Stags of South Molton report a wonderful entry of over 2, 500 sheep were penned at the Annual South Molton Sheep Fair last Wednesday.

The trade for all breeding ewes was very strong from start to finish; which saw a clearance rate of 98 per cent.

The rams met a more selective trade, as is the norm at this time of year and met a clearance rate of 65 per cent.

The day started as always with the older ewes which saw prices top at £110 for a pen of Pure Charollais full mouths from Mrs FE Tucker of South Molton. £102 to full mouth Suffolk Mules from Messrs WH & JC Hayes of Twitchen with other similar pens to £92 and £90.

Next best was a flock dispersal of 200 Texel Mules flock age ewes from Messrs L & SM Govier of Kings Nympton met plenty of interest topping at £98 for two pens of 4 & 6T ewes with the majority selling over the £90 mark.

There were over 200 older Mules forward which topped at £92 for three pens of 2/3 crop ewes from Mr R Sizmur of Okehampton. Next into the ring were the ewe lambs with nearly 350 forward it was good to see more within the sale.

Vendors were rewarded with a decent trade that topped at £86 for a pen of Suffolk Mules from Messrs IP & JIW Carey of Stoodleigh whose other pens realised £83 (x3) and £82 (x2).

Texel Mules to £75 from Mr R Sizmur of Okehampton with other pens at £72 & £70.

The sale then moved down to the main ring for the shearlings where just under 2000 were penned with just shy of 1, 000 of them being mules. Trade in this section was probably the best of the day and just got dearer as the sale progressed.

Top price in the shearlings this year was £140 for a pen of Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ & JC Rottenbury of Black Dog whose similar pens rose to £138 (x3) and £132. Other Suffolk Mules rose to £132 twice, for pens from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton.

£130 was achieved on many occasions from Messrs H & M Thorne of Warkleigh (x2), Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy (x2) and Mr CF Rice of Chulmleigh. Mules topped at £138 twice, both pens from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton who also had further pens at £132, £130 (x2) and £125. Next best was £135 for Messrs H & M Thorne of Warkleigh whose second pen rose to £128. A big consignment of 450 from Mr R Sizmur of Okehampton topped at £130 (x2) with other pens at £128 (x3), £126 (x3) and an overall average of just over £124 for the 450 sold. Other mules at £128 twice; the first to Messrs R & D Passmore of Bideford and second to Messrs DWC & MJ Elworthy of Satterleigh. £125 four times; the first two pens from Messrs Passmore and the second two pens from Mr D & Mrs G Christopher of Dulverton.

A good entry of whiteface shearlings topped from the annual consignment from Messrs MEJ Branfield & Sons of Wiveliscombe of Blue Faced Leicester x Texel ewes at £128 (x4) with other pens at £125 and £118. £128 was also achieved for a strong pen of Texel Mules from Messrs ME Snell & Son of Knowstone whose second pen rose to £125 as well.

Also at £125 was a pen from Mr MJ Tucker of Umberleigh whose second pen rose to £122. Messrs RJ & JC Rottenbury of Black Dog saw their run of Texel Mules top at £122 (x2). 133 MV & Non MV Accredited rams met a selective trade however the quality rams still sold on the day. Top of the day at £650 twice for a Suffolk shearling from Messrs HJ & RA Mildon of Brayford and a Texel shearling from Messrs R & MF Rottenbury of Wiveliscombe. Again the same vendors had further rams to £600, £570, £550 (x2) and £520.

Denby Smith of Chulmleigh, a regular vendor of Charollais rams sold to £450 and £400. Other well bred Texel shearlings from Messrs HJ & MR Moore of Knowstone, selling rams for the first time at South Molton sheep fair, enjoyed at healthy trade in the MV accredited section. Having a 100 per cent clearance to a top of £420 and £400 (x3). A sale that’s top prices were dominated by Texels and Suffolks also saw regular consignors Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh sold Blue Faced Leicester shearlings to £400.

Speaking to customers after the sale, many are still seeking to acquire rams later in the year with the second breeding ewe and ram sale of Wednesday September 18 potentially well placed to capitalise on this.