A BUMPER crowd turned up to see livestock markets return to Tavistock yesterday morning (Wednesday) with the first cattle sale since the foot and mouth crisis.
Auctioneers Ward and Chowen had around 80 cattle for sale, having met all the strict bio-security measures required by DEFRA before markets could recommence.
Auctioneer Chris Clapham was happy that Tavistock was now able to hold its first cattle market 12 months after the outbreak of foot and mouth, and was pleased with the turnout.
Around 60 people attended the sale, at Tavistock Livestock Centre, some buying and selling. Others were there to meet up with fellow farmers as life in agriculture begins to return to normality.
Milton Abbot livestock agent Jim Rapson had come to buy stock at the auction and was glad the market had begun again. 'It's good to see a local market starting again, getting the bureaucrats out the way and getting back to business,' he said.
'A market town needs its cattle market, it's somewhere people can meet and do business,' said Mr Rapson.
Charles Ellis, a farmer from Bickleigh, had come to market with his family with ten cattle for sale. 'We are testing the water, really,' he said, 'it has been a long time coming.'
Mr Ellis said he was very pleased to see Tavistock market open again, and everybody was adapting well to the changes there which were forced by bio-security guidelines.
These safety measures meant those entering the cattle-handling area had to wear waterproofs and have their boots disinfected and farmers bringing cattle to market had their vehicles washed and disinfected on site.
Ward and Chowen are gearing up for a much larger sale next month. Many farmers kept back stock from this sale to concentrate on the forthcoming March Fair, where hundreds of cattle are likely to be entered.
The March Fair will take place at the livestock centre on Wednesday, March 13.