Stags of South Molton report the biggest entry of new season lambs for this year so far met an expected dearer trade than last week with the full compliment of buyers present and all wanting to secure lambs. Best trade for the 38-43kg lambs which saw prices climb to near 280ppk and £117.
The overriding fact which is the same at this time every year is the lambs are best sold in that weight range rather than getting them heavier as they come to less money.
Very limited demand for heavy lambs (over 48kg) as most lambs are being exported. Top of the day at £117 to 45.5kg Pure Charollais from Mr D Smith of Chulmleigh closely followed at £116.80 to 41.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge whose second 42.1kg Texel cross pen rose to £116.50. £114.50 to 42.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde with £113 to 42.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs K & C Morish of Exeter. £112.50 to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington with £112 twice; the first to 43.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and the second to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh. £111.80 to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Warwick Farm Partnership of Barnstaple with £111.50 twice; the first to Messrs Morish’s second 41.7kg Texel cross pen and the second to 41.8kg Charollais crosses again from the Mills Family. £110.80 to 41.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Palfrey & Son of Stoodleigh with £110.50 twice; the first to 46kg Suffolk crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland and the second to 46kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey.
Best pens to 279ppk to 41.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge with 277ppk to the same vendor but for their 42.1kg Texel crosses. 272ppk twice; the first to 42.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde and the second to 40.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr EW Kingdom of Calverleigh. 271ppk to 39.7kg Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh with 269ppk twice; the first to 41.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Palfrey & Son of Stoodleigh and the second to Mr P Coles of Hockworthy. 268ppk to 42.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs K & C Morish of Exeter whose second 41.7kg Texel crosses followed at 267ppk, same value at 41.8kg Charollais crosses from the Mills Family again. 263ppk to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Warwick Farm Partnership of Barnstaple with 262ppk to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington. 260ppk twice; both to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh.
A much larger entry of hoggs this week and a variable quality entry with many “tail end” hoggs on offer and a larger number of smaller lots. Trade still staying generally strong for the 40-46kg types but the heavier hoggs, again like the lambs, seeing a lesser trade. There is currently little demand for the heavy hoggs and plenty about nationally resulting in them selling for less than the lighter weight hoggs. Topping the day at £108.50 to 70kg Charollais crosses from Mrs S King of Croyde with similar weight Charollais from Mr D Smith at £106. 64.3kg Texel crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton with 66kg Texel crosses from Mr PJ Berry of Eastacombe at £104.50. £100.50 to 57kg Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Son of Iddesleigh closely followed at £100 twice; the first to 63kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh and the second to 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge.
Best pens peaked at 230ppk to 38kg Charollais crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton with 222ppk to 39kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland. 221ppk three times; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland; the second to 43.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the third to 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge. 220ppk three times; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey; the second to 43.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs WJ & MA Stoneman of Chulmleigh and the third to 40kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock. 219ppk to 44.6kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland with 218ppk twice; the first to 41.7kg Texel crosses from Mr Dart again and the second to 42kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton.
Like all other sections another larger entry of cull sheep this week with 530 ewes sold in over 200 lots! Not such a strong quality entry as previous weeks and trade certainly easier than last weeks “flyer”. The most affected were the bigger thicker ewes with buyers definitely being told not to buy to much flesh! Leaner ewes actually very similar trade to last week and wanted by all buyers. Best Suffolk Mules more in the £95 - £105 price range this week and best Mules more in the £68 - £78 price range this week. Ramadan begins next week which could affect the trade, but there does not appear to be a natural over supply of ewes which should keep prices fairly level. Topping the ewes at £146 for a shapely Charollais from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy with similar bred ewes from Mr J Edwards of Yarnscombe at £133. £128 to Texels from Messrs HJ & MR Moore of Knowstone with £120 to Suffolk Mules from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Ashreigney. £118 to Texels this time from Mr Edwardw whilst Messrs Moore had similar types at £114.50. £113 to Texel crosses from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh with blackfaces from Mr W Smale of North Molton at £112. £111 twice; the first to Charollais crosses from Messrs RT & HD Kingdon of Barnstaple and the second to Suffolk Mules from Messrs
MJ & DM Lake of South Molton. £110 also hit twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs AW & SA Meikle of Meshaw and the second to Texels from Mr RP Williams of Winsford. £108.50 to Texel crosses from Mr G Webster of Umberleigh closely followed at £108 to further Texel crosses from Mrs BH Lane of Honiton. £107.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs K & C Morish of Exeter with £107 to further Charollais crosses from Messrs Kingdon. Best rams to £118 twice; the first to a Suffolk from Mr PJ Berry of Eastacombe and the second to Charollais from Mr W Milton of Chapelton, whose second similar ram followed closely at £115.
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