Stags of South Molton report a few more lambs forward this week, with trade up again, as buyers were very keen to secure lambs; especially the ‘export’ 41- 46kg range. Overall trade was up 3-4ppk on last week with the 41-46kg, well covered lambs up £3-4 per head.

Heavies being 52kg plus were between £1-2 per head dearer with the hardest sell of the day being the 48-49kg lambs, especially if they were very lean or over-fat. Buyers now looking out more for the over-fat lambs and keener on the leaner types.

Top of the day at £92 twice; to pens of 60.5kg Suffolk crosses and 67kg Charollais crosses both from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh. £89.80 to 57kg Suffolk crosses from Mr D Roper of Oakford with £89 twice; the first to 58.2kg Charollais crosses from Mrs FE Tucker of Twitchen and the second to 55.5kg Highlander crosses from Messrs PF & PA Tucker of High Bickington.

£88 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Mr SC Webber of Umberleigh closely followed at £87.80 twice; both to 55kg pens of Texel crosses from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe and Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe. £86 to 54.5kg Suffolk crosses again from Messrs Parsonage Farms with £85 twice; the first to 54.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs Bale and the second to 56kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone. £84 twice; the first to 54.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr W Milton of Chapeltown and the second to 51.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs Roberts & Phillips of Dulverton.

Best pens to 181ppk to 43.7kg Texel crosses from Mr WM Folland of Roborough with 179ppk three times; the first two pens to 43.5kg and 43kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh and the third to 43kg Charollais from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland. 178ppk to 45.6kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp also of Molland with 177ppk to 43kg Charollais crosses from Mr AR Bater of Chittlehamholt.

Five pens at 176ppk; the first to 42.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs M & V Dallyn Farms of West Buckland; the second to 44kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Greed of South Molton; the third to 44.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs PA & MEM Chudley of Romansleigh; the fourth to 44.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe and the fifth to 46kg Texel crosses from Mr FC Reed of North Molton. 175ppk to 44.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy.

A lovely show of store lambs which had a sparky trade from start to finish. Top of the day at £66 to Charollais crosses from Messrs RJ & MS Radford of Mariansleigh. £65 to Suffolk crosses from Mr J Bryant closely followed at £64.50 to Charollais crosses from Messrs PA & MEM Chudley of Romansleigh. £63 to Suffolk and Texel crosses from Messrs Bulworthy Partnership of Rackenford with £61.50 to Texel crosses from Mr J Warrick of Yarnscombe. Overall average: £60.41

A solid entry of cull sheep well up on last week and a really strong show of well framed and fleshed ewes, probably the best show of ewes since the spring. The overall average was up £5 on last week, overall trade was up another £2-3 per head again on the week. Best ewes were in demand from start to finish and excellent to see some great pens of Texels in the £120 bracket.

Mules were very similar money to last week and were the grazing, smaller types. Top of the day at £129 to a super pen of five grand Texels from Messrs JE & M Mather & Son of Arlington, closely followed at £128 to another Texel but this from Mr G J Hookway of Ilfracombe. £125 to another pure Texel from Mr FC Reed of North Molton. Suffolk Mules from Mr L Gillbard & Son of Black Dog at £92 with further blackfaces from Mr RE Latham of North Molton at £91. £90 to Messrs Mather’s second pen of Texels with similar bred ewes twice at £87 the first from Mr JWJ Milton of West Anstey and the second to Messrs RT & HD Kingdon of Barnstaple. £86 three times; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey; the second to Charollais crosses from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mr CN Williams of Withypool. £85 four times; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton; the second to Texels again from Mr Reed; the third to Suffolk Mules from Mr NJ Sharland of Winsham and the fourth to Texel crosses from Messrs RJ & AR Snell of Burrington. Best rams to £65 for a Texel from Messrs AJ & NG Latham of Kings Nympton.

READ MORE: South Molton market report for Thursday, October 24