South Devon Cattle. 65 



The last-named sold the bull Eclipse for 120 guineas — the 

 highest known price, apart from animals purchased for export — 

 to Lord Howard de Walden, in 1909. He was purchased as a 

 yearling for 55 guineas from Mr. N. Boon's herd, from which 

 maTiy high-priced and noted bulls have sprung. Eeiv Style, 

 for instance, the Victorian champion, and lieiv Forster, which 

 made 72 guineas at seventeen months old, a son of Minister 

 (bred by Mr. J, S. Wroth), which Mr. Grepe acquired of Mr. 

 Boon for three figures, and beat all breeds with him in South 

 Africa. Incidentally, Mr. Boon's record of highest prices at 

 spring bull sales at Totnes illustrates the advance in the value 

 of good specimens. These are 40 guineas, 50 guineas, 55^ 

 guineas, 70 guineas, and 72 guineas, the latter, with two excep- 

 tions, the best obtained. At the autumn sale the highest 

 prices recorded were in October, 1912, when Leiglmm. Boy 

 (calved January 12, 1912) and Leigham Laddie (calved 

 November 25, 1911) were sold for 07 and iq^ guineas respec- 

 tively, both being bred by Messrs. Butland Bros. 



The Herd Book Society holds sales of pedigree stock at 

 Totnes on the first Thursdays in April and October, and those 

 who desire to see a really representative collection of male 

 animals of the South Devon breed should attend the spring 

 sale and see the bulls then offered after they have been running 

 more or less rough the winter through. They are offered in 

 three classes : exceeding twenty months old, between twelve 

 and twenty months old, and from eight to twelve months old, 

 the bulk of the animals usually being from twelve to twenty 

 months old, and those exceeding that age fewest. 



Last April at the sale about a score fetched 30 guineas and 

 over, most of those changing hands going at from 20 to 30 

 guineas, for which price sturdy, useful animals for home farms 

 are obtainable, but those who require the ver,y best must be 

 prepared to pay for milk and beef progeny. There are usually 

 at least 100 bulls at the spring sale and about half that number 

 at the autumn sale. At the local markets and fairs pedigree 

 stock is occasionally offered, but, speaking generally, owners of 

 herds are chary of parting with relialile females, which are 

 in demand at from 25 to 40 guineas. To obtain good pedigree 

 dams the most satisfactory method to pursue is to get into 

 direct touch with the breeders, or watch for the dispersal of 

 well-established herds. Over 10,000 pedigree bulls, cows and 

 heifers figure in the Herd Book. 



ROBT. Drennan. 



Totnes, Devon. 



VOL. 73. 



