Triple header at Skipton Auction Mart

This month's Skipton Auction Mart was a triple header, with the prime cattle and lamb sales supplemented by a special Craven Dairy Auction.

In the dairy, the pre show champion and freshly calved Holstein Friesian heifer sold for the top price of £1920.

This one was by Shoremar James and is giving 30kg. She was sold by M Baul and Partners, Watergate Farm, Harrogate to John Whittaker, Laneshawbridge, Colne.

Selling for the next best price of £1760 was an in-calf cow from an 18-strong consignment from Richard Wood, High Cliffe Farm, Crossroads.

Close behind was a newly calved cow from the Whinhill Holstein Friesian commercial herd of father-and-son team, Malcolm and Robert Swires, Haverah Park, Harrogate.

She sold for £1640 to Mr Whittaker. The second calver was by Comestar Lheros and was giving 35 litres.

Topping the beef at £1059, was an 11 month old white British Blue-cross heifer from Jimmy Baines, Gisburn and Trawden. This one landed the prime cattle championship and sold to Cross Meats, Bacup.

A 485kg Charolais-x-Blonde D'Aquitaine heifer sold for the next best money of £960. She was sold by David Bamforth, Hoyle Bottom Farm, Halifax to near neighbours, Keelham Hall Farm Shop, Bradford.

In the lamb section, a top price of £112/head was met by a pen on 51kg Charollais lambs sold by Nick Dalby, Harrogate.

The prime lamb championship and day's top price per kilo went to a pen of five 37kg Beltex-x-Charollais youngsters, which achieved a top price per kilo at 254.7p and sold for £94/head. They were bought by show judge, Mike Etherington, buying on behalf of Stuart Butchers, from Robert Towers, Camp House Farm, Lancaster

Averages:

Dairy:

Newly calved heifers; £1596, newly calved cows; £1302, in calf cows; £1116, maiden heifers; £1110.

Beef:

Continental; 113.26p/kg, prime heifers; 171.03p/kg, prime steers; 156.78p/kg

Lambs:

429 spring lambs; 221p/kg

(Craven Cattle Mart, Skipton)