FOX Farms, of Withgill, Clitheroe, stepped forward to clinch both champion and reserve champion honours at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual Christmas store cattle fixture.

Peter Fox, one of the farming brothers who have won multiple prizes for their livestock at the mart over many years, claimed first and second prize in the heifers show class and first prize in the bullocks section.

The first prize heifer, a Limousin-cross bought by Mr Fox as a suckled calf from the Browns, of Asby Hall, was picked out as champion by judge Nick Dalby, of Darley, and went on to sell for £1,220 to John and Jean Bradley, of Giggleswick.

The first prize bullock, again bought as a suckled calf, this time from the Eddleston’s, of Great Harwood, reached top price of the day, selling for £1,340 to Hargreaves Farms, of Preston. Mr Fox also sold two more heifers for £1,180 and £1,140, plus another bullock for £1,120.

Second place in the bullocks show class went to JW Stockdale and Sons, of Burnsall, who also picked up third place in the heifers and sold six Limousin-cross bullocks for prices ranging from £1,125 to £1,150, including the top price pen of three at £1,145 each. Steven Horsfield, of Mytholmroyd, was third in the bullocks class.

The show classes formed part of Skipton’s fortnightly cattle sale, which attracted 414 head. With buyers out in force, there was a solid, fast-selling trade for all classes of store cattle.

The best end saw keen prices and there was plenty of trade for nice yearling cattle too, with both bullocks and heifers good to sell. Once again Angus, Hereford and other native cattle in the mix sold to the usual strong trade, with additional buyers out looking for cattle. A good turnout of 96 young bulls for the time of year came before a ring packed with prospective purchasers, bearing in mind that buyers of heavy bulls tend to hold off until January.

Autumn 2017 bulls were scarce, with the pick of them, a November-born Limousin from Alan Lodge, of Malham Moor, selling for £1,200. Most of the entry were 5-10 months of age, with a top price from R and VJ Brown, of Kirkby Malham, for a February 2018 Limousin-cross, selling at £1,040. JG Bamforth and Sons, of Slaithwaite, sold a pen of seven Continental-cross bulls, with most of their March-born Limousins going for £980 and £970.

Grazing cows saw a deceptive trade, with first cross lean beef cows steady, but any beef-cross cows, either younger or with scope to feed, proving good to sell.