A TOTAL of 24 prime cattle were put forward at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday along with 22 cast cattle.

A Hereford cross heifer was sold by R and KA Burley & Son, of Wath, for £928, while CM and EM Gratton, of Warsill, sold a Black and White heifer for £959.

Although the trend on cast cattle prices is downwards because of the strength of sterling, shortage of cattle carrying finish caused the top end culls to be a shade dearer on the week.

The overall average of £718.14 or 104.99p/kg for cull cows reflects a higher than usual percentage of lean, plain cows.

Top price for Black and Whites was £1,017, for G Abbott and Sons, of Dacre, although SW and JE Ryder and Son, of Norwood, got top price per kg at 128.50p.

D and S Hollins, of Pecket Well, got top price per head for a Limousin with £990, and 136.50p/kg.