A really super show of lambs again, reports Stags, and a very similar number, too, last week.

All the doom and gloom of last week has suddenly disappeared with the lambs getting stronger in price as the week continues.

Numbers nationally have fallen and as deadweight prices remain static the liveweight has yet again driven the trade upwards.

Trade was up 8-10ppk on last week and overall £4-5 per head, although the heavier lambs (50kgs +) would be more like £8-10 per head dearer.

Strongest trade for the 42-45kg lambs with the majority of these pens around or over the 200ppk mark.

As ever keep an eye on the trade and remember we send a text out each week regarding the expected trade for the Thursday on a Wednesday morning.

Best pens to 205ppk twice; the first to 42.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton and the second to 46.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsford.

204ppk also hit twice; the first to 40.6kg Texel crosses from Mr SJ Smyth of East Worlington and the second to 47kg Charollais crosses from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon.

Three pens at 203ppk; the first to 36kg Charollais crosses from Mr RJ Beckley of Black Dog; the second to 43.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs SH & UM Parker of Umberleigh and the third to 43kg Charollais crosses from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton.

202ppk four times; the first to 40.4kg Texel crosses from Mr G Webster of Umberleigh; the second to 40.6kg Texel crosses from Mr M Jerrett of South Molton; the third to 45kg Charollais crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh and the fourth to 46.1kg Charollais crosses again from Mr RP Williams.

201ppk twice; the first to 48.7kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton and the second to 46.4kg Charollais crosses again from Mr King.

Topping the day at £109.50 for two pens of 56kg Charollais crosses & 56.5kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton with £108 to 57kg Suffolk crosses from Mr AA Milton of Chapelton.

£107.50 to 55.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe closely followed at £107.20 for a second same weigh pen from the same vendor.

£107 to 58kg Texel crosses from Mr S Stentiford of South Molton with £106.50 twice; the first to 62kg Texel crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone and the second to 53.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr N Guscott of Cheriton Fitzpaine.

£104 to 58kg Charollais crosses from Messrs CJ & SE Ley of Burrington with £101.50 to 52kg Charollais crosses from Mr MG Kingdon of Swimbridge.

£100 to 55.4kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh with £99 to 51.6kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Kingdon.

A short show of store lambs this week when more could have been sold with many grazing and even prime men looking on for them.

Top of the day at £90 for a grand Suffolk from Messrs AL & TLJ Hawkins of Simonsbath with £82.50 to Charollais crosses from Mr MJ Milton of Atherington.

£78.50 and £78 to two pens of Suffolk crosses again from Messrs Hawkins with £75 to Texel crosses from Mrs J Blake of North Molton and £73 to Texel crosses from Messrs Bulworthy Partnership of Rackenford.

A smaller show of cull sheep compared to last but again a definite stronger trade from start to finish.

A similar quality entry to previous weeks with a few more bigger ewes on offer this week.

Again it appears that less numbers throughout the country has driven the trade upwards on last week.

Best trade for the continental ewes and probably the biggest change this week was more buyers for the thicker ewes.

Best Suffolk Mules generally £90 plus and best Mule ewes generally £70 plus.

Top of the day was a Charollais ram from Messrs WH & JC Hayes of Twitchen which rose to £123 other Charollais’ from Mrs JM Robins of East Anstey at £117.

Texels from Mr SJ Smyth of East Worlington at £100 with a Cheviot from Mr OJC Edwards of Exford at £95.

Best ewes just hitting three figure at £100 for a Texel crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh with £99 to a pair of Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton.

£98 to other whiteface ewes from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham with £93 to Suffolk Mules from Mr SL Parker & Son of Burrington.

£92 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton with Texel crosses from Mr AJ Huxtable of Bratton Fleming at £91.

£90.50 to a super pen of 16 Suffolk Mules again from the Tapp Family with £88.50 to other Texels from Mr King again.

£88 to other Suffolk Mules again from Messrs Lake with Texel crosses from Mr L Gillbard & Son of Black Dog at £86.