Strong trade for suckled calves and store cattle

Craven Cattle Marts reported strong trade and an increase in average prices at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual show of 2011-born suckled calves and 2010-born store cattle.

The top price on the day of £1,520 went to a 2010-born steer from John Stephenson, Bordley Green Farm, Bordley.  Mr Stephenson also won the title of best steer with a 15-month-old British Blue x bullock (pictured below) which secured £1,500 to Claire Cropper and John Mellin, Long Preston.

first prize steer.jpg

Other leading prices included £1,420 for a heifer from Jeff Walker, Dunsop Bridge, by David Wilson, Harome.  And £1,320 for a 2010-borb British Blue x heifer, from Simon Garth of James Garth & Son, Birk Knott, Farm, Keasden, Clapham.  This one (pictrued) went to DS Townend, Malton.

first prize heifer.jpg

In the suckled calf classes, the top price of £1,160 was secured by a young feeding bull from Kath Saffrey, Halton WEst.  This one was bought by Stephen Swales, Melbourne, York.  While a British Blue x seven-month-old heifer from TW & SE BLades, sold for £810 to Bradley Thompson, Selside, Kendal.

Commenting on the sale, auctioneer Ted Ogden said:  “The trade for suckled calves reflected the rises seen in prices this year for finished cattle and strong stores.

“Many vendors of annual consignments reported increases in averages of around £125 to £130 a head on last year’s sale.”

Averages: 304 spring 2011-born suckled bull, steer and heifer calves averaged £688.22 a head; 205 over one-year-old cattle averaged £780.55.