SKIPTON Auction Mart’s final midweek Wednesday cattle sale of the year attracted an anticipated smaller entry of 157 head, comprising 34 young bulls, 11 beef feeding cows and bulls, and 112 store bullocks and heifers. (Dec 22)

Demand was solid for young feeding bulls, notably medium to short keep entries, which peaked at £1,405 per head for a pen of three ten-month-old Simmental-x from Richard Elliott of Tadcaster, followed by four at £1,390, three at £1,345 and four at £1,260 from the same home.

The Wilson family In Beckwithshaw chipped in with ten-month-old Limousin crosses at £1,290 and £1,200, while the Ingleton-based Handleys topped their run at £1,180 for 11-month –old Limousins. Younger bulls sold to the mid £900s, the section producing overall averages of £1,113 for Continental-x and £780 for natives.

Of the feeding cows, four strong sorts made £1,100-plus to a top of £1,280 for a Limousin from the Mason family at Oddacres, Embsay, while a Charolais from Darren Beck, of West Marton, achieved £1,260. Medium weight first-cross cows sold in the £900s, the section averaging £1,052. A brace of stock bulls both realised top side of £1,300.

Store cattle trade was similar on the fortnight, with entries carrying flesh selling well, buyers ringside seeking short-term goods, which were in high demand. Dairy-bred British Blue-x bullocks with size, frame and flesh made £1,300-plus, DT&LA Houseman, of Harrogate, selling dairy-bred Blues to £1,435, the section headed at £1,480 each for a pair of Limousin-x bullocks from JW Stockdale & Sons, of Burnsall.

Good strong bullocks got away at £1,300-£1,400, the next grade down, good fleshy bullocks just slightly smaller, trading at £1,180-£1,260. Natives were in short supply, some medium 16 to 20-month-old Angus bullocks making £1,020-£1,055. The section produced a Continental-x average £1,216, natives averaging £987.

Respective store heifer selling averages were £1,023 and £700, top price of £1,520 falling to a Limousin-x full of flesh and size from M Ryder & Sons, of Haverah Park, others of the breed making £1,360-£1,480. Good, fleshy Blue-x heifers from Aimee Beresford, of Halton West, sold to £1,245, other strong Blues hitting £1,100-plus.

The mart reports that with buyers opening their doors again there will be plenty of interest in its Great New Year sale next Wednesday (Jan 5), when an entry of up to 900 head is anticipated for the ever-popular seasonal opener.

The following day (Thurs, Jan 6), the focus is on sheep and the first pedigree fixtures of the New Year, a triple header featuring the 30th annual open winter show and sale of 66 pedigree in-lamb Texel females on behalf of Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders, The Blue Texel Sheep Breeders show and sale of 92 in-lamb females and the Badgerface Texel Sheep Breeders winter sale of pedigree females. Judging is from 4pm, with sales scheduled to start at 6pm. Sale catalogues are available online at www.ccmauctions.com