A MUCH enhanced annual autumn fixture for native store cattle at Skipton Auction Mart was well supported by both buyers and vendors alike, attracting a strong and significantly increased turnout of over 100 head and support from both Morrisons Supermarkets through its pioneering Native Breed Scheme and the Beef Shorthorn Society.

Taking both first and second prizes in the Beef Shorthorn show class were local breeders, the Daggett family, who run the 20-strong Hartlington Beef Shorthorn herd at Wharfe House Farm in the Yorkshire Dales village of the same name. The two prize-winning home-bred 17-month-old bullocks were both by the same Podehole sire, a high performance bull well utilised by the herd. All the native cattle were shown and sold in pairs and for the Daggett consignment to a top of £1,040

Jeremy Daggett echoed the thoughts of many when commenting that the improved fixture was good for native cattle breeders and could only help attract more buyers to the mart. As a bonus, he received a bottle of whisky from Jim Holden, who buys cattle for Morrisons and its own meat processing company, Woodhead Bros, based in Colne.

While the Morrisons-backed scheme is open to all British native breeds and their crosses, for the past two years, working in partnership with the Beef Shorthorn Society, it has singled out the Beef Shorthorn for a special premium, with they and their crosses receiving 25ppkg in total over Woodhead Brothers base price.

At least two Beef Shorthorn products are now available at every Morrisons store nationwide and the supermarket giant is also spreading the word more effectively among Britain’s young, up-and-coming butchers by inviting them on fact-finding educational visits to its own pedigree Shorthorn herd in Scotland. (is it near Dumfries – can’t remember!)

Jodie Bolland, Morrisons livestock and farming development manager said: “After many years of work, we have built a solid and dependable supply chain that now allows us to sell Shorthorn branded beef products into all our supermarkets. The beef delivers unequalled eating quality and is managed carefully though our own meat processing company, Woodhead Bros.”

There was a clean sweep of the prizes in the Belted Galloway show class for Chris and Christine Ryder, of Scaife Hall Farm, Blubberhouses, with the prize-winning trio among an eight-strong consignment of home-bred 28 and 29-month-old bullocks by the former Ryder stock bull, Butterlands Blue Jay, bred locally by Neil Heseltine in Malham.

Mr Ryder started his pedigree Belted Galloway herd ten years ago and now has around 100 head on the ground. His first prize pair went on to sell for £1,000 each.

A third native show class was won by 2017-born Aberdeen-Angus-cross bullocks from Robert Gemmell, of Bradshaw, Halifax, which sold at £1,110.