STAGS, auctioneers at Tavistock Livestock Centre, report a decent entry of 185 cattle and 582 sheep sold to an across-the-board improved trade.

It was a very mixed entry of cattle and sheep, with both sections supported by a good contingent of buyers.

Topping the day’s prices was £1,090 for a 20mo South Devon steer from Messrs W H & M Tucker & Son, Brentor, who also had two 19mo South Devon steers to £1025.

Mr Tucker also topped the day’s heifer prices at £980 for four 20mo South Devon, with another pen at £970.

Other notable store cattle prices included £890 for three 26mo Hereford x steers from Mr G Cole & Miss L Robson, North Hill who also had four 27mo British Blue steers to £885 and six 20mo Maine Anjou steers to £850. £860 for a 26mo British Blue heifer from Messrs E Schuttkacker & Son, Bere Alston; £845 for two 20mo Aberdeen Angus steers from Messrs W K J & M R Harding, Throwleigh; £740 for a 15mo Limousin x steers from Mr M Tucker, Bere Ferrers and £740 for a 14mo Simmental x steer from Mr W J Mudge, Callington.

There was a good entry of Suckled Calves topped at £560 for five 8mo Charolais x steers from Mr L C Branfield, Princetown; who also had top price suckled calf heifers at £490 for a bunch of six.

The sale started with the grazing cows, which topped at £765 for a nine year old South Devon from Messrs B J & L Landick, Sampford Spiney. A decent entry of Cows and calves met plenty of interest and topped at £825 for a six year old Angus Cow with her 3mo Limousin x steer calf at foot from Mr J H T Smith, Altarnun who also had other outfits to £810 and £770.

464 Store Lambs entered for the last 2019 Sheep Sale at Tavistock Livestock Centre sold to another brisk trade with both the strongest and hardest kept lambs looking the best sold on the day.

Top today for Mr A P Legassick of Tavistock selling Charolais x lambs to £73 with his others realising £67. Martin and Amos Cole of Sampford Spiney sold another super run of lambs with their best pens reaching £71 twice for Suffolk x and Cheviot x ewes. Cheviots, this time for Mr T D Vallance of Horrabridge, sold to a strong price of £70.50. Mr J Cox of Milton Abbot topped at £69 and other regular vendors – Mr I W Doidge and Mr G Martin both topping at £65.50. Store Lambs in strong demand with this kind of trade expected to hold into the New Year.

A good entry of 118 Grazing Ewes with the best for Mr A J Eggins of Roborough topping at £79.50 and £79 for strong Texel x ewes. Regular vendor Mr K J Watson of Postbridge sold Cheviots to £73. Mr J Cox of Milton Abbot reached £67 for a Mule ewe and Mr I W Doidge, Whitchurch sold Suffolks to £60. Hill bred and harder kept sorts trading between the £33-£43 mark with only the very smallest and leanest realising less money.

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