Feathered friends set record sale at market

But the judges' choice was a trio of Large Black Orpingtons from Keith and Anne Chatburn, of Cononley, near Skipton. A fortnight previously, one of their Black Orpington pullets was best bird at the North of England championships in Clitheroe. Their Skipton victors, a cockerel and two hens, sold for 100.

Calderdale beef and sheep farmer Brian Lund added to his list of honours at the primestock shows on March 1. Mr Lund, of Walshaw, Hebden Bridge, got the votes for best beef animal with a two-year-old home-bred Parthenais-x-Limousin heifer.

The 525-kg victor was knocked down for the top price of 1,105 (210.5p per kilo) to butcher Mark Spauls for his shops in Burley and Cottingley. It will be the first time he has sold Parthenais beef – ready by March 22.

Red Rose showman Jimmy Baines, who has farms in Gisburn and Trawden, sold five Beltex-x-Texel 47-kg lambs for 115 per head, top price in show, to Shan's Supermarket in Keighley. Shan's also acquired a pen of 52-kg Suffolks, from Brian Lund, at 92 a head, and 50-kg Mashams from Stephen Dorey, Newark, at 91 each.