STAGS of South Molton report, despite the Coronavirus escalation, the trade for prime sheep continues to be very strong.

For how long is unknown, as exporters are struggling to get product across the waters and the big question for the market is whether the government will put further restrictions on gatherings.

A much bigger entry of hoggs than the previous three weeks as farmers looked to sell whilst the trade remains strong and markets remain open for business. There is no doubt that producers feel that trade will drop should livestock markets not be allowed to trade.

The decent number entry consisted of a very mixed bag, with a larger number of leaner and under-finished hoggs. This lesser quality sold to a very similar trade to last week overall.

The heavy hoggs were a shade easier but the handy weights 42-47kg were a touch dearer.

Best pens to 265ppk to 45.4kg Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh, with 263ppk to 42kg Texel crosses from Messrs Roberts & Phillips of Dulverton.

259ppk to 43kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock with 258ppk four times; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr S Andrew of Shebbear; the second to 43.4kg Dorset crosses from Mr SL Parker & Son of Burrington; the third to 45kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D & J Baker of Yarnscombe and the fourth to 44.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh. 257ppk to 40.7kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Westcott of Nomansland with 256ppk to 44.5kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton.

254ppk to 39.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh with 253ppk twice; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland and the second to 46kg Charollais crosses from Mr MA Milton of Chapelton.

251ppk twice also; the first to 45.4kg Texel crosses from Mr RE Brown of Stoodleigh and the second to 40kg Texel crosses again from Mr Milton. 250ppk to 45.5kg Suffolk crosses again from Mr Andrew of Shebbear. 

Top of the day at £150 to 73kg Charollais ram from Mrs S May of Ashford with £144.50 to 64kg Texel crosses from Mr KA Hill of Bideford. £138 to 68kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland with £135.50 to 62kg Texel crosses from Mr D Edwards of Rackenford.

£129.80 to 57.3kg Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey closely followed at £129 to same weight Suffolk crosses from Messrs H & M Thorne & Sons of Warkleigh. £128.50 twice; the first to 58kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh and the second to 60kg Charollais crosses from Mr BR May of Burrington.

£128.20 and £128 both to 57-60kg Texel crosses, again from Mr Hill of Bideford. £125.50 to 56kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh with £125 twice; the first to 55.9kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton and the second to 54kg Charollais crosses, again from Mrs May.

£124.20 to 54.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Treniman of Ashreigney, with £124 twice; the first to 53.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh and the second to 58.8kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs WJ & EJ Mann of Peters Marland. 

The first handful of new season lambs through the ring this year sold well, in line with the hogg trade. Best pens to 251ppk to 47kg Dorset crosses from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh and top money at £121.50 to 49kg Pure Suffolk from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh. 

A few store hoggs forward and some transferred out of the prime pens. Again plenty of demand with prices very similar to last week's sale. Top at £95 to Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton, with further Texel crosses from Messrs Bulworthy Partnership of Rackenford at £85, £80.50 and £78.50. Other Texel cross pens from Mr RW Westcott of Nomansland at £69.50. 

A much larger entry of cull sheep this week as vendors look to sell now rather than risk markets closing. Trade was exceptionally strong from start to finish with the overall ewe average standing at £118. In fairness there were some excellent runs of ewes this week and the quality of entry was well above average. However, to have such a decent number entry and overage so high shows the clear demand.

Best ewes all £140 plus, with lots of Suffolk Mule pens around £140 and Mules generally £105-£118. Top of the day and one for the record books at £195 for a super Pure Suffolk from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton, with Pure Charollais from Mr CF Rice of Chulmleigh at £170.

£167.50 to the best Suffolk Mules from Mr RF Jones of Heasley Mill, who sold a super run of 120 Suffolk & North Country Mules to average over £140. £165 to Pure Texel from Mr DW Ridd of West Buckland, with £163.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe with £160 twice; both to similar bred pens from Messrs IJ & CR Vigus of Oakford and Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton. £159 twice; again both to blackface pens from Mr J Maynard & Son of Exeter and Mr KA Hill of Bideford.

£158 to Mr Jones’ second pen Suffolk Mules with £155 to similar ewes again from Mr Rice. £154 to a Pure Texel from Mr MA Milton of Chapelton, with £153 twice the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr RAP Grant of Cruwys Morchard and the second to a Charollais from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge.

£152.50 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules again from the Maynard Family and the second to Romney crosses from Messrs PA & MEM Chudley of Romansleigh.

£151 to further Suffolk Mules from Mr Grant again with £150.50 to similar bred ewes from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock. £150 twice; the first to a Charollais from Mr Milton again and the second to a Pure Texel from Mrs CA Smale of North Molton.

Best rams to £137 twice; the first to a pair of Charollais from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge, and the second to crossbreds from Mr AE Chudley & Son of Romansleigh.

£131 twice; both to Suffolks from Mr B Elston of Rose Ash and the Mills Family again.

READ MORE: Truro Livestock Market report for Wednesday, March 18