A STEER raised by Ivybridge farmers Lewis and Alan Cook has taken top honours in the 34th Exeter and District Christmas show.

Limousin cross British Blue steer Clean Bandit was exhibited by Lewis at the show, held at Exeter livestock market, having been raised by him and his father at Higher Yeo Farm.

The prizewinning beast was sold to Darts Farm Master Butchers of Topsham, fetching 300p per kilogramme - a total of £1,956 for 652kg.

The win is the latest in a long line for Clean Bandit and the Cooks. In 2012, they won the national show with another steer, and Clean Bandit had already enjoyed success on the South Devon primestock circuit leading up to the Exeter and District show.

Afterwards, Lewis said: ‘He was an outstanding steer. We were very lucky this year that they’ve grown on as well as they have. A lot of effort and planning has gone in, and a bit of luck as well.’

Lewis said that showing was more of a hobby than a business for his father and him. The aim was to achieve as ‘clean’ a carcase as possible, he explained, with as much meat and as little fat as possible, and this was best achieved by keeping the animal indoors with lots of feed.

Lewis received his trophy from the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Olwen Foggin.

She spoke of the excellent display of cattle and sheep and thanked the show’s president Andrew Down, chairman John Quick, secretary Katie Rice, and the committee for the work they put into the show.

Cllr Foggin added the show was ‘a fine example of the stockmanship maintained by South West farms’, and said: ‘Without the dedicated work of the exhibitors in the hours they spend preparing these animals, there would be no show.’