A LIMOUSIN cross heifer from Malcolm Metcalfe, of Baldersby, topped the prime cattle prices at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday.

Weighing 415kg, it was bought by Charlie Clough, of Queensbury, for £1,230, or 258.5p/kg.

Charles and Richard Kitching of Threshfield, sold a fine Limousin for £1,174 to Keelham Farm Shop, which has outlets in Skipton and Thornton, and Ben Townsend, of Laneshaw Bridge, had two reach £1,102 to Keelham and £1,088 to Dick Binns, who has a butcher's shop in Bingley Road, Shipley.

Mr Metcalfe also had the top steer, another Limousin cross, which fetched £1,049 when selling to Stanforth Butchers, on Mill Bridge, Skipton.

The Kitchings, meanwhile, had a Blonde cross steer go for £1,011, also to Stanforths.

Cast cattle had a firmer trade than the previous week, with dairies carrying finish hitting 100p and upwards.

Feeding cows attracted plenty of interest at the ringside and there was also a very good trade in mature bulls, with an impressive 1,245kg Limousin bull from John Marshall, of Dacre, making 119.5p/kg, or £1,524.

Jonathan Caygill, who farms at Rylstone, had the top black and white, fetching £925, while Richard Sutcliffe, of Queensbury, sold a Meuse-Rhine-Issel for £605 (97.5p/kg).

DG Boothman, of Halton East, topped the British Blue category, selling at 114.5p for a total of £819.

FM Shepherd and Son, of Bewerley, Pateley Bridge, had the top two priced Limousins at £605 and £602.

They also had the top native, a Herefordshire cross, at £677 or 102.5p/kg.

* A produce sale saw barley straw sell to £20 per bale, and hay to £25.50 per bale.