ANOTHER thriving trading year across all livestock sectors was reported by Skipton Auction Mart as it continued to meet the diverse needs of both vendors and purchasers alike.

In the cattle arena, the opening sale of 2014 attracted a modern day record entry of 1,300 head, which set the tone for the whole year at CCM Wednesday cattle sales.

They have seen an increase in numbers sold, with an average entry of 512 head at each sale and with stock being drawn from an ever wider area, so giving buyers an unrivalled choice of cattle in this part of the north.

Skipton Auction Mart’s livestock sales manager Ted Ogden said: “Trade during the year has been very surprising, especially given the lacklustre prime trade in the first two-thirds of 2014. However, over the autumn months trade really stepped up, with suckled steers and heifers especially good to sell.”

In addition to the Wednesday sales, CCM now operates a thriving monthly Saturday sale of stirks, weaned calves and young stores, with a regular entry of around 150 head achieved.

“These sales offer specialist calf rearers an outlet to market their stock. Between the two days, CCM now handle in excess of 15,000 store and breeding cattle throughout the year,” said Mr Ogden.

Both cast and clean cattle saw an increase in numbers through Skipton’s sales ring, with monthly shows continuing to be the main focus of attention for producers.

CCM’s general manager Jeremy Eaton said: “We receive good support from the retail sector serving major towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Keelham Farm Shop made history by buying every monthly show champion during 2014 and we look forward to the opening of their new store at our road end in 2015."

Sheep sales at CCM in 2014 also saw another major rise in numbers sold, assisted by weather conditions.

The prime sheep market had mixed fortunes during the year. While hogg season trade was good and the market was strong, the lamb season was slightly more mixed. For most of the summer and early autumn, prices tracked below 2013 by 5p to 10p/kg, but an unseasonal upturn in trade during November was a welcome boost to feeder finishers.

There was also a very busy period at Skipton on Mondays where, during November and early December, there were five out of the six weeks where the sheep entry was in excess of 5,000 head.

Mr Ogden noted: “We are very fortunate that we have a regular attendance of 15 to 20 buyers and agents at the ringside who are drawn to Skipton by an average year-round weekly entry of around 3,400 head.”

Breeding sheep also proved good to sell throughout the year, with the ewe and lamb season one of the best seen for many springs.

Skipton’s sales of North of England Mule gimmer lambs remain among the busiest in the North, and the programme is virtually unrivalled, with five fortnightly sales during September, October and into November offering approximately 25,000 head in total.

Early season sales were very on a par with 2013, but later sales of running lambs were trading £5 to £10 dearer than the previous year. This autumn confidence was mirrored in the store lamb ring, where numbers sold were up on the previous year by 15 per cent, with store lamb purchasers out in force to secure sheep from the regular entries of 7,000 to 10,000 head.

CCM’s dairy and rearing calf sections also performed well in 2014. Auctioneer Sam Bradley said: “Both calf and dairy cow numbers showed a nice increase on the year, and the quality and range of on calves on offer means buyers can attend week in week out and there will always be something to suit all tastes.”

The dawn of 2015 sees the arrival of the individual electronic identification (eid) of sheep, a day that many have fought hard to avoid.

To cut through any confusion and make the transition as smooth as possible, Craven Cattle Marts, working in partnership with the NFU, have laid down the challenge to the tag, software and handling equipment manufacturers to attend a drop-in day at Skipton Auction Mart.

It will take place between 1pm and 7pm on Wednesday, February 18, which is also Craven Champions store cattle show and sale day.

The idea is to enable the regional agricultural community to look at what can be achieved with equipment and live demonstrations from all the main suppliers.

There’s an open invitation to all. Mr Eaton appealed: “Don’t suffer in silence. Bring wives and children, as you may just find something collectively which can make the handling of sheep eid data easier.”

Skipton Auction Mart’s annual newsletter CCM News will be published mid-January. Copies are available at the auction mart office or can be viewed online at ccmauctions.com