STAGS of South Molton report a decent number of prime hoggs still over the four figure total but overall an expected easier trade.

Trade was back six ppk on the SQQ with the best hoggs around or just over the 200ppk mark.

The quality of the entry this week would be back on last week but the majority were in the 44-50kg range; with few real heavy hoggs forward. Buyers are reporting that sales have slowed this week which has resulted in the easier trade.

Top of the day at £101.50 to 59kg Charollais crosses from Messrs WJ & MA Stoneman of Chulmleigh, closely followed at £101 to 67kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington. £99.50 to 57.5kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland with £99 to 56.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs Holland Partnership of Warkleigh.

£98 twice; the first to 54kg Texel crosses from Messrs Cook Partners of Georgeham and the second to 57kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh. £97.50 also received twice; the first to 55.6kg Texel crosses from Mr RE Latham of North Molton and the second to 57kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland.

A double at £97; the first to 55.1kg Berrichon crosses from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe and the second to 64kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JK May of Eastleigh. £95.80 to 57.3kg Texel crosses from Mr W Parker & Son of South Molton with £95 twice; the first to 54.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr JWJ Milton of West Anstey and the second to 48.7kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton.

Best pens to 204ppk to 41.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D & J Baker of Yarnscombe with 201ppk three times; the first to 39kg Charollais crosses from Mr AR Bater of Chittlehamholt; the second to Messrs Baker’s second 44kg pen and the third to 40.3kg Texel crosses from Mr M & Mrs L Gardiner of Ash Mill.

READ MORE: South Molton market report, Thursday January 2

199ppk twice; the first to 37kg Texel crosses from Mr WR Hale of Ilfracombe and the second to 42kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland. 198ppk five times; the first to 40kg Texel crosses from Messrs TL & MJ Avery of Barnstaple; the second to 42.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh; the third to 40.4kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland with the fourth and fifth pens to 39.5kg and 42.5kg Texel crosses from Mr LA Luxmoore of Crediton.

197ppk also five times; the first to 40.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsford; the second to 43.4kg Charollais crosses again from the Irwin Family; the third to 42.2kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton; the fourth to 47kg Texel crosses from Mr T Hervin of Chittlehampton and the fifth to 46.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland.

Another five pens at 196ppk; the first to 39.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs MJ & AL Elston of Romansleigh; the second to 45.2kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy; the third to 40.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs Tucker & Son of Barnstaple and the fourth and fifth pens to 46kg and 47.4kg Texel and Suffolk crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton.

A similar number of cull sheep and generally quality was up with a fast trade from start to finish. Buyers all very keen to secure ewes which appear to be in much shorter supply nationally. Well fleshed Suffolk Mules sold generally from £92-£110 and strong Mules were £75-£82. Again the dearest ewes to the medium size are making towards the £80 mark.

Best ewes rose to £136 today for a cracking pair of Pure Texels from Messrs SM & EM Reed of Umberleigh with £116.50 to a trio of Pure Suffolks from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde. £108.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs Cook Partners of Georgeham with £108 closely followed for Texels from Messrs Holland Partnership of Warkleigh.

£106.50 to Messrs Cook’s second pen of Suffolks with Texels from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham at £102. Two pens of Texels at £100 from Mr FR Chave & Son of Cruwys Morchard and Messrs CFJ & PJ Street of Witheridge. Mr Dymond’s second pen of Pure Suffolks rose to £99.50 closely followed at £99 for Blue Faced Leicesters from Mr RHS Turner of Honiton. £98 to Texels from Mr T Elliott Ltd of Holsworthy with £97.50 to Suffolk Mules again from Messrs Cook.

£96.50 twice; the first to Texels again from Messrs Chave and Suffolks from Messrs Cook. Mr Turner’s second pen of Blue Faced Leicesters rose to £95.50, closely followed at £95 for Suffolk Mules from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Ashreigney. £94 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs S & KA Hamlin of Tiverton with £93.50 to similar bred ewes from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge.

£93 four times; the first to Suffolks from Mr BR May of Burrington; the second and third to further blackfaces from Mr PJ Huxtable of Bratton Fleming and Mr RE Latham of North Molton and the fourth to Texels again from the Chave Family. Best rams to £109 for a Charollais from Messrs D & J Baker of Yarnscombe with the same breed from Messrs CFJ & PJ Street of Witheridge at £106. Further Charollais rams from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton at £103 and Mr D Smith of Chulmleigh at £100.