A smaller entry of prime lambs this week, only the second time this season we have seen an entry less than 1000, report Stags.

Trade was expected to be easier this week and it was although the SQQ still held over £2/kilo.

The hardest hit were the heavy lambs (47kgs plus) which were generally back at least £5 per head and in some instances £10 per head on last week.

There was a large amount of heavier lambs forward which is normal for this time year.

All the handy weight lambs 42-46kg were generally 200ppk plus and in keen demand.

Very difficult to predict what will happen next week but it is clear talking to farmers numbers on farm are not overly plentiful which should keep prices buoyant towards the festive season.

Best pens today to 214ppk to 46kg Texel crosses from Messrs Tester & Edwards of East Anstey whose second 40.3kg Beltex cross pen followed at 213ppk.

210ppk to 38.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr LA Luxmoore of Crediton with 208ppk three times; the first to 39.4kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JO Yabsley of Witheridge; the second to 37.3kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Ayre & Nichols of High Bickington and the third to 46.6kg Texel crosses from Mr RF Jones of Heasley Mill.

207ppk to 45.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh with another three pens at 206ppk; the first to 38.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr R Jones & Son of Dulverton; the second to 41.9kg Texel crosses from Messrs JR, RA & RD Stanbury of Knowstone and the third to 41.8kg Charollais crosses again from Messrs Warne.

205ppk to 38.7kg Suffolk crosses from Mr CJ Thorne of Sandyway with 204ppk twice; the first to 42kg Charollais crosses from Messrs C & S Maddick of East Anstey and the second to 43kg Texel crosses from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe.

Top of the day at £106.50 to 59kg Charollais crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton with £105 to 70kg Closewool from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland.

£104 to 59kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe with £102 twice; the first to 63kg Charollais crosses from Mr GW Jones & Sons of South Molton and the second to 68kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JO Yabsley of Witheridge.

£98.80 to 56kg Texel crosses from Mr AJ Dart of Chulmleigh closely followed at £98.50 to 46kg Texel crosses from Messrs Tester & Edwards of East Anstey. £98 twice; the first to 48.3kg Charollais crosses again from Mr RW Tapp & Son and the second to 55kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Tester & Edwards.

£97 three times; the first and second pens to 46.6kg and 47.8kg Texel crosses from Mr RF Jones of Heasley Mill and the third to 59kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton with £96 to 51kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill also.

Another sharp store lamb trade, to match many other markets, being under pinned by our prime buyers with many farmers going home empty handed.

Top of the day at £81.50 to a super pen of Charollais crosses from Mr RS Slape of Chittlehampton with £80 to further Charollais crosses from Messrs C & S Maddick of East Anstey.

£78 to Dorset crosses from Mrs J Cottey of South Molton with £76.50 twice; both to Texel cross pens from Messrs L & M Gardiner of Ash Mill and Mr & Mrs CTJ Ford of Chulmleigh. £75 to Texel crosses from Mr MJ Short of Kings Nympton.

A bigger show of cull sheep this week and a real top quality entry.

The overall average on the week was actually up £1 per head but the trade was probably back slightly on last week with more better ewes forward this week.

A full complement of buyers around the ring and all were keen to secure ewes.

All ewes met decent demand with plenty of buyers for the grazing sorts.

Best Suffolk Mules were generally £85-£95 and best Mules £75-£80.

Top of the day at £125 to a grand Suffolk ram from Mr LW Reed of Nomansland with a Dorset at £110 from Mr JA Huckle of Witheridge.

Best ewes peaked at £101 for a pen of shapely Pure Texels from Mr N Rottenbury of Heasley Mill with Texel crosses from Mr RAP Grant of Cruwys Morchard at £93.

£92 to a Charollais from Mr LA Luxmoore of Crediton and £90 to Mr Rottenbury’s second pen of Texel crosses this time.

£88.50 twice; the first to Suffolk crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton and the second to Texel crosses from Mr MJ Hooper & Son also of South Molton.

£88 to Suffolk Mules from Mr T Elliott Ltd of Holsworthy with other Suffolk Mules from Mr MC Cole of Ash Mill at £87.

Two further pens of Suffolk Mules at £86 from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton and Mr B Jennings of Wellington.

£85 also achieved two times; the first to Mules from Mr PC Friend of Ashbury and the second to Exmoor Mules from Messrs MR & LJ Govier of Thelbridge.

£84.50 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules again from Mr MC Cole and the second to Texel crosses from Mr SRJ Snell of Ashreigney.