Stags of South Molton report a good number of prime lambs this week, with a lot more heavier lambs (47kg+) forward and a number of leaner and plainer lambs.

Trade overall was back on last week, about £2-3 per head.

Best trade this week was for the well fleshed 42-45kg lambs, with the large majority of these sold around the 200ppk mark. The heavy lambs were harder to sell, especially those 48-50kg sorts. Again plenty of buyers for the plainer lambs but they just want to secure them at 185-190ppk.

Topping the day at 208ppk to smart 44kg Charollais crosses from Miss S Stentiford of South Molton with 205ppk to 50kg Charollais crosses from the same family but from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon. Both grandmother and granddaughter secured 202ppk with two pens of 46kg Charollais crosses again. 201ppk four times; the first to 42.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs JR, RA & RD Stanbury of Knowstone; the second to 45.1kg Texel crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton; the third to 43.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton and the fourth to 42kg Charollais crosses from Miss S Stentiford again. Three pens at 200ppk; the first to 42.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh; the second to 44.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs AT Tarr & Son of South Molton and the third to 46kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill.

Best pens to £107 for 66kg Texel crosses from Mr M Bray of Knowstone, with £106 to 59kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs AT Tarr & Son of South Molton. £105 four times; the first to 60.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe; the second to 65kg Charollais crosses from Messrs KW, MJ & JP Moore of Newton Tracey; the third to 60kg Texel crosses from Mr W Parker & Son of South Molton and the fourth to 56kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton. £104 twice; the first to 62kg Texel crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton and the second to 54.1kg Charollais crosses again from Messrs Woollacott. £103 to 53kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton closely followed at £102.50 to 50kg Charollais crosses from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon. £101 to 54kg Charollais crosses from Mr MJ Milton of Atherington with £100 for 54.9kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh.

READ NEXT: South Molton market report for Thursday, October 8

Over 200 Store lambs and breeding ewes presented saw a healthy and buoyant trade. Two Suffolk Mules from Mr C F Rice of Challacombe topped at £105 for a mixed pen presented. Store Lambs topped at £85.50 for young farmer Mr J Bryant of Lynton for Texel crosses while another young farmer, Mr B Goulding of Burrington topped at £79 for other Texel crosses. Regular vendor Mr G Webster of Umberleigh sold a mixed pen of Suffolk crosses for £77 while Charollais cross lambs from Bulworthy Farm Partnership of Rackenford rose to £76. Messrs L & M Gardiner of Ash Mill saw crossbred lambs to £73.50 and £70.50, while young J Bryant sold two further pens at £72.50. Longer keep Texels from Mr D Fergie of Ash Mill topped at £70 while Mrs J Blake of North Molton topped at £69.50 for Dorsets. A run of 82 Lleyn crosses from Mr E Ward of Barnstaple, which were longer keeping, topped at £66 for a pen of 20. The next Store lamb sale is on October 29, with notification of entries greatly appreciated.

A smaller show of cull sheep than has been seen at South Molton for a number of weeks. Not many big ewes forward and no runs of Suffolk Mules. Overall a very mixed entry and definitely an easier trade. Buyers are increasingly discounting the “fat” ewes which would be back a further £5 per head on the week. The leaner, ¾ meat ewes would be a very similar trade to last week and the best ewes just back £2-3 per head. Again plenty of buyers for the plain and grazing ewes which would also be a similar trade to previous weeks.

Best Suffolk Mules generally £85 plus and best Mules £72 plus. Topping the day at £96 for a Charollais ram from Messrs P & S Llewellyn of Oakford. It was a Charollais day with the best of the ewes topping at £95.50 from Messrs A & S Hoskin of Bishops Nympton. £92.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy with Texels crosses from Messrs JE & M Mather & Son of Arlington at £89.50. £88.50 to further Texel crosses from Mr R Jones & Son of Dulverton with similar ewes from Mr CN Williams of Withypool at £87.50. Suffolk Mules from Messrs Hoskin again rose to £87 with whitefaces from Messrs KW, MJ & JP Moore of Newton Tracey at £86. £85 to Suffolk crosses from Mr Williams again whilst Messrs Harris sold a Charollais to £84, the same money at Suffolk crosses from Messrs Jones again.