Young feeding bulls again had their own show classes at Skipton Auction Mart’s fortnightly Wednesday cattle sale, as the mart continued to encourage vendors to meet increasing demand among feeders for younger cattle at nine to 12 months old, resulting from the new 16-month rule.

Barden’s John Fawcett, of Dale Head Farm, is one breeder who has risen to the challenge with gusto. Like the previous sale, he again clinched the red rosette in the 10 months or less show class with a nine-month-old British Blue-cross youngster.

Mr Fawcett’s latest victor fell to York farmer and butcher Anthony Swales, who is among the most prolific buyers of first-rate young bulls at Skipton.

First prize winner in the 10 to 12-month show class was a pure Blonde bull from Andrew Bailey, of Eldroth. It sold for the day’s leading price of £1,480 to TB Moorhouse & Son in Dacre.

All but one of the other prizewinners in the show classes achieved four figure prices. The second prize 10 to 12 month young bull from Jeff Pickles in Ribblehead sold for £1,290 to Stephen Eastwood, of Emley, Huddersfield, who also paid £1,160 for the second prize under 10-month bull from J Verity & Son in Middlesmoor.

Third in the same class was AB Woodhouse, of Clapham, his charge selling for £1,110 to East Yorkshire’s Andrew Boak. Andrew Bailey chipped in again with the third prize 10 to 12 month bull, acquired for £960 by Dave Harrison, of Grewelthorpe.

There was another robust turnout of over 300 young feeding bulls at the February opener, which sold to an overall Continental-x average of £910.65 per head and a native average of £806.37. The top price pen of three £1,100 Limousin-cross was presented by S Walmsley & Son, of Haverah Park, Harrogate.

Craven Cattle Marts’ general manager Jeremy Eaton said: “Bulls were dearer than the previous sale, with a larger attendance of travelled buyers from the Midlands and Eastern counties.

“Vendors have certainly taken on board our message encouraging them to present cattle in forward condition at younger ages to provide finishers with the opportunity to further feed cattle, so they in turn can get them away to processors in order to comply with their preference for under 16-month-old cattle.”

More than 500 store bullocks and heifers also passed through the sales ring on the same day. They, too, sold well, and while buyers were understandably cautious with their bidding, actual prices achieved for the cattle on offer were not too far different to those seen at the previous sale.

The fixture also incorporated the winter sale of bulling heifers, which saw several batches of quality black Limousin Heifers very much in demand.

Store bullocks achieved a Continental-x average of £991.91 and a native average of £660.33, with Ribchester’s Geoff and Brian Blezard responsible for the two top price Limousin-cross bullocks, each sold for £1,360.

Craven Cattle Marts’ chairman Anthony Hewetson and his wife Heather, of Bank Newton, produced a top-class consignment of bullocks, 19 of which achieved four figures.

Among them was the top price pen of three Limousin-cross bullocks at £1,135 each.

Store heifer prices peaked at £1,380 for a British Blue-cross from J&I Whittaker, of Clapham, with the Hewetsons again to the fore with the top price £1,360 Limousin-cross and top price pen of same breed heifers, which each achieved £1,135. Store heifers sold to a Continental-x average of £932.95, with a native average of £806.37.

Breeding cattle prices were headed at £1,580 for a Blonde-cross cow and calf from Blackburn’s RM Lucas.

Attention now turns to Skipton’s next fortnightly cattle sale on Wednesday, February 19, when it’s Craven Champions Day, the annual early season fixture for store cattle with show potential.