THIS Monday’s Prime Stock Market saw upwards of 1800 Prime Sheep sold at Craven Cattle Mart, Skipton.

The sheep trade was well assisted by short numbers in the morning market and even tighter on the week in the afternoon.

As such, the old supply and demand dynamic combined to produce a trade 8p/kg overall up on the week, bucking the recent trends to report an overall Prime Hogg average of 244p/kg or £107.51 (SQQ 250.3p/kg).

Such was achieved by a very mixed show of sheep, with lambs of all breeds on offer and weight and condition across the board; from 26kg to 71kg.

Prices ranged from 100p to 359p per kilo, or £35 to £163 per head.

John Brotherton of Addingham was top of the shop, with 50kg Beltex lambs making £163 (326p/kg), selling to Joe Bosworth. Messrs EP&JM Hutchinson of Faceby were next in line when their 68kg Suffolk lambs made £162 when sold to A Atkinson.

Another pen from the same farm made £157/head for 65kg lambs.

Ellis Bros, also of Addingham, took home £158 for their 50kg continentals, R Emmott of Silsden also made £158 and £156 on Continentals, and DN&D Capstick of Bolton by Bowland made £156 on two occasions and £155 on another pen of Continentals.

£156/head was also achieved by G Beresford & Son of Hellifield for a pen of Texels.

When looking at pence per kilo, it was J&M Blakey of Bolton by Bowland who led the way at 359p/kg for 39kg Texels (£140/head).

A good show of Beltex sheep from John Brotherton of Addingham kept him in the principle prices again, with 357p for a pen at 42kg (£150/head).

Also in continentals, Ellis Bros, Addingham also had three pens over 350p/kg: 355p (40kg, £142) 353.8p (40kg, £141.50) and 350p (40kg, £140). Richard Maudsley of Rathmell made 355p/kg with 40kg at £142.

P Crabtree & Son of Otley was another up there at 351p/kg with 41kg at £144.

Cull ewes traded similar on the week with a larger show of hill and Mule ewes put forward. Texel ewes sold to a top of £238.50 from B Dibb, Yeadon. Smart ewes sold well at £150-£175 for strong ewes, £130-£145 for medium sorts and £100-£125 for the lighter end.

First crossed heavy ewes sold at £125-£145, whilst medium ewes sold with plenty of trade at £100-£130. The lighter ewes sold well at £80-£105 and grazing ewes at £60-£85.

Mule ewes sold to £108.50 from JD Taylor & Son, Broughton. The strongest Mules reached £88-£105, whilst mediums topped at £70-£84. The lighter end Mule ewes and feeding ewes sold away at £45-£70, depending on frame.

Better horned ewes averaged £60-£65, topping at £89.50 for Blackies, Hill Ewes and Kerry Hill, £86.50 for Gritstones and £79.50 for Lonks.

Medium Horned and Hill sold well away in the £45-£52 range for fleshy types, with the leaner sorts selling at £28-£42 and plain ewes in the £18-£32 range.

Monday’s Cull Ewes averaged well at £79.42, with Suffolks, Texels and Mules bringing in the highest prices, topped by Brian Dibb of Yeadon for a Texel at £238.50.

Cast Rams averaged £75.42, topping at £131.50 for a Llyen.

Over in the Cattle ring, there was a light showing of Prime Stock, with a couple of premium quality heifers in the entry which proving excellent to sell.

The day’s highest gross was achieved by Paul Baines of Gisburn with a 558kg Limousin heifer grossing £1671, selling to Ralph Pearson of Bradford for 299.5p/kg. Top price was 305.5p/kg paid by Mesrs Pearson for a 511kg Limousin heifer, consigned by TH Mellin of Black Lane Ends.

Prior to Prime Cattle, 43 Rearing Calves were put forward, selling up to a top price of £440.

The younger calves and those mid-sized proved harder to place, with blue bulls selling at £175-£220.

However, the stronger, shapey sorts - at 5/6 weeks old - sold nicely at £330-£370. Solid, older goods brought in £380-£440, with the principle price achieved by J&JR Clarkson for a British Blue X.

Blue heifers sold to a top of £240. Nice, medium goods got away at £160-£190, with the stronger end reaching upwards of £200, whilst smaller goods sold £120 upwards. Angus bulls sold to £285 & £280 from A&SL Throup & Son, Silsden. Charollais calves proved harder to place this week, with both bulls and heifers selling either side of £200. Cast cow trade was also flying on Monday, with an overall average of 161.34p/kg and meated dairies reaching 170p/kg.