ANOTHER solid Monday market trade clearly demonstrated the mart’s ability to sell everything from smart Continentals to lightweight hill-bred lambs and everything in between, both farm assured and non-assured.

A larger entry of 672 feeding ewes and rams sold to a full ringside of buyers actively competing for all classes. A good run of 233 white-faced ewes averaged £100 per head, top price of £162.50 falling to Texels from the Kiernans again followed by some fed ewes from the Faceby Hutchinsons at £151.50. Heavy pure ewes made £130-£150, the section producing averages of £85.28 for cull ewes and £88.55 for cast rams.

A small, but quality turnout of 25 rearing calves met a flying trade in front of an audience that included both new vendors and purchasers. Blue-cross bull calves averaged £400 per head, with a sale-topping £450 from regular local quality calf vendors, the Hartley family in Beamsley, followed by one at £435 from Airton’s Paul and Janet Bolland. The Hartleys were also responsible for the £330 top price Blue-cross heifer calf.

Limousin-cross bull calves sold to £320 from Keighley’s James Gooch, while black and white youngsters averaged £103 each, with a top of £160 for a British Friesian from Sutton-in-Craven’s Richard Spence. Simmental heifer calves sold to £290, while of the natives, Aberdeen-Angus bull calves peaked at £280.

An online produce sale saw straw hestons sell to £37 per bale, round haylage to £24 per bale and small bale hay to £2.20 per bale.

The mart reports that because of current ongoing restrictions it has decided to put back for a month the annual Craven Champions two-day fixture. Originally scheduled for a pre-sale show on Tuesday evening, February 16, followed by the sale the following day, the annual highlight for store cattle with show potential, featuring annual consignments of high-quality crossbred cattle, many suitable for the 2021 commercial beef show circuit, will now take place on March 16 & 17.

Entries close the previous Wednesday, March 10.