However, the impact was not quite as dire as expected, with some good heifers moving quite freely throughout the sale, notably the show champion, the first prize newly calven commercial Holstein Friesian heifer from Dales dairy farmer Robert Crisp, of Nelson Farm, Calton.

Mr Crisp, who was repeating his title-winning success at the 2014 Skipton dairy opener, achieved victory with another daughter of the Genus dairy bull Garrison, a sire responsible for all his Skipton title winners of late. Three weeks-calved and giving six-and-a-half gallons, she sold for a straight price of £1,980 to Alf Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley.

Other cattle got away slowly, though, according to the mart, there were enough bidders to sneak an average trade, all things considered.

CCM Dairy Farmers of the Year for 2014, the Lawson family, who run the Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd at Mill Farm, Arthington – they were awarded the title after sending out no less than eight Craven Dairy Auction champions last year – were again to the fore at the 2015 launch when sending out the first prize newly calven cow and reserve champion.

The second calver, by another Genus sire, Schillview Oman Gerard, and giving 34 litres, fell for £1,630, top price in class, to ringside regular Wick Williams, of Nantwich Cheshire.

Bishop Thornton’s Peter Baul was responsible for the second prize newly calven pedigree heifer, which made £1,840 on joining Martin Jennings in Cowling, while the third prize heifer from Chris Bradley, of Hartwith, sold for £1,350, again to Mr williams, who also paid £1,520 for the second prize newly calven cow from Bell Busk’s Brian Moorhouse.

Pedigree newly calven heifers averaged £1,497, their commercial counterparts £1,457, with newly calven cows averaging £1,040. The sole in-calf heifer from Easingwold’s Mick Corner sold for £1,040 to Gargrave’s David Shuttleworth,

Show judge was John Dodgson, of Bank Newton, and sponsors G Shepherd Animal Health, Shepherd Dairy Services, NMR and VG Energy. The main monthly ForFarmers-sponsored Craven Dairy Auction is on Monday, January 26.