CRAVEN Cattle Marts is appealing for more prime cattle to sell at its Monday sale at Skipton Auction Mart.

The plea comes after the opening of the new Keelham Farm Shop on nearby Gargrave Road, which is looking to source 25 cattle a week from local farms.

And Stanforths Butchers, which has a state-of-the-art cutting plant at the auction mart, requires cattle each week for careful maturation and sale through its Skipton shop on Mill Bridge and into the local restaurant trade.

Craven Cattle Marts general manager Jeremy Eaton said: “In recent months, the trade for prime cattle has come under pressure and farmers who traditionally invest heavily in the spring in finishing cattle to fill yards have once again questioned the profitability of the system. With store cattle costs at a premium because of the relative national scarcity, making the most of high quality prime cattle is very important.

“Looking at the Keelham model and consumer demand for a product connected to the region - and in some cases to specific farms - the opportunity exists at retail level to bring the farm or farmer to the shop to assist in conveying this message.”

Mr Eaton said the region was fortunate in having a good concentration of the large processors and retailers, who provided the demand that supported the mart’s prolific store cattle and feeding bull sales.

“We are within striking distance of major conurbations supporting a range of retail and farm shops, major processors and a number of independent abattoirs," he added. "The demand for quality, local, regional or breed-specific meat has developed over the last few years, but it would seem that the momentum has picked up pace of late and finishers should be aware that they once again could be a part of this.”

Keelham Farm Shop’s James Robertshaw said: “We remain fully committed to buying the best quality meat available from leading local farmers. Our new shop is slap bang on the mart’s doorstep and we also process some of our prime cattle acquisitions through CCM Quality Foods’ on-site meat production unit. So when we say we buy and produce locally, we really mean it – as you can’t get much more local than that!”

Simon Barker, director of CCM Quality Foods, which is run by Stanforths Butchers, said: “We are always on the lookout for first-rate prime cattle, not only for our own shop in Skipton, but also our catering arm, which supplies local pubs and restaurants in Skipton and the Dales. We much prefer to source these through our local mart.”

Skipton’s weekly prime cattle sale is held every Monday immediately after the cast cattle sale and is operated as a ‘green market’.

Mr Eaton added: “Because cattle finishers in the locality are rare, in the past particular focus has been given to the monthly primestock shows, which are well supported. However, the demand exists for cattle every week and an invitation is extended to all cattle finishers and retail butchers.”

For further information, contact Mr Eaton on 01756 792375.