South Molton Market report for Thursday, May 21

The overall entry of 2,843 sheep were all penned by 10.30am. Trade actually dearer than the week before with the SQQ up 2ppk. Again best trade for the 39-42kg lambs looking young and fresh. What was noticeable this week was 44-46kg lambs were meeting more demand and generally above the £112 mark with more buyers looking to secure stronger lambs. It is difficult to envisage this trade staying as high as it is over the coming weeks but at the moment abattoirs are reporting good sales. Top of the day at £120.50 for 65kg Pure Charollais from Mrs CE Irwin of Kings Nympton with £118 to 45.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr MA Milton of Chapelton. £116 to 50.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr NT Gear of Newton Tracey closely followed at £115.50 to 54.5kg Charollais crosses from Eggesford Hunt of Chulmleigh. £114.80 to 47kg Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh with £114 five times; the first to 48.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs AW & SA Meikle of Meshaw; the second to 46.5kg Texel crosses from Mr B Beel of Umberleigh; the third to 46.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton; the fourth to 47kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde and the fifth to 42.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs White & Tucker of Pennymoor. £113.80 to 42.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh closely followed at £113.50 twice; the first to 43.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe and the second to 47kg Charollais crosses from Mr AC Westaway of Newton Tracey. £113 to 44kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe.

Read more: South Molton Market report for Thursday, May 14

Best pens to 278ppk to 40kg Lleyn crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton with 40kg Charollais crosses from Mr MA Milton of Chapeton at 277ppk. 270ppk to 41kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde with 269ppk six times; the first to 41.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton; the second to 40.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe; the third to 40.5kg Texel crosses from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh and the fourth, fifth and sixth pens being 41-42kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge. 268ppk seven times; the first to 40kg Texel crosses from Messrs Easterbrook & Partners of Yarnscombe; the second to 42.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs White & Tucker of Pennymoor; the third to 41.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs PR & JA Ley of Alverdiscott; the fourth to 41.8kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Irwin; the fifth to 41.5kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Lethbridge; the sixth to 42.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh and the seventh to 40.3kg Charollais crosses from Messrs J & KF Stephens of Sandford. Twelve super pens of lambs at 267ppk including a super run of over 300 Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh.

A similar number of hoggs to last week and a very variable entry. Best meat hoggs are still wanted and generally around to 200ppk mark. Heavy sorts are also more wanted but the lighter leaner hoggs are now getting difficult to sell. A larger number of scaled hoggs today and all still generally £10-£15 behind the clean hoggs which is better than seen in previous years. Top today at £116 to 54kg Texel crosses from Mr SL Parker & Son of Burrington with £114 to 66kg Charollais crosses from Messrs PR & JA Ley of Alverdiscott. £110.50 to 53kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs RH & GA Morrish Ltd of Torrington closely followed at £110 to 64kg Suffolk crosses from Mr D Roper of Oakford. £108 twice; the first to 63kg Suffolk crosses from Mrs L Yusup-Othman of Chawleigh and the second to 60kg Charollais crosses from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Ashreingey. £106 to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland. Best pens to 215ppk to 54kg Texel crosses from Mr SL Parker & Son of Burrington with 209ppk to 45.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D & J Baker of Yarnscombe. 208ppk to 53kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs RH & GA Morrish Ltd of Torrington with 207ppk to 50kg Charollais crosses from Messrs PR & JA Ley of Alverdiscott. 206ppk to 50kg Charollais crosses from Messrs J & F Hookway of Ilfracombe with 205ppk to 46kg Texel crosses from Mr MK King & Sons of Iddesleigh. 204ppk twice; the first to 47kg Charollais crosses from Messrs SJ & RM Wright of Chittlehamholt and the second to 48.7kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh.

The biggest entry of cull sheep for a while and again for the second week over 100 being penned in the calf shed. Trade as expected was slightly easier with Ramadan ending this weekend and large amount of ewes marketed already this week. There were two more buyers present which helped. Again best trade for the leaner ewes and a lot of thick and fat ewes on offer. Thick Suffolk Mules generally £65-£75 with leaner blackfaces £70-£80. Some quality continental ewes actually meeting better demand and some even creeping into three figures but trade was very selective. Topping to day at £114 for a super Texel cross from Messrs G & P Kivell of Ashreigney with £107 to a Charollais from Messrs J & F Hookway of Ilfracombe. £95 and £94 to two super pens of whitefaces from Mr DW Ridd of West Buckland. £93.50 to Texels from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe closely followed at £93 to Charollais crosses from Mr WM Folland of Roborough. £92 to Lleyn crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton. £85 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr RL Ash of North Tawton and the second to Texel crosses from Messrs DJ & LM Stephens of Oldways End. £84.50 to whitefaces from Messrs A & S Hoskin of Bishops Nympton. £83 to Suffolk Mules again from Mr Ridd with similar bred

pens from Mrs L Yusup-Othman of Chawleigh. Two other blackface pens from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge rose to £80 & £80.50 respectively.