"THE FARMING COUNTRY PODCAST"
is now available online (produced by CCM).
Rural interviews, industry news and topical insights from WBW, Craven Farm Vets and NFU.
Have a listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Youtube, Google Podcasts, or via the CCM Website. Enjoy!

Prime Cattle (under 30 mos)

Clean cattle trade was stronger than ever. CD&RF Kitching of Threshfield sold two leading heifers both weighing over 600kg at 279.5p/kg and 278.5p/kg, the first a British blue cross grossing £1691 to Robert Pearson buying for Ralph Pearson wholesale butchers in Bradford. The second heifer a Limousin at 278.5p/kg or £1713 sold to Robertshaws Farm Shop in Thornton. The two leading steers both came from the Masongill Farm of F&B Smith who regularly show high quality cattle in the retail weights. Their leading steer a 585kg British Blue cross made the leading price per kg on the day at 283.5p/kg selling to Ralph Pearson wholesale butchers for £1658 whilst their next in line, a Limousin weighed 575kg and made 278.5p/kg or £1601 when sold to Robertshaws Farm Shop. Top gross on the day was £1734 or 266.5p/kg made by a 625kg British Blue cross heifer from CD&RF Kitching which sold to Robert Pearson. Heifer average includes an odd Holstein Heifer but all of the U grade type cattle were upwards of 266p regardless of weight.

Steers

560kg+                                                   to 283.5p/kg                        av.273.58p/kg

Heifers

480kg+                                                   to 279.5p/kg                        av. 246.37p/kg  

Top Prices £ per head and p/kg

Steers

£ per head: RT&J Critchley&Sons (Limx) 1698,1612, CD&RF Kitching (Baz) 1674, F&B Smith (BBx) 1658, F&B Smith (Limx) 1601, SD Bennett (Limx) 1550

p/kg: F&B Smith (BBx) 283.5, (Limx) 278.5, CD&RF Kitching (Baz) 274.5, SD Bennett (Limx) 269.5, RT&J Critchley&Sons (Limx) 269.5

Heifers

£ per head: CD&RF Kitching (BBx) 1734, 1691,1504, (Limx) 1713, D Ellis (Limx) 1448, (Blondex) 1390, RT&J Critchley&Sons (Limx)1366

p/kg: CD&RF Kitching (BBx) 279.5, 277.5,268.5, (Limx) 278.5, D Ellis (Limx) 258.5

Prime Cattle (over 30 mos)

Overall Average                                   157.47p/kg                           £1066.84

Top Prices £ per head and p/kg

£ per head: H Raw (B&W Hfr) 1075, JD Taylor&Son (B&W Hfr) 1058

p/kg: H Raw (B&W Hfr) 160.5, JD Taylor&Son (B&W Hfr) 154.5

Cull Cow Prices

A better show of cattle with finish and a very good trade. As expected dairies are 140p and upwards if carrying finish £1231 was the top gross from James Gooch. 135p if steaking and one worn cow at 94.5p. The beef cows similar £1348 for a first cross British Blue or 159.5p/kg and the Natives to 154.5p/kg.

Overall Average                                   135.76p/kg                           £906.67

Black & White                      to 147.5p/kg                        av. 133.48p/kg

Dairy Short                           to 125.5p/kg

BBx                                         to 159.5p/kg

Hefdx                                     to 154.5p/kg                       

Top Prices (£ per head or p/kg)

B&W:

£ per head: J Gooch 1231,1061, M Ryder&Sons 1123, AN Bolland 1106,1019, JH Bradley&Son 1099, H Raw 1069

p/kg: AN Bolland 147.5,140.5, J Gooch 146.5, 141.5, JH Bradley&Son 145.5, A&CL Gray 142.5, M Ryder&Sons 139.5

Other Dairy

£ per head: G&PS Fleetwood (Dairy Short) 671

p/kg: G&PS Fleetwood (Dairy Short) 125.5

Brit Blue:

£ per head: R&CR Mitchell&Sons 1348

p/kg: R&CR Mitchell&Sons 159.5

Hefdx

£ per head: R&CR Mitchell&Sons 1051

p/kg: R&CR Mitchell&Sons 154.5

3,108 PRIME SHEEP

A great trade all round today and a larger show of everything with 3,108 total head forward.
- Spring Lambs topped £180 and 440p/kg.
- Hoggs broke £200, tops of £210 and 444p/kg. And the OVERALL AVERAGE was 318p (SQQ 333p) or £147.95 per head.
- Ewes & Rams saw 6 lots £170 plus, and best horned ewes £100 plus.
 

Spring Lambs.
Another sharp trade today for a rather more commercial entry, with 78 Springers averaging 358p. Best heavier end on the day at £180 for 55kg Suffolks from JA Key Penistone snapped up by L Brown.
TA Robinson of Longridge matched this with 44kg Continentals (409p) selling to Knavesmire Butchers of York. Messrs Key also sold at £176 per head, this time to John Kearns Butchers of Shipley, and £176 or top price of 440p/kg (40kg Continentals) from A Brown of Gargrave also to Knavesmire Butchers, Mr Brown also sold lambs at 402p/kg, whilst Charles and Stephen Marwood of Whenby also made 400p of Charollais Lambs. More springers required each week as retail shops come on line for them. Speak to Ted for more details.

Hoggs.
When we thought last weeks trade was fairly sharp, then this week eclipsed it, a larger show rising on the week to 318p overall average (333p SQQ) or £147.95 per head all in.
2 pens hit the £200 barrier, the first time this had been done for lambs outwith a show day. Tops of £210 from EP&JM Hutchinson Faceby (60kg 350p), followed by £200 per head from JM Hall Malhamdale (48kg 416p), both pens sold to Brayton Farmshop near Selby.
RA&E Smith York were almost there at £198 per head with Messrs Hutchinson following up at £192.
Better bred heavy hoggs (53kg to 65kg) £170 to £190, commercial lowland heavies £155 to £168.
Heavy Mules around 50kg and above mainly into the £140’s, Messrs Pickles selling 34 at 48kg £144, and 43 at 50kg £146 and £146.50. Best Mule & Masham Heavies generally from £147 to £152,  Mashams at £152 purchased by Swaledale Foods and Mules to £169 from CR Brittain.

Medium weights of lowland lambs could make either side of 400p for the best smart types, with JM Hall making 416p of 48kg Continentals and 406p of 44kg, EP&JM Hutchinson making 408p of 46kg, and RJ Bailes Ltd Boroughbridge 393p of 48kg. Plenty more making 350p/380p, but it was the commercial sorts at 320p to 350p that were really good to sell.
Medium Hill lambs met with a firm trade. One run of 120 Blackies sold in 4 pens, weighing 45kg and 46kg selling from £143.50 to £146.50. Another run hitting £144 for 43kg, and others 47kg £145.
Nice Swales 47kg £133, 44kg at £132 (300p). Decent Mules and Mashams selling well, with 43kg to £134 from Dyson Farming Ltd, and 43kg to £132.50 JK Wilson & Son Blubberhouses.

Lowland Export weights and best retail shop lambs could command a good trade today. Tops of 444p (36kg £160) from Henry Ben Atkinson, Felliscliffe, JM Hall Malhamdale 428p (42kg £180), JE Burrow Malhamdale 425p (39kg £166). A good list of pens at 380p to 420p. Commercial types from 38kg to 44kg were an excellent trade, regularly in the 330p to 360p price range.
Handyweight Mules and Swales could get into the 300p price range regular away, tops being a pen of Swales/Dales from B Dibb 37kg £127.50 (344p). Best handy Cheviot types 320p/330p, B Blezzard 41kg £131, to 45kg at £142.50 from K Marshall.

Lightweights of all breeds were way short of requirements, horned hoggs with meat 270p to 310p, Continentals from 300p to 320p, tops of 383p (31kg £119) from S&P Scrivin)

Ewes in high demand once again with lean ewes good to sell and heavies in high demand. 200 white faced ewes in with a top price of £175.50 A&B Simpson, Hope Valley. Heavy best-bred sorts £165-£175. Heavy crosses £130-£150. Medium best-bred ewes £120-£150 medium crossed ewes £105-£115 with a few lighter full meat pens in the £90’s. Lean ewes sold very well.Horned ewes topped at £108.50 for Wiltshire horns. Swales to £91.50. Full meat swales £85-£103.50 Mediums £77-£85 lean ewes £65-£75 and plain ewes £35-£50. Cheviots to £157.50 for heavies. Mules just as dear with heavies to £135.50 from AN Bolland, Bolton Abbey. Heavies £120-£130 medium full meat £110+ leaner ewes £92-£108 with some larger lean mule ewes making more. Plain ewes £65-£75 with some knackers below the mark.

Ringside full of buyers operating on several accounts every week.

Sheep required again in large numbers for next week, ring either of our auctioneers anytime for more details, Ted Ogden (Lambs) on 07855 958211 or Kyle Hawksworth (Ewes) on 07538 539077. Please note that several Wagons are on Seasonal weekly journeys to Skipton now for the Spring Sheep season from Eastern and Western regions, so if you need transport to send sheep to Skipton for sale speak to one of our Auctioneers and we will get you sorted. Thankyou.

Spring Lambs – Overall Average £154.75 per head or 357.4p/kg           

36.0kg to 45.5kg to 440.0p/kg         av 360.7p/kg         or £150.60 per head

45.6kg to 52.0kg to 359.6pp/kg       av 348.1p/kg         or £167.13 per head

52.1kg and over   to 327.3p/kg         av 322.9p/kg         or £173.33 per head

Texel average £154.83 per head or 367.2p/kg

£ per head: £180 TA Robinson; £176 A Brown; £169 J&J Garnett; £169 £166 RJ&J Towers; £166 £164 G Walters; £149 B&M Craven;

p/kg: 440.0p A Brown; 409.1p TA Robinson; 381.4p 378.9p 368.9p 368.4p G Walters; 377.3p 375.6p RJ&J Towers; 370.0p B&M Craven;

Suffolk average £155.67 per head or 345.2p/kg

£ per head: £180 £176 £164 JA Key; £170 AN Bolland; £170 £67 AJ Slater; £162 Craven Farms; £161 A Brown;

p/kg: 402.5p A Brown; 364.4p 359.2p 348.8p JA Key; 347.6p 341.5p Craven Farms; 345.7p 340.8p AJ Slater;  

Charolais average £150.55 per head or 360.2p/kg

£ per head: £168 £155 £152 £149 £147 CW Marwood;

p/kg: 400.0p 389.2p 381.8p 369.0p 363.4p CW Marwood;

Prime Hoggs – Overall Average £147.95 per head or 318.2p/kg            

32.1kg to 35.9kg to 408.6p/kg         av 323.9p/kg         or £111.25 per head

36.0kg to 45.5kg to 444.4p/kg         av 333.7p/kg         or £139.64 per head

45.6kg to 52.0kg to 416.7p/kg         av 311.7p/kg         or £150.83 per head

52.1kg and over   to 350.0p/kg         av 299.8p/kg         or £165.38 per head

Beltex average £154.36 per head or 367.8p/kg

£ per head: £210 £188 £182 £174 EP&JM Hutchinson; £200 £180 £179 JM Hall; £198 RA&E Smith; £189 £179 RJ Bailes; £178 £174 JJ Dalby & Son; £177 JE Burrow;

p/kg: 444.4p 424.3p 416.7p HB Atkinson; 428.6p 416.7p 408.6p 406.8p 400.0p  JM Hall; 425.6p JE Burrow; 408.7p EP&JM Hutchinson; 400.0p SP Woolhouse;  

Texel average £ per head or p/kg

£ per head: £192 £188 £187.50 £186 £183 EP&JM Hutchinson; £183.50 RA&E Smith; £182 JE Burrow; £171 RJ Bailes;

p/kg: 388.1p 371.8p SP Woolhouse; 386.8p GW Houseman; 380.4p 377.1p RJ Bailes; 375.0p 371.4p JE Burrow;

Suffolk average £ per head or p/kg

£ per head: £187 A&B Simpson; £180 S&JS Thompson; £178 PC&EJ Longdin; £176 RA&M Earnshaw; £175 EP&JM Hutchinson; £169.50 RJ Bailes;

p/kg: 357.9p 327.3p GW Houseman; 350.0p EP&JM Hutchinson; 327.1p J Greenwood; 325.0p 323.3p Dyson Farming;

Charolais average £ per head or p/kg

£ per head: £169 F Marrison; £161.50 I Deighton; £159 PC&EJ Longdin; £157 A&B Simpson; £154 CR Brittain; £151 S&JS Thompson;

p/kg: 378.6p PC&EJ Longdin; 365.1p A&B Simpson; 358.1p CR Brittain; 339.5p E&S Baines; 310.6p I Deighton; 309.6p Dyson Farming;

Mule average £138.36 per head or 292.5p/kg

£ per head: £169 CR Brittain; £160 J Pickles; £149 £148 £147.50 EP&JM Hutchinson; £149 A&B Simpson; £146.50 £146 J Pickles;

p/kg: 321.3p S&P Scrivin; 311.6p Dyson Farming; 310.8p JA&JH Hewetson; 309.0p RG Church; 308.3p NJS Taylor; 308.1p JK Wilson;  

Swaledale average £117.70 per head or 289.6p/kg

£ per head: £135 NJS Taylor; £134 SP Woolhouse; £133.50 £131 GW Houseman; £132 AR&CA Parkinson; £128 C Nelson;

p/kg: 311.6p SP Woolhouse; 310.0p J Baines; 307.0p AR&CA Parkinson; 305.0p 293.0p  A&B Simpson; 303.0p JC&N Throup;

Lleyn average £136.81 per head or 319.5p/kg

£ per head: £148 £132.50 West Berwick Farm;

p/kg: 328.9p 315.5p West Berwick Farm;

Masham average £145.12 per head or 300.0p/kg

£ per head: £152 £149 EP&JM Hutchinson; £142 SR Dorey;

p/kg: 304.1p 292.3p EP&JM Hutchinson; 302.1p SR Dorey;

Cheviot average £134.80 per head or 314.5p/kg

£ per head: £148 £144 A&B Simpson; £142.50 K Marshall; £139 £137.50 E Simpson; £138 NJS Taylor; £137 WH&JW Hartley;

p/kg: 322.5p WH&JW Hartley; 321.7p 320.0p A&B Simpson; 321.4p GH&G Emmott; 319.5p BF Blezard; 316.7p K Marshall;

Dalesbred average £124.91 per head or 339.6p/kg

£ per head: £132 SP Woolhouse; £127.50 B Dibb; £94 JK Wilson;

p/kg: 344.6p B Dibb; 330.0p SP Woolhouse; 276.5p JK Wilson;  

Lonk average £132.76 per head or 329.6p/kg

£ per head: £139.50 £126.50 S&P Scrivin;

p/kg: 332.9p 324.4p S&P Scrivin;

Gritstone £133.74 per head or 313.6p/kg

£ per head: £135 £133 E Simpson; £135 £129.50 S&P Scrivin;

p/kg: 321.4p 315.9p S&P Scrivin; 309.3p 306.8p E Simpson;  

SBF average £143.92 per head or 316.5p/kg

£ per head: £146.50 £146 £145 £143.50 Banks Farms; £145 £137 AR&CA Parkinson; £144 SP Woolhouse;

p/kg: 334.9p SP Woolhouse; 318.9p 318.5p 317.4p 315.2p Banks Farms; 312.0p 310.2p AR&CA Parkinson;

Blue Texel average £150.46 per head or 326.5p/kg

£ per head: £161 F Marrison; £157 CR Brittain; £156 PC&EJ Longdin; £151 F Webster; £146 SP Woolhouse;

p/kg: 373.1p 347.6p SP Woolhouse; 341.3p CR Brittian; 327.5p Dyson Farming; 305.9p PC&EJ Longdin;

Cull Ewes average £116.08

Suffolk to £167.50, Downx to £147.50, Texel to £173.50, Char to £167.50, BFL to £119.50, Mule to £135.50, Masham to £127.50, Lleyn to £111.50, Swaledale to £103.50, Cheviot to £157.50, Beltex to £154.50, Jacob to £97.50.

Top prices:

Lowland: £175.50                                A&B Simpson

Mule/Masham: £135.50                    AN Bolland

Horned: £103.50                                 JK Wilson & Son

Hill: £157.50                                         AJ Shepherd

Cast Rams average £131.10

Suffolk to £107.50, Texel to £174.50, Swaledale to £91.50, Char to £169.50, Lleyn to £117.50, Beltex  to £134.50, Zwart  to £116.50.

Goats to £102.50                average £96

23 Rearing Calves to £465 av £243

Calves a strong trade again with a very large shortage of calves. Cont bulls with age and quality required in large numbers next week to fulfil spring buyer’s requirements. Blue bulls to £420 from LD&ME Clarke and Blue heifers to £330. Black and Whites met a roaring trade with just small-mediums forward all selling £70-£138. Angus bulls from Rd Guy sold to £340. Blues heifers sold away well with best end £300-£330 smaller/younger goods £265-£300. Lim hiefers from G Hayton & EC Stocks to £375 and bulls to £465.

More calves required next week. Call Kyle. Blue bulls will be in high demand!

Bull Calves

Limousin x to £465                                                             G Hayton&EC Stocks                                                          

Brit Blue x (Av £358) to £420                                           LD&MA Clarke & Sons       

Aberdeen Angus to £340                                                  RD Guy

Black & White (Av £129.50) to £138                              RM Shackleton

Dairy Short (Av £89) to £125                                            IRG Collins & Ptns

Heifer Calves       

Aberdeen Angus to £240                                                  M&R Smith                                                                                                          

British Blue (Av £311) to £335                                         M&R Smith                                          

Limousin to £375                                                                G Hayton&EC Stocks                                          

Breeding Sheep

Trade very similar with vendors bringing some nice sized lambs to the auction now with buyers shying away from the younger goods in the last few weeks. Nice runs of texel ewes Brocken Mouthed correct below sold to £275 for twins. Singles sold to £200. A rung of Tex x Shlgs from PA&M Simpson sold pairs at £265-£282. F Reeday also sold runs of young ewes £270-£280. Honest farmed continental ewes with pairs either side of £200 with stronger outfits £230-£240. Mules in high demand regular £180-£230 for pairs with mixed aged mothers.

****Please note - Sale next week (19th April) will be held on the Monday*****
Please keep an eye out for the following week, we will change to a Tuesday in a couple of weeks time for just a few main sales.

Suffolk Ewes with twins                    to £280                                  av.£275

Texel Shgs with twins                        to £270

Texel Ewes with twins                       to £292                                  av.£274

Mule Ewes with twins                        to £220                                  av.£184

LLeyn Ewes with twins                       to £230

Zwart Ewes with twins                      to £272

Texel x Ewes with Singles                  to £200                                  av.£191

Tex x Hoggs                                          to £98                                    av. £87

45 Dairy

Thanks to all vendors and buyers at today’s dairy sale - numbers, quality and prices all on the up.

There were 8 top notch fresh milkers through the ring first with 7 breaking the £2000 barrier with two sharing the top prize banner, the first from Martin Petch a heifer from his Mandy family selling to Brian Blezard, Ribchester and at the same money was a 3 week calved Silverridge V Extreme daughter from Mick Blackwell one of two purchases by Alan Middleton of Hartleys at Bolton Abbey.

Aireburn Triton a December 2019 born bull from Brian Moorhouse was keenly sought and this well put together working age bull from a 60kg per day dam now in her 6th lactation heads to Flasby Estates at £2100.

The real numbers today were in the youngstock where 12 buyers were recorded over the 36 lots forward. Buyers preferred to buy the well grown heifers with strength today and a consignment of crossbred recently served heifers topped the averages for Ian and Phil Carlisle from Constable Burton, with the five averaging £1110 and topping at £1180 to Messrs Midgley, Luddenfoot.

The pick of Messrs Brough’s heifers from the Tallent herd was Tallent Samaritan Gail a potential 3rd generation VG or EX who made £1220 and headed with Tallent Artist Belle at £1180 back north to Cumbria to Smallthwaite Farms Ltd. Batches from Messrs Thompson, Baul and Waring all had individuals over £900 although a late Spring and lack of grass made buyers cautious.

Averages include 8 in milk at £2103 and 36 youngstock at £848.

Now we plan for our next sale on 26th April which includes the Spring Jersey sale - watch this space there are exciting announcements to come with over 40 expected including a potential Great Yorkshire show winner - catalogues will be out at the end of the week.

Pedigree Newly Calven Cow                             to £2250

Pedigree Newly Calven Heifers                        to £2350                               av.£2081

Norwegian Red Hfrs r/w bull                            to £1180                               av.£1100

Friesian Heifers r/w bull                                    to £1150                               av.£1123

B&W Maiden Heifers                                         to £1220                               av.£795

Pedigree Holstein Bull                                        to £2100

CONTACT DETAILS

Skipton Auction Mart
Gargrave Road
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 1UD

Tel 01756 792375

Jeremy Eaton 07747 780481
Ted Ogden 07855 958211
Kyle Hawksworth 07538 539077