Stags of South Molton report a smaller entry of lambs following this year's Great Annual Sheep Fair met an expected uplift in trade.

Trade across the board was dearer with the heavier lambs meeting the best trade.

It was a better quality entry this week with few leaner, smaller lambs on offer. Lambs nationally have been in short supply this week forcing prices up in the liveweight markets.

Top of the day at £120 twice; the first to 64kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh and the second to 57.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe. £117.50 to Messrs Woollacott’s second 52.1kg pen closely followed at £117 three times; the first to 61kg Suffolk crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy; the second to 63kg Texel crosses from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe and the third to 63kg Charollais crosses from Messrs CJ & SE Ley of Burrington. £116.20 to 52.5kg Suffolk crosses from Mr NJ Sharland of Winsham with £116 to 53kg Lleyns from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton. £115.80 to 51kg Texel crosses from Mr CN Williams of Withypool with £115 to 63kg Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey. Three pens at £114; the first to Mr Irwin’s second 54.5kg Lleyns with the second and third pens to 49-50kg Texel and Suffolk crosses again from Mr Williams.

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Best pens to 232ppk to 46.5kg shapely Texel crosses from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh with 230ppk to 49.5kg Texel crosses from Mr CN Williams of Withypool. 228ppk to 46.8kg Texel crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy with four pens at 227ppk; the first to 51kg Texel crosses from Mr CN Williams of Withypool; the second to 43.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs JB & MA Turner of Harracott; the third to 42.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs AJ & TLJ Hawkins of Simonsbath and the fourth to 43.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MJ & AL Elston of Romansleigh. 226ppk six times; the first to 44.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs M & ML Gillbard of East Worlington; the second to 47.7kg Charollais crosses and third to 50kg Lleyns both from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton; the fourth to 47kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton; the fifth to 50.4kg Suffolk crosses again from Mr Williams and the sixth to 52.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe. 225ppk twice; the first to 47kg Charollais crosses from Mr Irwin again and the second to 49.6kg Texels again from the Williams Family.

A bigger entry of cull sheep this week which was a little unexpected but again plenty of buyers around the ring to keep the trade sharp from start to finish. There were a lot of leaner ewes forward this week which all met very keen demand. Not a huge show of bigger ewes forward but overall trade very similar to last week. Best Suffolk Mules up over the £90 mark and best Mules generally £77-£85. Top of the day at £110 to a Charollais from Mr M Holland of Beaworthy who also had Texels to £100. £99 to Texel crosses from Messrs Roberts & Phillips of Dulverton with Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ & P Burge of Bratton Fleming at £94.50. £93.50 to blackfaces from Messrs AJ & NG Latham of Kings Nympton with Blue Faced Leicesters’ from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh at £92.50. £89 to Texel crosses from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham closely followed at £88 for a Messrs Latham’s second pen. The same money as Suffolks from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott. Not far behind at £87.50 twice; both to Suffolk crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe and Mr NA Cooke of Torrington. £87 also to two pens of Suffolks from Messrs Burge again and Messrs J & J Watts of Goodleigh. £86.50 to Mashams from Messrs J & F Hookway of Ilfracombe with the best rams to £93.50 for a Kerry Hill from Mr WR Hale also of Ilfracombe followed at £91.50 to a Suffolk from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney.