STAGS of South Molton report an excellent start to the new year with a strong number of hogs forward and a dearer trade which held right through to the end of the sale.

Many pens of the handy-weight (42-46kg) hogs sold in excess of the 200ppk mark, with the real difference being for the 47-52kg lambs which were really wanted and generally selling over the £90 mark.

Despite the large number of hogs forward, there were not too many really heavy lambs, which would normally be consigned at the time of the year and as a result they are very strong money. Buyers are still noting that a lot of lambs are too thick and some now too dirty.

Best pens to 217ppk to 40.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs T & L Cole of Heasley Mill with 213ppk twice; the first to 41.5kg Charollais crosses and the second to 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr AA Milton of Chapelton.

212ppk to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr FC Reed of North Molton with 211ppk to 44kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh. 209ppk five times; the first to 44kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs DL & JM Bray & Son of Knowstone; the second to 43kg Texels from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland; the third to 46.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock; the fourth to Messrs Irwin & Son’s second 46.6kg pen and the fifth to 46.8kg Texel crosses from Mr MC Cole of Ash Mill. 208ppk three times; the first to 46.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs WH & JC Hayes of Twitchen; the second to 45kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill, and the third to 44.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs B & T Baker of Alverdiscott. 207ppk to 42.6kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JK May of Eastleigh and 206ppk to 44.5kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Hayes.

Top of the day at £115.50 to 62kg Suffolk from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh, with £112.50 to 67kg Suffolk cross from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone. £110.50 to Parsonage Farms second 59kg Suffolk pen, closely followed at £110 to 62.2kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs J & J Watts of Goodleigh. £109.50 to 57.6kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland with £108 twice; the first to 55kg Charollais cross from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon and the second to 57kg Texel crosses from Messrs T & L Cole of Heasley Mill.

£106 to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr FC Reed & Sons of North Molton. £104.50 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Tucker & Son of Barnstaple with £103.80 to 55.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr DW Phillips of Berrynarbor. £103 twice; the first to 55kg Suffolk crosses from Mr BWJ Lavis of Okehampton and the second to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington.

£102.80 to 52.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh. £102.50 to 50kg Suffolk cross from Mr Reed again with £102 twice; the first to 57.5kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde and the second to 52.7kg Texel crosses from Mrs Tapp again.

A similar entry of around 150 store lambs to last sale before Christmas which sold to a dearer trade following the increase in the prime trade. Best money for the stronger, well bred hogs but probably the dearest looking pens were the smaller, longer keeping lambs that were sold over the £60 mark. Top of day at £83.50 to a pen of Suffolk crosses from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh, with £84 to Southdowns from Messrs A & C Brown of Clayhanger.

£83 to Suffolk crosses from Mrs A Plume of West Anstey with Texels from Mr MC Cole of Ash Mill at £79.50. £78.50 to Texel crosses from Messrs Tucker & Son of Barnstaple.

Another good number and quality entry of cull sheep this week with many big ewes on offer. Last year finished with an excellent trade and this years start was no different. Trade was probably a shade dearer than the last sale with most strong Suffolk Mules between the £95-£110 mark. Mules again wanted with the better end all over £70 and nearly up to £90!

Topping the day at £129 to a pair of Texels from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey with a cracking pen of Suffolk Mules from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe at £117. Similar bred ewes from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney at £110 and Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy at £105.50. Charollais crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh at £103 with Texels from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland at £97.50.

£97 to Suffolk Mules from Mr C Gove of Braunton, closely followed at £96.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr GJ Hookway of Ilfracombe. £96 to further blackfaces from Mr JM Becklake Ltd of Bishops Nympton with £95 twice to similar ewes from Messrs HJ & RH Mildon of Brayford and Messrs Thorne again.

£94 five times; the first to Texel crosses from the Harris Family this time; the second to Texel crosses from Mr R Broad of Chapelton; the third to Messrs Tarr’s second pen of Texels; the fourth to Suffolk Mules again from the Thorne Family and the fifth to Texels from Mr RJ Shapland of Stoke Rivers.

Best rams to £96 twice; first to Texel from Messrs GJ & P Arscott & Son of Umberleigh and the second to Lleyns from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh, whose Suffolk rose to £95.50. Further Texels from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son to £95.

READ MORE: Truro Livestock Market report for Thursday, January 2