THE annual Chagford Suckled Calf Show and Sale was held by Rendells last Thursday and attracted a good crowd of buyers for the increased entry.

The trade on the day was strong considering the age and size of the cattle put forward, with the top price being £885 for a Blonde Aquitaine steer entered by H Scott and Son and bought by W H Coles and Daughters of Dulverton. The top price for heifers was £685 for a bunch of three Charolais cross heifers from I G Mortimore and Son.

Show Results: 3 Pure bred calves: 1, W J and D M Jordan and Sons' South Devon steers; 2, A G Cottle whose South Devon steers sold for £620. Cross bred steers: 1, I G Mortimore and Son whose Charolais cross steers sold for £830; 2, B Brown whose Aberdeen Angus crosses sold for £600; 3, H Scott and Son whose Blonde Aquitaine steers sold for £785. 3 cross bred heifers: 1, H Scott and Son whose Blonde Aquitaine sold for £668; 2, I G Mortimore and Son whose Charolais cross sold for £680.

The individual champion bullock was a Blonde Aquitaine Heifer exhibited by H Scott and Son which sold in a bunch for £660. The reserve champion was also awarded to H Scott and Son for a Blonde Aquitaine steer which was sold in a bunch for £785.

The Tom Turner trophy for the best individual Blonde calf was also won by Messrs H Scott and Son with their heifer. The farmer's trophy for the best animal in the suckled calf sale only section was won by Messrs H Scott and Son for a Blonde Aquitaine cross steer which made £885 and the reserve champion went to Bridget Brown for an Aberdeen Angus cross steer which sold for £750.

The store cattle section attracted an entry of 15 bullocks with a top price of £850 for Charolais cross steers from Messrs J D Northway and Sons.

Leading Prices: Suckled calves: South Devon steers, £755, W J and D M Jordan and Sons; South Devon heifers, £510, K J Watson; Shorthorn steers, £490, T Mears; Charolais steers, £830, I G Mortimore and Son; Charolais heifers, £680, I G Mortimore and Son; Blonde Aquitaine steers, £885, H Scott and Son; Blonde Aquitaine heifers, £688, H Scott and Son; Aberdeen Angus steers, £750, Bridget Brown.

Store Cattle: Charolais steers, £850, J D Northway and Sons; Charolais heifers, £725, J D Northway and Sons; South Devon steers, £710, A G Cottle.

The Chagford sale committee thanks Mr D Goss and Mr P Gammin for kindly agreeing to judge the classes and Mole Avon Town and Country Stores for their sponsorship.