Solid turnout and strong trade at CCM Skipton New Year cattle opener
Packed ringsides and robust trade for a solid turnout of 1,076 head were the order of the day at Skipton Auction Mart’s opening New Year fortnightly Wednesday cattle sale. Four-figure selling prices across all classes were common throughout. (Jan 9)
The 51 beef breeding cattle on parade featured four pedigree bulls and it was one of these, a four-year-old Limousin, the first entry into the main sale ring, from Richard and Val Brown, of Kirkby Mlaham, that headed the section and the day’s selling prices at £2,100 when finding a new home in Nidderdale with Ned Simpson, of Heathfield, Pateley Bridge.
A total of 23 customers vied for the 324 young feeding bulls on offer in the Craven Ring and the sale produced an identical average to last year’s corresponding fixture of £951 per head, with an extra 50 sold. Some exceptional runs of bulls were seen, with buyers prepared to pay a premium for well drawn animals sold in groups.
Peter Holt, of Rossendale, was top price performer at £1,340 with a 12-and-a-half-month-old British Blue claimed by York farmer and butcher Anthony Swales, a regular buyer at the fixture with ten acquisitions in total. All will find their way into the food chain at his Knavesmire Butchers Shop in Albermarle Road.
Young bulls aged 5-10 months peaked at £1,160 for a Limousin-cross from James and Deborah Odgen, of Austwick, with Jeff Pickles, of Chapel-le-Dale, presenting the top price £1,200 11-12 months Limousin-cross.
The 47 beef feeding cows were a sharper trade than of late, with additional customers operating at the ringside and 11 successful purchasers. The best end made £1,100-£1,200, topping at £1,300 for a fleshed Limousin-cross from David Bamforth, of Wainstalls, Halifax, sold to a Welsh buyer, Owain LLyr, of Ruthin. The section average was £869.
Store cattle, which numbered 654 head, were a decent trade all through the sale, with prices generally in front of expectations. Stronger cattle found a ready market, while smart types were also good to sell. Native Cattle continue to sell well at Skipton, with Aberdeen-Angus and Hereford entries in strong demand all day long.
Store bullocks peaked at £1,270 twice for Limousin-cross entries from Darren Beck, of West Marton, while the top price pen of five Limousin-cross, again from the Ogdens, each made £1,200. The overall Continental-cross average was £952.57, with a native average £722.83
Corresponding averages for store heifers were £912.61 and £846.28, with a section top of £1,330 for a Limousin-cross from C Rushworth, of Horsforth, and P Coates Farmers Ltd, of Barrowford heading the pen prices with four £1,100 Limousin-cross.
A dispersal sale of 37 breeding cattle, predominantly in-calf British Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen-Angus crosses, both cows and heifers, from Trevor and Julie Smith, of Lothersdale, achieved total clearance, selling to a top of £1,650 for a Limousin-cross heifer due April, with an overall average of £1,147.