Stags of South Molton report, well - what a difference a week makes!

Last week we were under tight restrictions and we had a market full of sheep and a very dear trade.

This week the restrictions got tighter (which is no doubt for the best), the market was very quiet and the trade, having fallen off the edge of a cliff at the start of the week, had started to recover a touch.

Generally most hoggs were £30 per head back on last week.

Exports are still allowed but demand in Europe has dissipated with the closing of restaurants, local markets etc. and the over buying by families in the run up to tighter restrictions.

It is hoped that the trade can recover but it is very difficult to predict.

Overall trade for the hoggs was slightly better than predicted with a generally good quality entry on show.

We were down to three buyers and all operating restrictions were observed well.

Best hoggs got up over the 200ppk barrier and the most hard hut hoggs price wise were the heavies which met limited demand.

Top of the day at £100 to 49.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey with £98 to 52.7kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh.

£97 to 49.6kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Westaway with £95 to 48.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh.

£94 twice; the first to 48.9kg Texel crosses again from the Beer Brothers and the second from 60kg Suffolk from Mr Westaway.

£93 twice also; the first to 45.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Warne again and the second to 63kg Pure Texel from Mrs CA Smale of North Molton.

£92 to 46.4kg Texel crosses from Mr KA Hill of Bideford.

Best pens to 204ppk to 45.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh with 202ppk to 49.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey.

200ppk to 45kg Texel crosses from Mr KA Hill of Bideford with his second 46.4kg pen following at 198ppk.

Three pens at 196ppk; the first to 46kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh; the second to 49.6kg Suffolk crosses from Mr EJ Westaway again and the third to 48.5kg Charollais crosses again from the Warne Family.

195ppk to 42.1kg Charollais crosses again from the Warne’s with three pens at 192ppk; the first to 45.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr LJ Ley & Partners of Goodleigh; the second to 43kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the third to 48.9kg Texels again from the Beer Brothers.

A very small entry of cull sheep following the near collapse in trade this week and being a main buyer down.

Trade was pretty level from start to finish with no real super ewes on offer.

Hopefully the ewes will firm a touch next week, so Stags is asking that you call them if you are looking to sell in the next fortnight.

Top at £79.50 to Suffolk Mules from Easterbrook & Partners of Yarnscombe with £75 to similar ewes from Mr SJ Dallyn of Barnstaple.

£69 to Charollais crosses from Mr MB Short of Burrington closely followed at £68.50 to Texels from Mr WR Rogers & Son of Landkey.

£68 twice; the first to Dorsets from Mr TR Slee of South Molton and the second to Suffolk crosses from the Rogers Family.

£67 twice; the first to Mules from the Easterbrooks again and the second to Texels from the Rogers again.

Best rams to £72 to a Dorset from Mr TR Slee of South Molton.

Read more: Some categories of sales cancelled as additional market restrictions come into force