WARD and Chowen, Auctioneers at Tavistock Livestock Centre, held their largest cattle sale for at least 20 years last month. A total of 868 cattle went under the hammer at the annual Goose Fair sale and met a very strong trade throughout the whole day, with 100% clearance. Buyers present from all over the country packed around the ring with many consignments of quality cattle on offer. Top price was £708 for a bunch of 17/18 month old Limousin x steers from Messrs W H and M Tucker and Son, Brentor. The same vendor also had top price heifers at £585 for three 18 month old Limousin x. Younger store cattle topped at £648 for two 14 month old Limousin x steers from Mr J H Grills, Bere Alston. Similar aged heifers sold to £500 for a bunch of six 14 month old Charolais from Messrs K C and J C Heard, Okehampton. Other notable store cattle prices were £690 for a 24 month old Charolais x steer for Messrs J E Spry and Sons, Buckland Monachorum; £665 for a bunch of six 16/17 month old Blonde x steers from Messrs K H Squire and Son, Coryton; £650 for five Charolais x steers from Mr W A Kilfedder, Tavistock; £585 for six 14/16 month old South Devon steers for Mr E Dodd, Peter Tavy and £600 for a bunch of six 16 month old Charolais x from Mr R A Littlejohns, Peter Tavy. The sale commenced with the sale of breeding cattle which sold to £625 for a seven year old South Devon cow with her purebred heifer calf at foot for Mr W R Howard, Yelverton. Breeding bulls sold to £600 for a 2 1/2 year old Welsh Black for Messrs Skelley, Shaugh Prior.
