TRADE continued at unprecedented levels at Skipton Auction Mart’s weekly prime cattle sale when top gross price of £1,604 (232.5p/kg) fell to a 690kg Limousin-x heifer consigned by Charles Stanton, of Clitheroe, making a welcome return after a lengthy absence to the Skipton cattle ring.

It was purchased by Halifax meat wholesalers J&E Medcalf on behalf of A&D Meats in Rossendale.

Sheila Mason, who runs the Keasden herd in Clapham, claimed top per kilo call of 267.5p/kg (£1,391) with her 520kg British Blue-x heifer.

It was knocked down to Robert Pearson for his Ralph Pearson Wholesale Butchers in Bradford, whose nine acquisitions also included the leading per kilo steer, a 570kg Limousin-x from North Craven father and son regulars, Francis and Andrew Smith, of Masongill, at 261.5p/kg (£1,491).

From the same home came the top gross price steer, a 615kg Limousin-x that made £1,596 (259.5p/kg) when falling to weekly buyer James Robertshaw for his Robertshaw’s Farm Shop in Thornton. He claimed six in total, four for Robertshaw’s, the other two for Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton.

The mart-based Barkers Yorkshire Butchers also made a single purchase.

While trade was a shade easier on the week on paper as a result of the number of commercial cattle included in the 23 under 30-month clean cattle penned for sale steers still averaged 248p/kg and heifers 243p/kg.

Another flying trade for a small turnout of cull cows produced an overall selling average of £996.65 per head, or 134.68p/kg, with dairies themselves averaging £984, or131.76p/kg, and selling to a top of £1,151 for a black and white from AS&E Jeanes & Son in Glusburn..

Weight is not a problem among the beef breeds, with a 930kg Beef Shorthorn cow from New York Farms in Silsden catching the eye at 137.5p/kg or £1,279, while a mature six-year-old Beef Shorthorn bull from the same home also excelled when grossing £1,515 (129.5p/kg).