STAGS of South Molton report a much smaller entry of prime hoggs this week, with numbers continuing to be short.

Overall the quality was very mixed with some top continental hoggs on offer along with some very lean mixed-bred types.

With the quality of entry in mind, the SQQ was expected to be less and overall the trade was just a shade easier than last week. Heavy hoggs still in strong demand with plenty of pens over the £120 mark.

Best trade for the 42-46kg continental bred hoggs with a few pens up around the 250ppk mark.

Abattoirs are beginning to grumble about the dirty hoggs with the continuing wet weather. Farmers are advised to belly and dock hoggs where possible.

Best pens to 250ppk to 46.6kg shorn Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh with 249ppk to 42.5kg shorn Texel crosses from Mr WGA Hunkin & Son of Frithelstock.

246ppk to 42.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr MA Milton of Chapelton with 245ppk twcie; the first to 40kg Hampshire Down cross from Messrs TJ & JC Pincombe of Chulmleigh and the second to 46.6kg Texel crosses again from Mr WGA Hunkin.

243ppk to 40.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland with 242ppk to 43.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr MB Short of Burrington. 240ppk twice; the first to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from Mr AJ Bassett of Iddesleigh and the second to 46.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton.

239ppk three times; the first to 43.8kg Texel crosses from Mr CJ Boyd of Barnstaple; the second to 45kg Charollais crosses again from Mr WJ Woollacott and the third to 44.3kg Texel crosses from Mr T Elliott Ltd of Holsworthy.

238ppk to 47.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Milton & Thorne of Molland with 237ppk to 45.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs M & ML Gillbard of East Worlington.

236ppk three times; the first to Messrs Gillbard’s second 44.4kg Texel cross pen; the second to 42kg Closewool from Mr Dart & Family and the third to 39kg Texel crosses from Messrs RJ & MS Radford of Mariansleigh.

235ppk to 46.9kg Texel crosses from Messrs H & M Thorne & Sons of Warkleigh with 234ppk twice; the first to 50kg Texel crosses again from the King family and the second to 42.7kg Texel crosses from Mr A Kellett of Barnstaple.

Top of the day at £130 to 68kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RI Crocombe of Lynton with £129 to 61kg Texel crosses from Messrs Roberts & Phillips of Dulverton whose second 57kg pen followed at £125.50.

£124.80 to 57.7kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs RJ & KJ Cole of Ashreigney with £123.50 to 57.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr PJ Cleave of Hatherleigh. £123 twice; the first to Messrs Cole’s second 54.5kg Charollais cross pen and the second to 54kg Texel crosses from Messrs RH & GA Morrish Ltd of Torrington.

£122.50 twice as well; the first to 53kg Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh and the second to 54.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr DW Phillips of Berrynarbor. Another two pens at £120; the first to 54kg Suffolk crosses from Mr AJ Bassett of Iddesleigh and the second to 55.1kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Cole again.

The fourth run matching in money at £119 firstly went to Messrs Cole’s fourth 54kg Charollais cross pen and the second to 52.4kg Texel crosses again from the Morrish Family. £118.80 to 53.3kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy closely followed at £118 to 53kg Texel crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland.

A slightly increased entry of cull sheep and again a slightly dearer trade. All big ewes regardless of fat cover and breed were very wanted. All buyers were keen to secure ewes and rams with numbers so tight nationally.

Strong Suffolk mules all over the £110 mark and up to £130 and the best mules up over the £90 mark to £106. Top of the day at £140.50 for a super Texel ram from Mrs CA Smale of North Molton who sold others to £127.50.

£125.50 to a Charollais from Messrs R & K Hayball of East Worlington with £120 to a Texel from Mr J Bryant of Lynton. Mrs Smale finished off her run of rams at £118.

Best ewes to £138 to a grand Texel from Mr CJ Boyd of Barnstaple with similar bred ewes from Mr JE Cole of Bridge Reeve at £131. £130.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs RT & HD Kingdon of Barnstaple whose second pen followed at £128.50.

£126 to a Charollais from Messrs D & J Baker of Yarnscombe closely followed at £125.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton.

£120 twice; the first to Charollais crosses from Messrs AJ & NG Latham of Kings Nympton and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mr W Milton of Chapelton.

£119 to further Charollais’ from Messrs Baker again closely followed at £118.50 for Mr Boyd’s second pen of Texels. £118 to Dorset Mules from Messrs PA & MEM Chudley of Romansleigh with Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ & KJ Cole of Ashreigney at £117.50. £116 twice; the first to another Charollais from the Baker Family and the second to Texel crosses from Mr J Bryant of Lynton.

£114.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr RJ Cole of Knowstone and £113 to similar bred ewes from Messrs MR & MJ May of Chittlehamholt. £112 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ & MS Radford of Mariansleigh with £110 to further blackfaces from Messrs RS & JM Summers of Meshaw.

READ MORE: South Molton Market report for Thursday, February 13