THE day’s top price of 3,000gns at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual autumn pedigree event for multi-breed beef breeding cattle fell to Bordley Hall’s John Lancaster for a three-year-old British Blue bull.

The top price performer returned to his place of origin when joining Brian Nutter in Fence.

British Blue bulls were in demand from both suckler and dairy buyers. Reserve champion was the first prize 2013-born British Blue bull from the Linthorpe pedigree herd of Ken and Hazel Gamble, of Brickyard Farm, Easingwold. It found a new home with Paul Newbould in Dallowgill when knocked down for 2,900gns.

Standing third in the 2014-born class was the Charolais bull from David Pawson’s Yellow Hill herd at Billinge Knock Farm, Blackburn, which made 1,800gns when finding pastures new with CA Thurnham, of the Fourstones Estate, near Bentham.

The North Craven Prietec Limousin herd of Terry and Elaine Priestley, and their daughter Mya, again excelled at the fixture.

The family, based at Lane House Farm, Mewith, produced the first prize 2014 bull and show champion, the home-bred January-born Prietec Jamieson.

It gained plenty of experience on the local agricultural show circuit this year - and successes too, including best of breed bull at Kilnsey - in the hands of 17-year-old Mya, who is undertaking an animal studies course at Craven College in Skipton.

While unsold in the ring, the victor did find a buyer afterwards when joining RW and EE Sidell & Son, of Garstang, for 2,000gns.

As in 2014, the Priestleys also sent out the first prize female, the 17-month-old Prietec Jenny. She returned home.

The Toftgate pedigree Limousin herd of Chris and Caroline Prince in Greenhow, was responsible for a brace of second prize winners – the 2012-born Toftgate Harry and Toftgate Jessop. While both returned home, the Princes did sell another home-bred 2014 bull, Toftgate James, for 1,700gns to local buyer, John Mellin, of Black Lane Ends.

The fixture, which again attracted entries suitable for both pedigree and commercial beef and dairy herds, had a local show judge in Richard Brown, of Accraplatts, Kirkby Malham, who regularly sells suckler cows and calves at Skipton. In fact, he reckons he’s never missed a sale day over the past two years!

The show formed part of the mart’s fortnightly store cattle sale, which attracted a 605-strong entry, comprising 67 young feeding bulls, 497 bullocks and heifers and 25 breeding cattle.

Young bulls met a decent trade, as did smart stores, strong cattle and yearling bullocks. However, anything second quality, regardless of age, was less money than the previous sale. Detailed prices and averages are at ccmauctions.com