CCM Skipton’s latest rearing calf show on Monday had a very different feel in that British Blue-x Continentals, normally in the ascendancy, were outnumbered by their Charolais-x counterparts, with native and black and white youngsters also among a quality 50-head turnout.

Both the champion and reserve were Charolais-x bull calves, the victor from Calderdale’s Jon Midgley and family, who run a commercial dairy herd at Dean House Farm, Luddendenfoot, making £580, pipped at £590 top price for the reserve champion from another well-known dairy farming family and Skipton rearing calf regulars, the Sowray Brothers, Bowes Green Farm, Bishop Thornton.

The two frontrunners were picked out by show judges, Martin Taylor and Alice Fielding, who farm in Rossendale and backed their decision in the sale ring when claiming both their chosen principals.

Between them, Messrs Midgley and Sowray picked up all the tickets in the Charolais-x show classes, the Sowrays also consigning the first prize heifer, which topped its section at £450. Younger Charolais-x bulls sold at £410-£500, producing an overall class average of £517.

Of the dairy-bred Continentals, British Blue-x bull calves sold to £505 from David and Margaret Booth, Lothersdale, the younger end all making £400-£465, while Blue-x heifers met a strong trade, four-week-old calves with shape and style trading to £450 section top from Alan and Emily Middleton, Beamsley, themselves multiple past CCM rearing calf champions.

Limousin heifer calves sold to £395 from Johnny Peel, Gisburn, who also consigned a £320 Limousin bull calf and £380 Simmental bull calf, both section toppers.

Native-bred Aberdeen-Angus calves sold to £440 for a bull from the Calton Crisps, Angus bulls peaking at £400 from Allan and Susan Throup Silsden Moor. The younger end of the Angus bulls made £300-£350, their four to six-weeks-old heifer counterparts £240-£300.

The Lothersdale Booths also stepped up with the £85 top price black and white bull calf, with an average of £43.91 for those on offer.