Stags of South Molton report an improved number of new season lambs as they begin to come forward.

Trade not helped by the approaching Bank Holiday weekend and abattoirs not working until Tuesday.

Many of the lambs were older and heavier with the best trade for the younger fresher lambs between 40 and 43kgs.

Going forward lambs will be wanted with more buyer demand from next week.

Best pens to 239ppk not once, nor twice but three times; first to 40kg Charollais crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy; the second to 40.6kg Lleyn crosses from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh and the third to 42.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D & J Galloway of Chawleigh.

237ppk to 41kg Dorset crosses again from Mr Coles with 230 and 229ppk to the first pick of 42-45kg Texel and Suffolk crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge.

228ppk to 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr SJ Blake & Son of Uplowman with 227ppk twice; the first to 42kg Pure Suffolks from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton and the second to 43.7kg Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney.

Top of the day at £103.80 to 45.2kg Texel crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge with £103.50 and £103 to 46.8 - 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr SJ Blake & Son of Uplowman.

£103 also achieved to 48kg Pure Suffolk from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton with £102 to 42.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D & J Galloway of Chawleigh.

£100 to 52kg Pure Suffolk from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh with £99 three times; the first to 45.2kg Dorset crosses from Messrs W & EA Tratt of Honiton with the second and third pens to 43-44kg Suffolk and Charollais crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney.

A slightly better entry again of hoggs as prices continue to recover following the “crash” two weeks ago.

As stated in the text sent on Wednesday (please let Stags know if you would like to receive texts about expected trade) the export 42-46kg types were wanted and dearer than last week but the heavy hoggs were less money as expected.

Stags is already seeing some “tail end” hoggs even with the thought there are still large volumes of hoggs left.

Topping the days trade at £109.50 to 63.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh with £107 to 59.3kg Dorset crosses from Messrs W & EA Tratt of Honiton. £103 twice; the first to 55.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs B & T Baker of Alverdiscott and the second to the Irwin Family’s second 61kg pen.

£102 to 59kg Charollais crosses from Mr J Cowle of Winkleigh whose second 53.6kg similar bred pen followed at £100, the same money as 60kg Charollais crosses from Mr TJ Webber of Atherington.

£99.50 to 61kg Suffolk crosses from Mr AJ Bassett of Iddesleigh with £99 to 57kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey.

£98.50 to 49.5kg Suffolk crosses again from Mr Bassett with £98 twice; the first to 46.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the second to 57kg Suffolk crosses again from Mr Bassett.

Best pens to 223ppk to 37.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey with 219ppk to the same vendor but with his 44.3kg Suffolk crosses.

214ppk twice; the first to 43.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs Bulworthy Partnership of Rackenford and the second to 43.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brother of Warkleigh.

213ppk twice; the first to 44.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr Westaway again and the second to 43.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs MH & CJ Reed of Kings Nympton.

212ppk also twice; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr BJ Mogford of Landkey and the second to 45.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock.

A double at 211ppk; the first to 45.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs B & T Baker of Alverdiscott and the second to 46.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr Thorne.

Six pens at 210pppk; the first to 39.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs MH & CJ Reed of King Nympton; the second to 45.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway again; the third to 43.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers again; the fourth to 44.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy; the fifth to 44.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs M & ML Gillbard of East Worlington and the sixth to 46.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr G McLeod of Swimbridge.

Good too see to a stronger number of cull sheep forward following two very low week of entries.

A generally decent show met another dearer trade with some ewes making nearly as much as they would prior to the big drop a fortnight ago.

Many pens over the £100 mark and best trade for the better quality bigger ewes.

With markets nationally having fewer ewes demand has again over taken supply.

Best Suffolk Mules all generally over the £120 mark up to £135 plus and best Mules all over the £85 mark up to £98.

Topping the day at £157 for a super shapely Pure Charollais from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton closely followed at £156 for a pair of Pure Suffolks from Miss A Mogford of Nomansland.

£140 to Texels from Messrs MG & SR Kingdon of Swimbridge with £136 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs AD & JE Webber of Umbereleigh.

£132.50 to Texels from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington with further Suffolk Mules from Messrs Webber at £129.

£127 three times; the first to Texels from Mr Irwin again; second to Zwartbles from Mr WR Rogers & Son of Landkey and the third to Charollais crosses from Mr AW Selley & Son of Ash Mill.

£126 to Texel crosses from Mr J Wyatt of Woolacombe with similar bred ewes from Mr AD Dunn of Kentisbury at £124. £123 and £121 (x 2) to Texel crosses from Mr MGN West of Combe Martin with same money for Suffolk Mules from Miss C Tythcott of Yarnscombe.

£120 to Texel crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh closely followed at £119.50 to Charollais crosses from Mr J Cowle of Winkleigh.

£119 to three pens of Suffolk Mules from Messrs AJ & TLJ Hawkins of Simonsbath; Mr TJ Webber of Atherington and Mr NA Cooke again.