ANOTHER bovine bounty at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest fortnightly mid-week fixture saw entry levels soar yet again, with the turnout of 677 head another substantial increase on the previous sale.

As usual, the majority were feeding cattle – 619 in total, comprising 68 young bulls, 44 beef feeding cows and 507 store bullocks and heifers. (Wed, Aug 19)

Feeding bull trade was again strong for all sizes and specifications, a clear indication that feeders are well on top of in-spec finished cattle.

A few forward Spring, 2020, bulls helped produce an overall section average of £1,043.

Ten to12 month-olds averaged £1,105 and those 13 months-plus were knocked down to an average of £1,131.

Three bulls topped £1,400 to a high of £1,490 for a Limousin-x from the Holroyd family in Wadsworth, Calderdale.

Quality was the keyword among the feeding cows.

In fact 22 head, exactly half of the entry, selling at four-figure prices and at an overall average of £981.

Eleven active buyers ringside created a vibrant trade.

Short-keep cows were making £1,200-£1.300, with a top of £1,390 for a British Blue from Alan Lodge, of Malham Moor.

This was closely followed at £1,350 by another from Barrowford’s Graeme Coates.

Store cattle again sold well to a wide audience, trade led by both short-term and long-term U grade entries.

Of the natives, 52 Aberdeen-Angus bullocks exhibiting both meat and size commanded premium prices, selling to a top of £1,280 from Bargh Bros, of Bracewell.

Gargrave’s Paul Drinkall saw his pen peak at £1,120, just ahead of a £1,115 top call from Ken and Lynne Throup, of Silsden Moor.

Angus steers averaged £967 and heifers £831, these trading similarly on the fortnight, with a top price of £1,000 from Richard and Alison Clegg, of Waddington.

Of the Continentals, Limousin heifers had the trade of the day with buyers for butchers’ orders – these to be sold later through the live prime cattle auction ring – along with customers for feeding and bulling heifers all filling the ring for the quality on offer.

A total of 85 Limousin heifers sold to an average of £950, peaking at £1,340 twice for entries from Jeff Pickles, of Chapel-le-Dale, and G Hadfield, from Droylsden in Greater Manchester.

Seventy British Blue heifers sold well, most big weighted entries with frame making £1,100-plus, topping at £1,280 from Janet Sheard, of Almondbury in Kirklees.

Blue steers met a similar trade, while 32 Friesian steers among the entry averaged £707 for mainly yearlings.