LOCAL breeders J W Stockdale and Sons, of Burnsall, saw the top price in the prime cattle sale at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday.

Countryside Meats Ltd, of Lancaster, paid £1,455 for their 550kg homebred Limousin cross heifer.

George Cropper, from Sanderson’s Butchers at Baxenden, picked up the highest priced p/kg beast, a 515kg homebred Limousin cross heifer at 271.5p/kg from Messrs F and B Smith, of Westhouse.

James Robertshaw was the leading purchaser securing six top quality animals for shops in Denholme and Skipton, with Countrystyle Butchers Ltd and Stanforths Butchers of Skipton with four each.

Steers between 465 and 560kg sold to 238.5p/kg while those over 560kg went to 228.5p/kg, with an average of 215.89p/kg. Heifers averaged 222.23p/kg.

In the cull cows there was more fed cattle for sale and some cows on the heavy side but the interest level very similar. Plain cows continue to sell well with the lowest 78.5p/kg but a good ring full of customers and one or two coming up short of numbers. The overall average was 96.98p/kg or £694.96, with Black and Whites averaging 95.92p/kg and Aberdeen Angus averaging 106.5p/kg.

Meanwhile, numbers were up for prime sheep this week, with 3,193 lambs sold to an overall average of 196.6p/kg or £86.52 per head for all breeds and weights.

There were some great runs of fed sheep put forward from both Western and Eastern Counties, complementing the good weekly consignments from local feeders.

The smart sorts and handyweight lambs were still good to sell, with the very best end at 260p plus, with plenty of nice Beltex 235p-255p, whilst a commercial handyweight was 210p to 225p. Kevin Marshall, of Darley, topped the sale at 302pkg with a great pen of 38kg Beltex at £115, Taylor Bros, of Tosside, made 272p, and Tony Kiernan, of Longridge, 268p.

Kevin Marshall went on to sell two other pens at 259p and 253p, while J Burrow, of Skipton, reached 259p, and Walter Parkinson, of Garstang, 257p and 250p. In the lump Tony Kiernan topped the sale at £126. Lowland Heavy lambs at 52kg to 56kg plus did not live up to last week’s good trade, with the best end still £102-£108 and a few pens in the one-teens, but commercial sorts more in the mid £90s. Commercial types between 46-50kg were also a shade cheaper on the week by around 5p/kg.

This week’s entry of 3186 lambs included 847 hill bred comprising 506 Mule and Masham Wethers and 341 Horned lambs. Mules again saw the best end of 47kg in the mid £80s whilst 39kg-42kg Mules well fleshed were again selling around 185p to 190p. A sample of the best handyweight prices saw 42kg at £80 from Bob Stubbs, of Northwich, and 39kg at £75 from SR Dorey, of Newark. Horned lambs saw wethers sell well, with the best 34kg at £59.50 from Richard Brown. Cast sheep saw 400 forward, tops at £111.50 from N Morphet, of Stainburn.