The 31 cast cows forward in the prime cattle classes at Skipton Auction Mart, on Monday, eased in price on the week when averaging £829.14 each, or 115.99p/kg, overall.

The day’s high was £1,007 for a black and white from Broughton’s Jeremy Taylor.

The same class also produced a by-weight top of 158.5p/kg for an entry from Stuart Verity, of Whitewell, who also presented the top-priced per head British Blue at £881.

Darren Beck, of West Marton, had the top price by-weight 125.5p/kg British Blue, along with the best-selling Limousin cull cow at £884, or 124.5p/kg.

The two four figure performers in the prime cattle under 30 month class were also submitted by Mr Beck – a Charolais steer at £1,086, or 197.5p/k, and a Limousin-cross steer at £1,037, 188.5p/kg.

While there were just 27 rearing calves forward at the weekly sale, trade for the 19 black and white youngsters among them was described as “electric” by auctioneer Sam Bradley. Dairy-bred bull calves averaged £98 per head, with a top of £158 for an outstanding youngster from Alan Middleton, of JP&KE Hartley in Beamsley.

Continentals, too, were well supported, with short supply forcing the trade higher to set an overall average of £332 per head.

The pick of the bull calves were a £380 British Blue-cross from Lothersdale’s Geoff Booth and a Limousin-cross at £370 from Richard Spence, of Sutton-in-Craven.

The best of the Continental heifer calves was a British Blue-cross from J&J Whittaker, of Laneshawbridge, who also presented a same breed steer at £390, top call of the day.