The final primestock sale of 2021 at Skipton Auction Mart, saw no fewer than 2560 prime lambs average £127.69 per head, or 284.4p per kg.

Smart heavy lambs weighing in excess of 52kg met a sound trade with the best bred types making 300p per kg plus. Top price in this section was £160 for Texel crosses from M Preston, of Silsden, followed by several other lots at £158 and £157.

Lambs weighing 46-52kg were also in demand, peaking at £170 or 369p for 46kg Beltex from Tony and Kay Kiernan, St Michaels. The Kiernans also sold the top priced lot at £172 with 46kg Beltex. The

Some 50 lots sold between 330 and 390p per kg with a top of 436p, or £156 paid for Beltex crosses the Hutchinson family in Faceby.

The 169 cast ewes and rams averaged £105.60 per head, selling to £179.50 for white-faced ewes from High Harbour Farm, Middle Rassen.

Threshfield brothers, Charles and Richard Kitching, topped the prime bullocks and heifers with a 655kg Limousin cross selling at £1837, or 280.5p per kg and a similarly bred 635kg female at £1737, or 273.5p.