Stags of South Molton report an excellent number of prime lambs with not so many bigger, heavier lambs on offer.

Numbers have reduced coming forward nationally and as throughout the whole of this year the liveweight centres have seen prices rise when the deadweight prices have remained static.

Trade overall was up six ppk on the week. This week’s entry included more plainer, leaner lambs and a number of ‘native’ sorts.

Trade up approximately £3-4 per head across the board, with the trade getting dearer as the sale progressed. Best trade for the well finished continental bred lambs, especially those with weight. The plainer, bigger lambs are discounted but a number of people again looking for them.

Top of the day at £119 to a super 60kg Texel cross from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton, with £117 to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs PR & JA Ley of Alverdiscott. £110 to 56kg Charollais crosses from Mrs LA Loosemore of Yeoford, with 55kg Charollais crosses from Mr GW Nott of Filleigh at £108.

£106.50 to 53.6kg Texel crosses from Mr D Fergie of Ash Mill, with £105 four times; the first to 55kg Pure Charollais from Mrs S May of Ashford; the second and third pens to 56kg and 58kg Texel and Charollais crosses, both from Mr D Herniman of Atherington and the fourth to 60kg Suffolk crosses, again from the Ley Family. £104 to 56kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone with £102.50 to 52.3kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton. £102 twice; the first to 54kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Herniman and the second to 52kg Texel crosses from Mr MGN West of Combe Martin.

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Best pens to 209ppk to 43.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh, with 208ppk to 47.6kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton. 206ppk to 43.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs JR, RA & RD Stanbury of Knowstone, with 205ppk three times; the first to 39kg Charollais crosses from Mr LA Luxmoore of Crediton; the second to 45.3kg Texel crosses from Mr EO Ayre of South Molton and the third to 47kg Pure Charollais from Mrs S May of Ashford. 204ppk also achieved three times; the first to 41.5kg Charollais crosses again from the Fuller Family; the second to 47kg Pure Charollais, again from Mrs May and the third to 48.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton.

A hat-trick at 203ppk; the first to 41.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr M Leworthy of Lynton; the second to 42.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs PR & JA Ley of Alverdiscott and the third to 45kg Dorset crosses from Messrs NF & SC Kerslake of Oakford. 202ppk four times; the first to 44.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton; the second to 41.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr JWJ Milton of West Anstey; the third to 43.6kg Texel crosses from Mr TE Leworthy of Lynton and the fourth to 46kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs CJ & SJ Dart of Bishops Nympton.

A better number of cull sheep this week and a slightly dearer trade for most ewes forward. The thicker/fatter ewes are probably slightly less money as buyers definitely wanting them less. The leaner and ¾ meat ewes probably £2-3 per head dearer and the grazing ewes similar money. Best Suffolk Mules this week again £90 plus and best Mule ewes all £70 plus. Top of the day at £94.50 to a Suffolk cross from Mr MB Short of Burrington with Texel crosses from Mr L Gillbard & Son of Black Dog at £93. £90 twice; the first to Berrichons from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mrs CT Jones of Heasley Mill.

£88 three times; the first to Charollais from Mrs S May of Ashford; the second to Suffolk Mules again from Messrs Yeo and the third to other blackfaces from Messrs RJ & AR Snell of Burrington. £87.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr RE Latham of North Molton closely followed at £87 to similar sorts from Mr L Gillbard again. £86.50 to Messrs Snell’s second pen of Suffolk Mules with Texel crosses from Mr SL Parker & Son of Burrington at £85.50. £85 to Suffolk Mules from Mr & Mrs CTH Ford of Chulmleigh. with two pens of Texel crosses from Messrs Yeo and Messrs Temuka Ltd of South Molton at £84.50. £84 twice also; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr MJ Selley of South Molton and the second to Texel crosses again from the Gillbard Family. Short show of rams with the best to an Exmoor Horn from Mr AJ Winslade of Shillingford at £61.50.