Dartmoor Farmers' Association (DFA) is celebrating the results of its annual Primestock Show this week as local butchers stock their shelves with cuts of native breed beef and lamb, slow matured on the slopes and high moorland of the Dartmoor National Park in time for Christmas.

The show was hosted by Gages Farm, Ashburton. On the first day live cattle and lamb were judged by John Downing, of Downings Butchers, Tavistock, while David Carter and Robin Beer, of Lloyd Maunders Butchers, judged the carcasses on day two.

David Carter said: 'I have been in the meat trade for over 50 years and in my honest opinion, the beef and lamb produced by the Dartmoor Farmers' Association is the best flavoured meat I have ever tasted.'

With over 50 members in the DFA and with strict production criteria set to achieve optimum animal welfare and environmental sustainability; competition on the day was fierce.

In the lamb category, G Abel and Sons, of Lower Godsworthy Farm, Peter Tavy, won supreme champion, and Tim Cunningham, of Burnville Farm, Brentor, won the reserve champion.

In the beef category, Ed Williams from Narracombe Farm, Ilsington, won supreme beef champion with his Aberdeen Angus cross South Devon steer, and Tom Elliott, of Blackmoor Farm, Ashburton, won reserve shampion with his Ruby Red Devon cross steer.

The award winning meat will be available in Downings from this Saturday.