THE final store market of the year at Malton saw a firm trade for both cattle and sheep, giving encouraging signs for the breeding sector of the industry.

The store lambs finishing the year ten pounds up on the same time last year.

Malton Livestock Auctioneers also held its festive farmers’ market on Saturday and despite the credit crunch, many stall holders cleared their produce on offer.

A Christmas hamper was donated by the stall holders, and raffled off to raise £160 for Malton Hospital.

The next store market will be held on Friday, January 2.

Forward: 37 store cattle, 171 store lambs. Charolais Steers to £608 – M J F & R Kitchen, Folkton; Limousin X Strers to £596 – T H Burton, Staxton; Blonde X Steers to £585 – T H Burton, Staxton; Limousin X Heifers to £375 – H E Hornsey & Sons; Texel X Lambs to £58.80 – D Stephenson, Wykeham; Suffolk X Lambs to £53.50 – J C & R Ireland, Heslerton.

Thirsk, Thursday, December 18

Forward 2,654 head of stock comprising of 590 cattle including 179 young bulls and 54 cows and OTMs, 1,889 sheep including 196 ewes and 175 pigs including 40 sows.

Similar numbers of cattle were a fast trade throughout with trade for all steers slightly dearer on the week. Best quality heifers were a little easier and good fleshed middle of the run heifers if anything slightly dearer.

A top price was achieved for a limousin x heifer from B Bowman, Roecliffe which was purchased by R Agar, Ilkley. Steers sold to 194.5 for limousin x from N & DA Boynton, Grewelthorpe which sold to J Penny & Son, Rawdon. Young bulls were forward in similar numbers but quality was extremely mixed with a lot of poor quality black and white bulls on offer.

Trade was extremely good with a top price of 192.5 twice for a limousin x from JA Matten, Newsham and belgian blue x from WG Johnson & Son, Aldfield, both sold to Cleveland Meat Co, Stockton.

Cows and OTMs would be a similar trade with OTMs selling to 158.5 and cows to 138.5.

Lambs were again a good trade particularly for best quality and heavier lambs carrying flesh. Top price was 158.7 ppkg and 77.50 for beltex x from A Lancaster, Easingwold sold to Hutchinson’s Butchers, Ripley. Ewes were much dearer, selling to 69.50.

Pigs were forward in much larger numbers and trade was steadier with a top price of 113p. Sows were again good to sell making up to 75p.

Averages – Steers light to 166.5 (734.27 per head), med to 194.5 (1048.36 per head) 164.4 ave, heavy to 188.5 (1287.02 per head) 166 ave, hfrs med to 201.5 (926.90 per head) 160.9 ave, heavy to 202.5 (1147.50 per head) 163.4 ave, bulls light to 159.5 (676.94 per head), med to 166.5 (900.32 per head) 141.3 ave, heavy to 192.5 (1312.71 per head) 159.7 ave, OTMS to 158.5 (1117.70 per head) 126.8 ave, cows to 138.5 (1052.80 per head) 90.1 ave, lambs standard to 144.7 (55 per head) 127.4 ave, med to 150 (61.50 per head) 126 ave, heavy to 158.2 (77.50 per head) 131 ave, overweight to 135.2 (73 per head) 122.1 ave, ewes light to £44 ave 23.71, heavy to £69.50 ave 50.32, cutters to 113 (88.71 per head) 86.4 ave, bacon to 106 ave (97.52 per head) 91 ave, overweight to 90 (96.3 per head) 87.5 ave, sows to 75 (250.13 per head) 70.6 ave.

Ruswarp Primestock Market, Thursday, December 17

Forward 36 cattle comprising one calf, 35 OCDS; 628 sheep comprising 563 store lambs, 65 feeding ewes.

Lambs - Suffolks to £47.50, Texel to £46.50, Mule to £37.50, Masham to £32.50, Scott to £26, Swale to £24, Char to £30.

Feeding Ewes –Suffolks to £38, Mules to £25, Masham to £22, Swale to £16, Kilda to £21.

Ruswarp primestock market, Monday, December 15

A good show and prime lambs met a very brisk trade, particularly for the better fleshed lambs. Ewes were similar to last week.

A rather smaller show of cattle were also a fair trade with good quality export type bulls and clean cattle were particularly good to sell. Geld cows were slightly easier on the week reflecting a fairly big majority of thinner Holstein cows on offer.

Forward: 75 cattle including 12 bulls & 22 OTMs, 601 sheep including 51 ewes.

Cattle: Steers – Medium 149.5 av 144.5, heavy 160.5 av 149.6, B&W 133.5 av 119.3; Heifers – Medium 167.5 av 163.5, heavy 180.5 av 151.1, B&W 103.5; Bulls – heavy 169.5 av 149.5, B&W 129.5 av 123.5.

OTMS Cows: Beef cow grade 1 – 103.5, grade 2 – 88.5 av 83.8; Dairy cow grade 2 – 84.5 av 76.5, grade 3 – 63.5 av 53; Overage steers – 126.5 av 113.2, overage heifers – 122.5 av 112.5.

Lambs: Standard – 132.9 av 123.5, medium 137.3 av 127.9, heavy 126.1 av 119.6; Ewes – Suffolks to £34, Mules to £31, Masham to £28, Scot to £25, Swale to £17.

Top Prices

Bulls – I & W A Todd, Lockton 169.5 to C Barker, Brompton; Steers – A M Flintoft, R H Bay 160.5 to Cleveland Meats, Stockton; Heifers – J Raw, Fryup 180.5 to J Penny & Sons, Rawdon; Beef Cows – J C & P Harrison, Fryup 103.5 to Dawn Meats, Carnaby; Dairy Cows – R Summerson & Sons, Mickleby 84.5 to Dawn Meats, Carnaby. Lambs per kg – P Gaines, Hutton Mulgrave 137.3 to Cleveland Meats, Stockton; Lambs per head – P Cass, Harwood Dale 59 to Yorkshire Lamb, Busby Stoop; Ewes – R Summerson, Glaisdale £34 to Cleveland Meats, Stockton.