Strong cattle entry at Exeter

Demand remained good for a large entry of cattle at Exeter market, despite easing of the finished trade over the past weeks.

It was continentals taking the top price, with a two year old continental selling for £870. He was the property of E H and J A Dennis, North Taunton. Success continued for the Dennis family, with a group of four Simmental cross also making £840 each.

Also sharing top price was a Belgian Blue steer from H and M Thorne, Umberleigh. There were several strong finishing animals in the £650 to £780 range, with best meat heifers on offer to £738 for a Limousin from K Partridge, Dawlish.

A useful entry of cows and calves also sold well with single suckled bull calf outfits to £835 and heifer couples to £790. In-calf Charolais cows sold to £835 for A Barrow, Newton Abbot.

Calves were in short numbers and those that were forward were mostly Friesians. Top price of the day was £208 for a South Devon bull from Messrs R J Rew and Son. Heifers peaked at £165, also a South Devon from Rew and Son. Heifers averaged £153 a piece.

Black and whites sold to a top of £82 a piece both from Messrs A J and D M Peters.

Trade was consistent with finished cattle, with a good entry topping 138.5p/kg for a 714kg South Devon, from W V George, West Alvington.

Heifers sold to 135.50p/kg for a 572kg Limousin heifer from D E Goss, Totnes.

An increasing entry of store lambs met a strong demand. Vendors were picking the smaller sorts first to test the market were pleased with prices obtained. Top price went to H T Davis making £40 a head.

A smaller entry of ewes saw prices topping at £53 for a Charollais. £56 for Suffolk and Border Leicester, Texel‘s to £59.50, Dorset to £53 and Hampshire’s to £49.50.