An excellent number of lambs forward this week when other markets have struggled for numbers, report Stags.

Overall the quality was very mixed with a lot of thicker and heavier lambs forward.

Trade was predicted to be dearer and probably was considering the quality but not as much as was expected.

Buyers are reporting a slump in sales and that the shorter numbers nationally are keeping the lambs as dear as they are.

Again this makes predictions for next week very difficult but it does seem that buyers are being told not to buy the over thick sorts.

Not many lighter or very lean (store) lambs forward this week but very keen demand for those forward. Best trade for the 41-46kg lambs which were all generally above the 200ppk mark.

The best heavier lambs 47-50kgs were over 200ppk also but a lot between 190-200ppk.

There was definitely more trade this week for the real heavy 51kg plus lambs than there was last week.

Best pens today at 219ppk for a super pen of 40 45.2kg Texel crosses from new vendors Messrs Haddiport Farm of Beaworthy with 215ppk to 38.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr LA Luxmoore of Crediton.

212ppk to 43.4kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton with 210ppk to 44.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham.

Two pens at 209ppk; the first to 42.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh and the second to 44.5kg Texel crosses again from the Bolt Family.

208ppk twice; both to two pens of 44.2kg Texel and Suffolk crosses from Mr MGN West of Combe Martin. Six pens at 207ppk; the first to 42kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe; the second to 44kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey; the third to 44.4kg Texel crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton; the fourth to 45kg Texel crosses again from the Tapp Family; the fifth to 42.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsford and the sixth to 44.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs HJ & RH Mildon of Brayford.

Five pens at 206ppk; the first to 39.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs PM & ME Smale of Burrington; the second to 43.3kg Texel crosses from Mr PJF Chisholm of Hatherleigh; the third to 40kg Texel crosses from Messrs MJ & AL Elston of Romansleigh; the fourth to 48kg Texel crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill and the fifth to 45.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs RH & GA Morrish Ltd of Torrington.

Topping the day at £110 to a pair of 61kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton with £107 to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton.

£106 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe with £105 twice; both pens to 54.8kg and 55.9kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MH, CB & PM Ayre of Black Dog.

£104 twice also; the first to 55kg Texel crosses from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh and the second to 55.3kg Charollais crosses again from Messrs Woollacott.

£102 to two pens of 56kg & 57kg Dorset and Suffolk crosses from Mr BEJ Hallett of Pennymoor with his 55kg Texel cross pen following at £100.

£99.20 to 54.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs Cook Partners of Georgeham with £99 four times; the first to 58kg Suffolk crosses from Mr M Bray of Knowstone; the second to 56kg Texel crosses from Mr & Mrs CTJ Ford of Chulmleigh; the third to 45.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs Haddiport Farm of Beaworthy and the fourth to 48kg Texel crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill.

A super number of cull sheep this week and as with the lambs quite a varied quality entry.

Trade very similar to the previous two weeks and again as with the lambs, buyers being told not to buy too many thick ewes.

Good number of buyers in attendance and it was a fairly level trade from start to finish.

Best trade for the ¾ meat continental and Suffolk cross ewes, with also some very lean ewes with breeding to them looking a very strong price.

Numbers nationally have been short this week and trade looks set to remain buoyant in the coming weeks just don’t get too thick!

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

Topping the day at £129 for a super shapely pen of eight Pure Texel ewes from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey with £109.50 to Texel crosses from Messrs Holland Partnership of Warkleigh.

£95 to Suffolk crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton with similar bred ewes from Messrs J & F Hookway of Ilfracombe at £90.50.

Followed closely at £90 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and the second to further Texel crosses from the Holland Family. £89.50 twice also; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey and the second to Blue Faced Leicesters from Messrs RL, RT & DE Hill of Bideford.

£88.50 three times; the first to Texels again from Messrs Tarr and the second and third pens to Zwartbles crosses and Suffolk Mules from Messrs Cook Partners again.

£88 twice; the first to Dorsets again from the Cook Family and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mrs Tapp again.

Best rams to £126 for a Suffolk from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton with other Suffolks to £117 for Mr GJ Hookway of Ilfracombe.

Blue Faced Leicesters from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey at £110, the same money at further Suffolks from Mr Hookway.