday, February 16, which incorporates the high profile annual Craven Champions two-day fixture for store cattle with show potential. Pre-sale show classes take place on the Tuesday evening, followed by the sale the next day.