AT 10am on Wednesday, queues of trailers and animal boxes disgorged their cargoes of ewes and lambs at the livestock market for the Newton Abbot and Dartmouth Young Farmers Clubs' annual sale of couples. Every year, young farmers are encouraged to take on three ewe lambs provided by their local clubs, rear them, take them to ram and bring back the fruit of their labours for auction. At 50 entries, numbers are up on previous years and there has been stronger interest from buyers too. Graham Stephens, of Herebere Farm, Bickington, had three ewes and five lambs on sale. 'Obviously we are trying to make a profit, which is ours to keep after the club has taken its costs back. 'It's a good way for young people to have a go,' he said. Heather Pilkington, 17, of Ullacombe Farm, Bovey Tracey, entered six ewes and eight lambs. She was landed with looking after her brother's animals after he set off travelling. 'It was really good. I am sad to see them go. My dad said I shouldn't get sheep because they always break out, but these didn't,' she said. Judge Leslie Barons from Beneknowle Farm, South Brent, Diptford, said he would be looking at the condition of the animals and whether they had trimmed feet. 'The ideal is to have one ewe and two lambs, even in size and conformation. You want the lambs to be the same size and age.' Show Championship was awarded to Nicky Wreyford, of Dartmouth YFC, whose pen of three ewes and five lambs sold for £101. The show and sale on behalf of the South Devon Breeders Club being held at the same time also aroused strong interest. Judge Richard Smaridge, of Borough Farm, near Kingsbridge, was there to judge a total of 80 entries. He selected a bull, Edmeston Dougal 2, born in March 2004, belonging to John Irish of Yarnhay, Modbury, as Show Champion. It was not sold in the auction, but was withdrawn at £980 and sold shortly afterwards. The Best Cow was Bittleford Cherry 82, born in May 2000, entered by PW and W Coaker and sold for £620 to J Clements of Ipplepen. Messrs Coaker also entered the Best Maiden Heifer, Bittleford Cherry 109, which sold for £505 to Mrs A B Brooks, of Jacobstowe.
