TRADE for the 37 rearing calves on offer at Skipton Auction Mart, on Monday, was described as ‘electric’ from start to finish, as a growing customer base travelled from far and wide to purchase the quality turnout. In fact, as in past weeks, many more could have been sold.

The sale consisted of mainly 4-6 week-olds, with prices paid for young calves looking extremely favourable. British Blue-cross bulls were regularly away from £410 up to joint highs of £450, with an overall average of £392. Blue heifer calves, which all sold in excess of £330, peaked at £410, averaging £358

Simmmental bull calves topped the day’s trade at £470, with a breed average of £457, while Limousin heifers proved exceptional, with a high of £465 and £322 average. Black and white calves also flew away to a top of £220 and average of £136.

Ellison’s Butchers in Cullingworth returned to the prime cattle sale ring, securing a trio, among them the top gross prices in both sections, a 585kg British Blue cross-steer at £1,407 (240.5p/kg) and a 560kg Limousin-cross heifer at £1,392 (248.5p/kg). Both were consigned by Threshfield’s Charles and Richard Kitching.

Highest per kilo price was the 257.5p/kg (£1,365) paid by George Cropper Jnr, of Sandersons Butchers in Baxenden ,for a 530kg Limousin-cross heifer from the Critchley family in Hutton.

Buyers for the 21 under 30-month clean cattle were spread evenly around the ring, with Keelham Farm Shop purchasing four for their Skipton store, and honours even among the other retail buyers, with three each for farm shop buyers Robertshaw’s in Thornton and Countrystyle Meats, of Lancaster, and another three for mart-based wholesaler Barkers Yorkshire Butchers.

A very firm trade was once again seen for 27 cull cows carrying both meat and weight. Big dairies were generally around 130p/kg up to a by-weight high of 136.5p/kg (£1,173) and a top gross of £1,120 (145.5p/kg) for a heavy first cross British Blue.

Dairy breeds with improvement are currently a very good trade, particularly if below 36 months, with nearly all going to feed. The overall selling average was £826.92, or 124.04p/kg.

A tighter supply of Spring lambs - some vendors were cautious following lower prices seen late last week - had the desired effect, with a sale average of 220pkg (£90.73 per head) across the board for 1,315 sold, which was 5p to 10p per kilo above expectations.

As ever, smart lambs found a very keen enquiry, Texels leading the way on price at 300p/kg from S&NV Jowett, of Queensbury, selling to Knavesmire Butchers in York, and £134 per head from TR Thwaite & Son, of Horton-in-Craven, to Brayton Farm Shop, Selby.

Of the 350 cast sheep, cull ewe trade was very similar on the week, cull ewes averaging £64.89 and cast rams £79.50.