Stags of South Molton report an excellent number of prime lambs this week and a generally decent quality entry throughout.

Trade was as expected dearer than last week, with the majority of lambs up 5-6ppk (£2-3 per head).

All buyers very keen to secure lambs, with numbers shortening around the country and demand getting stronger. Best trade for the well finished lambs with all weights wanted. Probably the biggest change this week was that there were not so many 47-49kg lambs on offer but the ones that were on offer sold as well on the ppk as the lighter weights.

Quite a few leaner and lighter lambs again today but no shortage of demand for them also. Best today at £111 to 63kg Texel crosses from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey with £110 to 56kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs IP & JIW Carey of Stoodleigh. £109.80 twice; both pens from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill with 54.9kg Suffolk crosses and 53.1kg Texel crosses. £109.50 to 59kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Nicholls with £109 to 57kg Charollais crosses from Mr S Stentiford of South Molton. £108.50 to 57.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr T Hall of Umberleigh closely followed at £108.20 to 53.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs CJ & HT Wilson of Chittlehampton. £108 to 57kg Texel crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton whilst 54kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh rose to £107.50. Four pens at £107; the first to 57kg Texel crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone; the second to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh; the third to 53kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Stentiford and the fourth to 51kg Suffolk crosses again from Messrs Carey also.

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Topping the ppk at 219ppk to 42kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh with 214ppk three times; the first and second pens to 45.5kg and 45.4kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton and the third to 46.7kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & KA Hamlin of Templeton. 213ppk twice; the first to 38kg Texel crosses from Mr R Treniman of Ashreigney and the second to 50.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill. 212ppk also hit twice; the first to 42kg Charollais crosses from Mr DP Kiff of Muddiford and the second to 49.4kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs IP & JIW Carey of Stoodleigh. 211ppk four times; the first and second pens to 40.6kg and 45kg Charollais crosses from Mr Govier again; the third to 44kg Texel crosses from Mr AT Tarr & Son of South Molton and the fourth to 42kg Texel crosses from Mr G Webster of Umberleigh. Another eight pens rose to 210ppk.

A bigger show of cull sheep this week and generally a better show of ewes than we have seen for a few weeks. Trade very dear from start to finish. Having jumped up last week they have just another £5 per head again this week right across the board. The lockdown appears to have brought extra home demand causing the uplift in trade. Best Suffolk Mules this week toward £100 barrier and best Mules £85 plus. Top of the day at £133.50 for a super Texel cross ewe from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton with a pen of Pure Texels from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland at £112. £109 to another Texel cross from Mrs Tapp with two pens of Suffolk Mules from Mr RE Latham of North Molton at £102 and £100. £98 to the third Texel from Mrs Tapp closely followed at £97.50 to Texel crosses from Mr W Parker & Son of South Molton. Two pens at £94; the first to Suffolk crosses from Mrs L Yusof-Othman of Chawleigh and the second to Texel crosses from Messrs IP & JIW Carey of Stoodleigh. £91 to Texel crosses from Mr AT Tarr & Son of South Molton with £90 hit twice; the first to a Dorset from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mr MJ Avery of Yarnscombe. Best rams to £113 for a Texel from Mr D Parker of Morebath with a Suffolk cross from Mr JWJ Milton of West Anstey at £111. A Berrichon from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe rose to £104.