A bigger entry of new season lambs this week which was of variable quality met the expected easier trade again.

All the usual buyers were present and with very depressed deadweight prices it was inevitable that trade would be difficult. On the whole trade was no worse than expected and the better lambs were sold between 164-167ppk.

There was a bit more interest in the 41-44kg lambs than has been seen of late and the lambs were just dear enough for the store lambs buyers not to get involved.

Top of the day at £92.50 for a pen of 65.3kg pure Suffolks from Miss A Mogford of Nomansland with £83.20 to 57kg Charollais-crosses from Mr M Randall of Chulmleigh. £83 twice; the first to 54.5kg Texel-crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone and the second to 51.7kg Charollais-crosses from Mr R J Evely of Peters Marland.

£81.80 to 51kg Suffolk-crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton closely followed at £81.50 to 51.2kg Charollais-crosses from the same vendor. £81 to 50.8kg Texel-crosses from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill with £80 three times; the first to 49.7kg Charollais-crosses again from Mr Irwin; the second to 48.1kg Texel-crosses from Messrs T & L Cole of Heasley Mill and the third to 57kg Charollais-crosses from Mr Randall again.

£79.50 to 47.8kg Charollais-crosses from Mr MC Cole of Ash Mill.

Best pens to 167 ppk three times; the first to 45kg Texel-crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challcombe; the second to 41.3kg Dorset-crosses from Mr R Dalton of Oakford and the third to 46.3kg Texel-crosses from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham. 166ppk five times; the first to 45.5kg Texel-crosses from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe; the second to 43.6kg Suffolk-crosses from Mr FC Reed of North Molton; the third to 42.5kg Texel-crosses from Mr M Jerrett of South Molton; the fourth to 47.8kg Charollais-crosses from Mr MC Cole of Ash Mill and the fifth to 48.1kg Texel-crosses from Messrs T & L Cole of Heasley Mill.

165ppk twice; the first to 44.2kg Charollais-crosses from Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton and the second to 44.2kg Texel-crosses from Mr M Jerrett of South Molton. 164ppk three times; the first to 43.9kg Charollais-crosses from Mrs SM Maddick of East Antey; the second to 42.2kg Charollais-crosses from Mr RS Slape of Chittlehampton and the third to 43.1kg Texel-crosses from Messrs AW & SA Meikle of Meshaw.

A very low number of cull sheep forward this week which no doubt helped the trade. All the buyers are looking to source and purchase ewes, it is just at what price. Overall trade was up £2-4 per head on most ewes against last week with a number of mules sold this week £62 plus. Top of the day at £8.50 for a pen of Suffolk-crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland with £81 to further blackfaces from Mr RE Brown of Stoodleigh.

£79 for Suffolk mules from Messrs WH & JC Hayes of Twitchen with similar bred ewes from Mr R Richards of Heasley Mill and Mr MB Short of Burrington at £77.50.

£77 to Texels from Messrs Temuka Ltd of Meshaw with Suffolks from Bonner Farms of Burrington at £76. Closely followed at £75.50 to Texel-crosses from Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton. £75 twice; both to Suffolk pens from Mr Brown again and Mr M Randall of Chulmleigh. Plenty of pens acceding the £70 barrier with best rams to £83.50 for a Suffolk from Mr M Bray of Knowstone.