THERE was an excellent entry of 363 cattle forward at the annual St Johns Fair in Tavistock.

Stags auctioneers at Tavistock Livestock Centre said trade was very strong from start to finish for all cattle forward.

Top price of the day was £1700 for a 20mo Limousin x steer (NON FABBL) from Mr R G Paine, Yelverton. Mr R G Paine had other store cattle being 2 17mo Limmousin x steers £1475; 3 17mo Limousin x steers to £1460 and 2 17mo Limousin x steers to £1430.

Next top price was £1560 for 2 23mo South Devon steers from Messrs B J & L Landick, Sampford Spiney. The same vendor also had 4 23mo South Devon steers to £1520 and a bunch of 6 24mo Welsh Black x steers to £1510.

Heifers topped at £1420 for 2 18mo Limousin x from Mr A J Eggins, Roborough; who also had 4 17mo South Devon steers to £1350. Next best in the heifers was £1310 for a 17mo Aberdeen Angus x from Messrs P J & J A Rogers, Sydenham Damerel who also had 3 17mo Simmental x heifers to £1180. Messrs B J & L Landick, Sampford Spiney had a bunch of 8 24mo Welsh Black x heifers to £1270.

Other notable prices in the store cattle included £1350 for a bunch of 8 16mo Charolais x steers from Mr R A Cole,Bere Alston who had another bunch of 8 14mo Charolais x steers to £1290. Mr M R Tucker, Bere Ferrers had 2 20mo Blonde x steers to £1290. Mr A P Legassick, Tavistock had a bunch of 7 18mo Charolais x steers at £1285. Messrs G & R Cundy, Lamerton had a bunch of 4 16mo South Devon steers at £1280 and another bunch of 4 15mo South Devon steers to £1180. Messrs A R & H C Radmore, Sheepstor saw his run top at £1200 for 22mo Aberdeen Angus steers to £1160. Mr I W Doidge, Whitchurch had 3 26mo South Devon steers to £1180. Mr W A Uglow had an overage 39mo Charolais x heifer to £1120 and Messrs J & G Nankivell, Tavistock had a 17mo Charolais x heifer to £1100.

There was another strong trade for the younger cattle where prices included £1020 for a bunch of 7 12mo Charolais x steers from Messrs Abel Bros, Peter Tavy; £1000 for 12mo Hereford x steer from Mr G H J Medland, Peter Tavy who also had a similar bunch of 3 to £970; £850 for 4 10-11mo Charolais x steers from Mr M H Northmore, Horrabridge; and £800 for a 10mo Stabiliser steer from Mr L C Branfield, Princetown.

There was a run of store bulls from Messrs J & D Cossens, Peter Tavy that met good demand “topping” at £1270 for a 20mo South Devon with other pens to £1190 and £1100.

The sale started with the grazing cows which topped at £1170 for a 8yo South Devon from Mr J W Hillson, Bere Alston.

Breeding Bulls sold to £1260 for a 2yo Purebred Welsh Black from Messr B J & L Landick, Sampford Spiney.

Cows and Calves topped at £1380 for a 4 ½ yo Aberdeen Angus cow with her 5mo Charolais calf at foot from Messrs O R & R Easterbrook, Coryton; who also had other outfits to £1360 and £1300. A 3 1/2yo South Devon cow with her 2mo South Devon calf at foot from Messrs N A & M F Holt-Martyn, Tavistock sold to £1340. Bulling heifers sold to £970 for 2 26mo Stabilisers from Mr L C Branfield, Princetown. In calf heifers sold to £1360 for a 28mo South Devon from Messrs W R & E C Stacey, Lewdown.

There was a run of Highland cattle from Messrs R & S Perryman, North Bovey which drew plenty of interest and some prices include £670 for a pedigree 10yo in calf to the Highland bull and £600 for a 4yo Cow with her 1 month old heifer calf at foot.