Stags of South Molton report a decent number of lambs forward this week which sold to a dearer trade.

Most lambs up £2-3 per head on last week with a lot more handy weight (42-46kg) lambs on offer this week.

Not too many heavier lambs about which made the ones forward dearer again, however still a number of lean lambs coming forward which are becoming more and more discounted and dragging the SQQ and overall averages down.

Trade remained level from start to finish. Top of the day at £90 to 64kg pure Charollais from Mr D Smith of Chulmleigh with £87.20 to 58.4kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Ashley Game Farm of Wembworthy.

£87 to 50 kg indoor Texel crosses from Mr AW Fisher & Son of Oakford. £85.50 to 54kg Texel crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton closely followed at £85.20 to 54.2kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton. £84.80 to Messrs Ashley Game Farm’s second 57.5kg pen with £84 to 53.4kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton. £82.50 to 49.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs L & SM Govier of Kings Nympton with £81 to Mr Smale’s second 51kg Texel cross pen.

£80.50 to 52.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone with £80 reached four times; the first to 53.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr AE Chudley & Son of Romansleigh; the second to 58kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Lake Brothers of Beaford; the third and fourth both to Mr Irwin for his 48.6kg and 51.5kg Texel cross pens.

Best pens to 174ppk to 50kg indoor Texel crosses from Mr AW Fisher & Son of Oakford whose second pen of 40kg indoor lambs followed at 173ppk. 172ppk to 44kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe with 169ppk twice; the first to 43.9kg Suffolk & Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland and the second to 44.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock.

168ppk three times; the first to 44kg Texel crosses from Mr D Fergie of Ash Mill; the second to 43.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs P & S Llewellyn of Oakford and the third to Messrs Bale’s second 46kg pen. 167ppk three times; the first to 42.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr CJ Thorne of Sandyway; the second to 44.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh and the third to 49.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs L & SM Govier of Kings Nympton. 166ppk four times; the first to 44.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs MC & CM Ridewood of East Anstey; the second to 44.3kg Charollais crosses from Miss JM Robins of East Anstey; the third to 47.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs C & DR Nicholas and the fourth to 47.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton.

READ MORE: Holsworthy auction report Tuesday September 24

165ppk six times; the first three pens to 44.5-45kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons again; the fourth to 47.9kg Charollais crosses from Mr D Shere of Oakford; the fifth to 46kg Texel crosses from Messrs DL & JM Bray of Son of Knowstone and the sixth to 48.6kg Texel crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton.

The largest number of cull sheep for a month or so and a surprisingly better trade. There was still a huge amount of plainer, grazing ewes forward but enough demand to keep the prices at a decent level. Best ewes were a similar trade but the medium, half meat ewes appeared more wanted and a touch dearer. Top of the day at £107 for a grand Charollais ewe from Mr D Smith of Chulmleigh. Next best at £87 to Texels from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe closely followed at £86.50 for two further pens of Texels both from Messrs RT & HD Kingdon of Barnstaple.

£84 to Texels from Mr AW Fisher & Son of Oakford with another Charollais from Mr Smith at £82. The same money for Suffolk Mules from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton. £79 twice; both to Suffolk cross pens from Messrs Kingdon and Messrs Kelley & Stevens of Burrington.

£78 twice also to blackface pens from Messrs Ashley Game Farm Ltd of Wembworthy and Mr JA Goscomb of Twitchen. £77 to Suffolk crosses from Messrs Brightley Farms of Umberleigh closely followed at £76.50 with similar bred ewes from Messrs AJ & NG Latham of Kings Nympton.

£76 to Suffolk Mules from Mr MJ Avery of Yarnscombe and £75.50 to other blackfaces from Messrs Ashley Game Farm Ltd. Best rams to £70 for a Texel from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe.

READ MORE: Sedgemoor auction report Monday September 30