Prices peaked at 4000gns at a sale of pedigree Beef Shorthorns at Skipton, which included the annual production of cattle from Gerald Turton’s Upsall herd near Thirsk and several herd drafts.

Topping the trade was a Millerston-bred cow and calf outfit from Laura Ingleby’s unit from Maundy.

Millerston Primrose Nanny, bred in Ayrshire by Grace Ramsay, is a four-year-old daughter of Meonhill Charlie Chaplin which sold with her June-born Nahum of Upsall-sired bull calf, Ingleby Taylor. The buyer was K Ward, who runs the Kimrina herd in Scarborough.

Mr Ward also purchased the lead priced 2022-born maiden heifer at 2600gns. This was a daughter of the sale leader, Ingleby Primrose Sparkle, by Cairnsmore Landmark.

Mr Turton’s herd sold to 3500gns for Augusta X1300 of Upsall, a six-year-old King David daughter and grand-daughter of Firefox, which sold with her fourth Nelson-sired heifer calf at foot, the April-born Augusta X1782. The red and little white duo found pastures new in Suffolk when joining Iken Hall Farms, Woodbridge, a recently established herd run by Richard and Natasha Mann.

The same buyers also forked out 3300gns for the in-calf roan heifer, Tessa X1604 of Upsall, an April, 2021-born Nelson daughter, which sold in calf due January to Dingo.

The third annual sale on behalf of Britain’s oldest Beef Shorthorn herd, managed by stockman George McCulloch and his wife Maureen, featured a catalogued entry of 47 head – nine cow and calf outfits, a trio of in-calf heifers and 26 maiden heifers, with just three returning home.

The females were all from recognised long-standing lines by renowned Upsall stock bulls, among them King David, Mandalong and Nelson, with all the leading sale day outfits on price featuring King David dams.

The three-year-old roan, Tessa X1511, went under the hammer at 3000gns with her first heifer calf at foot, Tessa X1730, a January-born by Royal Hunter, when selling to Thirsk buyer Roger Hebdon.

Making 2700gns from the Nonpareil line was X1420, a May, 2019, light roan with her first heifer calf, X1746, another March-born Nelson daughter which headed home to Cumbria with P and JE Bailey, Appleby.

Next best at 2300gns from the Sapphire line, was the five-year-old X1298, which sold with her fourth heifer calf, X1737, one of February-born twins to Mandalong, purchased by GT and MA Wearmouth, Kirkby Stephen.

Maiden heifers sold to 1900gns for another from the Tessa line, X1659, a roan daughter by Mandalong. Final bidders were DR and RL Bowen, Narberth, Pembrokeshire.