CCM Skipton’s latest fortnightly Wednesday cattle sale (July 17) attracted another nice entry of 307 head, virtually identical to the previous fixture, with trade generally solid throughout and multiple four-figure selling prices seen across all sections.

Additional customers seeking to fill pens were in evidence ringside for 42 young feeding bulls, the pick of the under 10-month Continentals trading around £2,000, those a shade older, but under 12 months circa £1,900, a handful of 12-month-plus Continentals again around £2,000. Jeff Pickles, Ribblehead, sold a trio of Limousin-x to £2,060, the section producing a Continental-x average of £1,643, natives averaging £1,577.

Twenty-nine beef feeding cows sold extremely well, all hitting four figures and averaging £1,417. A quartet of well-fleshed entries made £1,700-plus to a section high of £1,740 for a Limousin-x from Rick Holroyd, Hebden Bridge, a further ten away at £1,500-plus. Plenty of medium fleshed nice framed cows were dearer on the fortnight from £1,300 to £1,450. More are required.

A large entry of native cattle figured among the 163 stores, Aberdeen-Angus bullocks averaging £1,498 and peaking at £1,840 from TM Harrison, Threshfield. Strong, thick types made £1,640-£1,720, dairy-bred Angus bullocks £1,350-£1,540 for size, growing plainer bullocks £1,200 upwards. Angus heifers sold to £1,700 from J&D Barritt, Colne, 16/20-month-old feeding heifers at £1,240-£1,360.

Shorthorn bullocks topped at £1,600 from W&M Hebron, Clayton, other feeders making £1,380-£1,490, yearling bullocks for growing £1,080-£1,110. Shorthorn heifers sold to £1,400 from A Wilson & Son, Malham, the Hebrons again doing well with a run of yearlings at £1,080-£1,360.

Dairy-bred British Blue bullocks traded to £1,900 from DT&LA Houseman & Sons, Darley, thick bullocks again on a par with the previous sale at £1,600-£1,810 depending on weight, large lean feeding bullocks also similar on the fortnight at £1,520-£1,620, the next grade of good 18/20-month-old feeding cattle £1,400-£1,590.

Dairy Blue heifers made to £1,590 from M Ryder & Sons, Harrogate, the same vendors selling a pen of four feeders at £1,470. Plenty of feeding heifers were £1,300-£1,400, younger cattle for growing £1,000-£1,100.

Limousin heifers sold to £1,800 from TH&K Wood, Harrogate, bullocks to £1,690 from Peter and Edward Fox, Clitheroe. Smart retail beasts could make £1,550-£1,700, strong framed growing Continentals £1,480-£1,580, younger smart cattle £1,350-£1,450, crossed goods £1,200-£1,340.

Store bullocks produced a Continental-x average of £1,481, natives averaging £1,406, black and whites £1,070. Continental-x heifers averaged £1,316, natives £1,218.

A solid turnout of 71 breeding cattle saw all classes comfortably exceed four figures, from £1,200 for a Belted Galloway cow and calf up to £2,000 for a Hereford cow and Parthenais heifer calf from Kevins Farm Rossendale, next best at £1,980 a Blue heifer and her Angus bull calf from DR&MJ Leeming, Elslack. A Limousin cow six months in-calf made £1,750, while a prime steer from the Baines family, Gisburn, achieved £1,955, or 331.5p/kg.

Next Friday's (July 26)  ‘live’ summer working sheep dog sale has attracted a 25-strong entry, all but four fully trained field-run dogs. It’s due to start at 10.30am, with a real time bidding facility again in place.