Skipton’s fortnightly Wednesday cattle sale attracted 836 head, with commercial store cattle and other premium entries highly sought after.

The 312 young feeding bulls were a shade easier on the fortnight, though buyers were prepared to compete strongly for the nine to ten-month premium bulls in forward condition. They sold to an overall Continental-cross average of £857.94, with a dairy average of £620.50.

H&S Maudsley, of Rathmell, and EW&JR Parkinson, of Dunsop Bridge, presented the joint top price British Blue-cross young bulls at £1,300.

The top price pen of three Limousin-cross bulls from SJ Burton, of Fellbeck, Pateley Bridge, each made £1,130.

A total of 429 bullocks and heifers were consigned for sale, with the former selling to an overall Continental-cross average of £1,068.64 per head and a native average of £853.22.

Younger cattle did well, with the two top-priced pens of three or more bullocks from Joe Drinkall, of Anglezarke, and Roland Carr, of Addingham, only 10 to 11 months old. Mr Drinkall’s four Charolais-cross sold for £1,020 per head, while four Limousin-cross from Mr Carr each made £980.

Heifers were also in strong demand, selling to a Continental-cross average of £977.75 and a native average of £820.10. Austwick’s James and Deborah Ogden presented the two top price pens – three Limousin-cross each sold for £1,170 and a same breed pen of five that made £1,045 per head.