Stags of South Molton report a slightly bigger entry of hoggs this week compared to last and another lift in trade.

Overall a decent quality entry with a lot of hoggs between 47-50kg.

Best trade per kilo again for the export types (42-46kg) but again every was wanted whatever the weight and breed!

Most hoggs are being presented clean (bellied) and well finished.

The shortage of number nationally seems to be driving the trade as most processors are moaning that they are too dear to sell on.

Top of the day at £132.50 for a 72kg Suffolk cross from Mr SA Willis of Prixford with £129 to 70kg Suffolk cross from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh.

£120 to 62kg Pure Texel from Mr N Rottenbury of Heasley Mill with £118.50 to 58kg Charollais crosses from Mr RL Ash of Okehampton.

Closely followed at £118 to Mr Govier’s second 56kg Charollais cross pen.

£113.80 to 56.6kg North Country Cheviot crosses from Mr R Kilvington of Dulverton with £111.50 to 59kg Suffolk crosses from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh.

Two pens at £110; the first to 50.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton and the second to 52.1kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Ash. £109.50 also twice; the first to 53kg Texel crosses from Mr NJ Gard of Landkey and the second to 52.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr Ash, whose fourth pen rose to £108.80. £108.50 to 53kg Suffolk crosses from Mr Willis.

Best pens to 228ppk to 45.7kg Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Son of Iddesleigh with 224ppk to 41.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh.

223ppk twice; both to 41-42kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh whose third 41kg pen followed closely at 221ppk.

The same value as 44.8kg Texel crosses from Mr ME Snell & Son of Knowstone.

220ppk to 40kg Charollais crosses from Mr AR Bater of Chittlehamholt with 219ppk twice; the first to 43.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr MB Short of Burrington and the second to 42kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs GR & RJ Ward of Iddesleigh.

218ppk four times; the first to 39.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr W Milton of Chapelton; the second to 40.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr Bater again; the third to 45kg Texel crosses from Mr MF Way of South Molton and the fourth to 46.8kg Texel crosses again from the Snell Family.

217ppk twice; the first to 48.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr RS Slape of Chittlehampton and the second to 50.7kg Texel crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton.

216ppk five times; the first to 41.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton; the second to 44.3kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington; the third to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr NJ Gard of Landkey; the fourth to 49.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the fifth to 46.1kg crosses from Messrs Snell again.

Another fast trade for all store lambs presented with just over 100 through the ring.

With the prime trade buoyant and the shortage of numbers nationally store lambs look to continue to hold their strong trade for the coming weeks.

Top of the day at £93.50 to Texel crosses from Mr D Hancock-Teasdale of Clapworthy Mill.

£89.50 to Texel crosses from Messrs RJ & MS Radford of Mariansleigh with £80 to Mr Hancock-Teasdale’s second pen of Mules.

£79.50 to Texel crosses from Mr D Fergie of Ash Mill with a super run of further Texel and Charollais crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsfor at £73. £72 to Mr Hancock-Teasdale’s third pen of Mules.

Fewer cull sheep through this week and a lesser quality entry with plenty of medium ewes forward.

As a result the average of £81 across the board shows a dearer trade compared with last weeks £79 average.

Again all classes of sheep were wanted with all strong ewes over £93 and best Mules £80-£85.

Top of the day at £109.50 twice; the first to Texel cross ewes from Mr WG Smyth & Son of East Down and the second to a Blue Faced Leicester ram from Mr R Richards of Heasley Mill.

£106.50 to Texel crosses from Mr & Mrs RJ Elston & Son of Chulmleigh with similar bred ewes from Messrs RJ & J Ridd of East Buckland at £103.

£101 to a super pen of Suffolk Mules from Mr RL Ash of Okehampton with £100 to Texels from Mr CR Mildon of Bishops Nympton.

£99 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr & Mrs Elston and the second to North Country Cheviots from Mr R Kilvington of Dulverton.

£98 to Suffolk Mules from Mr L Gillbard & Son of Black Dog with £97 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh and the second to Texel crosses again from Mr Mildon.

£96.50 to Suffolk crosses from Mr R Richards with Texel crosses from Mr W Parker & Son of North Molton at £94. £93.50 twice; the first to Texel crosses from Messrs DWC & MJ Elworthy of Umberleigh and the second to Mr Kilvington’s second pen of Cheviots.

£90.50 to Mr Gillbard & Son second pen of Suffolk Mules closely followed at £90 twice; the first to Pure Texel from Mr N Rottenbury of Heasley Mill and the second to Mr Kilvington’s third pen of Cheviots.

Other rams to £109 for a Charollais from Mr T Elliott Ltd of Holsworthy with £105 twice; the first to a super pen of four Texels from Mr Elliott again and the second to a Charollais from Mr Richards.

Read more: Sedgemoor Livestock Market report, Saturday January 25