THE turnout of 327 head at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest fortnightly midweek cattle fixture again produced multiple four-figure sales across all sections. (Wed, July 19) There was another solid entry of 38 prime cattle - 18 steers, 14 heifers and six bulls.

Retail weight well-fed cattle remained a positive trade, with smaller butcher buyers still prepared to pay 330p/kg-plus for the pick of heifers weighing around 500kg.

The best of them was a 502kg Limousin-x from Paul Baines, Gisburn, which made 340.5p/kg (£1,709) to Knavesmire Butchers, York, closely followed by and going to the same buyer at 339.5p/kg (£1,877) a 553kg Limousin-x heifer from Ben Townsend, Laneshawbridge.

Best heifer gross was £1,903 (313.5p/kg) for a 607kg Limousin from the Hutton Critchleys, joining Ralph Pearson Wholesale Butchers, Bradford, which also paid top both per head and by-weight among the steers of 308.5p/kg, £2,116, for a 686kg Limousin from Hargreaves Farms, Walton-le-Dale. All steers forward were 560kg or over.

The overall average for prime bulls was 296.44p/kg, top of £2,492 (299.5p/kg) falling to a pure-bred British Blue from Richard Maudsley, Rathmell, confirming the importance of selling in a green market as the bull likely went to breed.

A smaller turnout of 29 feeding cows and stock bulls mirrored the prime cattle trade with the edge just off prices compared to those seen several weeks ago, with a medium-fleshed heavy framed cow now £1,300-£1,500, the next grade £1,100-£1,250. Prices peaked at £1,590 for a six-year-old Limousin from TH Heslop & Son, Spofforth, Wetherby. Beef-bred feeding cows averaged £1,092, bulls £1,800.

Trade was strong for 195 store cattle, especially those with flesh, and in the main dearer than expectations. Natives in particular were popular, heifers topping at £1,670 from Tom Harrison, Threshfield, bullocks at £1,500 from G&Y Whitaker & Son, Hebden Bridge. Native bullocks averaged £1,317 and heifers £1,168.

Of the Continentals, British Blue heifers with thick meat sold to £1,510 from Aimee Beresford, Halton West, the section producing an overall store bullock average of £1,327, heifers levelling at £1,307. Black and white bullocks met a roaring trade for frame and flesh, the best cattle selling either side of £1,400 to an overall average of £1,197.

Despite an uncertain outlook for finished goods as numbers reduce naturally because of the end of the 2022 crop of Spring-born cattle, trade for young feeding bulls remained fairly strong, 54 on offer averaging £1,374.

Well-presented batches of bulls under 13 months were generally £1,500 or thereabouts, the best a £1,870 Limousin from Jeff Pickles, Chapel-le-Dale. Top price among the over 13-month entries was £2,250 for a pedigree Limousin which went to breed from James and Sarah Cooper, Tomschoice herd, Dacre, who also sold a second bull at the same age going to feed at £1,910.

A reduced entry of breeding cattle included some strong outfits of Simmentals with calves trading to £2,080 from Fylde vendor David Loftus, Singleton, and a continuing dispersal for Darren Beck, West Marton, whose Angus with Charolais calves sold to £1,880.