SKIPTON Auction Mart’s high profile 2015 Christmas prime shows and sales this year take place on Sunday, November 29.

They represent the climax of the mart’s primestock year, attracting the pick of the region’s prime cattle and lambs, specially prepared for the annual highlight by leading farmers.

Their quality meat is much in demand by the regional meat trades sector and this produces intense competition at the ringside.

The nine butchers’ cattle classes again feature categories first introduced last year to encourage farmers to bring forward more lightweight animals, which have enhanced appeal to retail butchers. There are six halter-led classes, along with a standalone young handlers’ show class.

For the first time since the sale moved to its Sunday format, there will be two unhaltered classes for steers and heifers to be judged in the pens to cater for the increasing number of commercial beef producers who support the weekly sale of prime cattle and who are not able to halter train animals.

An increased number of butchers’ lambs show classes – ten this year – are also on the agenda, all for pens of three and again covering all the region’s popular sheep breeds.

Male and female champions will emerge in the cattle classes and lowland and hill champions in the sheep classes. From these, overall supreme champions will be chosen in each section.

Last year’s prime cattle champion sold for a show-topping £3,164, or £5.60 per kilo, while the prime lamb title winners made a remarkable £530 per head, top price in show by far.

Many special prizes are also up for grabs, while there are three show classes for prime pigs, again judged in pens of three. Last year’s champion trio also headed the prices when selling for £185 each.

Vendors are asked to note that all livestock entries must be received by this Monday.

There’s again a separate competition for lamb carcases, which presents an ideal opportunity for butchers, hotels, restaurants and pubs to purchase award-winning carcases for display and sale in the run up to Christmas.

The number of show classes has increased from three to five this year, from which supreme and reserve champions will be chosen. Last year’s title-winning carcase sold for an all-time high of £380.

Butchers and farm shops attending the annual showcase also have an opportunity to enter the seventh annual Great Northern Pork Pie Competition, in which the principal classes are for traditional pork and stand pies, and speciality cold eating pies. Bakers who make products on their own premises can also enter.

There are special prizes for the best pies from Yorkshire and Lancashire, encouraging cross-border rivalry, one of which will become overall supreme pork pie champion. In addition, a £100 voucher will be awarded to the exhibitor of the champion pork pie, to be redeemed against a live weight purchase at this year’s Christmas primestock show.

Show classes for sausage rolls and Scotch eggs also feature, as does the annual show and sale of fodder hay.

There’s again a major charity element to the day and auctions of pork pies, other home-made produce and hay bales will again take place in the main ring towards the end of the afternoon. Thousands of pounds have been raised over the years, primarily in aid of Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

Dubbed The Craven Lingfield Show, the day is styled on London’s famous former Smithfield Christmas Fatstock Show, providing a valuable opportunity for butchers and wholesalers to meet farmer producers in person.

A detailed show programme is posted at ccmauctions.com