Stags of South Molton report a cracking number entry of lambs this week and a very mixed quality entry.

Trade very level from start to finish and on the whole 2-3ppk dearer than last week.

Definitely more under finished lambs on offer this week as producers continue to present lambs on such a buoyant trade.

Best trade again for the heavier and well fleshed lambs, with all buyers keen to secure such sorts.

Some buyers beginning to ask especially for the ‘Qurbani’ lambs (lambs born before end of January making them at least 6 months old). It is expected that more buyers will be looking to secure ‘Qurbani’ lambs next week as the festival draws closer.

Best pens to 237ppk to 47kg shapely Dutch Texel crosses from Mr B Blackmore of Dulverton with 231ppk three times; the first to 47.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe and the second and third pens to 43-44kg Texel and Charollais crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton.

230ppk twice; the first to Mr Irwin’s third 44kg Texel cross pen and the second to 45kg Texel crosses from Mr B Alford of Stoke Rivers.

229ppk twice also; the first to Messrs Woollacott’s second 49.8kg Charollais pen and the second to 47kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs DL & JM Bray & Son of Knowstone.

228ppk three times; the first to 50kg Charollais crosses from Mr JK May of Eastleigh with the second and third pens to 49-50kg Texel and Charollais crosses from Mr R Trenaman of Ashreigney.

227ppk to 48kg Charollais crosses again from Mr JK May with 226ppk twice; the first to 45kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh and the second to 45.4kg Texel crosses from Messrs C & S Maddick of East Anstey.

225ppk five times; the first and second pens to 42.7kg and 46.6kg Texel cross pens from Messrs CFJ & PJ Street of Witheridge; the third to 50.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs FG & FM Saunders of Templeton; the fourth to 46kg Charollais crosses from Mr NJ Sharland of Braunton and the fifth to 48kg Texel crosses from Mr J Elworthy of Barnstaple.

Topping the day at £118 to 62kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MJ & AL Elston of Romansleigh with £115 to 53.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs CFJ & PJ Street of Witheridge.

£114 five times; the first and second to 50kg Charollais crosses from Mr JK May of Eastleigh; the third to 50.6kg Dorset crosses from Messrs FG & FM Saunders of Templeton; the fourth to 49.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe and the fifth to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr R Trenaman of Ashreigney.

£113 to 55kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Milborne Wick Farms Ltd making the worthy journey from Sherborne.

51.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr T Webber of Barnstaple at £112.80 closely followed at £112 to 50.4kg Texel crosses again from the Saunders Family. £111.50 twice; the first to 49kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Trenaman and the second to 47kg Dutch Texel crosses from Mr B Blackmore of Dulverton.

£110.80 to 50kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs DL & JM Bray & Son of Knowstone with £109.80 to 47.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe.

£109.20 to 49.2kg Texel crosses from the Street family again and £109 to 48kg Charollais crosses from Mr JK May again.

A greater entry of cull sheep this week and as with the lambs a very mixed entry with a lot of small, plain ewes on offer.

Trade very similar to last week with other centres reporting price drops as large numbers of ewes are coming forward.

Best trade again for the bigger strong, well bred ewes and the ¾ meat ewes which all buyers are keen to procure.

Best Suffolk Mules again late £90’s and best Mules £74 plus.

Best Ewes to £122 to Pure Texels from Mr ME Holland of Barnstaple with £108 to Charollais’ from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon.

£104.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr NJ Sharland of Winsham with £98.50 to similar bred ewes from Messsrs AW & SA Meikle of Meshaw.

A super pen of Suffolks from Messrs GJ & SM Down of High Bickington rose to £96.50 closely followed at £96 with Texels from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton.

Suffolk Mules from Messrs MR & MJ May of Chittlehamholt at £95.50 with further blackfaces from Messrs IR & AJ Balsdon of Hatherleigh at £95.

£94.50 three times; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs AF & ME Clements & Son of East Worlington, the second also to Suffolk Mules from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe and the third to Texel crosses from Messrs MG & SR Kingdon of Swimbridge.

£94 to a Zwartble from Mr CTJ Tythcott & Son of Yarnscombe with £93.50 to Texel crosses again from Messrs Down.

£93 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the second to Charollais’ from Mr CW Trenaman of Winkleigh.

Best rams to a grand Charollais from Mrs FE Tucker of Twitchen which rose to £117.