By Robin Moule

THE autumn show of weaned suckler-bred young feeding bulls at CCM Skipton, part of the latest fortnightly midweek Wednesday cattle sale, produced a number of high quality pens and very strong trade at a fixture that provides an outlet for forward Spring and late autumn bulls and a forerunner to the important new year sales.

Show classes were judged by Ian Swales, Goole, the first prize Aug-Oct, 2023, British Blue-x bull from K&GJ Huck, Austwick, making £1,900, the same home also heading the 10 to12-month-old prices at £1,750 with a Dec-born Limousin, runner-up in its show class.

Jonathan Townley, Clapham, won the Nov-Dec, 2023, show with a £1,550 Limousin-x, also standing runner-up in the Aug-Oct, 2023, class with another Limousin-x at £1,750, other solid prices from the same home including, among the 10 to 12-month-old bulls, a January-born Blue at £1,640.

SJ&CJ Handley, Westhouse, finished first and second in both show classes for 2024-born bulls again with Limousin-x entries, their Jan to Feb-born principals away at £1,800 section top and £1,700, the younger duo making £1,450 and £1,420. Other third prize winners came from Eddie Webster, Cracoe, £1,700, Richard and Liam Horsfall, Luddendenfoot, £1,660, and Paul Summers, Keighley, £1,620.

The 41 young bulls averaged £1,497, nine-month-old Limousin themselves averaging £1,446. Stronger shorter-keep bulls over 12 months followed prime stock demand, with a pure-bred October, 2023, Blonde from Thor Atkinson, Ulverston, leading at £2,020.

Also forward ahead of the high profile Christmas primestock show this Sunday (Dec 1) were a number of under 30-month prime cattle, regular buyers Knavesmire Butchers, York, purchasing both the top priced heifer and overall highest gross priced animal. The former, a 595kg Blue-x heifer from Ben Townsend, Laneshawbridge, made 399.5p/kg, £2,377, the latter, a 600kg Limousin-x steer from Francis and Andrew Smith, Masongill, £2,163, 360.5p/kg.

With an opening date for their new Skipton shop set for February next year, Robertshaw’s Farm Shop, Thornton, secured the next highest gross at £2,095, 367.5p/kg, for a 570kg Limousin-x heifer from Paul Baines, Middop, the same farm also producing a 555kg Blue-x at £2,072, 373.5p/kg. The Scrivin family, Elslack, also caught the eye with a steer at £1,726, £338.5p/kg.

Among the beef feeding cattle, three stock bulls featured a brace of Limousin sold at £1,980 and £1,800, and a £1,580 Beef Shorthorn, all three averaging £1,786. Feeding cows, 40 in total, averaged £1,434 and again saw heavy meat good to sell, with a top of £1,970 from Anthony Thompson, Foulridge, and £1,950 again from the Austwick Hucks. Ten cows, representing the heavier meat types, sold at £1,680-£1,870, while 18 head, mainly a medium weight fleshed cow or stronger feeding type, made £1,300-£1,560.

Also among the 300-plus feeding cattle were 217 store bullocks and heifers, with trade on fire for all classes. Dairy Blue steers averaged £1,680, well-fleshed steers regularly away at £1,650-£1,800, leaner feeding steers all selling at £1,440 upwards. Dairy Blue heifers averaged £1,490, with a top of £1,690 from JGE Heseltine & Son, Bolton Abbey.

Of the natives, 37Angus steers averaged £1,582 peaking at £1,780 from Paul Drinkall, Gargrave, while Angus heifers topped at £1,590 from B Howarth, Bolton.

Black and white steers sold to £1,250 from Wood End Farms, Dunsop Bridge, suckler-bred steers to £1,890 from Peter and Edward Fox, Clitheroe, suckler heifers to £1,950 for a Parthenais again from Anthony Thompson.

An additional show class from heifers under 12 months was another success for Paul Summers, making £1,340, while a single breeder, an in-calf Limousin-x cow also from the Horsfalls made £1,600.

ENDS Pic caption 1: The Huck family’s £1,900 1st prize British Blue-x young feeding bull.

Pic captions 2&3: The Handley’s two 1st prize Limousin-x young feeding bulls.

Images: CCM Auctions