Prime cattle top 510p/kg at Gisburn

An outstanding entry of prime cattle were forward at Gisburn Auction Marts Christmas prime cattle show and sale on Thursday (4 December) with Craven farmers dominating the show.

The Clare Cropper and John Mellin Partnership, Long Preston, Skipton, collected the sales top price for their reserve champion British Blue heifer. Their April 2013-born heifer weighed in at 538kgs, and sold for £2,744 or 510p/kg. Purchaser was Alan Beecroft on behalf of Country Style Meats Farm Shop, Lancaster.

Cropper and Mellin’s next highest price came from their championship winning, November 2013-born, British Blue steer, weighing 498kgs. He was bought by judges Stephen and Anthony Swales, Knavesmire Butchers, York, who purchased the beast at £2,141 or 430p/kg.

John Mellin & Clare Cropper with their champion beast, which sold for £2,141 or 430p/kg to Knavesmire Butchers, York

Mr Beecroft also purchased Cropper and Mellin’s best continental heifer class winner, a Blonde D’ Aquitaine weighing 478kgs at £1,529.60 or 320p/kg.

Finally the same partnership saw their winner of the best native animal class, an Aberdeen Angus heifer weighing 500kgs, sell for £1,440 or 288p/kg to wholesale butcher Simon Duerden, Blacko, Nelson.

Another Craven farmer in the ribbons was John Stephenson, Bordley, Skipton with his September 2013-born Blonde d’Aquitaine steer, which weighed an impressive 662kgs and sold for £1,681.48 or 254p/kg to Townson and Son Butcher, Brierfield, Burnley.

Again on the white rose side of the border, David Capstick, Hellifield, Skipton was delighted to win first prize in the homebred animal class, with a British Blue steer, sired by Balzier Wee Wallace out of a homebred cow, weighing 492kgs, which sold for £1,427 or 290p/kg to Bowland Foods, Preston.

Charlotte Critchley, Hutton, Preston picked up first prize for the best animal shown by a young farmer, with her 514kgs British Blue steer, which sold for £1,552 or 302p/kg to Countrystyle Meats Farm Shop.

Charlotte Critchley, with her British Blue steer which weighed 514kgs and sold for £1,552.28 or 308p/kg winner of the best animal shown by a young farmer receiving her trophy from Mark Hartley, show sponsor

Auctioneer, Richard Turner, commented: “The excellent quality of cattle was a compliment to a show restricted to regular customers, with a total of 47 premium grade cattle averaging 262p/kg.”

Averages: Premium heifers, 297p/kg; premium steers 277p/kg; premium bulls 223p/kg.

(Richard Turner and Son)