FROM the high moors to the lowland pastures, South West England has a natural landscape and a mild winter climate, ideally suited to growing grass and producing quality beef from the region.

The three moors, Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor, play a vital role in the South West beef industry and contribute significant numbers of calves from suckler herds each year.

Around 12,000 quality moorland suckled calves, mainly continental cross, are sold at the autumn sales at nearby livestock markets in Exeter, Newton Abbot, Chagford, Tavistock, Hatherleigh, Liskeard, Hallworthy near Camelford and Cutcombe, Minehead.

There are 34 dedicated sales from the end of September to December with around 12,000 moorland suckled calves with a further 3,000 calves from lowland farms, totalling 15,000 head of stock.

The three suckled calf producer groups, Dartmoor and District Suckled Calf Association, Exmoor Suckled Calf Rearers Association and South West Suckled Calf Association (Bodmin Moor), have played a key role in promoting and improving the quality of stock, as well as working closely with the auctioneers to ensure successful sales.

Timothy Garratt of auctioneers Rendells, believes that moorland suckled calves have significant finishing advantages over lowland stock. He said: "The main reason for buying from the high ground is that the calves are hardier, they thrive better and put on weight faster. Their hardier upbringing and out wintering the cows means that they are hardier from the start and will generally finish more quickly."

Now Meat South West, the Suckled Calves Associations and auctioneers have joined forces to work together to develop the suckled calf sales and promote the quality stock to a wider audience regionally and nationally.

Julie Harvey, manager of Meat South West, said: "Quality has improved significantly over the last ten years through the use of continental sires on native and continental cross bred cows, selected for their hardiness, milkiness, ease of calving and suitability to low input systems."