Skipton suckled calves sell well

Two exhibitors achieved multiple successes at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual show of 2010-born suckled calves and 2009-born store cattle with show potential, which formed part of the fortnightly sale of over 550 head of store and breeding cattle, on Wednesday.

 

Six-month-old British Blue youngsters from Jonathan Townley, of Nutta Farm, Clapham, took the lion’s share of the leading honours in the suckled calf bull, steer and heifer classes.

 

The first prize steer was overall champion, heading the calf prices at ÂŁ940 when selling to show judge Anthony Swales, of Haverland Farm, Melbourne, York.

 

The Swales family also acquired Mr Townley’s first and second prize-winning British Blue bull calves at ÂŁ800 and ÂŁ820 respectively, with the North Craven exhibitor’s first prize heifer calf joining Matt Townsend, Laneshawbridge, for ÂŁ820.

 

Back in the suckled calf classes, the third prize bull calf from Jim Stockdale, Burnsall, sold for ÂŁ815 to J B Eastwood, Emley, Huddersfield, with Tim Metcalfe, of Clayton, Bradford, clinching second and third prizes in the steer class, both selling for ÂŁ630 to Jeff Burrow, Hanlith, and Mick Bradley, Scarborough.

 

In the store classes, John Stephenson, of Bordley Green Farm, Bordley, sent out both the champion and reserve champion, each earlier chosen as first prize winners in the steer and heifer classes.

 

The first prize steer and store champion was a 16-months-old Blonde d’Aquitaine-British Blue-cross bull, which joined David and Martin Wilcock, Wigan, for the show-topping price of ÂŁ1260.

 

Standing reserve was Mr Stephenson’s 15-month-old first prize British Blue heifer, another acquisition by Matt Townsend at ÂŁ1020.  Mr Stephenson also presented the second prize steer, knocked down for ÂŁ870 to Craven Cattle Marts’ Stock Person of the Year, Jimmy Baines, of Trawden, and the second prize suckled calves heifer, sold for ÂŁ560 to South Yorkshire purchasers R & P Blacker.

 

Three further prize winners in the store cattle classes topped four figures – the second and third prize heifers from T B Moorhouse & Son, Dacre, Harrogate, both sold for the joint top price in class at ÂŁ1060 to Jeff Burrows, and the third prize steer from Peter and Edward Fox, Clitheroe, another purchase by the Wilcocks at ÂŁ1020.