WITH dairy cattle sales becoming an increasingly familiar fixture at Skipton mart, an important sale last week saw the dairy shippon virtually full for the first time since pre-foot-and-mouth days.

The fortnightly sale of dairy cattle included a dispersal sale of 30 in-calf or in-milk commercial Holstein-Friesian cows, the non-registered portion of the noted 170-strong Aireburn herd of Bell Busk farmer Brian Moorhouse.

Jeremy Eaton, general manager of Craven Cattle Marts, said: "This sale represented an important beginning as things have been difficult because of the 20-day standstill, with changes in farming practices not helping the situation.

"Brian Moorhouse has one of the best pedigree herds in the North of England and, while losing all his cows as a result of foot-and-mouth, he was fortunate not to lose some of his pedigree young stock.

"As these have matured, he is now able to concentrate on his pedigree stock once more and is selling on his commercial stock."

Also featured last week were 12 Holstein-Friesian heifers from Middleham farmers G F W Walton & Sons.

Top price at the sale was the £1,050, paid for an excellent newly-calven heifer from John Lancaster of Bordley, a former Skipton dairy sales regular who was making a welcome return to the market.

The best price among Brian Moorhouse's submissions was £1,010 for a cow due in July, bought by his neighbour David Shuttleworth, of Gargrave.

Mr Eaton said: "As trading conditions in the dairy sector improve, we are seeking to concentrate on fortnightly sales of dairy cattle - dispersals, newly-calved cows or maiden heifers.

"We already have a date in the diary for May for another sale of pedigree Holstein-Friesian cows."

Those interested in future sales should contact Mr Eaton directly.