Strong trade for suckled calves at Cutcombe

An entry of 1,211 2023-born calves at Cutcombe's two-day Farmers Guardian supported sale saw the 614 steers calves top at £1,115/head for a seven-month-old 430kg Aberdeen-Angus. The calf was from Goosemoor Farming,  Wheddon Cross, and sold to W. Coles and Daughters, Brompton Regis.

In the pre-sale show judged by Colin Harris, Devon, the first prize went to a pen of 330kg Limousins, also from Goosemoor  Farming, which sold for £1,045/head to A.G. Brind Farm Partnership, Chippenham.

The second prize winners were 315kg British Blue crosses from D.G. Pile, Kentisbury, which made £902/head to S. Cox, Dorset. In third place were 305kg British Blue crosses from Kingsley Nicholas, Bratton Fleming, which were knocked down to T. Biddle, St Briabels, for £920/head.

Limousin steers topped at £1,090 for Goosemoor Farming, with Charolais also to £1,090 for M.R. Scott and Son, Brendon Hill. British Blue steers peaked at £1,005 for Messrs Pile.

Goosemoor Farming also had the winning heifers - 340kg seven-month-old Limousins, which were knocked down for £925/head to Matthew Gillett, Gloucestershire.

Second prize went to Messrs Pile with 290kg five-month-old British Blues, bought by Feltham Court, Herefordshire, for £940/head. The third prize was won by a 350kg seven-month-old Charolais from P. and A. Prebenson,  Dulverton, which sold to F.C. Reed, North Molton, for £920/head.

Charolais heifers topped at £945 for K.J. Parker, Bilbrook, with Aberdeen-Angus to £880 for Goosemoor Farming and British Blues to £950 for D. Stevens and Sons, Wheddon Cross.

Top price steers per kilo at 354.8p were Charolais crosses from Taylor Farms, Exford, and top price heifers at 351.9p/kg were British Blues from D. Stevens and Sons.

 Averages - 614 steers, £876/head; 597 heifers, £741.31.

 Auctioneers: Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions.