Stags of South Molton report a much smaller entry of lambs this week, with the lowest consignment seen for many months.

Overall the lambs were much better quality, with only a few pens of under-finished lambs on offer.

With the shorter number and better quality of lambs on offer trade was up markedly although in real terms it was up 3-4ppk. Again, the well covered 45kg plus lambs were the most sought after and it always helps when you have the full compliant of buyers in attendance. Top of the day at £92 to 54.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe, with £90.50 55kg Texel crosses from Messrs FG & FM Saunders of Templeton.

£90 to a 70kg Charollais from Miss PMP Wyatt of Lynton with £87.50 to 50.5kg Texel crosses from Mr RJ Radford of Mariansleigh.

Closely followed at £87 twice; the first to 51.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr PT Slade of Braunton and the second to 50kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs RJ & J Ridd of East Buckland.

£86.20 to 52kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe, whose second pen of slightly lighter types followed closely at £86.

£84.50 to 48kg Charollais crosses from Mr AW Selley & Son of Ash Mill, with £83 to Messrs Saunders second 50.2kg Texel cross pen.

£82.50 to 46kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh, with £82.20 to 49.3kg Suffolk & Charollais crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge. £82 to 49.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe.

Best pens to 181 ppk to 42.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh, whose second same weight Texel cross pen rose to 180ppk. 179ppk to 46kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh with 177ppk hit three times; the first to 44kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Fuller; the second to 45.5kg Texel crosses from Mr RJ Radford of Mariansleigh, and the third to 45.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe.

READ MORE: Annual South Molton Sheep Fair auction report Wednesday 21 August

176ppk three times; the first to 42.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr AR Bater of Chittlehamholt; the second to 44kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Bale and the third to 48kg Charollais crosses from Mr AW Selley & Son of Ash Mill. 175ppk also a hat trick; the first to 44.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs Bale; the second to 44kg Charollais crosses from Mr Selley again and the third to 45.6kg Texel crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland.

174ppk five times; the first to 43kg Charollais crosses again from the Selley Family; the second to 44kg Texel crosses from Mr CR Mildon of Bishops Nympton; the third to 50kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs RJ & J Ridd of East Buckland; the fourth to 46.7kg Texel crosses from Messrs White & Tucker of Pennymoor and the fifth to 47kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MC & YD Yeo of Yarnscombe.

Another similar number of cull sheep forward which for some pens would have been £3-4 dearer than the previous fortnight. Having said that the quality of ewes this week was back on previous highs keeping the overall average only 30p up on last weeks.

The half meat ewes would have seen the best trade all day and looked dearer on comparison to the best ewes. Plenty of grazing men still seeking ewes.

Top of the day at £89 to a pen of Scotch Half Breds from Mrs M Tapp of Molland closely followed at £88.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs FG & FM Saunders of Templeton. £82.50 to further blackfaces from Mr G Mill & Partners Ltd of Witheridge with £81 to similar bred ewes from Mr RJ Cole of Knowstone.

£77.50 twice; both to Suffolk pens from Messrs Saunders again and Mr PJ Huxtable of Bratton Fleming. £77 also twice; the first to Charollais cross from Mr AE Chudley & Son of Romansleigh with further Scotch Half Breds from Mrs Tapp. Two pens at £75 as well; the first to Texels from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe and the second to Suffolks from Mr AJ Huxtable of Bratton Fleming.

Best rams to £88 for a Devon Closewool from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey with a Blue Faced Leicester from Mr R Kilving ton of Dulverton at £78.50

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