STAGS of South Molton report a similar number of Prime Hoggs forward to last week sold to a very comparable trade.

Again every pen met competitive bidding with buyers very keen to secure Hoggs.

All classes and weights of Hoggs were wanted with a notable trade for the 41-44kg types, with many of these making £100 plus.

Top of the day at £137 again for the second week on the trot for 63.4kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs WJ & EJ Mann of Peters Marland with £131.50 to 62kg Devon Closewool’s from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland, whose second 69kg similar bred pen rose to £131.

£124.80 to Messrs Mann’s second 57.1kg Suffolk pen with £124 to their 55.5kg Texel cross pen also. £122.50 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton with £122 twice; the first to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy and the second to 51.5kg Texel crosses from the Dart Family again.

£121 three times; the first to 57kg Texel crosses from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Ashreigney; the second to 57kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs DL & JM Bray & Son of Knowstone and the third to 56kg Charollais crosses from Messrs CJ & SE Ley of Burrington.

£120 three times; the first two pens to 55kg and 56kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JK May of Eastleigh and the third to 53.4kg Texel crosses again from the Mann Family. £119.50 twice; the first to 54kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton and the second to 52kg Charollais crosses from Mr SJ Parkin of Ilfracombe. £119 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs RJ & J Ridd of East Buckland.

READ MORE: South Molton Market report for Thursday, February 6

Best pens to 248ppk to 45kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland with 245ppk twice; the first to 40.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs GR & RJ Ward of Iddesleigh and the second to 41.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh. 244ppk twice also; the first to 43.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr B Elston of Rose Ash and the second to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs DL & JM Bray & Son of Knowstone.

A hat-trick at 243ppk; the first to 40.2kg Suffolk crosses again from Messrs Ward; the second to 44.7kg Texel crosses from Messrs BW, MR & SW Cottle of Okehampton and the third 44.5kg Texel crosses again from Mr Elston. 241ppk five times; the first to 45.3kg Texel crosses from Mr ME Snell & Son of Knowstone; the second to 40.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh; the third to 41.7kg Texel crosses from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Ashreigney; the fourth to 41kg Texel crosses from Mr R Tucker of Barnstaple and the fifth to 46kg Texel crosses from Mr D Harris of Witheridge.

240ppk twice; the first to 44.4kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Middleton and the second to 43.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr W Milton of Umberleigh.

A shy number of Store Hoggs forward which unsurprisingly sold to a super trade with many buyers going home empty-handed. Top at £109.50 to a shapely Texel ram lamb from Messrs RJ & MS Radford of Mariansleigh who’s second pen rose to £106.

£99.50 to Charollais crosses from Messrs D & L Folland of Barnstaple with further Texels from Messrs Radford at £97.50. Other Charollais crosses from Messrs Folland at £95 with similar bred sorts from Mr MJ Short of Kings Nympton at £90.

A similar show of Cull Sheep to last week which is still very disappointing especially considering the trade. Overall ewes are dearer with the final average finishing at £89.59, with buyers keen for all breeds and levels of cover.

It was noticeable today that the many thick ewes were a strong price when previously discounted.

Best Suffolk Mules again over the £110 mark and best North Country Mules over £90. Top of the day at £157 for a pair of Pure Texels from Mr MA Milton of Chapelton with £145 to a Pure Charollais from Mr D Smith of Chulmleigh. £122.50 to Texels from Messrs AW & SA Meikle of Meshaw, with £121 to Texel crosses from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey.

£120 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs Meikle with £118 twice; the first to Texel Mules from Mr C Moon of Cullompton and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton. £117 to further blackfaces from Mr Moon with another Charollais from Mr D Smith at £116. £114 to Suffolk Mules from Mr JK May of Eastleigh and £110.50 to similar bred ewes again from Mr Moon.

£109.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ, GM & AJ Tucker of Umberleigh with Dorsets to £107.50 from Mr Moon again. Closely followed at £107 to Suffolk Mules from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington. £105.50 to Suffolk crosses from Messrs HJ & RH Mildon of Brayford with £105 twice; the same way bred ewes from Mr PJ Berry of Eastacombe and Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton.

£104 to Dorsets from Mr DJ Cole of Exeter with £103.50 to Texel crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh. Best rams to £116.50 for a Suffolk from Messrs HJ & RH Mildon of Brayford with a Charollais from Mr AR Bater of Chittlehamholt at £111.